Clonodine for painkiller withdrawal

[kerri]

I recently discovered that my husband is addicted to prescription pain killers. I actually wrote in to this forum once before about the trust issue and how to cope with this major problem and Brian was kind enough to respond to me - thank you Brian, your comments were very helpful.  I have been reading this almost everyday and have found it so comforting to know that there are others out there going through the same thing.  I've also learned alot about the drug, addiction, and recovery.  However, I am still having a hard time dealing with it, especially trusting him again. He's lied to me since I've known him (3 years), and we only got married about 6 months ago.

Anyway, my question today has to do with clonodine. When I confronted him about his problem, he decided that he could quit on his own and weaned himself off. He was clean for about 7 weeks but had a relapse when he took 4 pills at a weak moment. Thankfully he was honest with me and told me that he did it. Of course I was furious, but got over it rather quickly when he finally realized that he needed professional help. So, he called counsellors and went to his family doctor who prescribed a clonodine patch. My questions are this:

1. I know that clonodine is used to ease the withdrawal symptoms, but by only taking four at one time, would he even go through withdrawal again?

2. What is clonodine and how does it help the symptoms? I read that it lowers blood pressure but he said that in the first few days it actually made him feel hyper. He's been on it a week and hasn't felt much different.

At this point, I think it is mostly mental for him now. I am very happy that he has sought professional help, because there is only so much I can do to support him... in between my occasional fits of anger, mistrust, suspicion, etc. I am trying to be as supportive as I can but I'm still having a hard time forgiving him for lying to me for so long.

So, if anyone knows anything about clonodine or has any insights into coping with a loved one who is addicted, please write back.

Thank you.

[heidi_bayus]

thank you so much for replying. I was on suboxone last june then weened myself off and felt fine but since then i got back on oxy. in a day i was doing 2 to 3 oxy 80mg,12 -14 30mg percocet, and fentanyl patches. ive been off everything cold turkey except my methadone  for 2 weeks. today was my last dose of methadone. i could easily get a prescription for my dones, but i want to get off everything. i have a very high tolerance.my doctor said for me to take the naloxone and it would put me in complete withdrawl, and the phenobarb would help me sllep through the worst part of it. you are correct, the hospitals do give naloxone to patients who have overdosed and it pretty much brings them back from death. im so sick of living this life,you know im just sooo tired. i think with me when i go through withdrawls i dont eat wich makes me feel way worse. last time i went cold turkey from my methadone i went from 118 to 97 pounds in a matter of 2 weeks. it just makes me feel better that i can talk to people. once again thank you i appreciate it

[lisa650]

hi there my suggestion is that you read up on the pills that you plan on taking.  first of all clonodine is a high blood pressure medications that is very effective in helping with withdrawals.  I have taken them before...now phenobarbital is to prevent seizures on people who suffer from epilepsy and i have also taken them,  for withdrawals, but i wonder what part the naloxone plays in all this because, that can take you into immediate withdrawals if you still have certain opiates in your system. right people?if im wrong please correct me, but i am pretty sure that is what its for. Just please make sure the clonodine  is compatible with the other stuff . you might not want to mix the stuff,  I would try the clonodine first and give your body time to get rid of any opiates then after about 12 to 14 hours,never mind i just noticed you were taking methadone also, yeah do some research or better yet call your local pharmacist, you dont have to give your name, just ask them,  im tyring to remember when i was on methadone over 12 years ago they had mentioned a drug that the hospitals give to people when they overdose and that reverses the effects of methadone and things like that,  i'm thinking it was naloxone or could it be naltrazone, cant remember.  my point is this, my friend was using methadone and tried to quit by taking suboxone which contains naloxone but since she still had high amounts of methadone she went into horrible withdrawals that is why people have to wait 2 days when going from methadone to suboxone also they have to taper to a low dose at least 30mgs.  please dont risk taking the naloxone if you have recently taken methadone, you would probably be better of with the clonodine.  I hope you read this and post here soon, becasude i will be worried about you

[GoingToMakeIt]

This is an old post. So, copy your and start a new one at the top of page. (Post a Question) button

[heidi_bayus]

hi i came across this today and it really helps me i have been addicted to oxycontin fentanyl patches and methadone for a very long time. today was the last of my methadone and i am trying very hard to quit once again. i have clonodine but im not sure how much and for how long i should take it. my doctor also prescribed me naloxone and phenobarbital together to detox quickly. i havent taken any yet, cause im not sure how i will react. if anyone can give me advice i would really appreciate it

[D11]

Thank you creepah,

you obviously know what you are talking about!!! and i thank you for stepping up and expressing what you feel is the best and obviously the most effective way to get through these tuff times!!

I myself stated taking pain meds for about 10 years now, and it started from having to have full knee replacement surgery my freshman year in college, where i was on a scholarship.  If anyone has been through that type of surgery they tell you 6 to 8 months before you can go back to playing sports, however if anyone has played college sports, espically on a full ride, you know that is not the answer!! I was back on the feild with in 2 months, playing w/a volleyball knee pad and a donjoy brace to support my leg.  From that point, i would get injections into my knee almost every day before a game, and i would get handed a handful of pills and they would shoot me out to the field!!
Obviously you could only imagine where this winded up w/ me, ive been through 3 more knee surgeries, and about 2 years ago things got a lot worse.  I never really complained about pain before, until about 2 years ago when i started doing brazillian jujitsu.. well needless to say fighting and grappling w/ someone one day i tweaked my back out so bad that i lost all feeling in my right leg... went to the doctor ,and apparently i had 2 herninated disc w/ a pinch nerve, i was 25 years old! I went to neurologist, pain specialist, acupuncture, phsyical therapy, i tired it all!!

