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Opioids sister in law wants to detox please help

S

samantha12345

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Joined
Jun 15, 2013
Messages
2
hello im new here.... my sister in law finally told me today that she is now shooting up (once or twice a day so she says) diladuds.... she says she is ready to quit everything... she is on her way to my house and im trying to figure out what to do and how to help her for the next week or so... she has a serious pill history.... xanax was her first choice when she was a teen (now 25) then she went to percocets, then roxys, then methadone and now diladuds... she is still doing both methadone and diladuds.... i dont do pills so i have no clue what to expect besides the obvious throwing up, diarrhea, sweats, aches and pains... i guess my questions are, how can i help her?, when is it time to call 911 if needed? whats the best steps to take? she has no money... i have VERY little money... and i just really want to do anything i can to help her... basically i just need to know everything about opiate withdrawls... ive read posts on different forums but none were about methadones or diladuds and mostly all of them were snorting them... not shooting.... im so worried for her and i want to make her better!!! thanks in advance
 
detoxing cold turkey from dillies and methadone is going to be a nasty proposition any way you cut it. probably the best thing you could do for her is to take her down to your nearest methadone clinic, usually it's pretty cheap and often they (or the state) will cover the cost in case of indigency. suboxone is another option but often more expensive. that used to have a financial assistance program as well, not sure if it's still going on. if she's dead set on going cold turkey or you can't make any of the other options work for you, there are plenty of threads on this forum discussing non-opiate comfort meds that can help ease the symptoms of acute withdrawal: benzodiazepines, pregabalin, gabapentin, soma, skelaxin, requip, phenibut, clonidine, lofexidine, loperamide, etc. best of luck to you and your sister in law.
 
Read this thread. It'll help. Opioid Withdrawal Megathread.

How much methadone and how much dilaudid was she doing? (specific mg's) And for how long has she been using like that for?

The reason I ask is because the severity of withdrawals depends on those two big factors. Dosage and length of time using. There is a huge difference in how bad ones withdrawals will be based on these factors.

In general though, a cold turkey withdrawal from any opiate is very painful, let alone two at the same time and one with such a long half-life like methadone. Methadone withdrawal lasts a lot longer than hydromorphone withdrawal.

While opiate withdrawal is not fatal, she's going to be in rough shape most likely. There are OTC meds that can help. Then there is always the option of checking into an actual detox facility.
 
Dliaudid detox is brutal but short. A few 8mg subs will help her thru the worst of it. After 2-3 days, she should be okay, provided dillies arent the only thing she is on (methadone detox takes a LOT of time to do right and not feel like complete ass). Unless she ODs, calling 911 is likely to get her a felony charge and seriously fuck up any future she may have (try getting a job with a felony record, especially in this shitty economy).
 
I dont know the mgs... but shes been shooting the dilladuds since may 9th... not long... but the methadone its prolly been about a yr or so... she used to snort the methadone but now shes shooting those too. I just took her spoon and the last 2 needles she had and broke them. She wont go to a clinic and she doesnt want to taper i guess... she wants to just stop everything. All at once. I dont have money to buy her any suboxen or anything... i have coloadines but she said they make her blood pressure REALLY low. I also habe immodium... thats about it though
 
samantha12345 said:
I dont know the mgs... but shes been shooting the dilladuds since may 9th... not long... but the methadone its prolly been about a yr or so... she used to snort the methadone but now shes shooting those too. I just took her spoon and the last 2 needles she had and broke them. She wont go to a clinic and she doesnt want to taper i guess... she wants to just stop everything. All at once. I dont have money to buy her any suboxen or anything... i have coloadines but she said they make her blood pressure REALLY low. I also habe immodium... thats about it though
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As long as she isn't currently physically dependent on the xanax then there is no need to go to the hospital for her detox. Benzodiazepines (these include xanax, valium, klonopin and others) and alcohol are the only two classes of drugs that you really need medical supervision when detoxing from. Detoxing from opiates/opioids is extremely uncomfortable but is non life-threatening (just be aware of keeping her hydrated since dehydration can become an issue if she is vomiting and has diarrhea.

