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Question tapering off drugs
I guess it doesn't really matter what the drug is, but I had a question about tapering vs. cold turkey. I want to get better as quickly as possible, so I feel like it's a no pain no gain situation. I've been cold turkey for almost 36 hours, and the symptoms are driving me nuts. I understand that it will take my body a while to get used to doing things like normal again. I feel like if I take a little to allow me a break, that I will be shooting myself in the foot. I'd hate to lose a day or two of progress for a potential couple hours of relief! Going from 60-90 mg to zero was a huge step. If I take 5 or 10 now, for short relief, does it pause or stop my body from healing? Or, is the brain and body healing, even while still taking much less, as in a taper? These symptoms are no fun, and I hate that I let myself get to this point. Thanks for any advice or help.
MEDICAL PROFESSIONAL
It is difficult to quit on your own, but with commitment and dedication it is possible. I have dealt with hundreds of addicts who have all told me horror stories of doing it by themselves. I would only guess that if are successful in doing it at home you don't end up in my clinic.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates).
As to the pain you may or may not experience after you are off, that will need to be evaluated several months after your body has completely healed and your central nervous system has reset itself, so that you know that the pain is not caused by hyperalgesia that results from prolonged opiate use.
Tapering down slowly is the best way, but you may still experience withdrawals. Tapering means gradually increasing time periods between doses and also decreasing the dose itself in a consistent manner.
See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. and Clonidine for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Take a look at my blogs about options for detox and recovery. You may also take a look at my clinic website where I also have my blogs and a lot of other info about drug addiction and recovery. Look especially into the blog and the info on Naltrexone therapy after getting clean. It really improves your chances of staying clean for good by cutting down your physical cravings. Look into my clinic website as well. All this can be done by clicking on my name in blue. Good luck and feel good.
Just in case you are curious, it takes us three to four days to detox a patient and get him/her back home drug free and feeling well on Naltrexone therapy (no opiates).
As to the pain you may or may not experience after you are off, that will need to be evaluated several months after your body has completely healed and your central nervous system has reset itself, so that you know that the pain is not caused by hyperalgesia that results from prolonged opiate use.
Tapering down slowly is the best way, but you may still experience withdrawals. Tapering means gradually increasing time periods between doses and also decreasing the dose itself in a consistent manner.
See if your doctor can write you a prescription for some Requip for restlessness, Neurontin for anxiety and malaise, some Flexeril or Soma for a few weeks for muscle spasms and maybe some Seroquel low dose, for sleep. and Clonidine for the creepy-crawly feeling and control of blood pressure variations. It will make your withdrawals easier. Valerian and Magnesium is sometimes helpful remedies over the counter.
The residual symptoms of insomnia and depression can last another few months. Thus, it is not easy, but it gets better and better over time and you can look forward to a drug free healthy energetic you in the future. When you take opiates for a long time like you have, your body's physiology has been altered. Your central nervous system has created a multitude of opioid receptors that all are screaming for endorphins (opiates) to fill them, but your body has now forgotten how to make them by itself. It will take time - two to four weeks at least, for your receptors to down-regulate (for the brain begin to heal) and to start making its own endorphins. Brain heals pretty slowly, so it may take you as long as a couple of months to get rid of feelings of sluggishness, restlessness and depression. The best thing you can do is take good care of yourself, eat healthy food, stay hydrated, keep active and busy. Stay away from sugar, soda, and simple carbs. Do not consume caffeine at least 6 hours prior to bedtime.
Take a look at my blogs about options for detox and recovery. You may also take a look at my clinic website where I also have my blogs and a lot of other info about drug addiction and recovery. Look especially into the blog and the info on Naltrexone therapy after getting clean. It really improves your chances of staying clean for good by cutting down your physical cravings. Look into my clinic website as well. All this can be done by clicking on my name in blue. Good luck and feel good.
A related discussion, stopping pain pills was started.
A related discussion, been on tramadol 50 mg for 77 days was started.
i think so if you take any of the same drug again you will have to start all over.
Tramadol is addictive yet Dr's say it is a safe drug.I see many people talking about the withdrawals from Tramadol. My daughter was addicted to Tramadol and had seizures every time she took these pills so please seek help if u r addicted to Tramadol. Do not do it alone. You don't have to do this all by yourself.
I personally would not advice anyone to quit cold turkey. First of all when an addict stops cold turkey that addict is going to have severe withdrawals depending on the drug or drugs u r coming off of. Some addicts have seizures, what if u r all alone and u experience a seizure. I personally quit many times only to start again because the withdrawals were so severe that I failed at each try. It wasn't until my husband of 2 years had had enough and he was going to leave me and take my 6 month old baby. I asked for help and was safely detoxed then stayed inpatient treatment for 2 1/2 months.
While I was there I learned how to live life without drugs, I was taught coping skills which by the way is not learned in a 2 month stay but I got the basics.i came home to my husband and my baby and went to AA and NA meetings. I got a sponsor I lived the 12 steps. And I have been clean for 20 years. There is no easy way to do this but all u have to do is Want Sobriety. I did whatever it took to keep clean and if u want it bad enough and most people do they just don't know what to do. For anyone struggling with the disease of Addiction seek treatment. You do not have to do this alone....
While I was there I learned how to live life without drugs, I was taught coping skills which by the way is not learned in a 2 month stay but I got the basics.i came home to my husband and my baby and went to AA and NA meetings. I got a sponsor I lived the 12 steps. And I have been clean for 20 years. There is no easy way to do this but all u have to do is Want Sobriety. I did whatever it took to keep clean and if u want it bad enough and most people do they just don't know what to do. For anyone struggling with the disease of Addiction seek treatment. You do not have to do this alone....
I have had several addiction problems and I have tried every different way to quit different things. the easier way depends on the drug your quitting in my opinion with alcohol pills crack or ice it's easier to just quit cold Turkey.
Great to hear, you guys dont seem to realize that paws kicks in later and I would rather go through physical **** than this stuff anyday. I got cocky after 2.5 months and then bam. Its messed up, but still worth it. Stoked for you just so t get to ahead of yourself
Well I'm coming down from Lortab 4 a day and staying on my tramadol 4 per day in hopes of kicking the Lortab...
I've been on this 4 Lortab and 4 tramadol a day 2 years...
Day 2..
After off Lortab gonna try to taper tramadol..
Thoughts?
I've been on this 4 Lortab and 4 tramadol a day 2 years...
Day 2..
After off Lortab gonna try to taper tramadol..
Thoughts?
Well, the bit I took on Father's Day, didn't slow my recovery at all. I needed to be normal acting and feeling for part of that day. I've finally made it through most of the withdrawal issues. It's just the slowest 4 days of my life. Now, it's time to keep getting better, and move on. I feel for anyone that goes through acute withdrawals. It's certainly a tough path, but can be done. You have to want to do it though. I did, more or less, what the doctor previously mentioned. I just made it a fairly aggressive taper. Closer to cold turkey, but not quite. I would fight the symptoms as long as I could, and took 5mg only when a break was needed for sanity. That only happened one time early on day 2. In the middle of day 3, I took 20 mg for Father's Day normalcy. I had nothing since. I expected more withdrawals at 12 hours post the last dose, but it wasn't too bad. At 40+ hours now without taking anything, I'm still going strong. There's no looking back now. My new life is starting!
Unfortunately if you take any of the same drug again you will have to start all over. However if you take something different that will not prolong the progress you have already made. But we both know, it could turn into another issue and then you will have to detox from that one as well. Tread lightly, good luck
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