physical withdrawl

[Chuck730]

After years of pain medication for chronic pain I have had it with all the meds. Looking for alternative medicine. How can I relieve the physical symptoms of medication withdrawl?

[jonesing247]

Hey Chuck - depending on how severe your useage was, there are a number of things you can use. There is a natural recipie of herbal medicines and amino acids floating around the boards called Thomas' recipe. I think Tex3 might have it so if you ask her nicely shell post it :). Other things you can use for more severe circumstances may be methadone (in my opinion if you can avoid this then do so, as the kick is probably just as bad) or buprenex (which is what im using). It is an antagonist-antagonist that helps curb the w/d symptoms. Otherwise there are also benzos but ive heard of people having bad experiences with those. I have used Thomas' recipe and its really good so that might be your best bet. Im not a doctor, my insights are based on what ive learned from the fine folks here so please keep that in mind. Whatever you choose, good luck, and the most important ingredient to accomplish overcoming a bad withdrawl is a healthy mindset and a will to win. Take care, Mark.

[alexandra_r]

Hi Chuck--Welcome to the Forum.  This is a great place to get support.  There's a lot of people here who have experienced or are currently experiencing your dilemma, including myself.  I also have a chronic pain back condition and am currently trying to stop using the opiates that I have used for the last 14 months to control the pain.  I have found this to be very difficult.  I know that the painkillers help relieve my pain, but I also don't like the feeling of withdrawal that comes as soon as they wear out.

I have been tapering off vicodin since July 1--I was down to only 2 per day, but after a week of non-stop back pain, I got my prescription refilled.  I am using 3 a day and will stay at this till I feel ready to go down further.  

I agree that the recipe is the way to go.  Here it is so you don't have to look it up again.
L-tyrosine 500 mg 8 times a day week 1 then 4 a day the following weeks
B-6 100 mg 2 times a day
Vitamins C--E--AND A
Calcium -magnesium
A strong multiple vitamin
Phosphorous
Copper
Manganese
Imodium for the runs
--------------------------------------------------------

Also suggested are bananas for leg spasms and restless leg
Gatorade for lost electrolytes due to the runs
And if you still have any depression after a week, some people recommend 5htp

How much pain medication do you take?  It's hell going through w/d and I just can't bring myself to go completely cold turkey (although I sometimes think that this is the smartest thing for me to do since I am at a low dose)

Good luck, come here often and keep posting.  I am fairly new to the forum but I have found that it has helped me a lot.

[GOD]

I gotta' say that I'm having a real hard time of it... (staying clean) I HAVE been clean, but the dreams and thoughts are driving me crazy! I DO have legitimate pain issues with Neuropathic damage, but because the way my brain is wired, I CANNOT be on a reasonable pain regimine, because my tolerance for ANYTHING will go up tenfold in a matter of days. I saw in some other post someone talking about an OXycontin 80Mg. pill for $50.00! Geez, at that price, I'd have to spend thousands of dollars per day just to MAINTAIN... I have tried oxy before..(2 80's in less than 1 hour.) I crushed up the first one and snorted it up, and it was MILDLY pain-reducing at best, then I took the second one regularly. This was at a time that I was taking 30-50 Ultram per day, so I KNOW my tolerance is WAY up there. I KNOW I could do 600-1000 Miligrams in a day and not even be ****** up... While I was still drinking, I would down either a 1 liter bottle of vodka, or a 1.75 if I was in a "Bad mood", and then proceed with my night. I HATE the fact that I'm a ******-up, chemically-dependant PSYCHO... Yes, I'm usually normal, but when using, I am pure INDIFFERENT EVIL.

I'm just venting this, because I guess I want to make "Ammends" with anyone I've offended in the past. I doubt that I Pissed off anyone in HERE too much, but, nonetheless, I just need to air it.

I am sitting here at work, and in so much pain, that I'm almost seeing red. I just wish I could be a NORMAL, Legitimate pain patient, and get this fixed. But, I CANNOT! If they gave me a bottle of 10,000 OXYS, I know that I wouldn't be able to even make that much last for a month.... ****!! Whatever it is in life, if it's good, then GIVE ME MORE! That's the way it's always been. I guess the only thing keeping me from totally losing my head is that I'm trying to help my Aunt, who HAS legitimate pain, get the treatment she needs. Well. That and AA/NA keep me relatively sane. And I might mention that this board helps me more than I can say.

