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The Opiate Withdrawal Survival Kit Part 1: Preparation

As I mentioned in my previous post, a great deal of planning and preparation should go into a detox session. The reason why so many people enter rehab in order to detox, is because it can be a very traumatic experience. One that will most likely put the rest of your life on hold.

Pick a Date
The first thing you want to do is set aside a date for your detox. Preferably during a time where you are relatively free of any obligations. If you have a job, you may want to take a leave for “personal reasons” or something like that. It’s going to be absolutely necessary for you to have at least one week to yourself, especially if you are a heavy user. Once you’ve secured a date, you need to determine a location.

Pick a Place
Where you decide to detox is just as crucial as when you detox. The location must be one that is very supporting of your cause, and away from too much distraction. Those of you that have some money will have the luxury of renting a hotel or a cabin in some remote area away from everyone. A rehab facility would be great as well, but if you can’t afford it, then find the next best thing. Unfortunately, I was broke when I went through all of my withdrawals, so I was forced to improvise. Most every detox that I had took place at my parent’s house. It was horrible at times, but it still worked. The hardest part is pretending like everything is ok, when it really isn’t. That is why it’s so crucial to either go at this alone, with someone who understands, or with someone who is going through it with you. After picking a location, it’s time to get some supplies.

Drugs for Detox
In my next post, I’ll talk about a whole bunch of over the counter and prescription drugs that you can use to help ease your withdrawal symptoms. If you plan on going “cold turkey,” then the whole thing will probably be much more uncomfortable, but there are benefits to the cold turkey detox as well. Using medication to assist a withdrawal can cause even more problems, especially if you’re someone who has a pretty deep psychological addiction. The medication may become a crutch, and possibly another drug for you to abuse. So make sure you know what type detox is right for you before you get started.

Get the Right Nutrition
Moving on, we need to look at what our diet will consist of during our kick. Chances are that you won’t want to even think about eating during the first few days, but it’s absolutely necessary that you get some sort of nutrition in you. I’ve experienced that solid foods are out of the question when I’m getting clean, so I like to stock up on a ton of soup and fruit juice. Between the two of those you’ll get all your basic nutrients. Also, be sure to drink plenty of water.

Use the Toilet
If you have a bathroom, that saves you the trouble of buying a bucket for your vomit and diarrhea. 🙂

To Sum it Up
Other than those essentials, you can grab anything that you feel will help you get through the whole ordeal easier. I liked renting movies, because books were very hard to read or concentrate on. The movies will definitely help, but that all depends on what part of the detox your going through. In the beginning, it’s going to be quite a bit of agony, so you might be devoting most of your time to puking, going to the bathroom or writhing in pain. Eventually, you’ll be able to throw on a good flick without feeling too crummy.

Crazy Libido
One final thing for everyone reading this. You’re going to notice a huge boost in your sex drive during and after your withdrawals. Opiates are known to suppress sexual appetite in both men and women, so once you stop, it comes back with a vengeance. Whatever way you decide to handle that is up to you, but I just wanted to prepare you ahead of time.

38 comments

1 Vicodin Withdrawal » The Opiate Withdrawal Survival Kit Part 3: The Detox { 08.09.08 at 12:12 am }

[…] that we’ve talked about how to prepare, and what detox medications you can use to help with your withdrawal, it’s time to get […]

2 Kyle { 08.29.08 at 10:57 am }

Thank you. I’m going through the process, into the middle of my fifth day, and wish I would have discovered your info five days ago. Your site has been very helpful – I’ve printed several pages for my wife to read, since she’s been my sole support. I own my business, and have only been able to take about a half day off, but a long weekend is coming up – thank goodness. I had the opportunity to “ween” off the drug, but like a true addict, I chose to use large amounts until nothing was left, then off to cold turkey. What a mistake… If anyone is reading this, and they aren’t swayed by your very important message, then here’s a footnote from a “normal”, middle-class, responsible family-man stating the obvious – you know that you’re abusing, no matter how you rationalize it with yourself. Stop.

3 clint humphreys { 12.06.08 at 10:49 am }

I went to a methadone clinic. Got off the opiates (mine were alot stronger than vicodin just fyi) stablalize your dose. Over an 8 month period I have weened my methadone dose from 95 mgs/day to 13 and I am continuing to go down 1 mg/d till I am done. I have started getting very mild wds but nothing like the cold turkey wds i’ve experienced. The cost is very little compared to street prices and i am living proof it can be done. Just listen to your inner voice and stay strong and devoted, life will resume better than ever. You will appreciate it all the more I promise you. Good luck to everyone in the same situation I will pray foe you all.

