Opioid Withdrawal Advice

[Numb19]

Hopefully someone can help me out here...

It all started for me with 5/325 percs for my bulging disc problems, which I took for a week straight or more and now led to me eventually taking 50mg-70mg of Oxy (either IR or chewed down Oxycontin) and realized that my tolerance basically doubled within the past couple of months alone. I realized this and it was a problem for me, so I decided to just stop cold turkey to get things under control. I took all my pills out of my home so they're not near me. My aim here is to get my tolerance way down and use the Oxy only couple of times per week such as when my pain requires (I suffer from a bulging disc). I have been steadily taking pills for the past 6-8 months; not everyday but 4-5 times per week...I found lately that I have been taking pills just to prevent myself from feeling sick and this feeling really sucks because it is just a complete downward spiral.

I don't feel my WD's are severe compared to what I've read but it still really sucks as I can still feel it kicking my ass and my body has been just crying out for a pill, especially the first two days. I have maintained and promised myself no pills for at least 5 days - is this reasonable or am I setting myself up for failure?

I really want to get my tolerance down and just not have to worry about going through withdrawals if a take a pill for a day or two. I don't want to live in a complete haze and I do realize it is going to take restraint on my part. I also realize that if I aggravate my injury bad enough, I might be back in the same boat but them's the breaks I guess.

It is now the night of my 3rd day cold turkey, tomorrow will be day 4. I found a bunch of Zanaflex that I was prescribed last year so I've been taking those to help with sleep and WD's, and they do seem to help a little.

Day 1: Not too bad since I was home all day and basically vegged out all day - herb helped a lot.
Day 2: Very rough especially since I had to work - woke up feeling like complete crap, chills and hot flashes and nausea...I was able to get food down later in the day, went to the gym to do some cardio and sit in the sauna and just felt exhausted to get through 30mins (which usually is no problem) and took my first Zanaflex pill at night.
Day 3 (today): Again woke up feeling very tired and nauseous...got to work and felt stomach cramps which led to a mild case of the runs. I managed fine after a nasty fight with the toilet and was able to get food down later in the day. Went to the gym again to put in a lift and while I liked how profusely I sweat, I just felt completely exhausted...never the less I battled through and finished my workout - way too hot to hit the sauna though. Took another Zanaflex pill and am getting ready to sleep soon.
Day 4: ???
Day 5: ??? (I promised myself minimum 5 days).

Any ideas what I can expect from here and is 5 days enough to detox myself and get rid of going through WD's if I happen to take a pill and then suddenly stop? I definitely do not plan on taking these pills for more than a couple of days in a row again - hopefully, and I am not planning on keeping a large amount near me. Basically if I really need meds, then I will need to prepare myself to drive for 20-30 minutes to get them from my parents' home. I am aware of the "no more than 3 days in a row and no less than 3 days in a row off" formula - is this accurate?

I realize the ideal situation would be to quit completely but I just never want to be in a situation again where I am taking pills just to prevent myself from feeling sick and going down that dark road that comes with it.

Any help or advice would be appreciated and thank you kindly in advance...be well.

 

[twotoomany]

You're almost outta the woods, but you'll need a much longer break to get tolerance down. I went two weeks recently and tolly stayed the same. Also, you're not gonna want to take pills three or more days in a row. Physical dependence can return very quick, especially if you only took a short break. Good luck!

 

[pally pete]

I quit a 400mg Oxy habit cold turkey in January after around 3 years of escalating Opiate use. Was extreme hell for 1-2 weeks and then just hell for the next 2 months until I finally relapsed just a week short of 3 months clean. I do all the recommended things, exercise everyday (10 mile bike ride) Eat and extremely healthy balanced diet, keep well hydrated, try to keep occupied (All though my severe social Anxiety limits this) I do try to watch movies, listen to music as much as possible etc, I work full time 0730-1600 Monday-Friday and some Saturday mornings, which can be pretty unbearable whilst going through withdrawal but it keeps me busy, but all I do is clock watch at work, and then all I do when I get home is clock watch again until it's time to go to sleep (that's if I can sleep) minutes feel like hours, hours feels like days, days feel like weeks, weeks feel like months etc Also as much as the majority of the time my appetite and diet is acceptional, during withdrawal I foind it hard to keep any sort of food down. I'd like to tell you that during those 3 months of clean time made me feel great, well physically I felt slightly better, my depression was better, and I could control my moods slightly better but I was nowhere near where I wanted to be, my social anxiety/phobia still controlled my life so I was still a literal recluse, my mind still raced at a thousand miles a day, I still suffered extreme sweatiness, sleeplessness etc etc.

And many people talk about beating the psychological aspect, well the problem is as times passes memories fade, so naturally the pain of the acute withdrawal wanes, which most likely lead to my relapse, although my post has a generally negative tone, I dod appreciate there were positives yet I still don't know of a way to truely STAY CLEAN long term.

I tried..

Immodium
Ibroprofen/Paracetamol
Benzos help with the sleep but they just make you feel weak and lethargic and also I risk addiction as I was a heavy Benzo addict for over 3 years.

All the rest of the OTC so called remedies were just a waste of time and money (and believe me I've tried pretty much all of them)

 

[pasha]

Numb19, this is your own thread made from your post in this old thread which you revived.

Good luck.

 

[Sprout]

If you resume using Oxy on day 5 you'll at best reset your WD's and most likely resume daily use.
The fact you've told yourself that you could possibly use again on day 5 implies to me that you're not quite ready to quit.