Need Some Support

[Debdek]

I am on day 2 of trying to get off of 6 years of Lortabs, Oxy, Percocet,and Methadone.  It all started 6 years ago when I went to a mental health clinic because I had been feeling extremely depressed and crying for several weeks.  They put me on some anti-depressants, xanex, klonopin, and Lortabs,  I have been going every month for 6 years and have graduated to Percocet - 125 per month, Oxy - 60 per month,  Xanex 90 per month, klonopin 60 per month. About 4 months ago Methadone was added to my diet of pills.  I thought this was normal stuff.  After all, they are prescription, right? I get them from a real pharmacy. Surely the pharmasist would tell me if this was a dangerous mix.  My insurance covers about 80% of the drugs and the office visit is only a $20 co-pay.  Surely, I cannot be addicted?  I go to work every day. But I am still in pain.  Last week I went to a different doctor because I am still in pain and when I filled out the paperwork I was honest and listed all medications I was taking. This doctor Freaked Out and said Where are you getting all these pills? From a Pain Clinic?  I said no, from a mental health doctor. This new doctor scheduled me for blood work, x-rays, and is scheduling me for some treatments for Rheumatoid Arthritis and told me that I am looking at a hip replacement because of the damage from a car accident that happened about 20 years ago.  I came home and decided I would stop taking all these painkillers that weren't helping me.  After all, I can't be addicted, they aren't even helping me.  I am still in pain.  Why am I taking them? And I was worried that if I had to have this surgery, I might die from the anesthesia like Michael Jackson.  I even asked the doctor prescribing them if all these celebrities were dying from painkillers, wasn't what I was taking dangerous?.  He laughed at me and said that's because they don't follow the directions.  Well, I found out fast that I am SEVERELY addicted.  I am twitching, having chills, sweats, can't sleep, can't think, can't function and feel like am going to DIE. I am alone and have nobody to talk to, nobody to call because I just realized that I don't have any friends. How did I get in this mess?  How will I survive these withdrawals?   I found this site today when I Googled how to detox from prescription painkillers and I watched the video The Oxy Express.  Guess what?? I live in Florida.

[shadow740]

I know some people have had their problems with methadone, but it saved my life.  I was a heroin addict and without methadone I would either be dead or still a heroin addict.  i came off methadone with no problem whatsoever.  They tapered me off slowly.  It doesn't get me high, it doesn't get me anything...just not craving opiates.

I think some of the people who had a bad experience with methadone are also people on a cocktail of drugs.

There is a science behind why methadone works.  It's the only thing that got my bf off oxy and he suffered from oxy for almost 10 years on and off and said he would trade oxy for anything because of the grip it had on him.

[shiningstar500]

I wish you all the best and I hope you start to feel better soon. Glad you are going to your doctors for guidence!

[Debdek]

Hey everyone,
I am on day 9 now and still feeling the WD. I went to my doctor and he was so mad at me for going off my meds and said I could have died.  Thank you for everyone's advice to take Klonopin.  The doctor said that is probably what saved me.  So I am hanging in there, in extreme pain and still not sleeping much at all.  My mind is still racing and my thought process is still messed up.  I appreciate everyone's help keeping me alive and giving me the support to fight this battle!

[Debdek]

I am now alternating klonopin and xanex.  I thought I was doing great but the past 2 days have proven to me that I need to take is slower and allow myself to heal and rest. I didn't think the pain meds were helping, but now that I am not taking them, I can tell they were helping take the edge off the pain because I am in a lot of pain now.  I was not able to go to work yesterday or today, I feel like I am on a boat, dizzy.  Thank you all for your kind words of encouragement.

[Debdek]

I am starting to have cravings already.  It's kind of like when I quit smoking, the same kind of feeling.  I feel it in my mouth, near the back of my tongue.  I might need to take some xanex to curb it.  Plus that will help me sleep tonight too. I took a kolonopin this morning so it should be ok to take the xanex now?

