Opioids actually quitting oxy

[danceofdays]

I'm really worried that I'm heading down a shady path towards an even more powerful addiction. For the last 5 months I've been snorting ~80mg of OxyContin a day, and while every month or so I've had a few days where I've tried to stop entirely, it's never worked out and I've relapsed by justifying to myself that I'm finally going to do it when "something better starts happening in my life" like getting a girlfriend, getting a new job, etc.

My friend has suggested I either talk to a doctor about outpatient rehab (which I don't know is necessary given my dosage) or talk to his father, an on-and-off heroin addict for years and years. My other friend, who has been perpetuating the same cycle as me for a full year, tells me I need to quit when I'm "ready" and not force it, because it won't work. This is basically exactly what my subconscious has been telling me every time I try and stop, and I know it doesn't work. I don't know anybody else with real addiction experience.

So, I figure I might as well ask BL what they think. What is my best option at this point?

• Quit cold turkey (always works better in theory)
• Do my own taper off (maybe with subs if I can find them?)
• Outpatient rehab (seems excessive but what do I know)
• Inpatient rehab (not really an option for me)

And do you think I should talk to buddy's dad? Like I said, I don't know any long-term addicts, and he might be able to shed some light on things for me. Thanks a lot.

EDIT: It also really bothers me that I don't want to stop opiates, where every other drug I've started having issues with I've been able to stop right away. Amphetamines, methylphenidate, coke, benzos, etc. Each time I knew something was up, wanted to stop, and did without issues. Now I genuinely don't really want to

 

[OC4ME]

If you are not having any negative side effects in your life from your OC use, then you may not be ready to quit. I know that it is a very fun drug and that when it is doing know harm, justifying a quit is impossible. It is sad but you really have to wait for it to fuck something up for you before you can realistically even talk to yourself about quitting. I do believe though that it is a long slippery slope of addiction with oxy and opiates, and that the exact point where you think you are on along the rabbit trail is often hard to place and often very far off the mark. Talking with someone that is trustworthy is always a good idea. If not for quitting now, for quitting when the time comes, if you need someone. Just knowing other people are there for you in real life and not on some blue light message board is a cozy and comfortable feeling. Its always good to bounce your ideas and thoughts off of someone that can relate with your story and experiences, makes you feel not so alone.

Closing, if you are just snorting that same amount every day and not building up, I would say you may be one of the very few who is a functioning addict or even lesser few who is truly not addicted. It is quite possible that tomorrow you may ramp up intake and go off the deep end, but that does not look like its any of the next ports from what I have read. Enjoy your life for the moment, talk to your friends and others, have someone keep an eye on you, and most importantly BE HONEST WITH YOURSELF. Few people can do drugs this hard like you are doing forever with out eventually running into the inevitable addicts paradigm.

GOOD LUCK!

 

[hydrochron]

You should either start taking less and then quit, or just quit. If you really want to stop it's as simple as that. Expect 3-5 days of hell, then you'll be out of the woods.

Also you can get a job and a new girlfriend and all that stuff when you quit. Your life will probably get alot worse at first, then should get way better. To the point where you'll feel good without it. You just have to realize that your going to have to suffer a little bit, "you gotta pay to play".

What's stopping you? If you really want to just stop completely.

 

[DoorsofPerception]

If you don't want to stop, it's nearly impossible to stay clean for an extended period of time, at least in my experience. Like you, opiates have always been my major weakness in drugs and are the only things I have used in the past year. It just seems like no matter how bad things get even on the brink of death I can't swear them off forever. Right now I'm about 10 days clean after a brief 2 week relapse on heroin after going through my second impatient rehab and staying clean for 61 days.

But once I got back to my home it was like a reflex and right away I started making small talk with my old junkie housemate/heroin connect. Within the hour I was back downtown chillin with him shooting up and living exactly the way I was before rehab.

I had to take myself out of that environment so I moved to a half-way type house in Nashville where my treatment center was so I could stay really connected to the sober people and program here. However, I really don't want to go through the whole NA steps or get a sponsor or anything like that so I'm still obsessing around opiates, but being around sober people who like to have fun has really helped me to forget about getting high for a while.

Good luck dude, addiction is a bitch that will rob you of everything you have. No one ever thinks it will happen to them but it didn't take long for me to go from snorting oxys everyday to becoming a full blown heroin addict low-bottom junkie. Hope this helps at all man.

 

[danceofdays]

Closing, if you are just snorting that same amount every day and not building up, I would say you may be one of the very few who is a functioning addict or even lesser few who is truly not addicted. It is quite possible that tomorrow you may ramp up intake and go off the deep end, but that does not look like its any of the next ports from what I have read.

When I started using it was about 40mg a day, that went up to 80mg right away and now as of the last month or so I'm back down to 40-50mg a day. I don't have the access to have a higher daily dosage than that, and I'm quite satisfied with the dose I'm at as far as keeping a buzz all day. I still love that elusive nod but I haven't chased it in ages.

