Long term IV cocaine W/D, looking for help, medication or tips!

[quidamsoul]

Long term (6-8 year) on-and-off (more on than off) cocaine addiction, sprinkled with occasional opiates and corresponding mild short-term opiate W/Ds. Back when I first cleaned up from IV heroin, a cocktail of diazepam, mirtazapine and loperamide got me through the worst of it with incredible ease compared to unaided attempts at sobriety.

I'm looking for something similar for cocaine W/D. Specific benzodiazepines or other ansiolitics, something to sleep, something for the akathisia, something for the depression. Mirtazapine does not seem to cut it, and I am unsure of which benzodiazepines to try, and in which dosages (I know by experience that 2mg clonazepam is far too strong for me, though).

Willing to answer any questions regarding the nature of my habit, my experience with other drugs and pharmaceuticals, and anything else anyone thinks can help them better advice me on my options here.

If within a couple days I have been given no better alternative, I will temporarily opt for mirtazapine (better than nothing, but both me and my girlfriend have experienced odd episodes with it lately, albeit combined with cocaine/cocaine comedown), 6mg bromazepam or the equivalent in alprazolam, and maybe some over-the-counter sleep aid. What I know for sure is that I am sincerely, emotionally "over" my addiction--I have reached a point where I want and need this to become a closed chapter of my past. I am a couple semesters away from an Engineering degree, and my priorities need to shift considerably; while I perform successfully within academia, the acquisition of drugs or money to buy them, plus the following binges and comedowns locked away in my room take up the majority of my time every week.

At this point, I am sure that I want to stop this lifestyle--but the physiological part of the W/D is torture; Venezuelan cocaine, particularly in my city, is inexpensive, more readily available than even marijuana, and usually around 80% purity at the least, and I've been using 4-5 days a week for at least 5 years, anywhere between 1 to 5 grams per day. The W/D hits me hard; restless legs, uncontrollable shaking and tremors, and a host of other pretty terrible symptoms. The psychological aspect of it is also pretty burned in by now--veins start itching at 7pm, every night, and life seems infinitely boring when detoxing, but I'm confident I can handle that (I have in the past, successfully). Which is why I'm looking for a good cocktail of medication to get me through the physical part of it.

Worth noting that I live with my girlfriend of six years, who is also heavily addicted, has ADHD and uses cocaine both recreationally and as self-medication for ADHD (though that is largely unwittingly/instinctively), and she is actually the person who injects me (I have essential tremor and am unable to do so myself).

Help?

 

[neversickanymore]

Hey quidamsoul.. and welcome to Blue Light. sorry you are in this way rite now. We have allot in common. That is a love for IV coke and engineering.. nice work on the studies sir the drug I would seek from your doctor that will likely ease both your physical and psychological symptoms would be an extended release amphetamine salts (adderall) or extended release methylphenidate. The problem you may have with these medications is that they also have a high affinity for abuse so if there is a trusted person that can dole them out for you this would be optimal. In my own experience they take that compulsion for the shots down from a undeniable roar to quite whisper. Also the use of these drugs hasn't ever caused the insane compulsion to redose and redose like the the IV coke. I would also look into setting yourself up on a recovery plan so you will learn how to deal with your addiction. Also a huge weapon i used to get off the coke was exercise as I could go from wanting to kill myself and a thirty minutes of any aerobic exercise I would literally feel like a million dollars. I would include one of the following dopamine precursors into a well balanced diet and multivitamin regimen. natural sleep is also key for neural reregulation. The last thing I would consider and it probably was the key that finally allowed me to break this addiction was a non permanent run on a mood stabilizer like lamictal or lithium.. so that may be something you can explore with your doctor.. I used the lithium and it really did work wonders for me when battling this addiction, but it has side effects and the lamictal may work as well.. its just that the action of the lithium is so unique that no other drug works in that way at all. You can do this

>HOW COCAINE WORKS< (triggering images may be present at this link)

