Aa
self tapering off drugs
Does anyone know the best way to taper? 10% per day? 5%? Any ideas? What is the average time it should take to taper off of opiates? Thanks........
I was injecting 25 to 30 perc 30mgs per day (750 to 900mgs/day) for 1 1/2 years. I started a tapering regime three weeks ago. I am now taking 5 30s/day (150mgs) orally. You can reduce the amount of percs by approx 1/2 every two weeks. Don't rush it or you will fall off the "cliff", which will require a substantial amount to bring the withdrawals back under control. It's a stubborn habit--but it can be done if you have the dedication and self-control.
just wondering where one would think i am at. have fifty 5s of oxyecodone by doc and been on for shoulder replacement for three mos and am scared ******** tried last before this last refill but couldn do it cold turkey do you think i will if tapering off too go through such severe withdrawals as a higher dose
mm
mm
One week is a good head start. Don't pick up again and you should be fine. Just stay the course. You aren't back to square one just yet, but you will get there if you keep using. Once you develop a tolerance to opiates such as codeine and you quit, your tolerance will drop right back down. But, it will go right back to where it was very quickly......a couple of days...literally. Please, take my advice and don't try to find out how long it takes you.
In what sense are you addicted to loperamide? Do you mean you get diahrea if you stop? You stand a good chance of having that as a result of stopping the codeine. Though loperamide (Imodium) is an opioid, it only binds to receptors that control bowel motility. Of course, codiene binds to those same receptors, as well as those that affect pain perception, sense of well being, etc. 16mg of loperamide is 8 OTC pills. I would think your young liver would be OK at least as far as the loperamide use is concerned. The Tylenol in your codeine is probably a bigger danger to your liver than high normal range loperamide dosages.
Thomas
Thomas
hi i havent been on for a while, last time i was on i was talking about my addiction to over the counter painkillers called solpadeine (paracetamol and codeine) since then i have been prescribed codeine by my doctor, this was about 9 months ago. I was prescribed it to accompany loperamide to control my bad stomachs. Now i am addicted to both drugs and especially the codeine and suprisingly the loperamide, i amd concerned about the damage to my liver, i am only 17, i have to tried to stop, and i hadn;t taken codeine in a week untill tonight, i dont want to take it again but i was wondering if i will be back to square one now that i took that dose tonight! As for the loperamide, i have cut that down but cannot completely stop cos of my supposed IBS, do u think i will have damaged my liver, i was taking aproximatly 16mg of loperamide a day and 60mg of codeine.
boy i am really surprised to see this withdrawel problem is so widespread . i actually got my regular vicodin refilled so i can wean off the hp vicodin better . i spoke to the pharmacist today also and she concluded i was droppping the dose way too fast and agreed that people get the chills and flu symtoms . i am glad to hear that i am not on such strong stuff as oxy contin as some of you are , i hear it is much worse . i now know i can slowly get off this bad ride and feel better soon . thanks for all the honesty you guys have here on the board with these problems , i feel better knowing what is causing the bad feelings .
Hey Bill, try this out for size:Thomas Detox Recipe
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas
This recipe is designed for cold turkey opiate detox. It assumes that you can get about 5 to 7 days away from your job or household responsibilities during which you can sleep, veg and act as miserable as you feel. Opiate WD mimics the symptoms of the common flu, so, if you need a smokescreen, hide behind a bad case of the flu.
If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
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.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have any medical complications, first check with your doctor before detoxing to verify that this regimen is safe for you.
Good Luck to You!!!
percs no more
PLEASE NOTE: I am not a doctor, simply a long-time Rx opiate junkie who has had many opportunities to develop a way to detox. This is a recipe for at-home self-detox from opiates based on my experience as well as that of many other addicts. It is not intended as professional medical advice. It is always wise to make sure none of the recipe ingredients or procedures conflict with medications you may be taking. Likewise, if you have any medical condition, disease, allergy or any other health issue, consult your doctor before using the recipe. Thanks, Thomas
This recipe is designed for cold turkey opiate detox. It assumes that you can get about 5 to 7 days away from your job or household responsibilities during which you can sleep, veg and act as miserable as you feel. Opiate WD mimics the symptoms of the common flu, so, if you need a smokescreen, hide behind a bad case of the flu.
If you can't take time off to detox, I recommend you follow a taper regimen using your drug of choice or suitable alternate -- the slower the taper, the better.
For the Recipe, You'll need:
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.
PLEASE NOTE: If you have any medical complications, first check with your doctor before detoxing to verify that this regimen is safe for you.
Good Luck to You!!!
percs no more
Hello Everyone!
I,too, am a "newbie" to this thread. And I too feel it is a WONDERFUL place for someone like me.
I don't know why G-d made me an addict, but I know I must accept it and learn how to control it.
