day 6

[konrado]

This is day 6 into my vicodin withdrawal. I am doing this thru an ambulatory detox with clonipine and serax. I am also going to group therapy 3 times per week. I still feel like ****. I am tired and cry easily. This is awful. My counselor says it will get better. I am schedulked to go to an AA meeting on Sunday. I have no problem with that. I would be so easy to take a pill and feel better. I know that's not a choice now but my brain is telling me different. Does this get better? I have heard that narcotic addiction takes a long time to get beyond the withdrawl symptoms. I know I have this addictive brain. This sucks big time. 6 days sober  1 hour at a time.

[bmac]

That was a great post.Didn't you tell me this last week.
You are a wonderful person and I am so glad I came here.
You speak the truth.Time is the only thing you need.Clean time.
And the Faith to know God is real and others have come before you.That got me thru this.Thanks again for being you!
                    23 days clean,
                      bmac

[buffs]

Hello,

My mom is addicted to methadone.  She goes to the clinic. She wants to detox.  What should i say to her about this matter. She really needs to quit.  She cant afford it and its bringing he down.  Someone please give me some advice. Thanks.

[dreamin]

It does get better, it does it does it does....please try to ahng in there..don't let your addiction talk you into anything..please hang i there, do it fo you!!

[winter68]

as for the vicodin w/d's you should start feeling better in a few days, they normally don't last for more than 10 days, just stay strong and don't cave in to the cravings. As for your mom on the methadone, tell her that if she detoxes at a slow rate she'll have little to no withdrawl. if its done the right way. I was on 120mgs of methadone for 2 years, its taken me 5 months to detox, I decreased 6mgs a week and I am down to 4mgs, tommorrow is my last day, I went down faster than my dr advised just cause I wanted off of it, so I have felt some mild w/d's but nothing too severe. The only way you get severe w/d's from methadone is if you just stop, if she goes down slowly she shouldn't have too many problems.

[konrado]

It's up to your mom when she gets tired of feeling tired she will quit. I have a lot at stake here. My life!!! I am doing this for myself or so I keep telling myself. It's very tough I wish I were dead at times at times I actually feel some joy in life without a pill I don't understand that. Beats me. Must be my Higher Power playing with me again. You can't get your mom to quit she has to want it. I thought methadone was not that bad. Course I have an addicted brain so it would sound good to me. Hang in there some people just have to get to bottom or die.

[konrado]

Thanks for taking time to encourage me. I feel weak emotionally does this get better in 10 days?

[dreamin]

It gets better, just keep that thought in your mind.  Keep posting here for encouragement.  We are with you..

[hellbent]

For me, one of the keys was BELIEVING that things would get better, and at the same time not having any expectations about when. You didn't get into this overnight, and you won't get out of it overnite. There is a price to pay, but it gets much better with time. I was taking a ton of Oxycontin, and quit pretty much cold, so I know where you are.

The fact that you are going to a meeting is crucial. When I went to my first meeting 3-1/2 months ago, I stunk, was in the middle of detox. My tongue was white, I couldn't stop sweating or shaking. I stuck it out, and the fellowship of AA and working steps has enabled me to maintain sobriety and begin to make fundamental changes in my life. It's also been responsible for a  real nice new job, some of the coolest friends I've had in years, and other bonuses. But the big deal is keeping myself away from the pills, and changing the way I react to life. There are plenty of addicts in AA too.

Don't **** around with AA/NA. Jump into it, even though it may feel about as wrong as it can. Find the winners, and hang with them at all costs. That's the best advice I have to give.

[konrado]

Thanks for the encouragment. I haven't looked at it that way. I am too much into my pity party. I put myself here both ways drugging and trying to stay sober.

[konrado]

In the middle of this hell I still have a sense of humor. I thought I needed drugs for that. What gives?

[hellbent]

Thanks Bmac. Congrats on the time.

