I am posting this thread because I have recently (on this site as well as others) stumbled upon numerous questions on how to deal with heroin withdrawal. As I am nearing the tail end of my bout, I feel it is my duty to inform others, lest they should have to deal with this nasty beast. (Let it be noted that you can find most of the information I am posting through a quick google search. The reason I am posting this thread is to somewhat consolidate THAT information, as well as share the method I customized for myself, which worked beautifully. I suppose if anything, it can be used as a template which others who may be less informed on exactly what they will be enduring can use for guidelines and a "gameplan".**DISCLAIMER** - I AM NOT A DOCTOR. I AM A RECOVERING HEROIN ADDICT. DO NOT TAKE ANYTHING I SAY AS PROFESSIONAL ADVICE. I AM SIMPLY SHARING WITH OTHERS, WHAT I HAVE BEEN THROUGH AND HOW I MANAGED TO ESCAPE AND STAY AMONG THE LIVING.
There are several things I feel need to be said before we dive into all of this:1.Are you fucking serious, bro?!
It dawned on me, during my numerous attempts to kick the habit, that I wasn't completely ready to be done. I would think to myself, "If I had the opportunity to go for one last hurrah, would I do it?" and the answer was always yes. I always wanted that "one more time, then I'm done forever". (I realize this is beating a dead horse, but..) In order to quit, you have to be ready to quit. Don't let this be confused with WANTING to quit. While a lot of us who have dealt with addiction can tell you that at some point you will "want" to quit, this doesn't necessarily mean you are ready. In my personal experience, it took a few weeks of slow tapering and mental preparation, reflection on what it is I want out of life, why I want to quit, and numerous pro's and con's lists, before I finally came to the conclusion that I was ready, and I knew why.
2. It's going to be hard. (That's what she said!)
I'm sure many if not all of you who are reading this are at least somewhat familiar with the idea that kicking heroin is tough. To me, simply knowing it was "going to be hard" wasn't enough to go on. In a nutshell, it's hard for several different reasons:
-It hurts
-There are cravings (both to stop the hurt, and to get high)
-It throws everything out of whack, or rather everything that has been thrown out of whack is now re-aligning itself (you poop a lot, you may throw up a lot, it's hard to sleep, there are times where you are hot then cold then hot etc. in a matter of minutes, you will probably be sweating a lot, and you will feel like you aren't hungry for days (EAT!), among other symptoms. For a complete list of possible symptoms associated with heroin withdrawal, a quick google search of "heroin withdrawal" should net what you are looking for.
-General Decay in quality of life (everything is going to seem like it sucks, or is boring and unimportant)
-Potential Suicidal thoughts ( I did not experience this personally, but I could see how one could go down that road. Either for means to stop the pain, or if they were using to "escape" and now they are met each day with those problems PLUS withdrawal to boot. In this case, I would highly advise professional help. Let me reiterate: I am not a doctor. I am a recovering junkie.
Again, this is a condensed list of the things most apparent in my recovery process. For a complete list...Google that noise yo!
3. Rome wasn't built in a day...
If at first you don't succeed, don't lose hope. This is not a walk in the park. Many heroin addicts can attest to the fact that it is an amazing feat to be able to quit for good on your first go. Now don't let THIS be a reason to use. You have to put forth effort, but if it doesn't work the first time around, pick yourself back up, re-adjust your "game plan" and try again. With some effort and willpower, YOU CAN DO IT! It's NOT impossible.
