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Are you awake or asleep during inpatient detox in a hospital

I was just wondering if the doctors try and keep you sedated through the withdrawl during an inpatient opiate detox in the hospital?  Has any one gone through that?  What was it like?
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10996785 tn?1432812977
Hey there. A detox center in a hospital. This is where I detoxed. Let me tell you it was tough. Tough enough to appreciate the awful situation that I was in and what I had done to my family. As soon as I was admitted in the ER they started me on Adivan. They took me up to a high dose of 5mgthen straight back down. Ten days and the Adivan was done for good. You were encouraged and expected to attend group meetings. My family came to see me about 4 times. I was one of the few that stayed the full time for detox. The bottom line is, it was the best thing I've done in my life. Now I wasn't in there for opiates but there were many who were. I would say that no one was actually sedated to the true sense of the word. I was awake and took the whole thing in. I did shut my blinds when I first arrived. Outside was never an option for me. A hospital was my only option. I would recommend inpatient detoxing. Questions? Good Luck to you.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the answers, they are very helpful.  You mentioned you went through the ER.  My primary care doctor is willing to have me admitted to detox if I can't do this at home on my own.  The 2 doctors that I have discussed this with don't think it is really possible to do on my own but my primary is still willing to let me try.  I am currently on a reduction plan with my primary and today is day 17 but it has been the worst so far.  I have been on 80mg of Zohydro, 200mg of Oxycontin, 8 - 10/325 Norco and 8 Oxy IR everyday for the last 7 years so I still have a long way to go.

Do you think having my doc admit me will be any different than going through the ER like you did?

Thanks for the answers, I don't know where else to go to get them.

Helpful - 0
10996785 tn?1432812977
To clear that up. I had set things up with the detox center, going to the ER was just the protocol, so no. It will be about the same. In fact you will probably enter in through the ER.

Tapering can be good, it takes a lot of willpower, I hope you've taken measures to have the meds given to you by someone. That's a big undertaking by yourself. I think the more you commit the better your chances will be. I wish you the very best. ike
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1235186 tn?1656987798
Hello and welcome..  if you go to an inpatient detox they will monitor you, give you comfort meds such as blood pressure meds, anxiety, meds, sometimes suboxone is used to help with the initial withdrawal/detox symptoms.

The amount of meds you are on and the length of time you have been on them is going to take time to detox from. An impatient detox will get you over the acute physical symptoms. Unless you stay for 30 to 60 you will still be detoxing when you leave. There are different stages of detox.

It is great you have started to taper down. Are you sticking to your taper plan?
How often have you been seeing your doctor?

What symptoms are you having?
No your doctor admitting you would be a good thing.
Keep the faith,
Debbie
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi. I'm glad you came to this site. There are wonderful people here. I have never done inpatient detox, I did it at home. I did do a lot of research before detoxing because I was on such a high dose. I was taking 15 of 20mlg oxy and 10 tramadol a day. From what I read there are two different types of inpatient detox, one they put you too sleep for a couple of hours while they flush your system, this is called rapid detox. The other is your awake and they make your as comfortable as possible while flushing your system over the course of a few days with meds. From what I read is the rapid detox where they put you too sleep, is not covered with insurance and it is $10,000. You are probably going to be awake, however it is way easier then doing it by yourself. Much more comfortable. Remember even after you have detoxed there is a lot of emotional battles. I hope this helps. Good luck and this site is great for support.
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Avatar universal
Thanks for the clarification.

Right now I am managing my own meds.  I agree with you it is not a good thing.  I do want to do this and in general I am strong willed but I still am not sure I have the strength this is going to take.

The only person who even knows I am on the meds is my husband.  A year ago I told him I thought I needed to go to rehab and he told me I am being ridiculous and walked away.  I don't know if he just doesn't get it or if it is easier to turn a blind eye.  It took me several months and so much courage even to tell him the situation I am in and I never thought that would be the response.  It wasn't until a couple of weeks ago when he went to a doc appt with me for a thyroid problem, when he saw the docs reaction to the amount of meds, her concern, questions and the fact that this needed to be addressed before leaving her office that I think he had a little wake up call.  Even today when he sees that I am having withdrawl symptoms he tells me to take some of the meds.  I explained to him that is the worst thing he can tell me because I am already having an internal fight with myself every minute of every day with that.  I should have to tell him he needs to make it hard for me.  

As much as I need it I don't think I can count on him to monitor me or the meds.  So far I have been able to stick to the plan for 17 days but I don't know that I will always be able to.  This is why I feel the need to have a back up plan in place like going to the hospital to detox.  I also have an apt with a doc for suboxone in mid February but I don't know if that is a good route to go either.  I feel like I will just have to fight that addiction then.  Do you have any thoughts on the suboxone treatment?
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Avatar universal
I have been able to stick to the plan as of today, which is day 17.  I am all the way off the zohydro.  The Norco and oxy IR I am now down to 5 a day of each of them.  The doc has me reducing every 4 days.  I have gone from 200mg of oxycontin a day to 60mg.  Today is the first day at this dose and it is by far the worse.  

I do get leg tremors real bad, agitation, heart palpitations and nausea.  Overall I don't feel as bad as I thought I would at this point.  I am still not sure that I can get off this amount of meds on my own and that is why I need the back up plan in place.

Thanks for the help.
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Avatar universal
Thank you for the answers they are a great help.  This forum has so much great info and I am glad I found it.

I am glad you mentioned the emotional stuff afterwards because that is a huge concern of mine.

