IV Dilaudid withdrawal

[Bullylove]

Please help me. I have been tapering my IV dilaudid use for about a week and now have been without anything for 24 hours! I am experiencing hot/cold chills and need to get back to work (as a nurse) on Friday (today is Tuesday). I have had bad diarrhea too and have been taking diazepam, Imodium, benadryl and ibuprofen. I have a doctors appt this evening I think she'll give me clonidine. How long should I expect this to last! Any other home remedies to speak of? Should I try to walk or exercise to get the medicine out faster? Will it only get worse??

[Teresa1717]

Im so glad that you were feeling better today!! :) I think going for a run is an awesome idea! Im in pretty fit too and so the lack of energy was so hard on me! I started walking though at day 3 and then started running again on Day 10 and I felt so much better! (until I blew out my knee and had surgery last week hahaha) But I think it really helped me alot to get back some of that energy!

I also Take B12 SL tabs. They are MUCH better than the pills because the absorption rate is higher! These have given me that boost I need!

Anyways, Great job and keep moving forward!

[Bullylove]

You are an amazing group of people! I've actually felt really good today, my boyfriend and I took the dogs for a long walk...stayed up from 11am-until now! That's a first since this all started! I could almost say I was about 65% normal for an hour or so today. I took a hot bath and then spent $100 at Walgreen's on junk! Now I'm exhausted, but so glad that cramping or aching has commenced! I'm planning on going for a run (usually really fit albeit my loss of 10 lbs the last 10 days) on Saturday. We'll see...I was thinking of trying B12, B5 instead of coffee....any other ideas of energy boosters? I really don't have any problem sleeping...

BEST to my savior strangers....xoxo

[vicki595]

As the doctor said, take the patch off for awhile before bed. That way you'll have a baseline for how you really feel...it can make you very drowsy as you're finding out!

The OJ will help the legs and if you have some Tonic Water in the house, it's great for leg cramps and RLS. Most people don't like the taste of it but I kind of like it...

Sleep well. Good night-

[Pat1956100]

I just wanted to offer my support as well and tell you that the fresh air will feel fantastic.  Force yourself to go for a walk, even if it's only around the block.  I am still forcing myself to do things but I love breathing in that fresh air.  I have really missed it.
You will be so proud of yourself and feel so much better if you do it.
I know how hard it is.  Actually, we all do.
Keep posting and I hope you are feeling better soon.

[Teresa1717]

Hi Bullylove! Not much I can add to what these lovely people have already said but I just wanted to offer my support and let you know your not alone in this! While our DOC may be different our recognition of how bad this addiction has become and the want to stop is the same! You can do this, and we are all here to help you!!

[ImDONENoMore]

This is good.  You're thinking ahead and doing what you can to set yourself up for success.  Super important that we have a good plan in place and you have a Dr. to turn to when needed.

Definitely try the walk in the morning.  The fresh air will feel great.  And the lethargy is frustrating but it will end.  I promise.  :)

[Bullylove]

Thank you all so very much! I have been taking benzo's periodically for 4-5 years and have never taken more than 1-2/week, so thank you, but my Dr OK'ed and in addition to the Trazadone (which I've always been adverse to taking) I am sleeping well, if not too much.

This is my first experience with dependency of any kind, so I"M SO GRATEFUL that I found this forum to vent and, more importantly, get valued information and feedback. My diarrhea has stopped, albeit Immodium OD, and now I'm starting to eat. My boyfriend made me a protein shake earlier and I have been nibbling on crackers. I was 8 lbs down from normal at the doc's office last night...

I've sworn to (well I'm an athiest) my future husband and doctor that this is such a shameful process that I will NEVER do it again...I'm actually thinking of switching from Oncology to and less PCA-available department...just to forgo any possible temptation. YES so much to lose!! My partner, my career, respect from my family, money....I just want to be back to the normal, fun-loving, life of the party me by xmas.

My MD said that if I felt too lethargic I could take the clonidine patch off for a bit...thought I might try it and take a walk in the morning. :)

Right now lethargy is my number one battle, I'm still dreading the possibility of muscle cramping....

Thanks again everyone, it means more than you know that you are here as complete strangers helping me get through this!

