newbie

[Qotsamke]

Hi
i've been sitting here reading these posts, and some of are making me cry.  Good for all of you.  
seriously.  Scary stuff and it's cool to see everyone pulling for each other.
okay so I'm not actually the one with the problem but it is my best friend in the whole world.  
I will do anything for him.  Known him forever. Been through LOTS, since little kids, I believe he's serious.
After reading these, his addiction to 'vicadin' doesn't seem as strong as most of the posts I've read but I just as serious non the less.
He's been taking about 10 vics a day, sometimes less and sometimes a little more.  If vic's aren't around could be percs or oxys.  LOTS of drinks.  and probably some other things I'm not aware of as well, but he seems pretty serious about quitting and after tonight, he's out of everything.

The '10' vics has only been for about a month now but, he was taking them here and there before, now it is a 'mission' every night though.  I put my foot down, it's stopping and he wants to do it.  We've been searching the web for info and I came across this site.  
Just wondering if anyone has a bit good advice for "me" to remember, that I can use with him.  
Also he doesn't have insurance right now so that's a problem too.  
Seeing that it is such a short amount of time and not a huge huge amount
( actually I think it's huge but......)
any words of wisdom, methods to ease the pain a bit?  any holistic solutions? Are those stupid questions?
He's a very strong, healthy man, in his 40's, very determined.  Can he really do this alone?
I hope I don't sound like an idiot, but I really want to help as much as possible.
thanks for listening all!  Have a wonderful evening and take care.

[Qotsamke]

thank you for all your posts, tons of good info. always!
to answer a few questions, yes he does wanna quit, or at least he talks to me like he does.
and we have got them thru a doc, too easy to get on the street.  that's why there are alot of different things he's take.  i had a long history of 'partyin' friends, anything is available.  
but i've wanted to 'kick' these friends anyway.  most are pretty pathetic, and not because they did drugs.  but i don't need to hang in those kind of crowds, my life is much different than most of theirs.

back to my guy.  he hasn't had anything for the past 4 days, I was able to get some klonipin, but they're gone now and he's actually not tooo bad.   bad stomach cramps, and we did take the immodium suggestion and it does help.  doing the warm bathes too.  he's kind of 'difficult' but that's easy to ignore.  I know it's not me so....
i will update in a few days and let the kind people that emailed me know.  this is a very cool helpful site. so glad to have found it. so glad.

it's funny and so true with addictions, it's easier to stop, (well not easy)  but easier than the stopping 'thinking' about them.
i recently kicked a weed addiction.  I was a fulltime smoker, all day long from the moment i woke ( 3-4 bong hits before work) to the moment i got home ( 10 bongs or more)  and i just quit a month ago.
I would smoke at lunch during work and work is sooooo good for me right now i kept thinking WHY am a risking this, over weed?  so i quit.  done with it.  a whole month i'm proud of myself.  even tossed all the paraphanelia ( i know i killed that spelling :)

but no problems for me whatsoever except the unbelieveable 'f*cked up dreams i have.  now that i have a clear head, kinda weird that I'm dreaming so VIVID and crazy!  
and i don't remember having a dream in the last 8 years or so, seriously!
the hardest part was thinking i wouldn't be able to enjoy anything anymore and that just wasn't true.
everything is totally cool.
although i was a different kind of smoker. ( i think i was?)  i was highly organized,clean, on time, i was flippin motivated!  I LOVE my job and had been promoted twice in the last 2 years and talked a mile a minute and was funny and fun smoking weed.  It was like it was made for me or something but...............I think i can be even better now.  there's a certain commradarie ( sp?) I miss with my fellow smokers but, in the long run I'm 42 and what the hell i wanna be here and be successful.
i want to do more!
I've already had my bouts with other drugs, been involved my whole life ( coke, heroin, pills etc... you name it we did it all.  and alot of it, especially coke.  which i LOATHE now) and weed was the only thing i LOVE.  I can pass up anything else, really.  
hopefully things will work for my guy and we'll be clean an sober.  ha!  never thought i'd say that.  and it ain't that bad.
thanks again all, and talk to ya soon!

[GA Guy]

This is a work in progress...something I've been working on off and on for the last couple of weeks. It's not considered complete, but has lots of info from lots of sources. If any of the "old timers" have anything to add, let me know and I'll add it to the document. I hope to use this to post a general "how to" every couple of days or so.

