Hey mayhem.. Welcome to Blue Light
the process is called Anesthesia Assisted Rapid Opiate Detoxification (AAROD). Most people concentrate on the acute withdraws as they are uncomfortable and kinda assume that once they get through those the rest will be easy. Nothing could be farther from the truth; once the acutes are over then the real battle finally starts. This process is really expensive usually, if I remember right its around 15 grand.. also it does not prevent a person from experiencing all the acute withdrawal it just knocks them out for the real uncomfortable parts. If an addict isn't prepared and has a strong recovery plan to implement following this then the likely hood that they just blew 15000 and will be right back were they started from in no time at all is really great if not guaranteed. Opiate withdraws are uncomfortable but IMO definitely not so bad that i would even think of spending 15000 grand to get through the three worst days. Dead serious on that one.. if someone was willing to pay me fifteen grand and it was possible for them to give me their withdrawals for three days I would do it right now.. then again I could use the money right now.
What has your friend used to try and get off the opiates so far? if you will share her medication and dosage amount we will have a little better idea of what we are looking at.
The medications I would explore the use of fror detox would be:
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Clonidine< DOSED EVER FOUR HOURS..
one of either
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NEURONTIN< >
HERE< >
HERE<
OR >
Lyrica<
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A BENZO BUT JUST AT NIGHT<
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a nsaid<
>
melatonin<
tylenol
Addiction Guide
SMART Recovery (Support Group information and discussion)
Twelve-Step Addiction Recovery Support Groups
Varied Approaches to Addiction Recovery
The beginning of a whole new life.. it get good pretty quick.
Good things about being off drugs/getting sober
I would use some of that money that would be used on the AAROD and take a trip some where amazing and warm and use these medications to make the process pretty damn tolerable and then celebrate the fact that im clean with a nice little vacation. Opiate detox doesn't happen like they show it in the movies, we just dont all the sudden wake up after a few days and suddenly feel perfect and apeare all polished up. Given the length of your friends habit she will likely feel pretty off, fatigue, depression, anxiety, crazy emotions, cravings, neuropathic pain, for months. So when considering this I would really look at the fact that they will not just pop outta the hospital feeling amazing after this and they will have a decent period of healing in front of them.
I hope this helps and I wish your friend the best