[gnarly_1]

Hi .....good to see you posting and im glad you went back on the clonapine ...you may need to take the xanex to it hits its own brain receptor  and you may start to feel a bit more anxiety without it....get a hold of your doctor and get a proper taper plan for both the clonipine and the xanex ..they make both in small dose pills xanex comes in .25--.50and 1mg so they use a combination of them to bring you down at .25 every week or so clonipine is done the same way...your doctor can write out scrips for 2 weeks worth at a time thats what my doctor did to get me off of xanex  its a slow and uncomfortable process but its doable if you want off of them....your doing supizingly well with the narcotic withdrawal witch is a good thing hang in there you will get threw it...just remember to take your time with the clonipine and xanex
your not trying to win a race just trying to get your life back and good things come if you wait for them...keep posting for support and that N/A meeting would be a really good idea it will help with the mental angle on this thing good luck and God bless....Gnarly    

[bucksfan]

Oh dont be scared of mentals lasting that long, just that most opiate relapses occur within that time frame. I am about to start day 17 and still fighting the mental battle but its not that bad just moments vs. the whole day.

[Debdek]

You know bucksfan, that is exactly how I feel.  Like the fog is lifting!  I wrote my daughter a long letter today and I used those exact words to her.  Thank you for that validation! I needed to hear that.  That's real encouragement for me to hear.  There is an NA meeting on Sat nights at a church close enough for me to walk to, so I am planning to go next Sat. I am really nervous about that though. It is going to be really hard.  I hope I don't chicken out.  Wow, 24 months! That's a long time. Thanks for letting me know. I never want to go through this again.  

[bucksfan]

Keep it up Debdek, the fog is lifting! The mental games are next but as long as you stay busy you will be fine. Remember to continue to take vitamins & workout as your brain needs to rewire itself this will help do it faster! Since the physicals are lifting work will be good thing to help keep your mind off pills. I read that 90% of opiate relapses occur within 24 months and are from the mental withdrawals so stay motivated and dont let your guard down!

[Debdek]

Hi everyone,
Today is day 4 since I quit my meds and I am feeling so much better, with the help of the Klonopin.  After everyone told me yesterday that quitting all of them at the same time was dangerous, I got back on klonopin, at half the dose I was used to taking. It did the trick! Within 45 minutes I calmed down and the shaking and twitching subsided a lot and I actually slept last night for the first time in 4 nights! What a relief. Nights sure are long when you can't sleep and when you're mind is racing a million miles an hour and your thought process can't handle even watching TV it's pretty darn scary.  Anyway I am feeling well, drinking lots of water, eating healthy foods and now, getting rest.  Tomorrow I have to back to work for the first time since quitting so I am kind of nervous about that.  Today I drove around the block to make sure I would be able to drive to work since I haven't done that since quitting the meds.  It was a little weird but it will be ok.  I hope everyone is having a great Labor Day!

[Debdek]

Gracie6~
Please read this part if my post again;
I can't believe you were prescribed lortab, oxy's, methadone and xanax all together and from the same doc.. if you need oxy's then the lortab isn't working anymore.. but wait, your not even if physical pain... you were given these med's for depression??  you could overdose so easily on any combination of those drugs, tolerance or not, you can take them 1000 times and be fine, then all of a sudden you take the same mixture, same dosage and it's lights out.... I'm sorry but your doctor sounds like nothing more than a pill doc, and I hope you go to someone else for help other than him, because he will just throw more pills at you...

If you read my entire post you would have seen that I also suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis.  I have many more problems causing me pain like the pain from an auto accident that  I was in where my pelvis was broken in 5 places and my right hip was also broken. This was 20 years ago and now my hip has become bone rubbing on bone and I need a hip replacement.  I just didn't feel it was necessary to post all of my medical history, but since you didn't understand that I am in severe pain, you have made me feel the need to justify myself.  Please don't be so judgmental and assume things that you don't understand or are privy to all of the information.

[Gracie6]

When I tried to get off oxy's many years ago I couldn't do it.. the withdrawls were intense and lasted weeks, I'd give it every time.  I met a dr that owned a methadone clinic and referred me. If I could do it over again, I would have never done that. All I did was trade one physically addictive drug for an even more physically addictive drug.  Only difference is they say you can lead a nomral life taking methadone. Which I've noticed methadone given for opiate maintanance is different than the pills given for pain. First off I know not all agree, but I am very strongly against the prescribing methadone for pain. It is not a good candidate for pain especially if it's chronic. Your body adjusts so quickly to it, that it doesn't take long at all to feel pain quite normally while even on a high dose. I took 100 mg's a day for years and when I'd get home from work my feet were killing me just as bad as they ever did before I was introduced to opiates. Not only that, it fills in the opiate receptors, which is great for people battling cravings, but people needing pain relief have their opiate receptors all filled up and no other medication can get in to help.