4 admin { 12.09.08 at 12:58 am }

@Kyle
I apologize for not commenting back earlier. For some reason I thought that I had already responded. Thanks for the advice and great comments about our site here. If we can help each other out even just a little bit, then our job has been done.

@ Clint
Always great to hear success stories. Keep it up, and thanks for the support.

God Bless

5 Lisa { 02.02.09 at 6:10 pm }

Thank you, thank you, thank you, for mentioning the bit about the crazy libido! I thought I was going insane or turning into a nymphomaniac! Even though I’ve suffered through w/d’s more times than I can count, I always thought that I was weird on account of the overwhelming sex drive. I’d read somewhere that orgasm actually enduces the same or similar brain chemicals (endorphins, maybe?) that are released from the opiates so perhaps that’s the reason. I just thought my excessive drive was a bit over the top. Thanks for making me see that I’m not alone there.

I was, however, a bit depressed to read in one of the other posts that the w/d’s get worse and harder the more times you detox 🙁 I recently had a conversation about that. The one and only other person who knows about my problem is not very supportive. He was miserably pi*sed at me because the first time I detoxed I was over it all and back to normal within 1 1/2 weeks. During my last detox on day 16 I was still having trouble. Most of the physical symptoms had subsided but I still just couldn’t get out of my own way. I had zero energy and was depressed as hell. Now, at least, I see why and can show this to him so maybe he’ll understand (but I highly doubt it – like I said, not the most supportive person and one of the reasons I’m thinking about getting involved with NA if I can kick it this time).

I had actually had the idea that this time I was going to really plan every element of my detox prior to finding your site. Most of the other times it had been forced due to lack of meds and although I told myself I wanted and needed to do it, I don’t think I was mentally ‘there’, if you know what I mean. You would have to have gone through this crap to know what I mean, I guess, about being ‘there’ and another reason my support person doesn’t get it.

Anyway, aside from confirming the libido thing and increased time to detox after numerous tries, I also wanted to thank you for helping me to put my plan together with a bit more direction. Your site has been incredibly helpful to me, even though I’m trying to get off harder opiates (Percocet 10/325 – max of about 200 mg per day, and Fentanyl patch 50 mgs).

Here’s to hoping this time I actually get my life back. I’m facing divorce, lost my business, am going bankrupt, and have this addiction problem so life hasn’t been so sweet for me; however, on the upside, as of right now, I’m seeing all of these things as an opportunity to re-invent myself, to start fresh – tabula raza so to speak – and that incentive, I hope, will get me through all of this!

Cheers and best of luck and prayer to everyone out there who is, like me, going through this roller coaster ride!

Lisa

6 admin { 02.20.09 at 2:46 pm }

@Lisa
The sex drive is crazy isn’t it? Boy oh boy, was I unprepared for that the first time. I mean, just picture me at 18 (I’m 29 now) getting hit with the post withdrawal sex drive. It was nuts!!!

In regards to the length and intensity of your detox becoming greater with time and use, I can’t remember where I read about that, but it was from some medical article about opiate abuse. The doctor stated that basically, your brain becomes so used to the external opiates, that it shuts off it’s own production of endorphins much quicker and doesn’t return to homeostasis because it anticipates that it will receive the artificial opiates instead. It’s amazing how our brain operates.

I think having a detox plan is extremely important, especially if you are on high doses. But like they say; “gettting off is the easy part, staying off is tough.”

Best of luck to you Lisa. I encourage you to try every method of recovery possible before you settle on a single one. I don’t take anything away from the 12-Steps, but I realized early on that it was not the best path for me. Everybody quits using drugs someday, one way or another. Find your own way.