[vicki595]

All opiate wd's are pretty unpleasant and this one is particularly so...it's in your favor that it's only been 6 months. I'm going to warn you, though, to go easy with that Valium you have because I hate benzos and that's an addiction you don't want.

Don't expect anything from yourself for a few days...you'll be disappointed! LOL.  Please promise you won't do this anymore. You have so much to lose and jail is horrible...

[ImDONENoMore]

That's great that you connected with the Dr. and found help from her.  That's going to help a lot.

Feeling weak is totally normal.  Frustrating, but normal.  It will take some time so just expect that.  I basically lived in bed for the first few days, but getting up and moving around will help a ton when you're feeling up to it.

Were you able to sleep last night with the meds she prescribed to you?  Sleep is usually the last thing to return to normal.  That and the low energy levels.  But they both eventually even out.

You're almost at day 2!  :)

[Lovemomof2]

I'm here with you. I'm on day 3 and I will say I'm improving. Yesterday, I could only get up to get water. Today, I could do more. Hang in there, everyday gets better. I took a really high amount of roxicodone so I know what you are feeling. Just know you are not alone! I feel a lot of what you feel...ashamed, embarrassed....but we are doing the right thing now getting off this!!!

[Bullylove]

I'm on my 39th hour...My MD is really awesome (and let me break down start bawling and hugging her), prescribed me clonidine patches and trazodone for sleep. She encouraged orange juice and ibuprofen/tylenol for pains...which have only really started in my back and I think that's because I've been sleeping so much. Tomorrow I'm going to try to take a walk outside...My MD has cleared me for for until AT LEAST Tuesday...

I started using casually about 6 months ago, but didn't really develop a dependency until 1-2 months ago. They were not prescribed to be, I came upon them as an adjunct to my job as a nurse, at my highest I was using 15-30 mg IV daily...just experimenting at first...BAD MISTAKE.

The biggest problem now is just that I am so weak, I can't do much but go to the fridge for OJ and come back...maybe it's the clonidine I dunno.

Thanks everyone for suggestions, please keep them coming.

[vicki595]

I feel badly that you're alone...it doesn't help. Just keep posting here, there's always someone around.

The hot baths really feel wonderful. Get some Epsom salts and put a cupfull in the bath. It's great stuff and will replace the magnesium that leaches out of our muscles during opiate use...that's what causes the RLS.

Let us know how the Dr. Appt. went.

[ImDONENoMore]

Don't panic.  We get through the withdrawal.  It's tough, yes, but it's totally doable and vicki made some great suggestions.  And I promise you, the withdrawal will END.

And you didn't say,  but how long have you been taking these meds?  And I'm guessing they were prescribed to you?   Because depending on how long you've been taking them seems to determine, somewhat, how long the withdrawals will last.

Welcome to the forum! :)

[Bullylove]

You have no idea how much I can thank you, Vicki. I am desperate, depressed, embarrassed and alone. Hopefully I can see my MD asap and hopefully the worst is not to come.

[vicki595]

The clonidine is going to help you quite a bit...

I'm not sure if there are any current members who have been through exactly this but if there are, you'll hear from them.

Try to get fluids in on your own, especially Gatorade. I'm a nurse,also, and I'll tell you this: you do not want to go to the ER for any treatment.  

[Bullylove]

Thanks so much for responding. I just finally took a hot shower after two days of nothing but sleeping restlessly. I cannot believe that as a health care professional I got myself into this...I finally broke down and told my boyfriend today who is amazingly supportive! I just keep waiting for the worst to come and I don't trust information from anyone except those who have actually been through it! I was thinking about going to the ER for hydration but I know from the marks on my arms they would do a urine drug screen and I can't risk my nursing license! PLEASE, anyone else who has experienced IV dilaudid withdrawal PLEASE offer input. You're all I've got.

Bullylove

[vicki595]

Usually, the third day is the worst of the wd's...everyone's different, though. Be sure to force fluids and definitely get some exercise and don't just sit around.

You may experience RLS. Get some potassium/mag supplements for that and try hot soaks in the tub. Also, a good MultiVit, protein drinks, and Gatorade.

You might not feel good enough to go to work on Friday, there's no way of knowing for sure.  Good luck with this!