I was prescribed this drug, DHC following a physical attack due to resultant pain but became dependent upon it. I've been using as kind of self medicating to block out emotional implications of other traumatic experiences for about 5 yrs, up and down. I function highly even when using but my addiction has only gotten worse and what i used to love, i now hate and desperately need to be off these pills quickly and with the least physical pain possible. I have my Doctoral thesis due to be submitted MArch 2012 and have so much work to be done, that i know i have to stop now.
My plan was to find a base at which i cab just manage to function without too many adverse physical symptoms to allow me to work and study. I used to take about 40 dihydrocodiene (an opiate) at 40mg per day but have sig reduced this, and am now wishing to really fully stop. Base seems to be about 15 pills per day, from there i thought that i could go down one pill per day - what do you think? Is that too quick, i.e. will i feel sig w/d symptoms? Do i need to take more time? Should i go down in less increments near the end, i.e halves etc. If i did as said here, do you think i would feel ok-ish at the end of the detox period? Altho am obv aware there can be llonger term implications for sleep and general well being, and indeed am concerned a bout re-awakwning my emotions which have numbed for so long, but i have a therapist, but maybe i need aan addiction therapist specifically?? ps. i do have some sleeping tablets and diazipam for use only if required as do not want to use benzos in any consistent way, and certainly don't want to replace one addiction for another. V. short Subutex detox could be an option but would involve longer waiting times as have to go private in uk for this so also sig money and my PhD submission date is looming, so don't know ??!
Any advice on how best to detox as painlessly and quickly as possible would be hugely appreciated
Thank you
Pentangled - eve