Take Care

7 Adam { 04.05.09 at 8:54 pm }

Day 6 for me now, and still feel the aches and burning bad! But, I will say for those thinking about kicking or in the deep end as we speak, by day 5/6 you will be feeling mentally a lot better! And for me, a lot better than being blasted on oxy or dope or pills, you’ll feel a clarity in your mind that hasnt been heard or felt the whole time we were using! . They are ALL the same! Methadone is an even stronger opiate (but will last all day) suboxone is a long lasting opiate along with a “ghost” opiate that isnt an actually opiate, but binds very strongally to your receptors. And you have to take it sublingually for the right results! In fact, the time I weened down on just suboxone, was the worst withdrawal I’ve ever had! I literally didn’t get 1 minute of sleep till the 14th day!!! Luckily I had a bottle of amphetamines from my “ADD” days 🙂 but even then, still felt like a zombie!
Now, I am going thru withdrawals again, unbelievable right? but most here understand. Its a battle, and no matter how many years you’ve been clean, you/I/we will always be addicts. And whether you go for the 12 step things or not, what is tremendously important is that we never forget we are addicts. Be honest with your doctors, and loose contacts with suppliers. Thats the only way to protect yourself. That and to remember. Remember how much time, money and energy were spent on this lifestyle. And remember how ashamed it made you feel. (That’s only because of our societies ignorance around mental illness, deppression and addictive personalities.) And remember your withdrawal, and how horrible the whole thing was…..
Several days ago I was looking for some questions and answers that weren’t anywhere around. So, I’ll offer my email address so anyone who has any question, comments, needs advice or whatever can feel free to write me. I have quite a bit of exsperience on all this along with a medical background, so feel free to get in touch.
[removed] -just put something in the subject so i know its you and not SPAM!
stay strong

8 Michele S { 10.10.09 at 4:09 am }

Can anyone give me info about the amount of mgs. in norco,

9 Gerard { 09.17.10 at 8:16 am }

I am glad I found this site as I sit here counting the hours until I can fill my next script. I have been on everything but H. I used to eat the 7.5 mg Fentanyl patches. I was taking 1,000 mgs (not bragging just showing the insanity) of Morphine a day when I went to my first in-pt detox. I stayed clean about 2 weeks and back to detox. I tried quick suboxone tapers, long tapers, and maintenance. I have tried methadone you name it. I have never hit rock bottom or at least I have what they call a high bottom. Never lost a job, home, car, spouse, or been arrested. I even managed to earn two masters and a Ph.D. through all this because like all addicts I have the gift of bullshit. I can bullshit my docs, the dept head at the University I teach at, and my wife. The problem is No matter how I try I always finish my 30 day Rx is 27 days which means 2 days of hell and a being the first person at the pharmacy on day 30. I have no idea how I will ever stop. Even now with opiates and benzos in my body I took them at 7:00am just the fact that I am out until tomorrow in the am is making me withdraw. I have no idea how I will taper ever. I have gone through Wds so often I can’t imagine another full blown episode, I think I would rather die. Here is the kicker I was not molested as a child, my parents were great, my life now is great, I am not hiding some deep secret, I am not shy, I had no problem with getting girls, etc… I started taking Vicoden because it felt good. No therapist has been able to touch on why I use all I can imagine is I use because once it made me feel good now I use so I don’t get sick-how the f*&k do I stop when no one can tell me why I started? I will fill my Rxs and swear to use them as written and next month I will be in the same boat. What do I do?

10 Jessica { 12.07.10 at 10:44 am }

Well, today is the first day for the rest of my life. i took my final pill about 5 and half hours ago. Not long I know but we all start somewhere. My wife and I are in this together. The hard part for me is knowing that I have to come to work all day as I go thru this because I just can not afford to take off. I dont know how I got here. I am a smart strong woman and do not know where I let something take control of my every being. I can not wait for the day my last/first thought of the day isnt about the stupid drugs. Or the day I get off of work and dont have to think ok so where do we get something today. I lost my house, I time with my kids and family. I lost my self respect. I am ready to take my life back . This is not the first time I have done this. Two years ago we were clean for 8 months and all it took was a bad back injury then a trip to the ER where the DR convinced me that there was no need to be in pain with a whole hospital full of meds. 30 perc 10’s. I lost a part of me that day. Last year, same time we attempted to get clean, however I was also detoxing from Lyrica. That my friends was the WORST pain I ever went thru. I hope that because I dont have that to come out of my system as well that I will win this time. I got so beat down when I was on day 17 and nothing had subsided. It took almost 4 months to be completly free of that med. I am scared to relapse. I am scared of the hell that the withdrawal is going to put me thru. However, I am even more scared that if I dont do this RIGHT NOW, that I will end up killing myself, selling myself, leaving my wife and kids. I have numbed myself from the pain for so long that I am almost happy about the possibility of feeling something for a change. My wife worries that I wont want to be with her anymore when we are clean. I worry more that I will choose not to be with her because we keep each other sick. We justify the using for one another. We hide it for each other when it comes to our friends and family. SECRETS KEEP YOU SICK. So please if you think of us today, send something good out into the universe, and we will do the same for you all. thank you for having this site to help us to prepare for what is to come. I thought if we go into this with a plan, we will have more of a chance to succeed, and there you were. Saving lives.