>phenylalanine<

>L-Tyrosine<

>The Effects of Exercise on the Brain<

>exercise and nerotranmiter<

 

[quidamsoul]

Hey quidamsoul.. and welcome to Blue Light. sorry you are in this way rite now. We have allot in common. That is a love for IV coke and engineering.. nice work on the studies sir

Thank you. It took a long time to balance a heavy addiction with a demanding courseload, but I finally found a way to combine effective study habits with the binge cycles. I have now grown dissatisfied with this though, as I find that the addiction's side effects (mainly tiredness and skipping classes, also insufficient/ineffective studying while rushing) take too large a toll on my grades--I end up feeling like I could be performing at a much higher level without the burden of addiction, and I want more bang for my buck.

the drug I would seek from your doctor that will likely ease both your physical and psychological symptoms would be an extended release amphetamine salts (adderall) or extended release methylphenidate. The problem you may have with these medications is that they also have a high affinity for abuse so if there is a trusted person that can dole them out for you this would be optimal. In my own experience they take that compulsion for the shots down from a undeniable roar to quite whisper. Also the use of these drugs hasn't ever caused the insane compulsion to redose and redose like the the IV coke.

It is very unlikely for me to use the services of a medical professional for this detox/sobriety. I am 23 years old, financially dependent on my mother, and she (as well as my father and sister) is entirely unaware of my use or abuse of any substances. Maintaining that ignorance is crucial, my mother would react very negatively to the truth and it might compromise her acceptance of my girlfriend living with us, which would effectively render her homeless. However, I have >a way of< acquiring medications should not be too much of a hassle, other than the usual widespread unavailability of imported pharmaceuticals in Venezuela, and perhaps prohibitive pricing, I will have to inquire about anything mentioned here.

I would also look into setting yourself up on a recovery plan so you will learn how to deal with your addiction. Also a huge weapon i used to get off the coke was exercise as I could go from wanting to kill myself and a thirty minutes of any aerobic exercise I would literally feel like a million dollars.

I'm familiar with the ace-up-a-sleeve nature of exercise during withdrawal, plan on making full use of it. What else do you think a recovery plan would entail?

I would include one of the following dopamine precursors into a well balanced diet and multivitamin regimen. natural sleep is also key for neural reregulation. The last thing I would consider and it probably was the key that finally allowed me to break this addiction was a non permanent run on a mood stabilizer like lamictal or lithium.. so that may be something you can explore with your doctor.. I used the lithium and it really did work wonders for me when battling this addiction, but it has side effects and the lamictal may work as well.. its just that the action of the lithium is so unique that no other drug works in that way at all. You can do this

I might look into mood stabilizers. Are we thinking bipolar medication, borderline medication, or just lithium? Lamictal might be unavailable in my country, will also look that one up.

Phenylalanine seems interesting too. What sort of dosages would you recommend?

 

[quidamsoul]

Additionally, I realize the importance of natural sleep--believe me, heroin-induced sleep the past couple days has been entirely unfulfilling. But achieving sleep proves quite difficult for both myself and my girlfriend. Sleeping through the night is not a problem for me (and only occasionally a problem for her), so I don't need or wish to be sedated through the night, but a short-acting benzodiazepine or even a milder/natural/herbal sedative would be much appreciated by both of us, as shifting from night wakefulness to healthier diurnal wakefulness is difficult for us, we are both creative types and naturally tend towards sleepless nights and mid-day rising.

Does that seem appropriate, or is there some importance to achieving sleep naturally as well?

