Opioids Will Loperamide Extend My WDs?

[RangersFan]

A little preface...I was taking between 50-80 mgs of hydro for about 2 years. Last May, I decided to kick the nasty habit as it was destroying my relationships, money, etc. This stupid shit controlled me. I went cold turkey because I didn't have it in me to taper, and I also had a big drug test coming soon and no script. Long story short, after 5 days of absolute hell, and lots of help from bluelighters, I had kicked it. It took another week or two to really get over the mental issues, but within a month, I was clean! I stayed clean for about 6 months, and besides the occasional urge to take some, I was fine. I had gotten married, started a new job, bought a new house, got my wife pregnant!

THEN...about 5 months ago, I started having really bad hip pains, diagnosed as bursitis. Might not sound it, but it's really painful! Anyway, the doc prescribed me, you guessed it, my DOC. I got 30 10mg hydros every 10 days, then eventually went to PM, and got 60 7.5s every month. For the first few months, I did well. I might have taken a few extra every now and again, but I was handling it ok. Then the shit hit the fan. I slowly felt myself slipping back into it, and I could do nothing! At least it didn't take me two years this time, only 5 months or so at about 50-70 mgs a day, but I'm on day 3 and I feel ok. Much better than day 3 last time! I guess the length of taking them really matters?

I've seen many people talk about how Loperamide (Imodium) will cure almost all of your WD symptoms. As my wife didn't know I had a problem, I didn't want to be laying around for a week like last time, so I decided to try it, and although I have definitely felt like shit, it has been much milder than last time. I've read some people who take like 20-30 2 mg pills twice a day, and I'm not brave enough for that. I've taken like 5-6 pills a day for the last few days, and I want to know if I'm setting my WDs back since it is an opioid?

Any chemists/pharmacologists or people who are more informed, can you please help me?

 

[RangersFan]

Bump for answers. Also, when will this f-ing depression lighten up? Been through it before, so I know it will, but I just want to hear reassurances because the depression fills your head with lies and deceits!

 

[down508]

I think you should try to taper with the lope. it shouldn't be too drawn our but if you do say a 5 day taper, take what alleviates your symptoms on day one, divide that dose by 5 and take that much less each day. say you start on 20 mg, take 4 mg less every day til your at zero. I dont think it will really lengthen out your withdrawl but it might. and I think after about a month of being clean you will feel a lot less depressed. I think your habit of taking pills is the main source of your depression, you know it's wrong so every time you take one you beat yourself up a little over it. once you've mended you relationship and become more productive you will feel better about yourself. I think the fact that your wife doesn't know is making it worse. it's probably not the best time to come clean since it might cause her pain, but that doesn't mean you cant talk to her about you feelings. when the time is right you should tell her, I guarantee a weight will be lifted off your shoulders. but you should put as much distance between telling her and the last time you got high as you can, either whether that means 6 months of slow improvement or 6 weeks of drastic changes.

 

[pasha]

IME loperamide definitely extends the withdrawal symptoms. How severe the withdrawal symptoms depends on the dose of loperamide. In your case the dose is fair so I wouldn't expect it to be extremely severe.

For me the withdrawal symptoms began 3-4 days after the last dose of loperamide exhibiting in very harsh physical symptoms, especially GI ones. It's a very clever drug at masking withdrawal symptoms. It tricks you into thinking you're in the clear, until you wake up covered in sweat with the worst diarrhea of your life.

Use it wisely.

 

[Opanaking]

Yeah but that also depends on how big your habbit was before you went on lope. This guy is talking about Hydrocodone, I miss those days when I could get high on norcos, they gave me the best buzz ever when they worked.

Going on lopermide is definently going to make your habbit go way down. Even if there is a little bit of a withdrawal when you stop the lopermide it's not going to be as bad as it initially was when you went on it.

If I were you I would take it for about 4 days then just deal with the rest of withdrawal. It will extend your withdrawal a little bit, but that's not going to matter if it helps you get off.

 

[pasha]

It's always best to educate people of the risk rather than disregard it completely. Loperamide is a strong opioid, despite popular belief. Chronic loperamide users for medicinal purposes report the same withdrawal symptoms one would would experience from any other opioid.

Check out these threads to get an idea:
Actually addicted to Loperamide
The Opioid Withdrawal Megathread and FAQ
Need Serious Help - Loperamide Withdrawal
Loperamide Withdrawal

If you use it wisely, it can be a great withdrawal aid, if not, you could find yourself in trouble. There's no easy escape.

 

[RangersFan]

Thanks for the input, I appreciate it. I know my addiction may not seem that big of a deal to some, but it was/is to me. I'm absolutely determined to stay sober this time. I'll be 26 years old in 4 days, and my second son will be born in May. I have so much to look forward to, and my money will be spent on my family, NOT on pills!

As far as the lope, I've taken anywhere from 4-6 for the past 2 days, and only 2 today, and I don't plan on taking any more. I'm just gonna tough it out from here on out. Hopefully the little doses of Lope I've taken won't really make me have any extra wds. They did seem to help somewhat, but I dunno. This WD was a lot less severe than the one last year. Do you think I should be ok Chromo, or should I just continue to taper slowly? Stop now, or 1 1/2 tomorrow, 1 the next day, 1/2 after that, none?

 

[Lady Codone]

If you abuse lope, it can not only extend withdrawals but may become an addiction in itself. Rare, but I've read several reports of insane lope addictions...I'm talking 96 mg+ per day. Taking a few to stave off physical withdrawals/GI symptoms should not be much of a problem.

 

[RangersFan]

Thanks Lady C. I haven't really taken much more than the prescribed dosage (4 pills in 24 hours), and hardly any today, so I think I'll be good. Just didn't wanna prolong this any longer than it had to be, and I was worried since I was taking an opioid, I was nullifying my cold turkey, which I know now that it isn't. I got up today and cleaned the house, did some yard-work, went for a walk, made dinner for my pregnant wife and son, and I feel so much better tonight than last night/this morning! Exercise is the BEST cure for WDs if you can force yourself to get up.

 

[RangersFan]

Well, I'm on day 4 now, about 80 hours or so since my last dose. Physically, I am feeling much better. I woke up early (of course because I'm still having insomnia), and I did a light workout, did some yardwork, cleaned the kitchen (my wife was very pleased). I'm still trying to fight off that nagging depression. I'm taking a multivitamin, and L-Tyrosine, anybody recommend anything else? It's not too bad, but there's that little voice saying "Nothing will be as good without the pills" and I know that's bs, but the voice can be persistent.

Sorry if we're off topic now mods, can move to TDS if need-be. Any help would be greatly appreciated from others who have kicked, and stayed off!