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Opiates

I have been addicted to percosets and OxyContin for 2, almost 3 years now. I first started doing percs for fun with friends, and as time went by I noticed I needed more and more to get "high" then soon noticed that if I didn't have any within a day or 2 I would get really really sick and withdrawl, puke have "the runs" can't eat, can't sleep, swore back.. So I would do more and more, now percs don't really get my high unless I do a big amount, so I started taking OxyContin.. At first only 20mg a day.. Now I'm at 2 80mgs a day. I am so sick if I don't have anything, I know there is people out there who take a lot more then I do in a day, but that doesn't change my addiction. Now because I am so use to doing these pills, I don't know how to live life without them, and I am still young I am only 18. I hate it now though, I hate how this addiction is affecting me and changing me, I want to become a better person and I want a good future. I am a completely different person becaus of these pills and this addiction. I don't want to tell my family and go to rehab not because I'm scared to get in trouble, but because I have lost a brother to a cocain overdose and it would break my family's heart to know another family member is addicted to drugs.
The worst part now is that I am so depressed if I don't take any of these pills everyday, I'm not sure how to deal with my emotions without them anymore, I don't event deal with my emotions I just use these drugs to cope with them. It's like I'm scared of my own emotions so I take the drugs to get high and numb them . I am no longer like any normal person who deals with their emotions, I numb them with a high from drugs..
Please give me some tips and advise on becoming clean and STAYING clean.
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Avatar universal
What is this naltrexone treatment shot once a month. To help w staying sober can u giv me more details
Helpful - 0
1684282 tn?1614701284
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
You should turn to your family for help specifically because you lost a sibling to drugs. Do you realize how much pain a parent goes through in losing a child? If something happens to you and your parents knew you did not turn to them for help when you needed it, don't you think it would hurt them even more?
There is really no easy way of detoxing from home. Realization that you have hit the bottom sometimes makes your determination to get clean more serious and lets you get the the tough points of withdrawals with the help of your commitment. The road up is not easy.  
I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves.  I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic. Codeine is a short acting opiate so that the worst of your withdrawals should not last for more than a week.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates). Please explore this option with your parents' help. I know we help many people get clean and stay clean,
At home, the basic technique is to take less and less every day by cutting down by about half a pill every one or two days until you are down to nothing. See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep.
Clonidine is very helpful  for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier.  Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself.  It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Take a look at my blogs about options for detox and recovery. You may also take a look at my clinic website where I also have my blogs and a lot of other info about drug addiction and recovery. Look especially into the blog and the info on Naltrexone therapy after getting clean. It really improves your chances of staying clean for good by cutting down your physical cravings. Look into my clinic website as well. All this can be done by clicking on my name in blue and on clinic logo.
There is a injectable form available now that is covered by all major medical insurances called Vivitrol that you would need to get only once monthly to stay clean. Just keep it in mind for the future. Good luck to you.  
Helpful - 0

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