 

[Unbreakable]

Ibogaine Therapy for Drug Addiction

 

[quidamsoul]

I am doubtful of the availability of ibogaine in Venezuela

 

[neversickanymore]

Here are the generics drug names of the drugs I thought you should consiser in an effort to help you find them

LAMICTAL (lamotrigine) >here<

Lithium >here<

methylphenidate >here<

Substance dependence[edit source | editbeta]
Although possible, substance dependence is rare with Methylphenidate.[34] Methylphenidate has shown some benefits as a replacement therapy for individuals dependent on methamphetamine.[35] Cocaine and methamphetamine block the protein DAT, over time causing DAT upregulation and lower cytoplasmic dopamine levels in their absence. Methylphenidate and amphetamine have been investigated as a chemical replacement for the treatment of cocaine dependence[36][37][38][39] in the same way that methadone is used as a replacement for heroin. Its effectiveness in treatment of cocaine or other psychostimulant dependence has not been proven and further research is needed.[40]
Early research began in 2007–2008 by Pharmacokinetics and Biopharmaceutics Laboratory, Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences, School of Pharmacy, in University of Maryland, Baltimore, Maryland, first published, 19 September 2007 in the United States[41] on the effectiveness of methylphenidate as a substitute agent in refractory cases of cocaine dependence, owing to methylphenidate's longer half life, and reduced vasoconstrictive effects.[42][43] This replacement therapy is used in other classes of drugs such as opiates for maintenance and gradual withdrawal such as methadone, suboxone, etc. A second generation of N-substituted 3α-[bis(4′-fluorophenyl)methoxy]-tropanes (GA 1–69, JHW 005 and JHW 013) binds with high affinity to the dopamine transporter (DAT) and are highly selective toward DAT compared to muscarinic receptor binding (M1). The objective of this study was to characterize brain distribution, pharmacokinetics, and pharmacodynamics [extracellular brain dopamine levels] of three novel N-substituted benztropine (BZT) analogs in male Sprague–Dawley rats. The BZT analogs displayed a higher distribution (Vd = 8.69–34.3 vs. 0.9 L/kg) along with longer elimination (t1/2: 4.1–5.4 vs. 0.5 h) than previously reported for cocaine. Brain-to-plasma partition coefficients were 1.3–2.5 vs. 2.1 for cocaine. The effect of the BZT analogs on extracellular brain dopamine levels ranged from minimal effects (GA 1–69) to several fold elevation (∼850% of basal DA for JHW 013) at the highest dose evaluated. PK/PD analysis of exposure–response data resulted in lower IC50 values for the BZT analogs compared to cocaine indicating their higher potency to inhibit dopamine reuptake (0.1–0.3 vs. 0.7 mg/L). These BZT analogs possess significantly different PK and PD profiles as compared to cocaine suggesting that further evaluation as cocaine abuse therapeutics is warranted. © 2007 Wiley-Liss, Inc. and the American Pharmacists Association J Pharm Sci 97: 1993–2007, 2008[44]

amphetamine salts >here< or dextroamphetamine alone>here<

In this issue of Biological Psychiatry, researchers from Columbia University and New York State Psychiatric Institute report a step forward in this effort. They tested a medication approach that unites two themes in addiction research -- amphetamine and topiramate.
There are clues that stimulants, like amphetamine, methylphenidate, and modafinil, reduce reward dysfunction and deficits in executive cognitive control mechanisms associated with addiction. This approach fits with the "self-medication" hypothesis of addiction, which suggests that some people use drugs to treat symptoms that lead them to addiction or that emerge as a consequence of addiction.

>Treating Cocaine Dependence: Promising New Pharmacotherapy<


I really know that this worked really well for me and i would be surprised if it didn't work wonders for you. But realize it is not a cure all and you will still need to find a way to combat your addiction but this makes it WAY easier than trying with nothing.. hopw this helps you find out if these substances are available in venezuela.

 

[quidamsoul]

Relapsed again tonight... I might need to give my sister my ATM card for a while, it is too much of a temptation.

Tomorrow I will hit the pharmacies in my area and start tracking down those medications, neversickanymore. Your help is immensely appreciated.

 

[neversickanymore]

Sure thing sir..