[Sis1]

Wazzzup!
I don't know if any of you have been following my story, There are no "open forums" So I'm just gonna post here! My doctor prescribed me Clonazepam aka KLONOPIN!!!!!!!!!!!!
You have no idea, This really saved my life. I had been coming here everyday/night reading & posting, but I was literally on the verge of quitting life. Now my mission is to completely quit opiates, I'm on my 3rd day of absolutely no opiates (pain killers) what so ever. =)

Now without my anxiety I can do all I things I have been thriving to do for so many years. Inside I have a little bit of doubt that I am going to be able to succeed, but I am going to give it a try. This is what I've been wanting, I got it, so no more excuses! I'm gonna face life & make my mom proud, show everyone I can do it, and especially prove to myself that I can be the person I want to be.

This is awesome guys, you have no idea how sad I was. That doctor has no idea how much of an impact she had on my life. I wish I could tell her. I sure hope these work and I'm pretty sure I can stay away from the opiates, I've been offered free pain killers and had the money and opportunity to buy them several times in the last couple days and refused them. That's the first time in TWO years. I'm so happy. Thanks for your support, especially Jesse, you're a good guy. -Sis

[hellbent]

In my opinion, you aren't going to cure a pill problem with another pill (klonopin). They are fine for a few weeks during detox, but if you keep taking them, they are worse than opiates withdrawal wise. Like any painkiller, you will develop a tolerance to them, and need more for the same effect. I withdrew from a klonopin habit recently and it was complete horror. No sleep for 23 days straight. If you think they cure anxiety, try coming off of a habit, even a small one. you will have anxiety like you never imagined.

Don't take my word for it. Read some of these posts...

http://groups.google.com/groups?q=%2Bklonopin+%2Bwithdrawal&ie=UTF-8&oe=UTF-8&hl=en

Sorry to be heavy handed, but you don't want to be on these things long term. They aren't going to save your life at all.

[chasers]

Well, I know everyone has their own opinion. But mine is this- I have taken Klonopin for about five years now. I take 1-2mg. per day and I do not feel as though I abuse  them. I have a chemical imbalance which brings me alot of anxiety and I feel like if someone really NEEDS something then they need it.I am glad you found an understanding doctor. The opiates you abused for pleaseure. I think you really need something to help you with anxiety and if you are not abusing it then I am glad you got the help you needed:)

[pon]

Keep going...I am on day three of Vike withdrawl cold turkey....was doing 80mg a day for 2 months....I don't know how bad the withdrawl will be, but it has to be better than keep on the pills....can anyone tell me how long the stomach cramps, runs and anxiety last?  I heard they peak at 3 days and are mostly gone by 10

[pjn]

That's exactly what happened to me. Within 3 days I was a little better. But then the mental part comes. You can do it and Good Luck! My prayers are out to you.

[Sis1]

Yea, I have no intentions of abusing them. I have 90...a month's supply and I am going to take them as directed, no more then she told me to. 3 times a day. I don't feel guilty about being prescribed something that could help me out in a very positive way and I'm not worried about withdrawals from the Klonopin nor addiction to them because I plan to take them as prescribed.

hellb, Why are you having withdrawals from Klonopin if you don't mind me asking? Were you not obtaining them legitly or did your doctor shut you off? What's the story? I'd like to know what I could be in for. Kinda interested. -Sis

[pon]

Thanks...at 72 hrs...stomach still hurts and the rest, but the anxiety wasn't as bad this evening....had a busy day at work, that seems to help.  The depression is there too, but I kicked alcohol 15 years ago and went through 6 months depression hell from that.  The depression I know who to handle ONE DAY AT A TIME.  Thanx for the prayers...I am going to make it...I refuse to give up my life to this stuff, it is just not worth it!

[pon]

Good luck kid...you can do it.  Beleve in yourself, you're worth it.  You have my prayers.