A bit of a backstory
I am 25 years old. I have been using since I was 19. I first started with Oxycontin and Percocet. As time progressed, I began using more and more. Then one day, I met a dude who could get heroin. After that I never looked back. I began banging when I was 22, and it was a rough ride from there on out. Theft, Unsanitary methods, overall decay in my hygiene and general appearance. It took me what feels like a long time to finally come to the obvious conclusion that this drug was destroying my life. I always tell people who ask (what opiates are like), "It is the best drug in the world. This is what makes it the worst drug in the world." After my initial decision that it was time to stop, and a few failed attempts (midnight banger and "that's it. Tomorrow I'm done.") I decided to reflect on why I wanted to quit. Did I even want to quit? Obviously I did, but other than the obvious reasons, I wanted to know why else I wanted to quit. The answer I came up with was not one of, "If I don't quit, I will die." or "Look at what I have become, I NEED to quit". The answer I came up with, was that I enjoyed life before the drug. I enjoyed life now too, but with added "baggage". I wanted to quit because I didn't need the drug to be happy. What started as a fun new way to get high, blossomed into a full blown addiction. One that was spiraling out of control. I began to view the drug as a waste of money, rather than THE MOST IMPORTANT THING I COULD SPEND MONEY ON. Before it was Heroin, rigs, then food, then bills, then anything else. I usually didn't make it past food. I started to think about how nice it would be to have money again. Just have money in my wallet, and not be devising a way for me to blow it. I just decided that I had had my fun with the drug. I decided I was done.
The "WHAT"
After doing a bit of research, I came up with a plan of action, and gathered some money for a trip to the medicine section of my local grocery store.
-Immodium AD
-IBuprofen
-DayQuil and NyQuil
-Pure Dyphenhydramine
*Using each as needed; Immodium for Gastric Distress, Ibuprofen for general aches and pains, Dayquil for flu-like symptoms (aches accompanied with runny nose), Nyquil for night-time flu-like symptoms, and Pure Dyph for if you just can't sleep.
The key to success (at least in my case) was actually being ready to quit (it's hard to describe how to tell, but the best I can give was "I Just Knew"). Sorry if that's vague and ambiguous. Also, a bit of mental trickery and "perspective" was needed. As the saying goes, "It's all in how you look at things".
*Let me note that I did this WHILE continuing to work and go about my daily life. This method was one I made for my specific life and lifestyle. I highly suggest you read what I write, absorb the key concepts, and devise a custom plan that is tailored to your own lifestyle.
Complete list of what I required:
1. Medicine Listed Above
2. Five Bags of Heroin (I will explain shortly) ((Also subject to quality, should be adjusted accordingly))
3. A small sum of money (that WON'T go to heroin, if you are ready...)
4. A notebook
5. Movies
6. Access to a computer
7. Any types of snack food that you enjoy (I like oatmeal cream pies and cherry coke)
8. Bland soups and saltine crackers
9. A bed and blanket
10. A friend or two on call for moral support
For the few weeks leading up to "The Day", the day I would start calling myself an ex-heroin user, I tapered my doses. I still got high and had fun or whatever, but I made a point to taper. (This is all relative to the quality of dope in your area) By the time I was ready, I was down to three bags in a day.
DAY 1: Work from 10am-4pm
One in the morning, and one at night. I used the one in the morning, as usual for my taper-scheme, and I quit. The one at night was a reward for not using the entire rest of the day. Let me note that this is where the mental trickery comes in to play. As of this day, I began calling myself a non-user. True I am using, but I am not using to get high, or for the purpose of recreation. I have begun my personal medical treatment to get off the stuff, so in my head, I am no longer a user at this point. Whatever works for you is fine.
(Felt some withdrawal symptoms, but not drastic, as I had dope in my system).
(Took Medicine as needed; One shot of dayquil when I started feeling achy, and some Dyph. at night for sleep.)
***THREE BAGS LEFT***
DAY 2: Work from 10am-4pm
One in the morning. As a reward for not slipping up, I am allowed to have one bag in the morning, to stave off any sickness while I am at work. I took my bag of meds with me as usual, should I start to feel ill. As a reward for going the rest of the day without using, I replace my night-time bag with a Starbucks Caramel Machiatto. (MY FAVORITE!) This is where the small sum of money comes in to play. I decided that I couldn't always reward myself with heroin or I would never stop, and eventually give up and go back. So I reward myself with something that I really like, that I usually can't afford, or just don't ever waste money on. I spent the rest of the evening browsing books at my local book store, and at home surfing the web. This was to keep my mind occupied, and help me remember why I like doing these things while not high on drugs.
