need a question answered

[Nattefrost]

Its been about 15 or 16 days off suboxone now as some people on here know and Im back to normal but I'm still not as motivated as I used to be (even before the oxy/sub era) Of course I was totally motivated when I was on the oxys and felt fine when I was on the subs. Dont get me wrong here the withdrawls are gone and everything like that but I still feel a little un-motivated. Just a little. So someone suggested amino acids and sam-e which is supposed to give you energy. Ive been doing this the last 2 days and I still feel the same but like I said its nothing terrible. Is there something I can do or take besides this to feel as motivated as I used to? before I started oxys I was just as motivated as I was when I was on them as I always a motivated person. Sometimes I feel a little energy and I wonder, Is it this stuff or is it just natural.

[Antman832]

Me and my GF have cut down to 1 mg a day also. And I don't say this to be mean. It could your lack of exercise/movement is why you feel unmotivated. And now that you're right on the edge of being sober. You are actually feeling this stuff for the first time "again". It may seem overwhelming but this could be your new baseline. Obviously I could be wrong, but nothing helped me until I started walking and then running. then lifting. now I am in a boxing gym. but if you even walk or take the stairs more you can start helping yourself produce serotonin/dopamine the natural way. instead of looking for a magic cure. Humans were never intended to be sedentary. we all have to move and exercise/ weight gain isn't the only issue with a lack of exercise,. so is depression, lack-of-motivation, anxiety, being anti-social. all simply because your reward system is geared toward something you can no longer provide. without risking your life/health. I promise you if you are able to do 20 min of cardio 3 times a week. you have absolutely nothing to lose, and everything to gain.

[worried878]

k..well the tyrosine helps with energy and motivation,,,5htp helps with sleep and depression...theanine helps anxiety  SAMe helps depression too but is a bit pricey and phenylalanine helps pain and also energy...all of these are amino acids or derivatives of amino acids....it is best to get these individually because when u buy a multi-amino it will not have the amounts recommended and the amounts the brain needs to heal right now

[Nattefrost]

The only thing I took the first week of withdrawl was a very low dose of clonidine (Which I had previously that the doc gave me when I had to go 18-24 hrs in withdrawl before my first sub to keep calm) and a few valium my mom gave me but that as just the first few days when i couldnt sleep. Stuff didnt help anyway. Only thing Im taking now is sam-e (and I keep hearing its for depression and Im not depressed at all) and the b-12 vitamins. I'm still curious of all this other stuff you guys mentioned to me (especially this 2-3000mgs of whatever) Isnt that like taking a thousand pills or something?

[Nattefrost]

Slow down a minute!!!! You're throwing all of these names at me!!!!! (only kidding Im not mad actually happy)
-What is Lyrosinise
-What are "Ad's"
-What is tyrosine
-What is 5htp? and 2-3000 mgs of tyrosine? are those vitamins? Tell me what to do and I'll do it........
-is any of this stuff prescription or otc?
I was recomended by a pharmacist a bottle of b-12 vitamins with alot of amino acids in it. I take one a day. Worried878 are you saying I should be taking more per day?
By the way Its thanksgiving and Im at work in NY at 8:30am and I feel pretty motivated today. I took one sam-e and Yea Ill admit took two b-12 vitamins (My fiance was furious) this morning. Once again dont know if its the pills or natural because when I was in the shower BEFORE i took these i felt great. AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING, GUYS, YOU'VE BEEN A HUGE HELP TO ME THE LAST 17 DAYS ON THIS SITE AND I CAN ACTUALLY ENJOY THE HOLIDAY WITH THE FAMILY FEELING PRETTY NORMAL.

[worried878]

oh...and one thing i made the mistake of doing was not taking the recommended doses of the aminos...it takes 2-3000 mg of tyrosine and phenylalnine to be effective...

[worried878]

tyrosine helped me the most with motivation..it depends on which nuerotransmitter u r deficient in as well..SAMe helps many as does 5htp...exercise helps me more than anything tho

[avisg]

Natte,
Lyrosinse is what helps you with enegry as long a you are not on any ADs

[Nattefrost]

sorry, thought that your "whats your plan" was directed to me.

[Nattefrost]

No plan. Just taking it day by day and hoping the total motivation will eventually come back. Dont forget Ive been off subs totally for 16 days, all wd's are gone, but still dont feel the same. stomach sometimes is a little queazy, too. (especially when I smoke) and I have cut back on that a lot too over the last 2 weeks. Thanks.

[Nattefrost]

And thats what I was already thinking, maybe this stuff takes some time to kick in. sometimes I have the mentality that somethings working and its all in my head. Example, If I had a bad headache and took 2 asprin and laid down and 20 minutes later it was gone, was it the asprin or did it go away naturally? Just like this stuff Im taking now............ If I feel an energy boost id it the stuff or just natural?

[Nattefrost]

I never excercised,so I dont think Ill be going to the gym or anything like that. I'm ususlly all over the place and find myself home alot now. That's my type of excersise is going all over the place. Example: Last night my fiancee said lets go to target and get a new kitchen table and I was like.........Lets check online and other stores online,etc. bottom line I didn't feel like going. I still go places and things, work, etc, but I used to get excited doing ANYTHING. That's how I want to be.