That's all for now! I hope that those of you who are still struggling with the PHYSICAL withdrawels are doing O.K. -- I know that when I was there, that the pain and suffering had me pushing needles into my arm (SEWING NEEDLES -- to distract me from the effects of withdrawl).....

Bye for now,
Jess

[trying]

hello everyone:  It is almost time for me to leave work and I just want to tell everyone to have a good night.  Stay busy and think positive.  We will all make w/ each others help.  How do you guys feel about someone taking a valium to help them sleep?  That someone would be me.  I am still having a little trouble sleeping, so last night I tood a valium (it was green).  I don't know the strength.  Anyway,  I feel great today and much happier.  I feel so good about myself and I'm starting to think I can do this.  I've already gone through the physical, now I have to get over the mental.  I really love all of you.  I don't have anyone to talk to and this board saves me.  It's not that I don't have friend, because I have a lot, but because I haven't told anyone but my mother.  My father is going through some cancer **** right now so I don't want to bother her w/ my screw ups.  Yesterday when I was at a weak moment I almost gave in, but believe it or not, the thought of telling all of you that I slipped was reason enough not to do it.  I appreciate the support you all give me and will be there for everyone too. Talk to everyone tomorrow.

[GOD]

I admire how you're doing, and glad you're feeling good about yourself today. you DESERVE IT!! Yes, you and all the great peole on this board keep me going too. Goodnight to you!

[skipper]

hi people:
i'm a 51 year old junky with a 35+ history of drug (mostly opiates) abuse. went the whole route from popping a few "feelgoods" to trying to find a vein for "just one more." i started posting to this site early in the summer pf 2001.

i though i wouuld post my variation of the supplements portion of
of the Thomas's detox recipe.

once a day on an empty stomach (first thing in the am when i get
out of bed.
zink chelate  75mgs.
magnesium chelate 50 mgs.
manganese chelate 10mgs.
vitamen a 1000 units
L-tyrosine 2-4 grams.
copper 2 mgs.

start out when detoxing, or preping for detox with 4 (4000mgs) of
l-tyrosine. after detox, cut the l-tyrosine back to 2 grams in the morning on an empty stomach.

if you do nothing else in the recipe but take these supplements,
you will feel a huge and unbelieveable amount beter. i least i
did, and i've alway been real skeptical of the whole health food/
vitamen trip.

i won't go into the other asspects of the "recipe" right now.
there is a huge controversy about taking benzo's, as well there
should be. besides the diet supplements, exercise of any kind
will deliver the largest return on any effort you make. a lot of
people see w/d and detoxing as something "to wait out." i spent
enough time waitin while i was using thankyou. detox, for me, is
getting up off my ass and doing as much as possiable for myself.

hope everyone is doing well
keep an angel on your shoulder
kip

[tex3]

Hi and welcome. I agree wholeheartedly with the recipe idea. I actually only take the l-tyrosone, 5HTP, and a good multi-vitamin. This helped me tremendously with mood and energy. I didn't find out about it until after I'd detoxed, though.

I did detox using a "cocktail" which really was the way to go for me. I'd gone through WD cold turkey enough times to know I didn't want to suffer that again if I didn't have to. So my doc prescribed an at-home detox regimen of phenobarb, clonidine, zanaflex, and bentyl, plus an anti-depressent to help sleep. I took these for about a week, although sometimes you only need it for 3-4 days. I stayed in bed and sweated it out. But this controlled the symptoms so I didn't suffer the heebies, restless leg, diarhea, and all the other lovely stuff. If you're interested in this, let me know and I'll  post more information.
Good luck and hang in there!
tracy

[fishman59]

Hi everyone;well here I'am a 26 year user,I've already tried "cold turkey" a couple of times(not too smart).Now after asking for help professionaly I've been told I have to wait 6 months,I can't-if I wait I'll never do it.So I'm trying cold turkey again and this pain is unbearable,what can I do???