Clonidine is very helpful but as you noted it can cause blood pressure to be too low, but if she takes it during withdrawal when her blood pressure is going to be high and just takes 0.1mg once or twice daily then it can probably help with the restless legs, the feeling or wanting to rip out of your own skin, and with helping her sleep. If she doesn't want to go to a clinic or taper then that's one of the few drugs she can take to help (out of the drugs you have available to you).

I've gone cold turkey several times and just used clonidine and it helped a lot. The link provided in post #3 has the rest of the advice I would normally give. The only prescription drug you seem to be able to get is the clonidine, so you are down to OTC drugs so Imodium and DXM are going to be your best bet.

With the Imodium I recommend using 16mg and under since she wants to avoid tapering and since Imodium is an opioid and she takes really high doses it can turn into a taper since it will be prolonging the process of having the withdrawals be over and done with. Therefore save it for when she really needs it, or just forget about it altogether if she doesn't want to take another opioid in any for at all to just get this kick over with.
 
Ive cold turkey kicked off of worse opiate habits. Her habit doesn't sound that extreme, but Im no doctor. Its a lot less than any Ive had and kicked. That is the cheapest option. Just buy comfort meds and the right fluids and food she can eat.

There is inpatient detox and they can use medicine to ease her off and she could go to a sober living facility if necessary.

You can hit up a sub/done clinic and get her on maintaince but she will have to go to the clinic daily and its still a monkey on her back.

This isn't advice, but what I would do if it was my sister. I would read up about cold turkey detox and comfort meds. Id get her some Xanax or some form of benzo. If you have time you can go to a doctor and plan it. They will usually give you clonidine(for you heart and anxiety, benzos(to relax), muscle relaxers(for cramps), and Phenergan(for naseua and flue symptoms). There is already plenty of info on over the counter stuff and that has been successful too.

I cant tell you whats right to do. Im not a doctor. Personally I would want to just quit ASAP and not go on maintainance but it does help people get their health together and their lives together. Than they can ween off if they wish. Some people are better off on maintainance. Its a bitch to get off methadone.

Its her first time at the rodeo so Id give getting off everything a chance. AA/NA works for some people but I don't like it. I personally don't like to put myself around a bunch of addicts if Im trying to stay clean. So many people there still use and also engage in other destructive behaviours.

None of this is advice. Ive cold turkey kicked about 5 times and it didn't kill me. If you can wait on her hand and foot for a few days and make sure shes not alone its possible. She could get so sick she wont want to move until she has to go to the bathroom and than she will be running. She may shit herself. I have. Symptoms usually are the worst for the first 3 days. If all she gets are cold sweats and aches shes lucky. The worst syptom is the charlie horses and cramps in the calves for me.

Also liquid protein supplements stop the shits, keep your strength up, and make it easier to resume eating. I don't think anyones mentioned that.

Inpatient rapid detox will get her off the drugs quick and she wont die if shes in a hospital. Mental health is a good place to go for that and they will pay for it. Takes a few days though, so if shes already detoxing you might just buy some comfort meds and ride it out.

Obviously is she has a fucking seizure call the paramedics, but I doubt they would do anything for her wd's other than maybe admit her into detox. Opiate wd is generally not considered life threatening.

If she can buy Xanax and dilaudid she could probly find suboxone strips. You can cut em into tiny pieces and do a short taper. You HAVE to abstain from opiates for 24 hours to start them. That's what I usally do to quit.

Best of luck.
 
I know it doesn't sound like an option in this case, but IF you could secure just ONE 8 mg suboxone(buprenorphine) it would make this situation a lot more do-able, for the both of you two. If she has been using opiates/opioids via IV route than she most probably has been dependent for some time with a rather large daily intake. I would assume she has at least felt WDs in some fashion, so she probably has an idea of just how hellish this is going to get.

Just be ready for about a week of almost zero sleep on her part(without the aide of OTC/script med), horrid depression, very moody, painful joints, restless legs, dirrehea, vomit, it's truly a fucking nightmare. Usually peaks in intensity around days 2-4 for short acting opiates and could peak around 5-9 on long acting opioids.