As far as other things that a recovery plan will include is support, we as addicts all need someone to lean on when it gets rough.. allot of people use the fellowships on NA or AA and it is a world wide orginization that has helped is a good place to start to look for narcotics anonymouse in your area >here< >here<

You will have to change people, places, and things meaning you will no longer be able to hang out with people that party or use, you will have to avoid places where the drug is available beeing used or sold, and you will have to change your life and fill the time that was devoted to use with far better things.. being addicts we just cant be around the stuff any more as we either will use it or be miserable being around it.. after awhile in sobriety some can be around it but most cant and almost all don't really want to spend time around it.

Meditation, exercise, and something that fills you spiritually are all things that make life in recovery recovery peaceful and pleasant.
You can do this



If you plan on trying to use any of the mood stabilizers you will need to see a doctor as the lithium you will need regular blood tests to determine the levels in your body and this is a requirement as to much and you get really sick and die and to little and it doesn't work. And the lamictal needs to be slowly increased and if you get the rash it needs to be stopped immediately.

 

[quidamsoul]

What about milligrams and dosages? I believe both Adderall and Ritalin are available locally, and maybe Focalin. I know I need the XR presentations, but how many mg should I get, and how do you recommend administering them daily? Assuming extremely high tolerance to stimulants.

I might be able to get blood testing from private laboratories in the city. Any links or information that might help me self-manage my own and my girlfriend's levels of lithium?

 

[neversickanymore]

I dont advocate the use of the mood stabilizers with out medical supervision so I can not provide any information on this. Why cant you go see a doctor that your your family wont find out about.. is your father a DR or something? >here< is the info on lithium toxicity and it is nothing to play with. If I were you I would not even consider taking this without medical supervision.. when i suggested it it was for something to explore with your doctor. Also this is something that can easily be added later on in your recovery as what it did for me was in combination with other aspects it helped me level out the up and down mood swings and resultant strong drives to use I was having in result of the ups and downs caused by the use. It is not a medication that you will take and then all the sudden have no desire to do the coke. So please just hold off and talk to a doctor about this one


As far as the amphetamine salts I would also see a doctor.. this is just what I used and should not be used in place of medical advise..

for the adderal xr i used two thirty mg capsules.. one in the morning and another like six or eight hours latter.. >here<

for the mrthyphendate ER I thought that one 60mg a day was fine. >here<


please just start with the amphetamines, NA, and life changes and then evaluate with a proper dr weather there is any need for the mood stabilizers as they are most likely the least powerful of any of the pieces to the puzzle. They just helped my finally break the cycle of addiction. And im not just saying that to deter you from a very bad descion IMO.. its the truth.

here is some l threads to look through as well

>Addiction Guide<

>Twelve-Step Addiction Recovery Support Groups<

Unfortunately there is no magic pill for addiction yet so you will need to find your way outta the dark place your at.. it may seem difficult at first but it leads to a peaceful place.. your enthusiasm is great, but unfortunately we just cant fix ourselves overnight.. so please settle on in for the ride and start to enjoy the journey my friend

You can do this

once you are farther into recovery start the first Smart meeting in Venezuela%) >SMART Recovery (Support Group information and discussion)<

 

[paranoid android]

I was a IV coke user and crack smoker that occasionally went into full blown addiction. I used opiates right along with coke but it got to the point where i would rather do without the opiates rather then the coke/crack. During one horrible 2 week binge i drove myself completely insane and did more damage to my veins then i did in 3 years of IV opiate use. I quit after that bit of hell but the coke fucked my head up so bad that it took months for me to feel normalish again. My friends noticed a difference in my personality during this time as well.

I found that along with benzos bupropion and seroquel also helped. I was also taking lamotrigine as a mood stabilizer so maybe that helped as well. The bupropion and seroquel did help the cravings abit i know that much.

Good luck on quitting the white lady for good. She is a rather cruel and expensive mistress.

 

[quidamsoul]

Don't worry man, I figure if I'm trusting your advice on the medications, it would make little sense not to trust your advice on what definitely needs to be monitored by a doctor. I am apprehensive about it because the public health system in Venezuela is in crisis--it's hellish finding a doctor, getting appointments, tests, etc, but the private health system, which is what I usually rely on thanks to my mother and father's various insurance policies, is prohibitively expensive for an unemployed college student. However, I will heed your advice and not take up lithium without seeing a doctor--I will try to track one down next week, have a couple ideas where to start.

