Scared

[Higher]

I've been on Vicodin for about two years now on and off.  I take about 4 pills a day do you think the Thomas recipe is safe for withdrawels?

[LarryNorco]

Thomas Recipe is safe - there are even better ones though.  Taper down, eat right, drink lots of water, vitamins, exercise, sleep, time.  Your body needs to repair and re-regulate.  Get off  those pills now, or it will cost you much more in the long run.  I just kicked a 7 year habit to the gutter - finally.......

Larrynorco

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

The 'Thomas recipe' includes a long-acting benzo, immodium, vit B6, and tyrosine--  You will find people that swear by it, but I'm not one of them.  I do recommend immodium for diarrhea;  I prescribe clonidine, and occasionally a short course of a benzo.  I've heard a number of other recommendations over the years... but witnessing withdrawal from both sides I believe that the biggest factor in withdrawal is the person's expectations.  Tyrosine does not change brain levels of neurotransmitters, and I have never seen evidence for a beneficial effect from vitamin B-6 in people who are not starving to death.  I do think that warm baths are helpful, and so is exercise.  You read comments about 'endorphins needing to come back'-- the problem during withdrawal is not endorphin levels;  the problem is the down-regulation of opiate receptors, so that the post-synaptic neurons are not affected by your own endorphins.  Withdrawal ends when the receptors return to a normal state.

Your dose of opiate is quite low by most 'addiction' standards.  The problem you and every addict faces is much larger than the relatively short physical withdrawal--  you will have a week, at most two weeks, feeling tired, and maybe some diarrhea...  the main focus of your attention should be on your plans for long-term sobriety, because that is by far the hardest part.  I might not convince you of that now, but if you find that you do this over and over, have the courage to do what it takes to get away from opiates.  
Take care,
JJ