11 Kitty Mom { 12.07.10 at 3:42 pm }

Jessica – congratulations on making the decision to quit. That is the first and most important step – realizing you have a problem, facing it, and starting the road to recovery. I was there just three months ago and believe me even though it was probably at least a week from hell – it was worth it because there is life after using and what a relief it is to not go through the turmoil of always looking for ways to score the stuff and then gobling it down and worrying about getting more again. Don’t listen to the addict voice in you – it lies, cheats, is sneeky, coniving and certainly does not have your best interest at heart. Just get ahold of the Thomas Recipe here on this board. It will help and just take one day at a time – in a week you will be feeling much better and what is one week out of your entire life. In a month you will be your old self or new self again….Please keep coming here and istening to the stories of all us struggling along with you and lean on us. Most of us have a prayer time going on and I know I pray each day for those nameless folks out there that I have not met yet that need GOD’s bing strong healing hand. So Jessica, I will add you to that prayer I pray every morning and you hang in there and be strong. We are pulling for You. Good luck and God bless.
Love,
Kitty

12 KATHY { 02.09.11 at 8:52 am }

My husband has been addicted to opiates for 10 years. Our whole marriage. It has been a life robbing experience. He is unable to hold a job and has learned to become a master manipulator to obtain his drugs. He will lie, cheat and steal. I have stood beside him because I always have tried to view the real person (broke back at early age and has true pain) and the addicted person, separately. He addiction cost averages $500.00 a week. I financially have not been able to afford his addiction for years but his tatics often turn to controlling the flow of funds with fear. I have decided enough is enough . . . I am broke. Today is the 4th day that the funds have been cut off and he has been experiencing cold turkey withdrawl. He hates me at the point for not having any more money to give to him. His mental state is horrible. At first, I tried to help him by getting over the counter medicines to help with the symptons. He refused and said that stuff would not help him. He says give me money or I steal it from you. I carry all means of funds on my person even when I sleep (sleeping in closet in order to keep from distrubing or agitating him more) I have given him complete space because he has become so aggressive with me. His mental state is best described as evil towards me. He spews horrible things from his mouth as if the devil himself resided within him. I am praying for God’s protection. Anyone reading this please rememeber me and my husband, Steven, in your prayers. Heavenly Father, please help to break the chains of addiction before it is too late for us both! Amen.

13 Digital { 04.20.11 at 11:36 am }

I know what he is going through as I to am going through the same thing.. It’s funny because when I went to church on Sunday I never would have thought I was going to take my last pill that day.. When the paster was talking about what this does and who it hurts and its almost like he was talking to me… Its like he looked at me and said it’s going to hurt but you will stop hurting yourself and others. I think I might have said wholly s*** in church… And then on my way home I was listing to the radio and a song came on that was about making bad choices and praying for forgiveness, and I have no idea what channel that was but it’s something that I would never listen to but something said listen and I did. Now I am on day three. And yes it hurts but yes it will be better and the weird thin is that as I lie awake all night I will say a prayer and no matter how bad I hurt it will put a smile on my face.. Good luck and I will be praying for you.. And don’t be afraid to look up to the heavens for a little support.. He is on your side

14 jodi { 05.21.11 at 10:13 am }

going to start withdrawl, at home tomorrow. Scared, but determined to finally kill this demon. Looking for support and any home remedies.
I only have 5 valium and 3 muscle relaxers. Going to store to buy some gatorade and L tyrosine, b6, and potassium. Need your prayers. Coming off of oxy 80 mg. been taking for a year.

15 Need some inspiration PLEASE { 05.28.11 at 3:38 pm }

jodi
how you doing? are you out there stilll? you should come over to the “about” page … we are all here for you!!! i just got 2 weeks and a day off 20 10 ‘s of vic so if i can so can you !!

