Help...wanting to detox from opiates

[micjme75]

I want to detox from pain meds. I'm terrified of the withdrawals. What can I do?

[msdelight]

This forum is very much a family, and we are happy to have you in it! Dig deep, formulate a good plan and keep posting every day. Breaking an addiction is not an "I" thing, it's a "we" thing. We are all here for each other! Love, MsD

[micjme75]

Thank you so much. Many of do not have family support to help get us through. This is the type of support that helps us. Thank you.

[msdelight]

Hi mic and welcome.  You have landed in a great place. Wd is not the easiest thing you will ever do, but certainly not the hardest. You have accomplished quite a lot in life, and that shows you have the determination and fortitude to get through this.  Try to put it in the mental category with trying so hard to have your twins, work on TWO masters and get through a divorce with 4 children. There is no doubt in my mind that you absolutely can do this! Along with the very excellent practical advice you have received above,  I just wanted to add that having a Can Do attitude is a must. Like all battles we face in life, the anticipation is always worse than the actual event. Think of this addiction as a cancer, and fight it with everything you have. Some other things may have to take a backseat for a little while (perfectly clean home /perfect papers and grades /perfect meals etc etc). The MOST important thing you can do right now is leave the meds behind. Praying for your courage.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Comparatively you were on lower doses of opiates.  For instance I was taking between 8 and 10 15 mg oxycodone.  There are those here who were taking double that with other meds.  I'm not saying that W/D is going to be a piece of cake but you can and will survive it.

First thing you need to do is go to the store and get some supplies.  Use the search tool at the top of the page and look for Thomas Recipe.  Great ideas there.  My other suggestions are:

Epsom Salts (take as many hot baths as you need with it...will help draw out the toxins
Hylands Restless Leg Tables (I found mine at a CVS Pharmacy)
Cal-Mag-Zinc 3 in one (Walmart will be cheapest at about $6 for a big bottle (3 to 4 in the evening to help with the legs)
A good Multi-Vitamin
Super B-Complex
B-12 (if at all possible a scrip from your doctor for a 10 dose vial along with syringes....this will help immensely with energy)
Immodium (an absolute must)
Something for anxiety and sleep.  Valerian, Melatonin...or go to your local GNC and see what they have
Chocolate (to satisfy the pleasure center of the brain a wee bit)
Light foods....bananas, broth soups, stay away from caffeine and too much sugar
When I detoxed I had some Parafon Forte muscle relaxers which helped quite a bit
Ifyou can....and you have an m.d....as for a prescription of Clonidine which is used for a multitude of things including high blood pressure but it really also helps with cravings and tones the withdrawal symptoms down

With any luck if you can start your detox on a Friday by day 3 you won't feel great but you can get away with saying you've got a bug or flu at work if you don't want to share the real reason.

You will be exhausted because detox doesn't let us sleep much at all for the first few days, you will be anxious, depressed and have no energy.  These things are all normal.

If at all possibly stay off the Tramadol if you can...the WD's are worse than for the hydro.

Keep as active as possible, watch funny movies or comedians, take a walk, work if you can cuz your day will go faster and it will keep your mind off feeling lousy.

My detox I just kept telling myself I really had a lousy flu bug.  That's what it felt like.  You will have hot/cold sweats too.

I'm hoping that since you weren't on a huge amount that the detox won't be as bad as some but I really do recommend that you pick up the items listed above and from Thomas Recipe.  It doesn't cure W/D but it does ease some of the symptoms.

Above all, remember you are not alone, come and post as often as you need to...you will get lots of support.  Read the postings of other people because it really helps to know that someone "gets it".

After all is said and done, think about some good aftercare (after the detox is over).

The most important thing is you won't feel like eating but try to eat what you can...good healthy foods.  Hydrate a lot...water, gatorade, some people drink boost since they can't stomach anything else.  If you don't stay hydrated your WD's will be much, much worse.

Check back in periodically....others will chime in with more advice and support for you.

I will be praying for you.  You are making a good decision and it is wise of you to get out now before you are taking 20 pills a day.  You will get your life back, feel healthier and within a month or so if you have pain it will dissipate.

Above all remember your brain is going to try to trick you because it wants those drugs so it will try to convince you that you are in a lot of pain.  

Day 3 is usually the worst but it probably takes a good month to really start feeling halfway normal.  The opiates change your brain chemistry and it takes time for things to get back to normal but I promise you will.

I used opiates for legitimate pain reasons for 10 years, I'm 55 years old and about 2 or 3 years ago I quit being dependent on the meds and became an addict.  I'm now 32 days clean.  Believe me.....you can do this...you just need to really want to do it.  Make your plan and stick with it.  Make sure to get rid of any opiates in your house and get rid of your suppliers so you are not tempted.

You will be in my prayers.  Please come back and post as much as you need to.  There is a great support system here...take advantage of it@

[micjme75]

Also I'm a single mom of 4 working 8 to 5pm m-f. I have to detox myself so I don't lose my teaching licensure and position at the university. I'm in the Midwest and doctors treat you like a junkie as soon as they see your chart. I'm finishing a double masters right now. Education in one and Psychology in the other. I'm fully aware of why I'm self medicating. But now it's to the point that the high is no longer. I take them to feel normal so to speak. I'm recently divorced and have stayed strong through everything. But my emotional intelligence now towards myself is null. I really need to detox.

[micjme75]

I was diagnosed with fibro myalgia 4 years ago after giving birth to my twins as a successful IVF process. Then began the pain meds. I've only been on hydrocodone. Right now I take 3 in the morning 3 at noon n 3 before bed. And when my fill for hydrocodone runs out I take tramadol. Tramadol 3 in the morning n 3 at night. Right now I'm on the hydros.  So detox will be terrifying. I have no family near me. I work in an extremely professional position.

[PurrfectlyKrazy]

Hello and welcome to our forum community.  Sonrissa is asking pertinent questions that will help us determine what you can take to help easy your WD symptoms somewhat.  Knowing what type of opiates and all the other information would be helpful.

Please let us know.  You will get some wonderful support here while you are in WD.  This is a no judgement zone so say whatever you want to say.  Believe me there will always be someone with a worse story.  Keep posting, give some info and we will do all we can to help you get through the coming days!

[Sonrissa]

Hi there and welcome to the forum.  This is a wonderful place for advice and support. In order to give you the best advice, we need a little more information.  What kind of opiates are you taking? How much do you take per day, and how long have you been taking them? Are you prescribed them by a doctor for pain?  Withdrawals can be intimidating, but please know that you can get through it. Most of us here have been through it and we can help you. With more information, we can give you advice. Keep posting. All the best!