I'm reading about people who are prescribed methadone, lortab, oxy's etc.. How do these quack doctors stay in business? first off like I said, the methadone will cancel out the other two even being able to help. And if it's chronic pain, which is normally is, they need to take 30 mg's or more.. and anything from 30-50 is a blocking dose. This means your receptiors that opiates fill up are completely sealed up and no other medication can get in.

I can't believe you were prescribed lortab, oxy's, methadone and xanax all together and from the same doc.. if you need oxy's then the lortab isn't working anymore.. but wait, your not even if physical pain... you were given these med's for depression??  you could overdose so easily on any combination of those drugs, tolerance or not, you can take them 1000 times and be fine, then all of a sudden you take the same mixture, same dosage and it's lights out.... I'm sorry but your doctor sounds like nothing more than a pill doc, and I hope you go to someone else for help other than him, because he will just throw more pills at you...


I am slowly tapering off methadone, I've been on it since 1999, so this is a very scary thing for me, but there is no turning back. I'm down to 30 mg's and will go down 5 mgs a month, until I get to 10mg's and I won't know until then how fast the last 10 can be done. But if you've been on those 6 years, you will have to taper very slowly.. and please do not let a dr keep you on all 4. That is so irresponsible, especially since I didn't read any reason for you to be prescribed pain killers in the first place... And there are other anti-anxiety medications that are great, and much easier to ease off of than xanax. Now contrary to what a poster said in her reply, you CAN withdraw too fast. Especially with a dependance to xanax.. not to mention xanax and methadone combined. People can go into seizures if they go cold turkey or drop down too fast...  The withdrawls are from a physical dependence so right now your body needs an opiate especially to keep from being very sick and very sore. if you don't give it at least the minimal amt of what it needs it can basically go into overdrive from the rapid onset of mass symptoms, you basically start to overheat and then seize. Does this happen for everyone? No, but a good way to make sure it doesn't happen to you, is to not go cold turkey.  If you end up in a methadone clinic (because maintanance is different than the treatment of pain) then please don't go any higher in dosage than what you absolutely have to have to be comfortable, and tell them you are not interested in staying on it. They normally will start you on 30 mg's. but this is different than the small pills they give you from the pharmacy. this dosage will last a minimum of 24 hrs. some say it's 12 but thats if the person has a very high metabolism, and they're usually men.


I am being prescribed phenegran for nausea, that works great for me.. Anxiety which is the worst symptom for me, also makes the other symptoms much worse. If and when the anxiety kicks in, I have buspar to treat it.. Its a non-narcotic anti-anxiety medication. Some don't care for it, but the ones who respond to it, normally do very well on it. I have taken it before so I didn't want to gamble with meds that may or may not work well for me. Most importantly, its non-narcotic. Theres also vistaril which is another good non narcotic anxiety reliever. I have liquid immodium if the need arises, and if my blood pressure becomes an issue I will use a clonodine patch.. someting like that, can't remember the spelling.. Not sure what may help chills and sweats, I'm still researching, but I know for me, if the anxiety and vomitting can be controlled that in itself eases the sweats....

Tapering works, but sometimes we'll get intense withdrawls even if we taper very slowly.. fact is we don't know how it will go for us until its happening.. I'm not taking any chances and sometimes just knowing your prepared can in itself lessen that panic feeling, that brings on the other symptoms in full force....

Sorry to be so long winded, but this is just such an important topic. If you truly want to be free of these drugs, then no matter what else you do, don't trust the same doctor that had you on 4 physically addictive drugs, 3 of which are the hardest and most dangerous drugs to mess with going either up or down to fast. if your not in pain.

Not to add more worry, but believe it or not, there is a very common and large misconception going on here and in many forums that discuss this. And that is the fact that the physical part of the withdrawls belive it or not are the easiest part. Through tapering and other non narcotic meds to keep the symptoms from coming unbearable, you can succeed at this part much easier than the 2nd part...

I've heard it named "The blah's" after any withdrawls u experience do subside is when the hard long term work starts. Opiate dependence causes the brain to stop producing endorphins (sp?). The feelings of well being and happiness gradually come from the drug and not your brain. Your brain has to learn to supply these again. Theres really no way to know for sure how long it will take each individual but it ranger from a few weeks to unfortunately a few years. And for some the brain will be capable of that again. Those are people who unfortunately become methadone maintanance lifers. the average person this happens to is someone who used heroine or other injectable opiates for a many many years and/or methadone at a very high dose for many years. Sometimes the brain has been altered so severely or for so long that it's no longer able to do this without help. However, it can occur to anyone, it all depends on drug usage, duration, genetics, health. Tons of things can be a factor. .. I have been on methadone 11 years but wasn't a real heavy opiate user for very long.. about a year on oxy's. In fact methadone to me was stronger than the oxy's. I was not a proper candidate. But I got on methadone not because  I was seeking to get off oxy's. I lost my supplier and was tired of being deathly ill for a long time so I didn't care, I just wanted something. Had I not been trying to get through withdrawal with no pharmaceutical help, I would have been successful.  