Listed below are suggestions for detoxing and quitting an opiate addiction. They are just suggestions compiled from the detox plans of people that have gone through cold turkey detox before. They are just that, suggestions, and any detox plan is best when done under a doctor's care. Consult your doctor before trying any of the suggestions below.
This is prewritten for anyone who is beginning, or planning on beginning, a cold turkey withdrawal to opiates. This includes drugs such as tramadol (Ultracet and Ultram) codeine (Tylenol #3, #4), Darvocet, Hydrocodone (Vicodin, Norco, Lortab and derivatives),  Oxycodone (Endocet, Percocet, Oxycontin), Morphine, Demerol. Fentanyl, and Dilaudud. There are many other opiates not listed, so if you don’t see it listed, you can still use these suggestions if it’s an opiate based addiction. None of these apply to benzodiazepine based addictions. These addictions should never be dealt with by going cold turkey. Always consult a doctor for a detox plan for benzos.

First of all, opiate withdrawals are uncomfortable, but rarely life threatening. You may think you’re going to die, but most of the withdrawal symptoms are just very uncomfortable. If possible, take some time off work or schedule a week or so in order to fully detox. You will honestly not feel like doing much anyway. Opiate withdrawal symptoms usually start 12-24 hours after your last dose. But, the timing of withdrawal symptoms depends upon the drug taken, length of time you’ve been taking it, and how you react to medications. The physical withdrawals usually last 3-7 days, with days 3 and 4 being the worst. Once again, this is all dependent on the person. You can expect these symptoms. Dilated pupils, diarrhea, runny nose, goose bumps, abdominal pain, stomach cramps, sweating, agitation, anxiety, nausea, vomiting, leg cramps, general aches and pains, and sleeplessness. This list is not absolute. You may experience all of these symptoms, only some of them, or other symptoms. Again, we are all different. Below is the famous Thomas Recipe. It gives some general information along with supplements that help with the withdrawal symptoms. The only thing I would add to this list is a blood pressure drug named clonidine. It effectively lowers the blood pressure and lessens many of the withdrawal symptoms. Most any doctor will prescribe it if you’re honest as to why you need it. Discuss dosages and frequency with your doctor.

Thomas Recipe:

1. Valium (or another benzodiazepine such as Klonopin, Librium, Ativan or Xanax). Of these, Valium and Klonopin are best suited for tapering since they come in tablet form. Librium is also an excellent detox benzo, but comes in capsules, making it hard to taper the dose. Ativan or Xanax should only be used if you can't get one of the others.
2. Imodium (over the counter, any drug or grocery store).
3. L-Tyrosine (500 mg caps) from the health food store.
4. Strong wide-spectrum mineral supplement with at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper and Magnesium.
5. Vitamin B6 caps.
6. Access to hot baths or a Jacuzzi (or hot showers if that's all that's available).

How to use the recipe:
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you're aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn't need the Valium after day 4 or 5. During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don't underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don't take it, however, if you don't need it. At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the "coffee jitters," consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help. With breakfast, take the mineral supplement. As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.

[bettie1976]

I definitely agree with the Immodium, its helped me TONS of times for the cramping. He could always go to the ER if it gets too bad, be honest with them about what hes been doing and they HAVE to help him, regardless of insurance. But ten a day on and off isnt really that much considering what a lot of other people take. Depending on how long hes been taking them, he might have withdrawl symptoms but like uphill said, it can be done at home alone. Ive done it hundreds of times. Sucks but if thats all ya got....

[uphill7584]

Opiate withdrawl can be done alone. And his dosage doesn't sound too intense. Most of the people on here(including myself) were/are on a strict regimine of extremem opiate use. But withdrawls suck not matter what level you are at. BUT they aren't going to kill him. And if he sticks with it past all the aches, runs, insomina, and anxiety he will learn a lesson and hopefully never go back. Basically Im saying that it wont be that bad, ecspecially if he is determined like you said, and plus he's got you which is good.

Reading some of the stories on here can make quitting seem a lot harder than it is. People often blame the power of addiction for their slip ups and need for other drugs during withdrawl. I have done it myself. Basically we just want a reason to get take the drugs again. sooooo.

He is not alone, he's got you.
He is going to feel like **** for about a week. Basically its going to be like having the flu, but their going to be some anxiety that comes with it.

Get some vitamins, supplements, benedryl can be used as an quasi-anti-anxiety med, drink lots of fluids, have a healthy amount of immodium or pepto, and just take a few days off from life.

Withdrawls are overhyped, they suck, but the hard part is staying off the pills.

GOOD LUCK!!! He will be fine!!

PS. I am on my 3-4 day of being oxy free. I had a pretty healthy habit(more than your friend), and the worst of my withdrawls have passed I think.

[FLaddict]

reading what others are doing will help out... Does he want to quit?? That is the first step.. If he isn't ready then there isn't much you can do.. Is he getting these illegally or through a MD??  If through a doctor maybe the doc can help him taper off of them.  there are herbal stuff like the Thomas Recipe and Amino Acids that can help.. i personally went the amino acid route and it helped me tremedously.. You can search for either of these on this site using the search function..

XOXO
Stephanie
Day 61