[cattalina]

Remember that everyone's experiences are different with sub and knowledge is power. If you start taking vitamins/aminos it will help you to not feel so out of it. And PAWS is just a term for the symptoms we experience after withdrawals. Which believe it or not - you've been experiencing for the last 18 months already. Again - knowledge is power. You can and will get your life back. It takes alot of hard work - but people on here have done it. Talk to refusingbondage - she was on subs for a couple years and got off of them. This site is a great place to get information and talk to people who have experienced what you have. Defintely stick around! If you want to talk about anything just PM me ok? :)
And yea I think so - that little box that says add to watch list when you're typing a response? I think that's what you want.

[hawaiimed]

I was on Oxy for a year, and now sub for over a year. I was so hoping to get my life back; but I just feel so out of it just like the FAQ page, with detoxing and wd from sub and the part about PAWS.
This is my first day on this site. I will certainly check it out some more.  thanks for responding... Is there a notice by email when a post has been replied to?
anyways good luck to you too.

[cattalina]

How funny - I do the same thing... I'm actually going an extra couple hours today cuz I feel fine. I like the 'as needed basis' method - makes me feel as close to 'normal' as I've ever been in my life! Do you mean 'not yourself' cuz of being on drugs/meds?

[cattalina]

Natte - check the amino acid protocol there's a list of stuff in there to help. Plus give the stuff you're already taking some time to kick in! I feel you on lack of motivation. Really the best way to work thru that is to FORCE yourself to do something. Getting exercise helps increase motivation too. I drag my sorry arse to the gym at least 3 days a week (I've been aiming for 4 lately) and I feel so much better after I sweat it out for awhile. Give it a try, right? What have you got to lose?  :)

[hawaiimed]

Not really; I read about "titration" on another forum, but it seems just too difficult to be that scientific/mathmatic about it. I just take about a 1mg chip or less from my 8mg pill whenever i get squirrely; usually 24 hours of so; it really helps, but I have been so "not myself" for so long.

[cattalina]

I totally empathize with you... been on sub basically the same amount of time - down to 1 mg/day too. My doctor told me a bunch of bs and I blindly believed him. Seems to be how it works pretty frequently tho.  Getting down to 1mg is awesome, I know how much work that takes! Don't feel stuck - you're so much closer now than you were on 4mgs so you're making progress. Do you have any kind of plan from here?

[hawaiimed]

Will looking for a serotonine enhancer from a Psychiatrist help with this detoxing puzzle?
I have lots of trouble feeling just normal; lots of side effects.
I get anxiety too easily whenever any wd's start.
I am very wary of more chemicals, but did have some success with "serotonin" years ago before getting addicted.

[hawaiimed]

I am envious of your situation. Not because you say your are pretty good, but your short time on sub. I have been on it for a yr and half and feel really stuck; especially after reading the long FAQ page.
I am glad i read it though , because my MD says one can stay on sub forever. I take 1mg a day now.

[Nattefrost]

Thanks for the advice. I might look into provigil, but it's not like I have NO motivation. And yes I have Insurance. Thanks laurel453 and ochooked. When you say LONG TIME ochooked how long (on average) do you mean?

[ochooked]

Aminos and vitamins are really good for you.  Let's face it -- you are probably understating the problem ---  The lethargy and lack of energy last a long time after we quit.  There is another prescription you can get from your doctor --- or on line --- It is called Provigil ---  It enhances Dopamine -- a neurotransmitter in the brain that is often depleted by our drug use.  It is NON addictive but seems to really help give a non cafeinated energy boost.  I think you will appreciate having that for a few months.  It may be expensive though unless you have insurance.  It is only a prescription drug in the U.S. - everywhere else it can be bought over the counter.  All the best - and congratulations on getting clean.

[laurel453]

hi, nattefrost..

no, i do not think its bad for you even if you don't feel depressed. From what i know and sure i am not an expert but i believe anxiety has a lot to do with us at this time of recovery and we need to keep a good balance and control of our emotions. sam-e works and helps restoring the levels of serotonine and this, serotonine is low whenever we talk of anxiety.

as for the lack of energy, i think that it has to do with the dopamine levels so i would think in this case  of the l-tyrosine. they both work different..one helps the levels of serotonine and the other the levels of dopamine. after abusing substances we are depleted of both

i would also advice you to keep taking the multivitamins, good eating habits and exercising whenever you can..good luck :)

[Nattefrost]

And is this sam-e supposed to be for depression? because Im not depressed about anything. Is says on the box "Mood Booster" or something like that. I hope Im not doing anything wrong.

[Nattefrost]

and please dont get me wrong here, Im not looking for any buzz or anything like that as Ive been off percs 8 months and subs about 16 days. Those days are over. just want to be a little more motivated. I als noticed cutting back on smoking has helped me feel a little more motivated as Most of my smoking was done doing oxys. anything else I can do?