16 Chase { 05.30.11 at 9:23 pm }

Im having a pretty down day myself. I have been a user for quite some while. I started a little over a year ago.. It was small amounts like Hydrocodone, 10/325mg . It went from only once a day.. and not on my days off from work..I took them just to get me thru my day. I havent used as much as some people. I am currently taking 40mg a day of oxy and sometimes it tapers to 60. It all depends on my supply.. This wasnt planned but I have finally gone flat broke and decided I cant do this anymore.. It has been since yesterday morning I have taken my last 20mg oxycontin.. I feel like Im in my own personal hell and have no idea what to do.. the pain just feels horrible.

17 Pinkerton { 05.31.11 at 2:30 am }

Hi Chase,
Way to go, you took the first step and that is the hardest part!! The next four days may be unpleasant but you will be able to get through it and then that part is over for good. Your sleep will return, the chills and aches will subside, your energy will increase….HANG IN THERE!! I didn’t hang in there and now I’m paying the price. I wish I would have hung in there the first time I detoxed. The post withdrawl is to be dealt with very carefully because relapse is a bitch. Once you get past the first four days, and really that is all it takes I think, based on everyone elses posts and my own experience. Sleep and energy are the last to return. Anyway, once that is done then you need a game plan for when you feel good again. For some reason, when you start feeling better your mind plays tricks on you and you think it would be no big deal to take just one….WRONG!!! Kitty Mom said, “one is too many because 1,000 isn’t enough” and she’s right.

Good luck and don’t give up. If you want to have the help of others, go to the “about” page. You can find it on the left hand side at the top of the home page or see the recent posts on the right side of the home page.

Good luck, keep posting and let us know how you are doing and ask the “about” folks for help.

Pinkerton

18 Pinkerton { 05.31.11 at 2:38 am }

Hello Jodi,
How are you doing, I missed your post. If you like, you can go over to the “about” page where everyone hangs out and your posts will sure to be read.

Sounds like you had everything you needed. How did the detox go? I pray it went well. I wish I would have seen your post sooner so you didn’t have to go through that alone. How are you dealing with the post withdrawls? Stay away from the thought of taking even just one, it will screw your whole systen up.

Please let us know how you are.
Pinkerton

19 R's Support { 05.31.11 at 7:43 am }

It is funny that you wrote about the increased sex drive. After having round 20 (or somewhere VERY close to to that) with my boyfriend who is on day 5 of w/d off of morphine, I jokingly went on the internet and researched increased libdo with opiate w/d and found your post. He attributed it to wanting to feel loved, saying he was feeling more emotional during his w/d, I said it was the actual w/d… I win 🙂

Congratulations to all those who have posted before me… stay on the right path 🙂

20 Need some inspiration PLEASE { 06.02.11 at 7:17 am }

Chase
you still out there? there are soooo many of us going through what you too are going throug. i too would take vic just to get out of bed; to take a shower to go to work; you get the pattern here. hope you are doing weel.. there is a huge support team on this site; i hope you find your way back to us and that you are well… i could not have done it without the support on this website; everyone is great; they are good nice people who realy care and can relate to what you are going throug. no one will judge you for anything either!! you can do this!! take hot baths; that really helps me; i am almost 3 weeks in and i am still taking hot hot epson salt baths at night for the aches and pains and i still alternate tylenol and ibuprofen every 6 hours or so!!! if you can find the “about” page ; there are many people on it everyday to walk you through this crappy time in your life.. people who will believe in you and be there with you every step of the way!!! please check in cuz now i care!! i hope you are doing well!! let us know!!

21 Chase { 06.02.11 at 10:19 am }

Ya, Im here I held strong for 4 days, I skipped two days of work. I felt it was well worth it.. It got so overwhelming so I got some information about a doctor in town. He prescribed me suboxone. After my Kick a thon last night.. my poor pugs got turned into footballs.. I feel like im coming around alot better and feel even closer to putting this demon behind me. I highly recommend that valerian root to try and sleep. thank you all for the support.. I fell a 100 times better today