Loperamide and clonidine can be god sends in situations like these. Clonidine allowed for my restless legs to almost completely vanish, took away a good portion of my anxiety, and afforded me some sleep. Just take her blood pressure starting now on a regular basis keep track of the numbers to get a general idea, and then dose very lightly until she perceives an effect.

Loperamide is an opioid that works mostly in the gut to control dirrehea. In some cases in high enough doses it can alleviate WDs to a certain extent. Just be mindful with dosages because you could drag out the WDs if given around the clock.

If one 8 mg suboxone was to be had it could make this process A LOT more bearable. Just by giving 1 mg at night every other night for a few days will def soften the blow of WDs. Or some people just take 4 mg around peak intensity of full agonist WDs and then take another 2 mg three to four days after that, then 1 mg three days later then the last 1 mg three days later and your done. It will not cure the WDs but just significantly lessen the severity.

Another option is Kratom, if your area has this product. It will not cure WDs but lessen them if used as a tapering agent. Kratom itself can be habit forming and abused so keep this in mind. It's to my knowledge mostly 100% legal in the US and varying degrees of legality in other parts of the world.

Just be mindful that the both of you all are going to have a hard road ahead of you all. She is going to need your support big time.... Be patient with her.

Best of wishes and good luck.
 
lenses said:
watch your valuables .
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Lol...messed up but can be very true.

Anyways, I wish she had thought this through a little bit, it could have been made a lot easier. If she had quit the methadone and continued with the hydromorphone for about a week while the methadone got out of her system and then went cold turkey it would have been soooooo much shorter.

Just be understanding, if this truly is your sister in law and not you. Withdrawal sucks and it really takes a toll on your mental state. Imagine the worst sickness you've ever felt, and at the same time havioul crushing depression and severe anxiety - and then the worst part - knowing one shot would make it all disappear within seconds.

If it's her first detox it'll suck but if she's tried before ime every withdrawal gets worse. Just be encouraging, having support can mean a lot. And if she relapses don't freak out. When I got clean my bf told me if I relapsed we were through, and all that did was put me in a situation where I felt like I had to lie and was completely alone.
 
Once she starts detoxing shes gonna want "one more hit". Id keep her relativlely comfy till you have the detox meds and the house set up. Yes hide your valuables. Id probly let her have her last shot, but not once shes pulled 24 hours as than it would be counterproductive.

IME Ive always had "one final shot to soothe the pain for the long road that lies ahead".
 
I am currently in withdrawl for Suboxone, and although I know the detox from what she is on to what I was on is two totally different animals, I have recently found that Kratom works. Unfortunately it will take about 3 days to come in the mail, but it is relatively cheap compared to other things. Just be there for her, she will not be able to sleep (use benedryl), have jumpy legs (use a heating pad or warm bath), she will have some aches (use ibuprofen), she may get diarrhea or vomit (you cannot stop this completely except maybe with Imodium (although this is in the drug class opiate), just make sure she has something close to puke in). I think it is great that she has someone to help her through. Like I said, I am also in withdrawl (3rd day). She will make it, but it may be painful. Do things to take her mind off of it...watch movies, get outside, etc. Best of luck.
 
Music can be of great help in cold turkey withdrawals kinda allows time to pass. Note it must be the right music and volume.
 
I always watched TV the whole time. Id usually watch a whole series thru all the seasons. I love the British show Shameless and not the US version. Its got like 13 seasons and its gotten me through two kicks. Its good to keep your mind off things, so a television is a must. Netflix or digital cable is ideal for detox mind numbing.

If you get kratom at a head shop buy the 25 cent pills and not the 5 dollar ones, it will save you a lot more in the end.

Personally Lope (Imodium) and DXM and Tylenol were the best OTC meds for me.

OP I would like to hear how this works out in the long run.
 
dopemaster said:
I always watched TV the whole time. Id usually watch a whole series thru all the seasons. I love the British show Shameless and not the US version. Its got like 13 seasons and its gotten me through two kicks. Its good to keep your mind off things, so a television is a must. Netflix or digital cable is ideal for detox mind numbing.
Click to expand...

Yeah I'm pretty sure I've blown through a few full TV shows I hadn't seen before during withdrawals.
 
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