 

[OC4ME]

Lucky!

 

[antsunrise]

I'm quitting now mostly due to doctor shopping law in Florida.

Luckily I been through the worse and have some lortabs to help me not feel like death.

Good luck. Cold turkey is the best way.

3-4 days of shit and no sleep.

 

[PerfectoPLease]

I was in that same boat about 6 months ago, although I had fucked with them for a little longer, and lortabs before that. What ended up happening was I moved and got away from them. I didnt move BECAUSE of them, but just lost access when I moved.

I was doing about the same amount as you, sometimes more sometimes less, but usually around 80 or 90 mg a day. I knew that once I got where I was going I was gonna have some hell to go through. I got myself some lortab 10s. I took 5 for the drive I believe and I had 2 for each of the next two days, one for the last day. This made it honestly NOT SOO BAD. Dont get me wrong I woke up kickin and sweatin for over a week, but lots of good herb and music made it alright........ya feel me?


Just think of the money you will save dude.....Put a system in your ride, take a trip, go to a concert, smoke a fat ass blunt of dank with the people your addiction has kept you from......or just save it for whatever. And I promise that youll feel better in the long run without them.......Even though I would still LOVE a fuckin fatass rail to this day...im better without, ya dig?

 

[SkagKush]

taper....bupe....stop

 

[hydrochron]

Please dont listen to Hydrochons idea that you have to wait for your life to fuck up, and that your a functioning addict. Everyone starts out functioning, but its the same road everytime.

Man shut the fuck up. I told him to quit, and as a result of quiting his quality of life might suck for awhile. Where did I say wait for your life to get fucked up then stop? I mean how's that crack?? You give no helpful advice and dont have a fucking clue what your talking about.

 

[PillPoppingAnimal]

uve been thru the worst but have lortabs to help? contradicting???

annd that wasnt to the OP

ok, get a suboxone dr...

 

[.Lucid.]

I've had a few days where I've tried to stop entirely, it's never worked out and I've relapsed by justifying to myself that I'm finally going to do it when "something better starts happening in my life" like getting a girlfriend, getting a new job, etc.

this is a very common rationalization among opiate addicts and i totally relate to it. the thing i learned the hard way though was that none of these good things can happen until you really get yourself straightened out. until you get yourself together anything good you manage to get in your life will ALWAYS turn to shit.

believe me man i know where youre coming from and im pulling for you. you know what you have to do, its just a matter of doing it. good luck dude.

 

[antsunrise]

uve been thru the worst but have lortabs to help? contradicting???

annd that wasnt to the OP

ok, get a suboxone dr...

the Lortabs don't get me high at all. Just help me from being completely sick. I only have a few left . I wish i could afford suboxone. But i'd rather just detox and get it over with anyways like what i'm doing.

 

[PillPoppingAnimal]

ok ok, as long as u dont get high...but u mine as well not take anything if ur over the worst

 

[antsunrise]

ok ok, as long as u dont get high...but u mine as well not take anything if ur over the worst

It's just the fear and sleep factor. I didn't sleep for 4 days in a row etc.
It's rough. /=

Had a 500 + MG Oxycodone habit

 

[jaystyle]

Yea you obviously felt stupid about your wack advice because I dont see the msg anymore. And he will NOT be out the woods after 5 days-- the psychological cravings are the worst part of it.

You should either start taking less and then quit, or just quit. If you really want to stop it's as simple as that. Expect 3-5 days of hell, then you'll be out of the woods.

Also you can get a job and a new girlfriend and all that stuff when you quit. Your life will probably get alot worse at first, then should get way better. To the point where you'll feel good without it. You just have to realize that your going to have to suffer a little bit, "you gotta pay to play".

What's stopping you? If you really want to just stop completely.

 

[Dinkus123]

I was doing 120 mg of oxycontin everyday for 3 and a half years, not as long as you but long enough. I was going on vacation to florida with my family so I told myself I was going to quit a week before I go on the trip. So I tapered myself off the best I could up until a few days before leaving. My last dose was 70 mg before I went cold turkey for 3 days when I went on my trip. The withdrawals sucked a whole lot of ass but my 4th and 5th day I started feeling 200 kazitrillion times better and if you can keep yourself busy for long periods or sleep for long periods of the day you can most definately get off of it. Just try and keep your mind off it the best you can is the main thing. So long story short (kinda) when I came back home from my trip I was all detoxed out and clean for 2 months and I thought I should reward myself for quitting that long and now I'm currently back on them again going on 1.5 years since I quit at average 180 mg a day.

Also ask your doctor for clonidine, it works for some people and it doesnt for others. Helps with restless legs as well as sleep. It works for me and knocks me right out if I want to go to sleep.

Sorry for the LOOOOONG post but im higher than a kite, typing and reading with one eye open and one eye closed. Best of luck to you and if you have a strong mindset and dedicated to quitting you can definately quit!!!