My latest addiction in life is morphine. I am on 15mg. ms contin to be taken no more than 4x daily. I take it as a result of bone pain.
However, the pain is no longer that bad but ofcourse I am addicted to the pills. My doctor has warned me also. In fact he tried to wean me off of 4x daily to 3x. However, being the addict that I am, I could not comply! In fact, the sad truth is that I take 4 AT ONE TIME. I also take 3 more in the evening before bed, as I perceive that I still don't "feel" that well.
I know I am screwing up badly. Can ANYONE else relate to this madness???
I,too, am a "newbie" to this thread. And I too feel it is a WONDERFUL place for someone like me.
I don't know why G-d made me an addict, but I know I must accept it and learn how to control it.
My latest addiction in life is morphine. I am on 15mg. ms contin to be taken no more than 4x daily. I take it as a result of bone pain.
However, the pain is no longer that bad but ofcourse I am addicted to the pills. My doctor has warned me also. In fact he tried to wean me off of 4x daily to 3x. However, being the addict that I am, I could not comply! In fact, the sad truth is that I take 4 AT ONE TIME. I also take 3 more in the evening before bed, as I perceive that I still don't "feel" that well.
I know I am screwing up badly. Can ANYONE else relate to this madness???
I also looked up the drugabuse.com website but it seemed a little confusing to me--This is the place where I have found the most caring compassionate people/and what I have ahead of me--(another withdrawal) this is where I'll come for my support--I only hope one day I'll be able to repay all the people that have literally saved my life--take care all you wonderful people--God Bless--
i just found your site when looking up withdrawel symptoms. i had a neck surgery on 2-5-03 and was having bad arm pain pryor to the surgery so the doc had me on vicodin . it helped a lot with pain but i had to take 2 at a time to get releif . the refferring doc warned me repeatedly about becoming addicted to the pain killers . i have had 4 other surgeries in the past 5 years from inguenal hernias to 2 rotator cuff repairs . i have been on pain killers a lot but never tried to stop them this sudden , my pain never felt so less so soon but this ruptured disc repair felt so much better so much faster , i cut down from 10 pills a day to 2 pills a day. i started getting chills and loss of appetite and nausea and diarrea , the worst part was bad and suicdal thoughts . i have lots of plans and dont live a boring life so it's not that i have nothing to look forward to but it came on so strong and i felt so bad i had to look and see if this could be the result of trying to stop so quickly . i have plenty more pills and wonder if i should slowly wean down . they are the vicodin hp and are 10/650 mg . what is your opinion of what i should do to get off them my neck hurts some but i dont want to stay on these for long
If you get rebounds with the regular fiorinol (no codeine) its probably from the caffeine.
From my experience, heroin is not a 'different' detox from oxys, codeine etc...they are all narcotics. Heroin and methadone are a more INTENSE withdrawl.
Hope that helps.
Hope that helps.
I have to agree with Gman. I've read alot of what goes on there in dialogue and there are some not-so-nice people there. One even admits that "this place is not as nice as Medhelp" I figure at this point, it's a place where we who are addicted to fiorinal can meet and support each other without being cut off or limited. I think this forum is the best site of all, BY FAR!!
The other site has a HUGE amount of drama on it. I have been there as well for 2 years. I come here for the most support. There are some nice people there, but it's not monitored allowing for some "trolls" to run amok on the board. I find this site vastly superior.
For some reason I'm having a very difficult registering on this new site. They've emailed me and back & forth and something isn't clicking. Figures!! I've read all your posts and hopefully I'll get in tonight. Kat
Just got back from work and will see you and hopefully everyone else on other site! Kat
Folks, Golden Slipper found another site. It's great, and there's plenty of room to continue posting. Why don't we all move to that site and make IT the one we use. I'm afraid it looks like this one is constantly running out of space.
Here's the new site: http://www.drugabuse.com/boards/ .
The first thing you have to do when you go to the site is register, and you will need a valid e-mail address. Then they immediately send you an e-mail back with a confirmation that you click on, and you're in and able to post.'
Once you do this, look for the go to the "Message Boards" and look for the "Support" section. Then you will see "Fioricet Addiction" - that's where we are.
Please, we NEED to stay in touch. Please go to the site and register, then post so we know you're there. We will make that site our rgular, instead of this one. Once we hear from everyone, lets start "talking" again.
Hope to "see" you over there soon!
JR
Here's the new site: http://www.drugabuse.com/boards/ .
The first thing you have to do when you go to the site is register, and you will need a valid e-mail address. Then they immediately send you an e-mail back with a confirmation that you click on, and you're in and able to post.'
Once you do this, look for the go to the "Message Boards" and look for the "Support" section. Then you will see "Fioricet Addiction" - that's where we are.
Please, we NEED to stay in touch. Please go to the site and register, then post so we know you're there. We will make that site our rgular, instead of this one. Once we hear from everyone, lets start "talking" again.