and the only thing i ever got from any doctor was medication and a "run-around" about my injury.  Alot of Dr.s told me that i was too young to have surgery and that if i ever wanted to be an active person agian that it was the wrong move at my age!! so they just pumped me full of more and more medicine! Its been 2 years since this... and my addiction to pain med has grown so freaking high that its ridiculous to maintain a daily routine anymore!! Taking pain meds for 10 years, my body was always had a high tolerence, so to maintain this back injury (which ive have broken almost everyone bone, tore ligamints, muscle, have had 11 concusions, etc etc).... so to maintain my actual pain i was taking a crazy amount of pills!
Recently i told myself (for the 2nd time) i am done w/ this sh*t... and i am currently going through my 2nd week of being free from any medication.  my 1st attempt i took myself to florida and sat by pool side and smoked weed everyday, and at night took some kind of sleeping pill or somethign to get me through the night.  I would say it was deff a hard week, but after the 1st week i found it to get much easier!! for me it was mind of matter!!
I did relapse, because the plan i had last time didnt work and i had no other idea to do at the time... So i started back up w/ the pills agian.  Now i was easily taking 60 norco a day along w/ at least 25 somas.  If it wasnt that i was taking aproxi 25 roxicodone 30mg tabs also with at lesat 25 somas. so I completey understand where all of you are coming from!!
However last week, between the money the lieing, and all the BS that comes along with all this ****, i told myself i am done!! I am currently on suboxone, and like i explained the 1st week was deff not easy but i found it to be much more easy keeping myself busy and doing things to try and speed the process of any endorphine process to grow back!!
I am also on litacane patches as well for the pain in my back, they help only a little bit, but at this point in my life, i am almost enjoing myself suffer through this, to remind myself this is NOT the way i want to live!! Nothing comes easy in life and theres never a quik fix!!
The first thing i did was explain to all the important people in my life what has been going on in my life and ill be honest i didnt get much love or support for it, i was kinda lookd down apon as weak, and how could i let this happen to myself!! So trust me when i say i know what tough is, because imagine how you feel now or how you did, and then imagine the closes people in your life, your girl your father, your mother, brothers friends, looking at you in disgrace!! the 1st 2 days where the worst and i basically took off from work and laid in bed all day depressd... till the 3rd day, and i told myself im not taking this sh*t anymore forced myself to get up and went for a bike ride.  
Today i feel great, and i am down to barely taking a 1/4 of suboxone a day. I was prescribed to take three 8mg suboxones a day for the 1st week, andn then 2 tablets the 2nd week and so on, however, im taking only what i need to get by. Some may not think that is the smartest thing to do but this is the way i am choosing to do it, and my idea to get myself to a clean lifestyle asap!!
Thank you for all your comments and allthe post ive read, it has helpd me through so much these past 2 weeks, since this is my 1st post! You all were a huge inspiration to me to just suck it up and get through it, everyday gets a little better!! just remember that!! !
Good luck to all, i wish the best for everyone!!!
and trust me i wouldnt wish those withdrawals on my worst enemy!!!
Godbless...
DJ


  

[creepah]

From what I have read, everyone has a common problem; they want a quick fix to avoid the suffering of withdrawal...and there is none. Think about what you have just done to your body. Your brain has stopped producing nature endorphins because it's received it through pill form. Now it has to regulated itself and begin the reproduction process, which takes time.

If you are going through withdrawal, deal with it. You made your bed, you pissed in it, now you're sleeping in it. Sorry if it's tough love but that's the way it is. Understand that you have done this to yourself. Do not expect people to feel sorry for you when you are going through withdrawal. What’s good about these forums is that they are very informative and coordinate support from other addicts. You are an addict; admit it and you have begun your recovery process. I've been reading postings all night about people who don't know what to do and they hate the feeling of withdrawal and want it to stop. I know it *****, I know it's painful and there is no immediate medication.

I've gone through withdrawal several times from opiate and opioid addiction. It is the most difficult task of my entire life. But if you sulk around and feel sorry for yourself, the withdrawal is even worse. What I've done that's been most beneficial is exercise. Even if you don't run, do it; your body will produce those nature endorphins at a faster pace, resulting in a "softer withdrawal." Drink water, take NyQuill at night, get your hands on some Xanax. I've found that Xanax or Valium help with my withdrawal because it calms me down and I don't get such anxiety. Smoke a little pot if you have to, anything to get your mind off of withdrawal. Addiction, to me, is 60% mental and 40% physical.

The worst part about withdrawal is not being able to sleep. Tossing and turning all night is the worst feeling and I would actually leave the apartment at 3am and walk around the city. I always found that if you stay busy, forcing yourself to do tasks that you would normally do on drugs, it helps. I know it ***** and you're not motivated but you have to do it. I used to do everything on opiates; they motivate me. From my experience, I don't nod out on dope or oxy or vic's, I would do a little and go clean my apartment for example. Then, when I didn't have any drugs, I wouldn't do **** except sit around feeling sorry for myself. That is the absolute worst thing you can do. Drugs are very habit forming and please realize that you have to mentally break drug forming habits.

I've also found that when I cannot sleep, if you conduct research about your addiction/withdrawal and learn from other people, then you realize that you are not alone. This is very important; support from others is critical.

So, to sum up:
1. Exercise
2. Force Yourself to Keep Busy
3. Continue to read about addiction