[hellbent]

I took klonopin to aid in a oxycontin taper. Problem was, I failed miserably, over and over, at the taper, and kept taking the klono. I was taking so much oxy at this point, in addition to the klonopin, that I went into a long-term blackout. I was able to function, albeit barely, but my memory from that whole period is wiped. I actually thought I had been on klono for no more than 2 months, when in reality it had been at least 5, maybe 7 - 8. I kept taking them during my detox, and at this point was taking a whole lot of them. I still believed that I wasn't addicted to them, that I had only been taking them "2 months". I wasn't familiar with benzo w/d at all. It was therefore a bit of a shock when, after finally getting over the worst of the oxycontin detox, and finally stopping klonopin dead cold, I developed a whole new set of horrible w/d symptoms that lasted much longer than the acute phase of the oxy detox.

And I never got any meds from docs...

[pon]

hey kid, posted you on the other thread too...please read there.  Don't rag yourself for falling.  Get back up and try again.  There is nothing that says you have to win every try, just win the game...I am not very experienced with this, so I hope someone who is more will kick in too....I'll try to help, you can make it and life IS better without the drugs.

When I quit alcohol 15 years ago it was really hard, but it totally changed my life ...I wient from being sad and depressed all the time, crappy at my job to having a good life & a happy one.

My start with the vikes was by accident, but it doesn't matter addiction is addiction.  Point is that you can make it AND it is worth it to.  I am on day 4, starting to feel better physically and even a little bit better mentally too...you can make it too.

Prayers for you...can some other folks help too, I'm new at this?

[konrado]

This is day 8. I seem to have more energy but not much. I took off the clonopine yesterday. Doc orginally said 1 week. Had trouble getting to sleep hope it will be better tomorrow eve. Had dinner yesterday and breakfast today. Upped my liquid intake, H2O and some coffe which I understand is a no no. This is to flush my system. Got the Thomas's Recipe stuff, my wife blew up and said your are addicted to pill taking. Had to flush all that stuff so I don't know if that could help. I took a multi-vitamin which seemed to have all that in it. Cravings are minor not as strong. If I get them I can't think of the high I have to remember the fatique that I experienced taking the hydrocodone 12-20 10mgs per day. Had 2 back surgeries so they were prescribed at the beginning. Liked the high so I was able to get them. Don't want to get into that too much at stake there. I am on ambulatory detox with one of our hospitals here. I am going to an AA meeting tomorrow. Dread it and need the support. I have been there before. This is a relapse, big time. Too old for this (56). I keep think of Ringo Starr's song lyrics that went something like this "No, no thank you please I'm tired of waking on the floor" I would buy the record but I am in financial trouble to the tune of $80,000 buying guns and knives while high. Brilliant. Well enough rambling.
Hang in there and get off the clonopine if you can. I is supposed to control the cravings and GI distress. Once you quit crapping you brains out take off the patch. Wait 3-4 hours if the cravings come back as does the diahrea then put the patch back on.
Going cold turkey is the worst. Opiate withdawl is like heroin withdrawal. My new support group was amazed I wasn't hospitalized. The cocaine addict said he had no withdrawal but the cravings were worse. Remember this, your are or were using the rich or poor man's heroin. It will kill your if nothing else you will be overdosing on tylenol the APAP part of your script. 4000 mgs per day is supposed to be toxic. 1 tab can have up to 750 mgs off the stuff. It will destroy your live and kidneys. Liver I understand can regenerate. You only have 2 kidneys and they don't. Gotta stop I am rambling and I am only on day 8 of my recovery.

[bmac]

You are doing good if your'e at day 8.I also went thru medical
detox and did it at home.Once you get the hang over part over,
take the recipe.It helps!I have started the vitamin thing and it will help.The main thing is to stay opiate free.Your body will
heal if you stop giving it what it really wants.I am on day
25 and I can tell you it does get much better.Also using
Clonidine,which is a blood pressure medicine will make you
tired and low levels of energy.It is good for w/d's though.
I did it taking phenobarb and clonidine.8 days of it.At day 15
in my nightmare I stopped everything except vitamins and alot of advil.Calcium is also good for that drug headache some feel.Unless you are depressed don't take anti depressants for drug addiction,that's a watse of money.Get better!
                               bmac

[pon]

Congrats on day #8...you are doing it man!  GO to the meeting tomorrow it WILL help, jump in with both feet