*MERGED* Guide to narcotic withdrawal

[GFunk02]

My guide to opiate withdrawal

After a long, high dose habit I had for a few months,I realized the only way to quit was to go cold turkey, after trying to taper a few times but couldn't control myself. It just makes the pain longer IMO, but if you are on a crazy dose, it may be best to taper down some.

Heres what I did, and recommend for withdrawal from opiates:

Gather:
Immodium AD
Clonidine
A benzodiazepine, like xanax (optional)
Gatorade

I bought immodium AD (take 4mg 3x a day) because withdrawal causes diareaa bad.

Get some clonidine prescribed. It is an alpha-andrenic agonist, prescribed to lower blood pressure. This will ease some of the withdrawal. Don't expect it to be a miracle cure, but it does work. Some people say it takes away most physical withdrawal, and for me, just some. It slows down the part of the brain that speeds up during withdrawal. It will help you with sleep too, but be careful, it can be oversedating at some doses, and lower blood pressure to dangerous extents, so check your blood pressure. Basically, I recommend taking 0.1-0.3mg 4x a day at first. Then start taking half that during the day, and leave the night dose the same. 0.2mg helps me sleep for 2 hours(a lot for me during wd), but may be too much/little for you. Doctors don't mind prescribing this stuff at all. Tell them its for sleep if you want, they might not know how to prescribe it for withdrawal(wd). It has a short half-life, which is why frequent dose is required.

As for the benzo(xanax,halcion,valium,clonopin,etc).. it will reduce anxiety and discomfort, and may help sleep. But this stuff can make me depressed sometimes.

You will feel like shit, and on day 3 of quitting a short acting opiate, it will be the worst, but the clonidine will help, and the immodium will help keep some fluids in to prevent dehydration (which produces more discomfort). Yea, wd will make you piss more, so stay hydrated.

Just think of withdrawal as a prison sentence. Say you have the flu (it does feel like one) and rest. It will start getting better after day 4. It is worth it because:

*It lowers tolerance
*It lets your neurons start producing endorphins again
*It rids your body of a most likely negative physical dependency

Stay warm. Wd is cold. Hot showers/baths are great, and are the only partial escape from the shittiness besides sleep or more opiates for me.

You will feel weak, but working out by running or lifting some weights will be worth it. make it as painful as possible and you will be rewarded with some natural endorphins to ease your pain.

I don't recommend having any orgasms, but thats just me. They will be temporary escapes, but I feel lousier after doing it, for many hours. Unless you are ready to burst, because withdrawal can make some people hornier, I recommend not doing it. But looking at a porno mag, without doing anything might be nice.

You may become hungrier as your withdrawal becomes less intense. Eat up to help the stress on your body. If not, force yourself some food. Take some vitamins.

If you are having bad cravings, remember that an opiate, although temporary easing the sickness, will put you right back where you started, making that suffering for nothing.

Some people recommend supplements like L-tyrosine, but I think this made me more twitchy and edgy, but less depressed. Some recommend DL-phenylalanine. I have taken it with no effect noticed. It supposedly helps build endorphins up and also produces tyrosine (which turns into dopamine, but dopamine can cause norepinephrine to be released, which you DON't want when withdrawaling.) I didn't notice any effect at all with that stuff, but studies have shown significant painkilling and antidepressing properties.

Stay away from caffeine, or any stimulant too. I'd stay away from pot but some say it helps. I find it makes it worse, especially the anxiety and twitching aspect, but pot can do that to me when i'm not withdrawaling.

During withdrawal it seems to me that I will feel this way forever. Realize it will get better.

 

[bud marley]

When i was in detox they gave us clonodine and cerex(misspelled probably) but they helped immensly.At night they gave us this big ruby brown (transparent)colored pill shaped likeand egg some kinda hydrochloride or chlorine to help sleep.The clonodine helps keep your blood pressure down(withdrawl makes it jump) and the cerex they gave us took away the muscle spasms(especially the perpetual bicycle when you want to sleep,the non stop legs needing to be stretched)but I've never had success with any over the counter drug for the shits.
Onelast add on but the shits suck but the bubbling acids in the stomach(up to the top of the throat) are the worst and no over the counter drug has ever helped.