I think some dont know that non-narcotic meds can be tremendous helpers for some symptoms. And since we are trying to get off a drug, we think we aren't suppose to use other medications.. I think its unrealistic to expect to get through it without help. Just don't use help that can develop into another dependance. we did that already by getting on methadone in the first place lol...

[GoingToMakeIt]

Great news. Take care of yourself. You will get through this.

[Debdek]

Hi Everyone,
Thank you so much for leading me in the right direction. I am back on klonopin and feeling much better. They said the methadone is already out of my system and didn't see any reason to start me back on it since I am through most of it now. I am finally relaxing and feel like I will be able to get some rest. I have a cell phone number of a drug counselor to call if I get scared and she will call me later to do a "welfare check".  I will keep you posted.

[GoingToMakeIt]

If you can make it, go to the ER. With that many different drugs, it may be wise to seek a Drs help. We just want you safe.

[vicki595]

On second thought...go to Urgent Care and get checked out...it would really be better to speak to a medical professional in person...

[vicki595]

Take the xanax and stay on the methadone....just do that...try not to worry...see a docotr on Tuesday...

[Debdek]

I don't know what to do since the doctors office is closed. Should I go to the Urgent Care clinic or just take a Xanex?  Holiday weekends are bad for me!  This whole nightmare started on a holiday weekend.

[GoingToMakeIt]

You are here for some help and advice. The unanimous advice is to NOT go cold turkey!
We have taken the time to read your post and to try to help you. It would be wise of you to use the advice given. It is based on many years of collective knowledge.

We all want you and each other to get clean. But, we want to see you do it safely. Don't risk having a huge seizure. It could end very badly and we don't want to see you being hurt.

[LeaAnn807]

Hi honey!  You need to TAPER the benzos.  That is the klonopin and xanax.  The methadone needs to be tapered too.  The WD from it may not have even started yet.  Please talk to your doctor soon, but you need to NOT go cold turkey from the xanax and klonopin, ok?

[vicki595]

You read the other posts,right?

DO NOT cold turkey from xanax and klonopin. It's dangerous...I'd take that xanax to cover the seizure you may have...

[Debdek]

Thank you everyone for your support.  I am 76 hours with no sleep, shaking still, chills and sweating like the flu. I have not had any diarrhea.  This is Day 3. If I were going to have anything worse, when will it start?  How long does it take to get all of this out of the system?  Today is Sunday, worse than that it is a holiday weekend and there are no doctors open. Only the hospital ER and I don't want to go there.  My daughter got home from work about 10pm last night and she will be here for a couple of hours this morning and then she goes to work again.  She will be gone for about 8 hours and then will be here for the night.  Tomorrow I am off work, but I have to go in on Tues.  Do you think I should take a Xanax and try to get some sleep?

[gnarly_1]

HI ...man they got you on quite a cocktail of meds...I agree with the above posters that C/Ting
might not be the best way to go....for 1 it is outright dangerous to quit the xanex and clonipine cold turkey you could go into seizures you need the help of your doctor to tapper off them slowly ...now the oxy and the lortabs you can just quit the methadone you could just quit but I wouldn't recommend it ....it should be tapered off gradually to avoid horific withdrawals so this is quite a mess your in here...the best thing you could do is get a doctor involved and tell them you want to get off everything but do it properly when your on a cocktail like your on its dangerous to just jump off...way to much interaction between meds
keep in mind this site is all about do it yourself detoxing but sometimes we caution ageist it for safety concerns please believe us and seek professional help good luck and God bless.....Gnarly    

[Ourdukes4ever]

Hold on a second, you can't go cold turkey, like they said above, you have to taper. Please go and ask your doctor, or call him in the morning and ask for help.  They have to help you.  Especially because of those other drugs. If it was just the Lortab alone, then that would be different. Those are hard enough and should also be tapered, but it's the other stuff, you gotta have help.  Post after you call your doc.  I'll be reading.  I'm on day 16 from tapering off heavy use of Vicodin and I'm doing much much better. Good luck.