Aa
Pills, Methadone, Heroin - Withdrawal
Hello,
I am new to this forum and just wanted to share my experiences and possibly get some insight as to how other people deal with withdrawal from the above types of opiates in my subject.
I can tell you my personal experiences and if you have anything similar or different - please post.
Pills (Vicodin, OxyContin, OxyIR, Oxycodone w/ A.P.A.P.) All snorted except for vics and 'codone w/ a.p.a.p.
In my opinion, they are all equally addicting as far as pills are concerned. I've never tried to quit these in the past ; however instead, just 'graduated' to the next level' of opiates. Recently I've relapsed and started slow which makes it easier to control - or so it feels. I notice that i can take days off at a time with no problem. Does this mean I will not experience withdrawal based on the amount / frequency I take?
Currently when I want to be irresponsible ;) I take 20-30 mg of either the oxy OPs or the oxy 10mg and eat them. Roughly 20-30 mg a day every other day, sometimes every other 3 days, sometimes more.
Heroin - powder - IV
This took a little while for me to get hooked on only because of the availability of it and because i was nervous about it. When it did take over, I started at half a bag at a time and it lasted all night. Eventually I was up to 5-7 bags per hit and then it became a real problem. I was always in a state of withdraw; a lot of the times that same day. That's when I decided to go to the methadone clinic - after over a year of abuse.
Methadone - Liquid - 30 - 105mg per day
I started out at 30 for a long time. Then I went to 60 after a few months of being clean off of the other opiates / opiods (w/e). Soon enough I took advantage of that and went to 105 a day because I was paying the same rate regardless. At first, I felt like a new person. The only disadvantage eventually was the 50lbs of weight I gained, my sex drive was at 0 - and I was 25-27 at the time, and I was just generally lazy about everything. The one piece of advice I can give someone from going to a methadone clinic is don't. It is almost impossible to leave. I was tapered down 3mg a week for almost 7 months until i was at 2mg a day. Including my dose being at 20mg per day and until the day i was at 2mg I felt horrible; bedridden in fact. And it took almost 3 months for me to start feeling normal again, and another 2 months for my sex drive to come back (thank god).
The one piece of advice I know I can share from personal experience is that the worst kind of withdrawal is methadone, as well as xanax (another feat that I've accomplished simply out of boredom from the drug itself).
Those two drugs take way too long to detox from, they're expensive and the clinics do not really care if you leave or not because to them, you're a cash cow. If you're hooked on pills, consider yourself lucky compared to dope and methadone only because I've experienced withdrawal from them all and know them personally and have done copious amounts. Again, if you can - avoid going to the methadone clinic. Try suboxone. It will not get you high (at least it didn't for me) and it will at least take away the w/d symptoms; which from a recovering addict is what's most important.
I've been off heroin for 3 years, have been off methadone for over 7 months, and been off the xanax for 2 months (not very long). I put myself, my family and friends through hell trying to do this. I barely had any support - and I mean barely. I did not go to any meetings or go to church. Did not participate in any kind of recovery program. I did this on my own because that's how stubborn I was; however, it worked.
Let me know what you think.
I am new to this forum and just wanted to share my experiences and possibly get some insight as to how other people deal with withdrawal from the above types of opiates in my subject.
I can tell you my personal experiences and if you have anything similar or different - please post.
Pills (Vicodin, OxyContin, OxyIR, Oxycodone w/ A.P.A.P.) All snorted except for vics and 'codone w/ a.p.a.p.
In my opinion, they are all equally addicting as far as pills are concerned. I've never tried to quit these in the past ; however instead, just 'graduated' to the next level' of opiates. Recently I've relapsed and started slow which makes it easier to control - or so it feels. I notice that i can take days off at a time with no problem. Does this mean I will not experience withdrawal based on the amount / frequency I take?
Currently when I want to be irresponsible ;) I take 20-30 mg of either the oxy OPs or the oxy 10mg and eat them. Roughly 20-30 mg a day every other day, sometimes every other 3 days, sometimes more.
Heroin - powder - IV
This took a little while for me to get hooked on only because of the availability of it and because i was nervous about it. When it did take over, I started at half a bag at a time and it lasted all night. Eventually I was up to 5-7 bags per hit and then it became a real problem. I was always in a state of withdraw; a lot of the times that same day. That's when I decided to go to the methadone clinic - after over a year of abuse.
Methadone - Liquid - 30 - 105mg per day
I started out at 30 for a long time. Then I went to 60 after a few months of being clean off of the other opiates / opiods (w/e). Soon enough I took advantage of that and went to 105 a day because I was paying the same rate regardless. At first, I felt like a new person. The only disadvantage eventually was the 50lbs of weight I gained, my sex drive was at 0 - and I was 25-27 at the time, and I was just generally lazy about everything. The one piece of advice I can give someone from going to a methadone clinic is don't. It is almost impossible to leave. I was tapered down 3mg a week for almost 7 months until i was at 2mg a day. Including my dose being at 20mg per day and until the day i was at 2mg I felt horrible; bedridden in fact. And it took almost 3 months for me to start feeling normal again, and another 2 months for my sex drive to come back (thank god).
The one piece of advice I know I can share from personal experience is that the worst kind of withdrawal is methadone, as well as xanax (another feat that I've accomplished simply out of boredom from the drug itself).
Those two drugs take way too long to detox from, they're expensive and the clinics do not really care if you leave or not because to them, you're a cash cow. If you're hooked on pills, consider yourself lucky compared to dope and methadone only because I've experienced withdrawal from them all and know them personally and have done copious amounts. Again, if you can - avoid going to the methadone clinic. Try suboxone. It will not get you high (at least it didn't for me) and it will at least take away the w/d symptoms; which from a recovering addict is what's most important.
I've been off heroin for 3 years, have been off methadone for over 7 months, and been off the xanax for 2 months (not very long). I put myself, my family and friends through hell trying to do this. I barely had any support - and I mean barely. I did not go to any meetings or go to church. Did not participate in any kind of recovery program. I did this on my own because that's how stubborn I was; however, it worked.
Let me know what you think.
Sorry, that came out wrong. I should not have used the word fact. IDEA is a better word.
but you still take pills, right? I'm not knocking you, I'm wondering if you've just resigned yourself to the fact that you need opiates in your life?
totally agree with eagle this is a life long fight with ups and downs you need support for the ups and down good luck ....remember its a life long process
So, very good! You're clean now for 2 months!! I'm sorry you were without support;that's hard...
I'm going to throw barbiturates into the fire of drugs that have the "worst kind of withdrawal"
and alcohol,too! None of the junk is easy...
Mostly, I believe that folks do much better LONG TERM if they have an after care plan in place. I hope you're not just "white knuckling it" and suffering with cravings and obsessive
thoughts while stubbornly not giving in!
Best of luck!
I'm going to throw barbiturates into the fire of drugs that have the "worst kind of withdrawal"
and alcohol,too! None of the junk is easy...
Mostly, I believe that folks do much better LONG TERM if they have an after care plan in place. I hope you're not just "white knuckling it" and suffering with cravings and obsessive
thoughts while stubbornly not giving in!
Best of luck!
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
