need help getting off opiates, how to talk to a doctor?

twiceasbright

Greenlighter
Joined
Sep 22, 2010
Messages
3
have been using oxycodone for almost a year now, and i really want to stop using. have currently been taking about 90mg of roxycodone daily. i've tried stopping multiple times cold turkey, but haven't had success. i can't afford to miss a day of work or college, yet the withdrawals have left me bedridden, causing me to give up.

i've finally gotten to the point where i can admit i have an addiction, and that i cannot stop on my own. i'm not looking to get on subs or anything like that, but i've heard that clonidine and benzos are helpful during wds. (anything to get me through the first weeks...)

my usual doctor is a relative, and i do not feel comfortable sharing this information with them. how do i pick a doctor to speak to? and most important, what do i say once i'm there? i've never been in this sort of situation and i'm panicking.

any help is much appreciated.
 
Google Suboxone doctors in your area and see one of them. They've heard it all, so you have nothing to fear. Just explain to him what you said in your post.
 
Yes, i would suggest finding a suboxone doctor, and if not to go on maintenance, at least do a rapid taper over a couple weeks. This will make withdrawals a bit more bearable. You could go to your family doctor, but the problem is a lot of times they simply don't know anything about addiction, and may not help you in the way that is needed.
 
Your two best options would be a suboxone doctor or a psychiatrist. Remember psychiatrists are medical doctors as well, and are usually well versed with addiction.
 
Clonidine and benzos are not some magic bullet they will make withdrawl a little easier but your prolly gonna still have to miss work and school. 90mg isnt a huge habit but a year is a long time withdrawls are gonna be shitty. I really doubt a doctor you dont know will give you benzos they are just to abusable plus IME family doctors are terrified of addicts.
 
Ya u can just look up sub docs in your area here on the right side of the page where it says find a doctor http://www.suboxone.com/

I'd personally stay away from long acting opiods like methadone/suboxone if your plan is to go completely sober. I only say this b/c at your Oxy dose the habit is probably not terrible and you would likely have WD's for 2-3 days, but once you go to longer acting opiods you will at some point have to go through what most would consider a worse detox then from 90 mg Oxy. This is due mostly to the long post acute withdrawal syndrom from Suboxone/Methadone.

That said if you can't stay clean I think Suboxone is the best thing available.

GL!
 
Top