(Withdrawal symptoms a little more pronounced; Immodium before bed, and some nyquil)
**TWO BAGS LEFT**
DAY 3: Work from 10am-4pm
One in the morning. Pretty much the same as the previous day. I also took 800 mg of IBuprofen around 2pm. Instead of a starbucks coffee, today I went for a coffee and a doughnut (ahem..two) for my treat. I hadn't had a doughnut in a long time. Then I went home, I laid in bed and read for a little while (Hunger Games), and then I watched Toy Story 1 and Part of Toy Story 2 before falling asleep.
(Withdrawal symptoms about the same as the day before. Maybe slightly stronger. The dope def. helps ease the worst of it, however. Immodium and Nyquil)
*ONE BAG LEFT*
DAY 4: Work from 5pm-9pm
A half of a bag before work. Just enough to kill any pains I was having so I could function at work. After work I went home took some nyquil, laid down and browsed reddit on my phone until I fell alseep. No real rewards today, I suppose the half of a bag could be a reward for not using all morning.
(Generally felt bad all day, but not really super bad, just kind of run down. It honestly didn't even really feel like withdrawals. More like just one of those sluggish days.)
`ONE HALF BAG LEFT`
DAY 5: Work from 10am-4pm
The last half before work. Kills the pain, makes working tolerable. Still sucks, to be honest, but it's no where near as bad as full blown withdrawals. Almost just feels like I might have had a cold or something. Dayquil and Immodium. After work I went and got a caramel machiatto, and went home. Watched a few movies, laid around, just kinda did nothing. But no work tomorrow!
DAY 6: No Work
Woke up. Felt kinda bad, so I took some Dayquil, and forced some soup and crackers down. Then I watched a movie and fell asleep over and over. Just laid around the house all day and did nothing. Ate some oatmeal pies and drank some soda. Was going to go get a machiatto, but didn't feel like leaving the house.
(Immodium, Dayquil, Nyquil.)
DAY 7: Work from 10am-4pm
Woke up, felt kinda shitty, but not too bad to be honest. Stopped at the gas station for a coffee, went to work. Had a moment where I looked at my phone, used to making a dope call around that time. I didn't and made it through the end of my shift. Went for a coffee and a doughnut after work. Actually wanted to sit there and enjoy it. Things are beginning to seem a bit better. (I can see the light) Cravings are still there, but they are more tolerable being that I weened off. This is where actually wanting to quit comes in to play. You WILL have to fight cravings. But weening off makes it easier.
(Immodium, Dayquil, nyquil)
DAY 8: Work from 10am-4pm
Still felt a little bad, but it felt more like I was on the tail-end of a cold; Like I was getting better. Got through work. Went home and just chilled.
(Dayquil and Nyquil)
DAY 9: Work from 10am-4pm
Getting better! Feeling better, cravings are not as bad. Still took some Ibuprofen, just to be safe. After work, went to a local restaurant and ate a delicious meal. Even though the portion was small, I still ate and wanted to eat it. Went home and watched a movie.
(Ibuprofen and Nyquil)
DAY 10: Work from 10am-4pm
Smooth sailing! still feel like i have a touch of a cold, but nothing too bad at all. Feeling more like my old self again. After work, went to have a beer with a buddy. Watched some football, went home, had a nice relaxing evening.
(Ibuprofen)
DAY 11: Work from 10am-4pm
Just a regular day. A touch of cravings, but NONE FOR ME THANKS! I've beaten the rough part. Now it's time to live.
Every day since has been nothing but easier and easier. I am extremely proud of my accomplishment, and I really, truly hope this helps someone. Remember that you have to WANT to quit. You actually have to want it. 100%. Also remember that what you are doing is amazing, and you should be extremely proud of yourself for tackling this task. There is light at the end. If you need someone to talk to, I am always here. Even though I don't know you, I am here for you. I wish you the best.
Love,
Funkabiz
I think it turned out well, and I really, really hope it helps somebodies.