Thanks the answers and info.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
I would share your concerns with your doctor and between the 2 of you a plan could be made.  With the amount of meds you are trying to come off it is a good idea to have a doctor monitor you thru this.  
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
yes elevated bp and heart palpitations are common during withdrawal.
That's why I asked how often you are seeing your doctor.
Did he give you meds for nausea or your bp?

Taking epsom salt bath, wrapping your legs in warm towels, a heating pad,
Walking around will help with the rls.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
My primary is the one I am working with to reduce the meds.  He gave me a schedule to follow and so far I have been able to follow it.  We both have concerns about me doing it on my own at home but he was willing to give me a shot at it.

I am also going in to his office every other week to be checked.  It was his idea for the hospital detox as a back up plan and also seeing a doc about suboxone.  I am just not sure if that would end up trading one addiction for another.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
He did prescribe Zofran for nausea which I took years ago after surgery and worked great but this time it seemed to actually make me sick to my stomach.  I was already taking lisinopril for high bp.  I am still taking that and monitoring my blood pressure.

Thanks for the other recommendations, I am willing to try anything to help.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
Make sure you stay hydrated. Are you able to eat?
That's good you are monitoring your bp.
Are you getting some sleep?
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Avatar universal
I would be cautious of suboxon, read through some of the threads in here. They were put on that to help withdrawal then the addiction if suboxon was harder to come off then the opiates. Do research, if you need to inpatient detox you should do it and don't feel ashamed. It has a high success rate. Try to get your hubby on board, in any way that your can. This is going to be a long ride. We are all here for you too.
Helpful - 0
495284 tn?1333894042
COMMUNITY LEADER
I am glad to hear you have a good doctor who is helping you thru this.  That is a huge plus.  If it does get to be too much then inpatient sounds like the route to go.  Your doctor would be on board with it too.  I would just focus on getting off these meds and not adding anything else to the mix.  
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am seeing my primary care doc for help with this and he has set up a weaning plan for me.  I am on so much it is going to take a great amount of time but it is just what I have to do.  Right now he has me reducing the meds every 4th day.  The reduction 2 days ago is the one I am having the hardest time with and just can't seem to handle it very well.  I am worried that I have to reduce again in 2 more days because if something doesn't get easier I don't know if I will be able to do it.
Helpful - 0
1235186 tn?1656987798
You might have to go slower with your taper. let  your body adjust before you drop again. It isn't a race. Let your doc  know you aren't feeling well.
You are on a lot of meds. It is going to take months for you to taper properly.
Four  days for each drop is pretty quick.

Which symptoms are the worst for you?

Are  you staying hydrated and eating?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am seeing my doc tomorrow and I am going to discuss slowing down the taper.  I am not sure how he will feel about that.  I have up front and honest with him about everything.  I don't think he works with these situations on a regular basis but I am glad he is giving me a shot and I want to comply with our plan.

Hydration is a little bit of a problem right now because of nausea but I keep trying to drink as much as I can.  I am able to eat ok.

My worst problems right now are body tremors (legs, arms, head) and it is at night more than during the day.  The nausea seems to be increasing more and more.  It is always worse the day or two after I reduce the meds.

Do you think it is even possible to wean totally off at home?  I realize it is going to take quite some time.  I am not expecting it to happen over night.  Right now I still feel like I might be able to do it as long as the doc will work with me and possibly slow down the taper even a small amount.

Overall, I have reduced the meds a good amount in 2 1/2 weeks.  I guess I feel like I have but I don't know for sure.
Helpful - 0
1046935 tn?1421263211
Being a opiophile myself..this is a hard battle youre undertaking. I was on Lortab 10/650's (15 of them every 6 hrs) (plus later became addicted to IV Dilaudid, Morphine, and Oxycontins..and Fentanyl patches as well). The pills were prescribed in the beginning then I began having such aa habit I started writing my own scrips to keep up. I got in trouble and ended up on probation but that only led to taking the addiction to another place..buying on the street and thats when i started using IV. Now im on 130 mg pf methadone and I go to a clinic for that. I have been there 11 years. I know Ill never get off tho because the pain issues that brought me to pills in the first place are worse now than when I first got on. If I had it to do over I would have never done the IV drugs because I quit the pills cold turkey... where the methadone is concerned cold turkey is NOT an option. I tried once and had seizures..never again. That was the worst WD Ive ever had,,even worse than the Oxy and Dilaudid IV. I think that if you can SLOWLY taper you stand a chance of leaving it all behind. The suboxone is going to be a harder WD ..this is something Ive seen not experienced..I cant take suboxone because it causes precipitated WD in methadone patients. Its like instant WD! So I would say unless you just caant do it on your own, avoid the suboxone. I think that WD is a personal thing ttho. What is possible for one may not be for another.I know ppl who quit the methadone no prob, others like me, say its a life in hell. I am on methadone because i was an IV user..as much in love with the needle as what was in it..if I had kept away from it I may have had a chance to get off the pills without the methadone. Ill never know now. You know your body and your willpower better than anyone. You know what you cant do and what you can...you are the best at deciding this ability..do you think if you taper slower maybe you stand a chance at this? If it was me and I could go back I might think about trying one last time on a slow taper before I jumped to the methadone...but again thats me. If you believe in God or have a higher power, pray on it. In the end you have to live with the choices you make. All my best goes out to you honey...this aint no easy task set before you and its far from close to being over. But you can accomplish whatever you set your mind to no matter the obstacles! Ill be rooting for you!
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