Hope to "see" you over there soon!
JR
For me, I started tappering off the Oxycontin by 10mg a week. So, it was about 4 months of tappering. I am a diabetic, so I did end up in the ER a few times. My symptoms were just like the bad case of the flu. If you could taper slower than that, you will have less withdrawal. It got really hard for me with the lower doses. Like they say the lower the slower. My doctor was in a big hurry to get me off these meds because the hospital that I went to during withdrawal accused her of over medicating me. If you can find someone to hand out to you your meds, you will not be tempted to take extra to feel better. If you can get a Catapress patch, like I talked about before, that will help. Many people use Thomas's receipe here but I could not hold any of it down. Also, if you can get something to help you sleep, that will be a big help. I still am having a hard time with that. Hot baths help with the body aches. Good luck to you. You will feel so much better, you'll see. I hope this helps, if you have any other questions, just ask, I read this forum daily. This is the place to be....
Thank you for the encouraging words. Patience is hard for me. I want to get everything done yesterday (smile) Last night I found a website on benzos. It was for helping long term users to get clean. I was thinking of a friend of mine and then I saw that ambien and sonata were listed as "hypnotics" .... they spoke about the half life of the drugs .... ambien was 2 hours and valium was 100hrs!! Zanex was 10 to 20 hrs. When this tramadol thing is over, I want to stop using ambien. I hope I can sleep without it. I have a question .... does benadryl mix with tramadol? Sometimes I'd like to try benadryl, but I'm afraid of mixing the wrong drugs .... stay kool ... Goldie
I am ready to begin a taper of 160mg of oxycontin, the exact amount you statred from. I am doing 80mgs in the a.m. and 80mg in the p.m....
I've only been taking the oxy's for a month but prior to that I was addicted to oxy 3 years ago and got off oxy and on buprenex, but I became addicted to that. I hadn't been high in so long that I went a a little binge that quickly turned in a big habit.
I was wondering if you would be a bit more specific about how you did it and what you symtoms were.
Thanks
I've only been taking the oxy's for a month but prior to that I was addicted to oxy 3 years ago and got off oxy and on buprenex, but I became addicted to that. I hadn't been high in so long that I went a a little binge that quickly turned in a big habit.
I was wondering if you would be a bit more specific about how you did it and what you symtoms were.
Thanks
Don't know the your whole story but this is what I did from a 12-15 a day Vicodin ES. First start with reading the postings from the last month or so, that's how I started. I "lurked" and learned and then I had more questions and I posted those questions and so on....
On here is the how, why, when and advice from alot of great people...read, read, read and then decide which would work best for you. Hope that helps!! It did me!!
Good luck and good reading!!!
VIC(odin)QUEEN-NO-MORE
On here is the how, why, when and advice from alot of great people...read, read, read and then decide which would work best for you. Hope that helps!! It did me!!
Good luck and good reading!!!
VIC(odin)QUEEN-NO-MORE
It seems that most people on this forum who've cut F use have experienced excruciating headaches for a long period of time! When I detoxed CT from 10 to 0 the first time and threw up 'til the cows came home, the "banger" lasted 3-4 days max. Then, a few weeks later, I could feel this DEEP tension building in my neck from a bad day at work and took "JUST ONE" and ended up using more and more and ....... you know the drill! I believe you or whoever quoted their doc as saying it stays in your system 6-8 wks. but it's very hard for me to believe that. I've had a tox screen done for my own piece of mind (I have a friend whose hubby is a cardiologist with connections) and NO F showed in my system after 3 wks. This is the type of tox screen the state police use to make their case in drug arrests and is very sensitive. I get major headaches, but just not the detox ones everyone describes for months. Well, hope to hear from you again and everyone else! Kat
I must get back to work!
Re: your tox screen. I *think* those are to show what's in your bloodstream, which I believe means active, translating to current impairment. I'm not sure it would be the same as to what your cells & organs might be holding onto...dunno. Now my journalistic curiosity is getting the better of me. NOT NOW but I know I'll be checking it out later....sigh...;-)
They say valium stays in your system for 3 mos. & this I know to be true yet if I had a tox screen a wk. after I'd stopped, I'm sure it wouldn't show up because there's no way you're impaired. JUST INSANE!
Write me!
Ciao bella,
Dancing
Re: your tox screen. I *think* those are to show what's in your bloodstream, which I believe means active, translating to current impairment. I'm not sure it would be the same as to what your cells & organs might be holding onto...dunno. Now my journalistic curiosity is getting the better of me. NOT NOW but I know I'll be checking it out later....sigh...;-)
They say valium stays in your system for 3 mos. & this I know to be true yet if I had a tox screen a wk. after I'd stopped, I'm sure it wouldn't show up because there's no way you're impaired. JUST INSANE!
Write me!
Ciao bella,
Dancing
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