22 Need Some Inspiration PLEASE { 06.04.11 at 6:53 am }

Chase
you sound better; yeah the resless legs are a B. i am 3 weeks as of yesterday; today is 22 days; i feel silly stil counting but after years and years of taking vics ; shit its gonna take a little time for me. i didn’t use suboxone; but if you go tothe “about” page its on left hand side under columns on the home page; anyways; i believe there are people on there who have experience with suboxone. and if not they know people who do… i spilled to a doc in town and he started me on prozac; after the physical stuff came the anxiety and depression; it sucked A… anyways i am sooo glad you got some sleep too. Kitty Mom (from the about page) says that the last to come. the sleep and energy; but it does in time so hang in there. kitty mom says you have to take one day at a time.. after so many days i ddnt’ really want one i thought it would send me into a panic; but i have been drinking some lately; just gotta make sure i don’t let that get out of control; pretty sure i’m an addict in every sense… hang in there!! check back in; sorry i didn’t get on yesterday; well i did but it deleted my post and i got frustrated and said F it; anyways keep me posted!!! GOOD JOB!! you are almost through the hardest of it!!!!

23 joe { 07.07.11 at 10:35 pm }

hi all, i just found out this morning my son 19 has been doing heroin for 5 months now. past 2 intravenously. i myself had my day in the sun when it comes to drugs but never seemed to get hooked as far as having withdraws and such. which is weird because i am a massive addictive/compulsive when it comes to other things, gambling, woman:), tropical fish…ect anyway he has no insurance and no way can i afford to get him in somewhere. we are doing it here at home. seems he may have lucked out and not be as hooked as bad as he could have. but as i can see from reading, the worst my be yet to come. so far only the real bad guilt feeling and sore muscles, inside he says is “antsy” i will guess anxiety? hes doing good as far as sleeping…but i am not. i feel like prison guard afraid to give him space to take off. i myself am disabled and havent been well, so i really want this to be a one time thing. i know thats asking for a lot, but he really seems intent on stopping and had no idea of the ramifications of doing this drug. any tips i can get would be greatly appreciated. most concern is the after. given it has been only a short time, is it possible he wouldnt be thought of as an addict or is that what happens after 5 months? he doesnt have an addictive personality and from what i get he was into it because he liked the high? ya no shit. wounld he need na 12 step? his girlfriend (ex) didnt know and of course looking for support/sympathy he called her. she has popped in twice. all good as she doesnt do drugs, but i am worried she may be a distraction of my plan of isolation for at least a few more days. hes been off 3 days now. please if anyone can tell me if having her pop in and out is good or bad as far as him and i reaching our goal of him getting thru this. i wish you all the best and am really proud of you for being able to say enough is enough. thats where it starts it seems. thanks for being here and writing you’re stories……joe oh ya i am going with the tons of water/vitamin water that new stuff…valerian root..pepto and nyQuil flu. there is no dosage on the root it just says take 3 before sleep. does anyone know beyond that how much can be used for the “antsy, if any? thanks again

24 joe { 07.07.11 at 10:42 pm }

sorry i didnt realize this was for vicodin. i hope its ok you all sound like great people:) speaking of vic, i asked my doctor once if people can get addicted to vicodin. he said no because you need it for the pain/chronic back. anyway i guess his theory was now if u didnt have the pain and continued using them, then u would be considered addicted. somehow i dont buy that logic. is this guy right or…..?

25 Nathan { 07.14.11 at 11:30 am }

@joe. I suppose he could be playing with words. I guess “addicted” and “dependent” could be considered two sides of the same coin. Some people are mentally addicted, others keep taking it because they don’t want to feel the withdrawal, all different reasons. I don’t know his motivation so I won’t judge him. Vicodin changes your entire body. I won’t get into the biochemistry but trust me. As someone who took it for pain for over a year and a half and is now on hour 25, your body needs it. I just does. I for one did not get mentally addicted to it. My pain is gone, so I don’t need the medication anymore. I know the physical withdrawals are going to be hell but that’s just how it works.

26 Nathan { 07.14.11 at 11:38 am }

I just want to also wish everyone luck in their battles. I am on my first day of detoxing and after 24 hours it is just chills and headache. I have multivitamins, herbs, and two days off. Hopefully I will be on the shorter end of the spectrum on the w/d. As I mentioned earlier. I took hcodone for about 1 1/2 years for pain. As I do not have pain anymore I don’t need the meds. I know w/d is going to suck. It’s just the way it goes. Mentally I never needed the drug, being physically dependent after a while just happens, it is the way the body works. I’m trying cold turkey. It sucks so far.