 

[Ketamike]

another thing to be careful with is the type of sleep meds you take... benzos are fine because they're recreational... but if you try to knock your self out with Benedryl or Seroquel and you still can't sleep.. it'll make your sickness that much worse...

High doses of neurontin have helped me a whole lot during the kick (on a psychological level)... seemed to keep my sense of humor intact

This is also a good time to soak in the sun and work on your tan... but if the wind picks up you goosebumps will become gooseboners.. "I'm looking California but feeling Minnesota"

Fellow BLers... kick now while it's still warm .. withdrawal exponentially worse during the winter.

 

[va-va-voom]

Yeah i find immodium firms things up a bit because the constipation can be horrendous lol i find using cannabis through a bong and a benzo of choice is good even amphetamine to keep me up when i cant sleep but that is all substituting but there less addictive ( except benzos ) and i find it easy then to taper off the cannabis or amphetamine, i doubt this would work if you had a rageing habit the only thing i can think of in combination with what ive said above is tapering off on something like dhc pills or what you are already using . . . . good luck to any WD'ers !

 

[va-va-voom]

They say its three to four days for a normal habit ( getting off ) but i seem to feel bad for weeks after not just depression but still physical aches so forth why is this ? has anyone else found this ?

 

[swybs]

the only thing I have to add...(FYI, this isnt for those who want to quit perm...

[disclaimer--this isnt for those who want to quit for good--if that is you, I recommend the dark side message boards of BL--lots of great people and interesting stories to keep you happy] anyway, isn't it sad when you can count the days until you go through preplanned (though unwanted) WDs. I suspect a bout in the next 2 weeks and I, for once in my vacation-heavy life, plan on taking some time off from work. Ketamike can work during the worst of the WDs, but I must admit, I find it incredibly, INCREDIBLY wicked. To me, WDs are bad....but work while WDing can be a whole other hell (especially if you hate your job at the current time, which I won't get into....jeesh, people are crazy).

One thing I have to add is that I find, at least with my multiple addiction monkey on my back, that substituting drugs (non-opiate) can be a good thing after the WDs have subsided a bit. Of course, people will argue you are trading one monkey for another, but personally, I don't think I could ever be addicted to cocaine...in this instance, I use cocaine to spruce up my nights that I feel horrible. However, please remember that the comedown from cocaine can be brutal by itself, but magnified with WD depression, it can be near-death level. If you can find something less damaging (like E or something), I would recommend keeping this for when you are craving a high...another thing I noticed is that, if at all possible, scoring a handful of suboxone (or temgesic) can be a godsend....it may not completely destroy the WDs but IMO it works incredibly well at keeping the body somewhat in check (especially important when forced to go to work).

Also, chocolate seems to be a big thing. I find I crave it in WDs, though I don't and can't lie and say it does anything for the sickness. In any case, any food that makes you happy is good for this period (forget the calories, just get through the hard times and then substitue dope/drugs with a good workout--it is the proven mood booster for these hard following weeks).

I guess the most important thing is "do not fear the WDs". Many people visit BL and see the horror stories and the fear and imagine the worst; they suck, yes--but it is bearable. Consider this, while it can be tough, imagine being addicted to a substance like benzos, which can physically cause harm when WDing....I find that imagining the worst-case scenario and realizing that you aren't there is always helpful too.

