Other Meds,and Supplements

[Sharon0255]

Anyone here take any other meds, like Ambien or benzos? I'm wondering if any of these meds are helpful in the early stages. I'm not talking about anti depressants because i can't take them at all, they were part of my Chemo protocal and I almost died from them so they are out. It seems a lot of people get help from anti depressants here but i know I can't so I'm looking for some alternatives.
Also I came off neurontin, a year ago horrible detox.I also tapered off benzos long slow taper, but now I take them very sparingly and not daily. So if anyone is using any tranquilizers or sleep meds like Ambien,which I also stopped 2 weeks ago and now take it on ocasion. please let me know if they help.
Also any positive feedback on L-Tryosine and B6 I know it makes a lot of people jittery but it really seems to help me.I'm drinking the protein shakes Gnarly recomended and a daily multi Vit E and falxseed.

Really hoping for some feedback from those much further down the road than I am, oh and I just statrted exercising. So if you can please let me know what's working or not working for you on this journey from being free from opiates.  I'm very aware of my triggers and don't want another relapse.Thanks, Sharon

[lulu747]

Hi Sharon,

I've shared my experience with the benzo's and sleep meds with you.  Here I am 3+ months later and almost off!!  I was on a high dosage and for a long period of time, and no, I never abused them...But I've been very, very conscious of the possibility.  I was terrified at the beginning and it created a lot of anger and frustration at myself.  I've let it go and have been tapering successfully at a level that is comfortable to me.  I couldn't do this with opiates, I was CRAZY tapering until I went c/t.  I would caution anyone who is considering using benzos to NOT do it.  If I had a time machine....(:  

I do the whey protein shakes, take a good multi-vitamin, and see a naturopath for homeopathic remedies.  I do a LOT of exercise.  I started small with short hikes and restorative yoga and worked my way up.  Now I feel if I don't do an hour of each a day, I am very anxious, tired, and stuck in my head.  Moving helps me move through fear.  And you know, you've been through a he** of a lot Sharon.  You don't have to be all Sally Sunshine, life is great, to be healing.  You are doing the work.  Be patient with yourself.  You've come a long way.  This is a life long journey, and you are living your life, carrying on despite adversity.  Keep being honest with us and yourself.  I'm proud of you girl.

xo
Lu

[IwillDoThis]

hey sharon - welcome.  I'm 45 days off hydros and I'm almost two weeks into being off both xanax and ambien - both of which I took as prescribed and didn't abuse them.  I tried to come off everything at once which was really awful so I stayed on the xanax and ambien until recently.

If you are already on these then I agree sometimes it is best to detox off the pill that is the major issue (for me that was hydro) and then once you get over the withdrawals begin a slow taper of benzos (which is h3ll).

I get the impression you are not taking the xanax regularly and I couldn't tell if you were prescried Ambien or are you just looking to get relief and thinking of trying to get a script?

If you aren't already on them I wouldn't really recommend it because most people will eventually abuse whatever they are on, especially if they are trying to compensate for pain pills they no longer get.  

I've taken ambien for probably 15 years and it's bee the hardest thing coming off of and sleep regularly, I'm still struggling with it so I would never recommend someone to start this journey, my advice is to face the reasons you dont' sleep through therapy, sleep studies or whatever.  I only took one pill per night, sometimes it worked, sometimes not but I hate the side effects and they are serious - I have sleep shopped, I would regularly sleep eat - I have burned myself sleep cooking and done all kinds of crazy things with no memory the next day.  I found it compromising my memory overall but I knew I would experience a long period of no sleep once I went off - the fear kept me on this drug much longer than I should have.   I was always fearful of what my family would say I did the prior night on ambien, it was so embarrasing.

Does xanax help with withdrawals - I guess maybe but I think the probative effects of it can be potentially harmful long term - especially if you are inclined to be addicted.  Why add a drug into your life that we KNOW is really addictive and hard to come off of?

I just wanted to share with you my own experience and opinion but of course everyone feels differently about this.  I was really not informed about the dependency I gained while on what I perceived as a very low dose of xanax - I didn't know it would be so hard to come off and now that I'm off I have a totally different opinion of xanax and would never take it or share it willy nilly as I have done in the past.

Hope this helps.  Keep knocking out those sober days and try some natural supplements to sleep such as melatonin, Wild Lettuce extract, I even take benedryl or nyquil when I'm having a rough night.

[Sharon0255]

Thanks i know for sure that eventually i want off wverything. I was so hard on myself at 45 days about other substance it was horrible. I agree with you totally and I'm not using them daily. I 'm not looking to trade one addiction for another and yes I'm ad addict and potentially could get addicted to anything,
i have also used them to detox off opiates I'm not even sure what I'm asking i just need some honest feedback and does L-Try work for anyone or any other supplements to help my mood swings and depression.
Thanks i notice so many responses to the posts from people who are active and it's great but sometimes those of us who are struggling at 25 days get lost in the shuffle, don't mean that in a negative way, i post to those that are detoxing too. but as everyone here says that's the easy part we need to support all of us who are on this journey also who have a little time opiate free. Thanks i think I'm ranting and in a very foul mood feeling kind of desperate for relif and yes I did aftercare today and went to a meeting. Any help with what you guys are doing or taking would be great. Sharon

[IBKleen]

Hi Sharon,

I can only tell you from my experience that I have used Ambien in the past and I have used Valium. Both of which became a problem for me. I am an addict and anything I take I will potentially abuse. I do not know the meaning of "take as prescribed" so I abused those two drugs in an effort to get off of pain pills---many times. My last detox I did not use them and although sleep was difficult I stuck to it and got through it. The fear of becoming addicted to something else was a big motivator for me.

If you can do it naturally, by all means go that route!!

Best of luck. Hang in there and keep posting.