27 Need Some Inspiration PLEASE { 07.17.11 at 6:21 am }

joe ;
if you are still thre; how is your son? did you gusy make it through detox? we don’t care that its heroin or what it is; we will help ya through if your not lost forever now. and i think that as far as that doc goes; he is full of shit. there are tons of peopel on herer who ligitimately took vic for pain and still are going throug withdrawal without goingt over the prescribed amount. that doc is full of crap in my opion. thats just my opinion though. we all hang out on the “about ” page if you can find your way over therer. sorry wwe missed your post!!!

28 chad { 08.21.11 at 7:56 am }

detoxing from heroin,mdones and morphine. it sucks. day four.its been about a week and a half from last methadone. hope everyone is okay we can do it.

29 Nativetex99 { 09.07.11 at 4:52 pm }

Developed a little bit of a problem with lorcets and it’s been one year. Do about 4 a day….in order to safely get off this and not go insane is it recommended to seek medical assistance to ease the porcess. Tired and need to move pass this sh*t and get back to life on life’s terms. Any words of advice would be greatly appreciated-

30 Kitty Mom { 09.08.11 at 1:51 pm }

Native,
I got through detox from taking 12 to 15 per day so it is possible though difficult. I used the Thomas recipe of vitamins and minerals and I have nothing to compare it with, but it helped having the regiment of taking the stuff and each day got better and better and your body gives up the craving after a while. Sleep depravity sucks and the restless legs are the worst but all and all I was over it in a week and went back to work after that. I was probably a sissy in the fact that I took a week off from work for “the flu” but is helped not having to put up with all that. Have you started yet….if not, just get prepared with all the stuff you will need per the Thomas Recipe and take a day at a time. You can do it – many on this site have got through to the other side of pill addiction so we know it is possible. Let me know if you have any questions – kittymom001@gmail.com and I would be very glad to help you.
Take Care
Good Luck
Kitty

31 Im not me { 09.09.11 at 4:36 am }

Hello all,
Well I’m about 50 hours into w/d from a wicked Opana (oxymorphone) habit. (60mg a day insuffulated). Like most on here I started as simply as everyone else. Back injury, surgery, oxy’s yada yada yada…. I’m done with this crap. I had about a weeks worth of Opana left and flushed it. My mind has been numb for so long that I just dont even know who I am anymore. I have a beautiful fiance’ who has no clue of my habit, so I’m going this completely alone. I’m even sitting at work as I type this. W/d sucks but if I can make one suggestion to everyone its loperamide and zantac. At least for me it makes the w/d tolerable and I’m still able to function. Anyway, wish me luck and I wish all of you who are kicking the demon the best. God Bless.

32 Dzm { 09.14.11 at 8:23 pm }

Immodium ad in large amounts is a miracle for opiate withdrawal. I was on a severe ammount of opiates and used this method to kick with little wd synths. You must wait for the withdrawals to come on first then take the immodium.

33 Riki { 11.22.11 at 8:53 am }

Hey everyone, I’m about to start my withdrawals. I want to get off of them, but I’m scarred to death of the withdrawals. I have two kids that are with me everyday, which makes it even harder. They need me at my best, so it’s pretty much impossible in my eyes!! If l had someone to take them for a week, it would help. My husband has already contacted my suppliers, and told them to cut me off, because it’s gotten so bad. Anyways, I’m 23 years old, have a 6 year old and a 2 year old. Need any advice, that will make this go smoother. Been on large amounts of opiates for almost five years now. Need to be able to take care of my little ones while going through this. Thanks for your time, and support.

34 Kitty Mom { 11.23.11 at 12:08 pm }

Riki – It is hard but the pain ends – if you decide that this is what you want to do and it sounds like it might have to be if your sources are dried up…..just make up your mind that today is the day – take one day at a time – and say just for today, I will not take a pill – I am still saying that each day after 15 months and just yesterday as I cleaned my husbands den, I came across an old subscription he had back there of about 20 or so pills. I want them – don’t get me wrong – but I will not go down that road again. Once an addict, always an addict! Do it for those kids. There is never a good outcome to pill addiction. Just get those Thomas Recipe ingredients, plan on a week out of commission – and it is all up hill after that. Thanks for posting and keep on posting if you will. I always need reminded that there are a lot of folks like me out there in various walks of life and various ages that are in the same predicament.
God Bless you
Kitty