And, one last thing--music seems to do a great job at keeping one's mind off the hell of WDs. Get whatever music that you enjoy, though I tend to stay away from music I enjoy while high (which can be difficult)...pull out some of those old Ministry albums or Slayer albums, things you may not have listened to in awhile. Maybe the Go-Gos.... ;>

-swybs

 

[va-va-voom]

Yeah thats anouther handy thing music that takes you back and memories - especially music that means something to you i find U2 and the red hot chili peppers work very well increasing our confidence as the chili peppers all got clean after there friend hillel slovak died from a heroin overdose at such a young age, it took something that horrendous and very sad for them to think about there lives as anouther band member flea said after was this the end of my life or ust the begining which clearly shows things can be achieved no matter how great . I do understand how controlling and powerfull opiate addiction can be and sort of believe in that you really have to want something to be able to do it, but that may not be the case with opiate addiction as i bet there are hundreads of people who really want to kick the drug but wd and staying off is just too much

 

[dys]

i agree w/ most of the things said, except that wd's are like the flu. The physical parts maybe, except the aching pains and diahorrea and vomiting, but the mental aspects during (and for weeks after, although they improve) like crushing depression, agitation and anxiety, are nothing like the flu.

I think that benzo's are essential, both a long acting benzo like diazepam, and a short acting benzo like alprazolam.

I also believe that the more non-opioid meds available to counter the w.d symptoms, the better.

Also, i think that if at all possible, it is a good idea to switch from a potent opioid (heroin) to a high dose of a weaker opioid (e.g codeine) for a few days, before completely stopping and beginning non-opioid drugs.

 

[bud marley]

All of the WDs suck but the worst in my opinion is the sleepless nights.I have eaten all of the over the counter pills(sleeping) in the world while withdrawling and they do nothing!I have been awake for over 100 hours straight and it's been pure torture.I went to the hospital and they gave me a shot of adavan and the doctors and nurses predicted I'd go out like a light(after 80 straight hours awake) all it did was close my eyes for a few minutes(no more then 1/2 an hour).

 

[naturalone]

i find that BL is the absolute worst place to come when i'm having w/d's. people tend to catastrophize (yes, i think i made that up) w/d's, and make them read much worse than they are.

i think that it has something to do with dick sizing; whoever had the worst w/d's wins a badge or some shit.

they're bad, yes, but not 'that' bad. and, being sober for little spurts can be quite fucking resfreshing.

now, having said all of that, w/d's suck dick, and i spend $1000's/mo running from them :D

 

[bud marley]

naturalone
first off all drug addicts complain it's in our nature,we need instant gratiphication and need it now dammit.
But I don't care if you've shot heroin up your ass with a rocket launcher you can never be a pro on how someone else feels.Maybe you feel this and that while some do and don't.
I've never been able to sleep withdrawling but never puked.I've talked to people that can sleep but puke.It's different and worse with everyone.

 

[Jean Dough]

^^^ Agreed completely wit u bud. Most of us are like lil babies when it comes to w/d as we usually whine -n- have a specific symptom we fear -n- anticipate makin it worse than it really is @ times. I personally hate the leg cramps/inability to maintain comfort -n- get really dyshoric @ the first sign of w/d. I admit I'm a lil bitch in regard to w/d's but I'm sure everyone has sumthin they a lil bitch about in sum shape or form. Being addicted to methadone I'm constantly in fear of not havin my dose -n- bein in pure hell. N e ways, thas jus me when it comes to w/d. BTW, I find the only thing to help my w/d is madd benzos -n- good green with madd Gatorade -n- wutever I can eat, but once I get to about the 3rd day of it nothin really helps unless I jus take madd xanax to jus knock me out as long as possible....

 

[blahblahblahblah]

Here is a quick list I would use:

Benzo's: long duration Klonapin/Valium and a short acting one, Xanax/Ativan [High doses]
Clonadine
Compazine
Soma
Phenegren
Ibuprofen
Chicken Soup
Warm Clothes
Hot-tub/Hot baths
Ensure/Gatorade/water
Something to keep me busy, a horny g/f, some movies or both

Ah duh; forgot sleeping meds:
Seroquel
Risperdal
Trazadone
Warm Milk

And if you throw Buprenorphine into the mix it changes the picture for a couple days.

