It's now 2014 and I have made a few new year's resolutions that mostly revolve around getting healthy. My mental health has greatly improved since halfway through mid 2013 so I thought that I should give away my crutches and get clean.
Drug use for me has turned into abuse over the last year or two. I am currently addicted to lowish amounts of codeine (100-150mg a day). To make it worse, I haven't been doing CWE's which I know if I keep going I will do damage to myself. After a day of not using codeine, I do go through withdrawals. They're not horrible, similar to having a cold (the runs, some nausea, feeling cold, some aches and pains, being in a bad mood). I was taking codeine regularly as for half of the year I was suffering bad upper back pain, plus it helped with my depression and anxiety.
So the things I am quitting/tapering:
1) Codeine. I'm just going to go cold turkey. With some immodium it is not too bad. I just have to make sure I stay off it.
2) Mirtazapine - I was taking 30mg for most of the year. I have tapered to 15mg with minimal withdrawal apart from the odd brain zap. My appetite has greatly reduced which is great, as I have put on approx 10kg since starting it. I haven't taken it for two days as I took two caps of MDMA over NYE and I didn't want to risk something like serotonin syndrome. I am thinking I might just discontinue taking it from now on, but if I start feeling really shitty. I will start back on 7.5mg and stay at that for a week (which is generally how long it takes for the zaps to stop) and then discontinue.
3) cigarettes. I am sick of smoking. I haven't smoked since NYE and with the gum it is fine. However, staying off cigarettes has always been difficult for me. Apart from the negative impact it has on my health, it is way to expensive and I can save about $100 a week just by quitting.
Things I need to be careful with:
Valium: I have been prescribed it but generally only take 5-10mg twice a week for 6 months. I recently stopped for 10 days and had no withdrawal. The last week I have used more frequently and used 40mg last night (for a comedown). I have 50mg left just in case I somehow got myself addicted, but I doubt it will be a problem. I am going to save it for emergencies.
I am thinking of only using other drugs occassionally and for special events. Whether that be the odd trip on a psych (like once or twice a year). Or taking a bit of MDMA for my birthday or a concert. I'm planning on doing that no more than several times a year. I will keep drinking but that is something I only do socially and once a week at most. The only problem it creates is that it could start me smoking again or using other drugs.
Do you guys have any tips or advice? I would really like to do this. I need to start being healthier and concentrating on more important and less damaging things in life.
I am thinking of visiting a doctor in a week or so and getting some bloodwork done to make sure that my liver and kidneys are ok. I am planning on going to a different doctor and just being completely honest. Good idea? Are their any other organs I should have checked out?
Also, do you think it is worth getting in contact with a drug and alcohol abuse centre (a free one) like Turning Point and asking them for advice and maybe going to some group meetings or is this overkill?
Any advice/comments welcome.
Drug use for me has turned into abuse over the last year or two. I am currently addicted to lowish amounts of codeine (100-150mg a day). To make it worse, I haven't been doing CWE's which I know if I keep going I will do damage to myself. After a day of not using codeine, I do go through withdrawals. They're not horrible, similar to having a cold (the runs, some nausea, feeling cold, some aches and pains, being in a bad mood). I was taking codeine regularly as for half of the year I was suffering bad upper back pain, plus it helped with my depression and anxiety.
So the things I am quitting/tapering:
1) Codeine. I'm just going to go cold turkey. With some immodium it is not too bad. I just have to make sure I stay off it.
2) Mirtazapine - I was taking 30mg for most of the year. I have tapered to 15mg with minimal withdrawal apart from the odd brain zap. My appetite has greatly reduced which is great, as I have put on approx 10kg since starting it. I haven't taken it for two days as I took two caps of MDMA over NYE and I didn't want to risk something like serotonin syndrome. I am thinking I might just discontinue taking it from now on, but if I start feeling really shitty. I will start back on 7.5mg and stay at that for a week (which is generally how long it takes for the zaps to stop) and then discontinue.
3) cigarettes. I am sick of smoking. I haven't smoked since NYE and with the gum it is fine. However, staying off cigarettes has always been difficult for me. Apart from the negative impact it has on my health, it is way to expensive and I can save about $100 a week just by quitting.
Things I need to be careful with:
Valium: I have been prescribed it but generally only take 5-10mg twice a week for 6 months. I recently stopped for 10 days and had no withdrawal. The last week I have used more frequently and used 40mg last night (for a comedown). I have 50mg left just in case I somehow got myself addicted, but I doubt it will be a problem. I am going to save it for emergencies.
I am thinking of only using other drugs occassionally and for special events. Whether that be the odd trip on a psych (like once or twice a year). Or taking a bit of MDMA for my birthday or a concert. I'm planning on doing that no more than several times a year. I will keep drinking but that is something I only do socially and once a week at most. The only problem it creates is that it could start me smoking again or using other drugs.
Do you guys have any tips or advice? I would really like to do this. I need to start being healthier and concentrating on more important and less damaging things in life.
I am thinking of visiting a doctor in a week or so and getting some bloodwork done to make sure that my liver and kidneys are ok. I am planning on going to a different doctor and just being completely honest. Good idea? Are their any other organs I should have checked out?
Also, do you think it is worth getting in contact with a drug and alcohol abuse centre (a free one) like Turning Point and asking them for advice and maybe going to some group meetings or is this overkill?
Any advice/comments welcome.