 

[Dinkus123]

My god... how I wish I was at the ONE OXY a day ponit. Please dont listen to Hydrochons idea that you have to wait for your life to fuck up, and that your a functioning addict. Everyone starts out functioning, but its the same road everytime.

now I do 2-3 oxys a day and it costs me so much money its unbelievable. I avoid looking at bank statements because I get depressed everytime I see 1-2 bank withdrawals a day. Sometimes I do a big purchase and take like $700 out, theN I see a withdrawal in a couple days again! Wtf am I doing!?!

The thing about OC is it takes awhile to build tolerance, but at one point it will snowball. This is how it happened with me--- I used to do 60mg a day, and i'd do it every night at 9pm. I didn't ever do it in the day, just night. I noticed I'd wake up cranky and tired often, and thoguht it was just the side effects of drug abuse. Unbeknown, that was the early stages of withdrawal. Eventually, it became unbearable and I realized a little tiny sniff int he day would make me get through happy.

THIS IS THE POINT OF NO RETURN. It then escalated into snorting 24/7. Once your withdrawals need constant maintance, your tolernace SKY rockets. When I gave myself 24 hour rest and snorted at 9pm every night, my tolernace stayed the same for almost a year. Now, I wake up 3/4 through the night feeling shitty and need to snort to go back to sleep. My tolerance has gotten so strong sometimes I barely feel high anymore. It sucks. DOnt end up like this... it will be SO hard to quit for me now, I dont know how I'll do it.
PEace

Famous words of a whiny, cowardly drug addict. You dont know how you will do it? If thats what you tell yourself everytime you want to quit, than yeah... you will never quit. I guess thats the life of having a low self-esteem and self-pity huh?

 

[ILikeSub]

Famous words of a whiny, cowardly drug addict. You dont know how you will do it? If thats what you tell yourself everytime you want to quit, than yeah... you will never quit. I guess thats the life of having a low self-esteem and self-pity huh?

-Famous words of a whiny cowardly drug addict..i guess thats the life of having low self esteem and self pity huh?-

Wtf man,no need to talk that kinda crap.
Nobody is freakin perfect and opiate addiction is a toughie.
Man,if your gonna critisize than at least make an attempt to do it constructively.A crap comment of crap quality probably means the source is crap too...
BUT...
I understand what your saying about not believing in yourself though because that is true.If you don't believe you can accomplish something than that alone will diminish your chances of getting said task done.
You gotta have faith.
Tell yourself every hour of every day if you have to that you know you can do this.Do whatever it takes to keep that faith because once your going and then you lose it along the way than your going to become hopeless and where does that lead 95% of the time?
I think we all know.

I got off of my oc/perc/morph addiction because I ended up purposely revocating myself on probation and serving 4 and a half months incarcerated.
When your in a place where you know pretty much for a fact that you aren't going to be getting anything it kinda makes it easier.

When I got out[way earlier this year] I started abusing Suboxone again tho and I still do..but I can go without if need be and I KNOW that I can conquer this addiction too I just need to take baby steps and not rush things.
My current addiction may not be physical and may not be nearly as dangerous as my morph/oc but that doesn't mean it isn't still dangerous.The mental addiction is a fuck too.Especially for people like me that can be self conscious sometimes and that have a past history of depression.

Dude,you don't have to bottom out in order to get better,either.That's bs IMHO.You just have to have Faith that you CAN overcome this along with the right mindset.
Take baby steps.Take slow steps.If you freak out,catch yourself freaking.Take a seat,a breath or two and gather yourself.
Find things to occupy your time once you feel well enough to be more active.I find that taking a walk is a very good way of occupying my time and/or getting myself back on track if I feel myself slipping at all.
Also make sure you eat.Make sure you get in enough fluids.Take a few benzodiazepines if you have access to them and can take them knowing there is no risk for you getting addicted to those too.A handful of benzos for the first 2-3 days can be very helpful.
Find what works for you.Do alot of thinking about what has bein said.

 

[Proggy]

A Darker Path

Dance.............you didnt mention withdrawals.......assuming you arent having them, do you really want to wait until you start having them before you quit? I mean it sounds like you want to quit because you know you should but you're playing sally-fuck-fuck because you arent really suffering. Thats how it sounds anyway. If so, then yeah you should quit cold turkey before you do start having withdawals and all that suffering youve heard about becomes REAL. Quit cold turkey, go to meetings, get a sponsor, and dont look back. I mean that Dance, because the "shady path toward a more powerful addiction" is actually a very dark path toward a demon, and you've definitely started down it.

If you HAVE started having withdrawals and didnt mention it, then find a suboxone program and get on it. Suboxone is like 10 bucks a pill at the pharm if you have to pay the whole scrip out of pocket, which is cheaper than an 80 a day. Then go to meetings, get a sponsor, and dont look back. Good Luck.