 

[Angelus]

I used to get w/d's really bad, but over time they have gotten less and less difficult. I attribute this to the fact that I am better mentally prepared each time, knowing exactly what to expect.

 

[edarrin]

I could seriously use some advice on insomnia in w/d when one has a sort of dual addiction to opiates and benzos. Cold turkey is the only way I know of. The worst part for me is the insomnia. I have been using some codeine/muscle relaxant pills but they are not working to good. I'm in day 3 and work was absolutely hell today and I feel so wound up that sleep tonight, although if it happens will be a godsend, seems doubtfull right now.

I was rx'd Flexeril and Amitriptyline which usually work for me when I don't use (I also have a sleep disorder-PLMD) but when in w/d nothing seems to help. I know it passes eventually but I wonder why I keep torturing myself. This time it was easily accessable brown H that is like half-price and full potency.

 

[Beans]

I could seriously use some advice on insomnia in w/d when one has a sort of dual addiction to opiates and benzos. Cold turkey is the only way I know of. The worst part for me is the insomnia. I have been using some codeine/muscle relaxant pills but they are not working to good. I'm in day 3 and work was absolutely hell today and I feel so wound up that sleep tonight, although if it happens will be a godsend, seems doubtfull right now.

I was rx'd Flexeril and Amitriptyline which usually work for me when I don't use (I also have a sleep disorder-PLMD) but when in w/d nothing seems to help. I know it passes eventually but I wonder why I keep torturing myself. This time it was easily accessable brown H that is like half-price and full potency.

try and get clonidine, which is normally prescribed in a w/d survival pack if you were admitted to rehab/hospital (its also prescribed for blood pressure) but anyways if not that then see if anyone has Seroquel. I havent tried it, but ive heard it works wonders.

 

[krippler]

i agree, also if your kicking methadone, make sure to get darvon 65mg. i took one every 4 hours with a 25mg librium and wasnt even sick. this was in a detox center. their were hot nurses everywhere. the majority of the guys were in there for drinkning and they looked way worse off than me. damm!!


this one dude was shaking so bad he couldnt even walk. so they rhrow him in their with me. the whole some stunk so bad i couldnt even sleep. i dont drink, at all. i may have a beer a month. alcohol isnt fun to kick. this dude was drinking 2 liters of vodka a day.

but ya, immodium in liquid form has alittle bit of opiate in it. i read this somewhere, i forget. maybe here. dont get the pill form. good luck kickin opiates sucks. one day i will have to, and i will get on the buprenorphine amps which are like .3mgs or something and work killer if you dont have a tolerence for them.

subutex is around here in greater amounts lately.

 

[cire113]

you dont need all those aids unless u have quite a physical dependence..


However, Bupe 10 day detox taper is the best... oh my lord that shit makes u feel sober again....

Eventually your brain will start to produce endorphins and u can ride out depression

 

[krysdjcodeine]

best remedies for me:
- tramadol (400-500mg daily for first 4 days, then 300mg, 200mg, 100mg)
- immodium 3 x 2mg in the morning, 2 x 2mg in the evening
- clonazepamum (2-4mg in the morning, the same in the evening)
- some neuroleptics that puts you to sleep (in my country the most popular is Chlorprotixen, 3-4 x 50mg in the evening
- about 40-80mg of codeine once when in the worst part of wd
- don't try apap or ibuprofen cuz they doesn't do any shit
- lots of liquids, water and juices
- vitamins and minerals
4 days are the worst, another 4 i'm getting better every day (tapering tramadol and benzos then)

the best is to taper off h before detox but i know it's almost impossible

 

[johanneschimpo]

I've also found acetaminophen and ibuprofen to useless for WDs
Aleve (Naproxen, Naprosyn, etc) works well and I've seen it mentioned on here before. Great for those aches and pains.