35 dannie { 11.23.11 at 6:23 pm }

I’ve been reading the same comments over and over for over a year. Its almost 2 years now that i’ve been addicted to vicodin..norco. my doctor knows, they all do. but they don’t know what to do. my orthopedic doc. upped my dose, and said its okay if you need more than prescribed, we can give you a higher dose, but when it stops working…when the tolerance gets to high, then we need to move on to something like pain management…but i tried that when i was in the hospital, dont work. first time i took vicodin….it was as if all my problems had been solved…i did better because i didnt have any pain. 2 years later, i lost two jobs and quit school after 3 years…lost my grade point average of 3.5, failed 3 classes. havnt cleaned my room in months. today i’ve already taken over 20 valerian root pills. its my first day without it. but i know i have a doc. apt. with a new doc on monday. i’ve been getting them on the street cus i lost my insurance like 3months ago, so yeah, i dont have any money at all. i ask my bf for money but he gets pissed and says no. i think about killing myself all the time. i wonder what else there is. taking vicodin is the the only thing that makes me feel good enough to do anything. i’m lost. i’m pretty much a loser. sometimes i dream that i just had barrels of vicodin…like an endless amount. i’d just be chillen in my room…away from everyone, cus it makes me hate everyone. i get annoyed by everything people do. you dont need friends when you get all your stimilation from 20 pills a day. yay. the only reason i havnt killed myself yet….? idk. maybe i’m scared of what will happen. but i hate life, and the people and places in it. vicodin never lets me down…when its there it says and does all the right things. it always agrees and is on your side. damn. lame. dancing white vicodin everywhere i look. wish i could put dresses on em. 🙂 haha, or little pants. and everyone asks, “why do you do it if it does this to you?” ahhahahahaha yeah, what in the fuck do i say to that? “cus i’m an idiot who loves the torturous pain of withdrawal. I’m broken to the point where i dont know how to fix myself. do doctors only save the lives of people who are worth saving? i dont think i’m worth it. what will i do for society, sit here and get high…then die from my crazy addiction. wow, i’m a winner. i dont even know why my bf wants me?…sex? haha. thats not even good anymore. wish it was monday. wish i was stronger. wish i wanted to quit for good. it’s easier to withdrawal when u wanna quit for good. in the summer you can lay out in the sun is the best place to be when the withdrawals are bad. tomorrows thanksgiving…i’m dreading it. i wont even enjoy the food. lame.

36 denise maciel { 12.13.11 at 2:51 pm }

Its heartbreaking to have to face and live in denail to do so.

37 Ruined { 03.27.12 at 6:41 am }

I am on day 3 of detox from a narcotic 10 times stronger than morphine that I was injecting intravenously several times a day >> Dilaudid. The worst part? I was so able to hide the fact that I was using for the past year from my husband and family that I feel like I am going at this alone. I am too ashamed to tell anyone, and I found out I am pregnant. Mostly I just want my life back. I have diarrhea, I am constantly cold with the chills, my body aches, I’m depressed as heck, and I just wish this withdrawal s&*t was over… on what day will I start to feel like I can even drag myself off of the couch? Right now, I just lost my job, so I am saying it’s just depression (though I know it’s more)…I would just like to know the end is near. I need to apply for jobs, but the thought of even having to walk up 10 stairs to get to the shower for an interview is excruciating…. It looks as though no one has posted in a while but if anyone out there knows when the physical part of this shitty addiction wears off, that would be great… this is my first time detoxing as I have never done anything like this before… Thanks guys.

38 matt { 04.26.12 at 11:27 pm }

@ruined I was taking 6 oxy 40s a day to feel normal I hope you made it thru detox it is the hardest thing to do. Find a non judgemental fren to tell/talk to. For me the ocs made me bullet proof nobody could outwork me I felt addiquit for my wife then when sober I undid all the good. I am 28 an started at 15 from a ear ache on hydrocodone it was a blast until ten yrs later my habit cost 240 a day to feel what I thought was normal. I know how you felt it was the biggest chore gettin up to get remote when I started w/d but a week later i jus felt flu like recovery. I found out I’m alsso addicted to the feeling of snorting. It was a mental thing I’m still fighting. I’m losing my wif because I lied, she was more understanding then expected but damage is done. Have faith in how strong a marriage u built and tell ur husband the truth. He listen if he loves u. I’ve allso read there is meds that are safe for the baby thay can help u as well. God bless good luck. I will continue to pray for u and ur family. I no its a month late but if u need talk my email is ballard415@gmail.com. id b glad to talk or pray for anyone.

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