[fishman59]

Tex3---I need some info from you,if you would'nt mind!! The "slow" rapid detox you spoke of,how does it work? what does the doctor use for the sedation? etc. etc. any info you have would be appreciated!!

[hippy]

try thr receipe posted right above this post.
keep posting and hang in there, you can do this .
it's really worth all the effort to get your life back.

hope your feeling better
peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
michael from philly

[fishman59]

Thanks for the info Hippy ---but,--this is canada.Even though we live minutes apart its like a different world up here!!Even something as simple as the name of a vitamin (I think its a shot at retaining our "culture").My other problem is the time factor, I have already stopped using at least up to the time I'am writing this! Vitamins & minerals tend to take a while to be absorbed into our systems (unlike my doc). This time thing has me all ****** up I can't even remember what day it is unless I stop and look at a calendar!No concentration anymore,even before I stopped my brain was messing me around making me think things a rational human being would never let enter their minds!!! My wife is scared half to death that I won't live through this w/d and to tell the truth the way I feel right now it would sure be a break from these w/d symptoms,but I guess I'm rambling now...I would like to take a look at how tex3 did on that "slow" rapid detox thing then maybe I will be able to talk my GP into coming over to my house with his little doctors bag and hooking me up although I don't think doctors in canada do that anymore (another culture thing??)

[BOOP93]

HELLO ~ THIS IS MY FIRST TIME HERE, I AM DESPERATELY LOOKING FOR HELP GETTING THRU W/D.  MY ADDICTION IS TO NORCO, WHICH I WAS ORIGINALLY PUT ON FOR PAIN ABOUT 2 YEARS AGO, AND IT IS NOW UP TO ABOUT 15 PILL A DAY. ANYONE FAMILIAR W/THIS TYPE PLEASE GIVE ME ANY ADVISE YOU HAVE.     THANK YOU!!!!

[1fortheroad]

hi - i too used bup for withdrawal.  i am down to 1 amp per day, and at my doc's suggestion, i will continue with that dose for chronic migraines.

how long have you been taking it?  have you managed to taper it, or are you having a hard time getting off it as well?  i'm just curious...

[hellbent]

I once had a norco habit of 13-14 a day, and ran out of my connect. Had to just kick it cold, on the couch watching TV. The first few days were pretty bad. By 5-6 days or so, I was back at work. After 3 weeks, I was back to normal. Stop now and it will be relatively liveable. I say relatively because I do remember being fairly freaked out and depressed. It was my first real kick.

[alexandra_r]

If this is your first kick, it will be less severe than if you do as I have done (and a lot of others as well).  The first time I kicked opiates, it was bad but not as bad as it was in later tries.  I think that the reason is two-fold.  One, your body chemically adjusts to opiates easily the second time you get addicted and I believe (from only my own experience) that you get addicted easier the second time and that the withdrawal is harder.  Your body shuts down it's endorphin production more quickly, I think--probably has some kind of memory that kicks in with "Hey--here's the synthetic and I can just shut down production." And then I think it takes a little longer for your body to begin producing endorphins.  On my first kick, I felt better much faster than I have at later times.

I know that there are people who think that I shouldn't have problems kicking the few vicodin that I am on now--but I believe I did permanent damage years ago to my production of endorphins and that I now experience pain more significantly than I used to--even when I have been off all opiates for years.  I had painful oral surgery a couple of years ago and the dentist told me that I needed more novacaine than any patient he ever had before--like 3 times more.  

I really believe that your body changes in many ways if you abuse drugs for any length of time.  I know that my sleep patterns are different, my digestive system is not as efficient and the pain thing . . .

So, I hope you can kick and stay clean.

[jonesing247]

Hey groove - i have been on bup since late May. I keep going on and off because i keep slipping when it comes to the OC's. However, when i am clean for like a 2 week period, i do not find the bup addictive in any way. After inital 3-4 days, i actually FORGET to dose my bup. I dont crave it etc. Supposedly the taper is supposed to wildly mute the w/d's but individual body chemistry is the big X factor. Im sorry to hear youre having a rough time with it, hope things work out. As for doseage, im taking the sublingual tabs so I have no idea how to equate that into amps. Im taking 12mg of bup a day, when im off (3 doses of 4mg). have a good weekend everyone. Mark.