 

[neversickanymore]

She is a rather cruel and expensive mistress.

and she lies, she says she will make us feel like gods but then makes us feel like we are in hell.. and she demanding.. she is one fucked up demond right.. yeah she wrapped me up swallowed and it took all I had to fight my way out of her lies and bullshit promises.. opiates may be allot more physically addictive but that slut wields the psychological addictive drive like i was her puppet.. that slut still whispers to me and most of the time she is louder than all the other crazy addiction demons in my head. so glad i never let her cousin meth into my head.

what she says she is and pretends to be..

NSFW:

what she actually is...

NSFW:

what she looks like when you are able to strip her power

NSFW:

 

[neversickanymore]

Don't worry man, I figure if I'm trusting your advice on the medications, it would make little sense not to trust your advice on what definitely needs to be monitored by a doctor. I am apprehensive about it because the public health system in Venezuela is in crisis--it's hellish finding a doctor, getting appointments, tests, etc, but the private health system, which is what I usually rely on thanks to my mother and father's various insurance policies, is prohibitively expensive for an unemployed college student. However, I will heed your advice and not take up lithium without seeing a doctor--I will try to track one down next week, have a couple ideas where to start.

Thank you sir.. that is a very good descion

here is a great thread that so many people find inspiring (def including me) Good things about being off drugs/getting sober

 

[quidamsoul]

@neversickanymore: 60mg extended release is what I was considering, from skimming about dosages online. I'll probably write the script for the 60mg XR presentation, and start off with half a pill, followed by the other half, say, 8 hours later. Are Ritalin pills scored down the middle for easy splitting? If not, I do have a pill cutter, but it would be nice if they came pre-split, since I'll likely be splitting every single one to share with my girlfriend. What about antidepressants? paranoid android mentioned bupropion, what do you think about it? I tend towards depression, and that might be an issue. Finally, paranoid android also suggested quetiapine--from what I can see, it is used to treat bipolar disorder, not unlike lithium, would quetiapine be a good substitute for lithium as a mood stabilizer? Would it also require medical supervision?

@paranoid android, do you recall what dosages of both bupropion and seroquel worked for you?

 

[neversickanymore]

I am not intimately familiar with those medications so I will leave that question to some wise BLtr who is.. I hope anyone reading this will share any experiences with different antidepressants and fighting cocaine addiction. Which bi polar is it generally used to treat.. the reason I went with the lamictal and lithium is the mood swings where I was most prone to use where the lows and as lamictal and lithium are both used for BP2 which almost always present the majority of the time in lows I thought i would find good relief in these and i did... also the lithium really does well at resetting the sleep rhythms that we punished to high heaven from those just one more and just one more and just one more and just one more nights. I am in no way discouraging the use of other medications just stating the reason I chose the ones i did.

As far as the scoring on the pill it will depend on what brand you get i think but if you look them up on line you should be able to find a picture. I'm off to bed try and take it easy tonight sir, dont need to fall off right as your starting you recovery

 

[quidamsoul]

Tonight... well, tonight is a lost battle, wound up being three bags of cocaine and one of heroin. My half of the cocaine ran out, currently going to make a cotton shot and/or beg my girlfriend for some of her half. Will probably doze off on heroin, the bag is almost intact (we have very low tolerance to opiates at the moment). But tomorrow is another day, and I will try to at least acquire the methylphenidate and something to sleep, either mirtazapine or a benzo.

 

[laCster]

modafinil(provigil, nuvigil) are shown to help with cocaine/meth addiction without being too addictive like ritalin/addy. wellbutrin might help you aswell.

good luck man, i know how you feel! everytime i think about IV cocaine i get a naught in my stomach, it is a nightmare i deal with on a daily basis/

 

[quidamsoul]

Modafinil seems like an interesting alternative methylphenidate. Any information on dosage?