[hippy]

it was nice to see you posting, i had not seen your post in a while, hope all is well with you and your's.
the reason i mention it is i realised yesterday that i had not seen your name in a while, and then there you are today.

peace!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[tex3]

Hey Fish. As my doctor described it, he sedates you using, I believe, benzos, until you are asleep but not unconscious (this being the difference between it and the normal "rapid" detox). He then administers naltrexone to pull the drugs from your body rapidly, at the same time keeping you comfortable with a cocktail of meds to control the symptoms. Once the worst is over, he will give you some of the same meds for a week if you need it for mild withdrawal. I'm not sure what the benzos are; probably Versed and phenobarb.

This doctor is very respected in his field. If you want more information, email me at ***@**** and I'll tell you his name and all I know. I'm sure he could send you the info on it; I no longer have it. Good luck!
tracy

[BOOP93]

    Thank you for the info. I appreciate it.  I did try once thru a clinic type w/metn, only made it (7) days, because I ended up getting the flu and couldn't make it into the clinic for meds.  The W/D felt like I had gone cold turkey after the flu was gone.  I couldn't take it and went back on.  I'm really considering trying the receipe above to see if that might help.  Someone also told me to try Sam~e some kind of herbal rem. I hope something works, I just turned 32 last Monday and I really want to have another child soon before I'm to old, so I have to get this **** out of my system and get my life back in order.
Thank you again.  
                  Boop~

[Chuck730]

Thanks for your help with the vitimans. I will let you know how I do with it.

[Chuck730]

I have been taking a number of pain killers for alot of years. Lately I have lowered my dosage of Oxycontin to 40mg. a day and have been off the Percocet for 4 days. The level of pain has incresaed but the clarity of my head has begun. I have begun taking Paxil to deal with a long time bout with depression as a result of my disabilities and hoping it will help with the stoppage of the meds. Thanks for your help.

[koalabear]

I never knew this site existed!

I fractured my back and have been on different meds for chronic pain, on and off for many years.  Steadily since 2000.  3 months ago my pain management doc prescribed Duragesic and Elavil.  I have stopped the elavil and am ready to stop taking the Duragesic altogether.  I know I will suffer from pain, but the patch is such a pain in the butt!  It always falls off and if i tape it, the tape peels my skin off.  I can tell you about every type of tape out there!  

Anyhow...I am seeing him soon and I don't know what to expect.  Should I admit myself to rehab or should I do the withdrawal thing?  I can't afford the rapid detox, and am scared to death about the symptoms of withdrawals.  Should I start with Thomas recipe now...I just need advice on what to expect and what I should do.  I am definitely ready to stop all medicines. I don't know what they are doing to my body..then again..I am scared of pain!

I would appreciate any comments you guys have.

[mrmichael67]

You have been taking the medication for a legitimate reason.  There are other options besides the patch.  I had the same problem with it.  The area where I had it applied looked like chopped meat.  I am now on ms contin and my life is better on it than off it.  The meds are doing absolutely no harm to you, as long as you take them as prescribed.  If you truly want off of them, you can taper your dose with another med.  If you can take the meds properly and live a more pain free existence, then why not?  No one should have to live in pain.

[auntsis]

hello everyone. this is my first time here, i am desperately looking for help for my family. I have a sister that has a very heavy addiction to pain medicine, lortabs, i think. she is in complete denial of any kind of addiction. she says she need the medicine for back pain. she just came out of a 5 day stay at the mental hospital. this was due to what we considered a near overdose. she is also in a stae of grief due to the suicide of her daughter, whose death was also due to a substance addiction. we need help. i don't know how to talk to her. waht to say or what to do. i just know that if i had had anything for pain today, i would have given it to her. she was in terrible pain. she wouldn't tell me what the doctoe gave her instead of the lortabs but she said it didn't work.
what is teh right thing to do. i'm afraid we will lose her also. she says she can't live with the pain.