The Thomas Recipe for Opiate Detox
I’ve heard a few people talk about using the “Thomas Recipe” for detoxing from opiates. Most of the herbs and drugs that are part of that regimen can be found right here on our own post about drugs for detox, but I thought I’d put the recipe up here too since it follows a specific set of instructions.
Thomas Recipe
Taper your Vicodin (or other opiate) dose as much as you can before hand, and if possible take some time off from work or any other obligations you might have.
What you need:
- Valium or any other type of benzodiazepine like Ativan, Klonopin, Xanax etc…
- Immodiun.
- L-Tyrosine.
- Mineral supplement that contains at least 100% RDA of Zinc, Phosphorus, Copper, Magnesium and Potassium. You may not find a supplement that contains all of these together. If not, then buy separately.
- Vitamin B6.
- Access to hot showers or baths.
Putting it all into action:
“Start the vitamin/mineral supplement right away (or the first day you can keep it down), preferably with food. Potassium early in the detox is important to help relieve RLS (Restless Leg Syndrome). Bananas are a good source of potassium if you can’t find a supplement for it.
Begin your detox with regular doses of Valium (or alternate benzo). Start with a dose high enough to produce sleep. Before you use any benzo, make sure you’re aware of how often it can be safely taken. Different benzos have different dosing schedules. Taper your Valium dosage down after each day. The goal is to get through day 4, after which the worst WD symptoms will subside. You shouldn’t need the Valium after day 4 or 5.
During detox, hit the hot bath or Jacuzzi as often as you need to for muscle aches. Don’t underestimate the effectiveness of hot soaks. Spend the entire time, if necessary, in a hot bath. This simple method will alleviate what is for many the worst opiate WD symptom.
Use the Imodium aggressively to stop the runs. Take as much as you need, as often as you need it. Don’t take it, however, if you don’t need it.
At the end of the fourth day, you should be waking up from the Valium and experiencing the beginnings of the opiate WD malaise. Upon rising (empty stomach), take the L-Tyrosine. Try 2000 mgs, and scale up or down, depending on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mgs. Take the L-Tyrosine with B6 to help absorption. Wait about one hour before eating breakfast. The L-Tyrosine will give you a surge of physical and mental energy that will help counteract the malaise. You may continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find it gives you the “coffee jitters,” consider lowering the dosage or discontinuing it altogether. Occasionally, L-Tyrosine can cause the runs. Unlike the runs from opiate WD, however, this effect of L-Tyrosine is mild and normally does not return after the first hour. Lowering the dosage may help.
Continue to take the vitamin/mineral supplement with breakfast.
As soon as you can force yourself to, get some mild exercise such as walking, cycling, swimming, etc. This will be hard at first, but will make you feel considerably better.
- Thomas”
If anybody gives this one a try, let us all know how it goes.
303 comments
I have tried this recipe. The only thing different was the addition of Clonidine and Compazine. The Clonidine helped with the anxiety and rapid heart beat. The Compazine helped with vomiting and sleep. Without Compazine and Immodium, I wouldn’t have been able to hold any food in. The recipe by itself is still a wonderful aid to people trying to quit. The only thing I notice is the trying to “plan” it is usually not the case. Vicodin addicts usually go through w/d because their supply got cut off and they have no choice. I know it happened to me alot of times. I was able to quit because of this recipe,a understanding ER doctor, and some awesome support I found online and in my neighborhood. I have been clean now for 27 months. Thank you for this blog. Its an awesome place for people to go to so they can start taking their lie back
Kristin,
Thanks for the tips, and the kind words. Also, congrats on the 27 months.
I do agree that the “planning” phase is usually difficult, but it’s definitely a good way to prepare mentally, if you have the luxury of doing it.
I feel like a lightweight compared to some of the posters here, but I’m at the end of day 1 cold turkey from vicodin 6 to 8 7.5’s a day for about 3 months, 3-4 for about 6 months before that. It’s been 24 hours and I’ve been fine acutally, but now i can’t sleep. I took 2 klonopin an hour ago and no relief from the RLS. Otherwise I feel perfectly fine, but we’ll how long that lasts. What’s frustrating is some posters talk about 2 weeks before it gets better and some are done in 3 days? I’m hoping I’m the latter due to a lifetime of no drug use and overall healty living. But I guess time will tell. I have freed my calendar for tomorrow and the weeknd. Please with me luck. I am trying the l-tyrosine and the zinc and other supplements recommended here. I don’t have a hottub, but we do have a nice steam shower here. I guess I was expecting more pain and all I have now is inability to sleep and I want to sleep so badly!
today is day 6 for me cold turkey off of 400mg oxy daily. i dont know how i let myself get that deep. amazingly, i even had about 60 left that i managed to keep locked away from myself before finally dumping them back to my “friend.” most of my issues SEEM to be subsiding, but sleep has been hell and it is the restless ARMS that keep getting me kicked out of bed. i am wondering which items in this recipe anyone would recommend for mostly anxiety, mild depression and the restless limbs. thank you for any feedback.
Michael,
Thanks for reaching out, and congrats on day 6. It’s gonna be tough to find anything that’s gonna give you serious relief over-the-counter. And I would say, now that you’re already on your sixth day, I would stay away from anything harder, unless you feel like you’re strong enough to maintain it. Can you exercise yet? Take some walks outdoors. That helped me immensely with the depression. The anxiety sucks, but it’ll subside. Try some Valerian root for that.
Best of luck to you. Let us know how it goes.
I am so glad I found this website! I am on day 5 of WD. I honestly was attributing my symptoms to the flu I felt so miserable. I am also on valium and have continued using that in a small dose at night. The sleeping issue and body aches are the worse for me, plus I have chronic migraines ( which is why i got addicted in the first place) and of course they are kicking in now. What I found that is helpful to me is drinking lots of water and gatorade, massage ( I have a massage chair but you can do self massage or have a loved one help out) and deep breathing, relaxation techniques. I am ready today to start exercising lightly again once my headache subsides. One question, are other muscle relaxers helpful aside from the valium? I cant take over the counter sleep aids as they seem to make my restless legs worse. Any suggestions?
Yes, yes, yes…This recipe works. Although i dont suffer much with the leg syndrome. I usually try to ge t off by the second week of use or it get harder every additional week i am on them. Being i have had two back surgeries and just yesterday had surgery on my wrist. If i got past a month on them, then just add one more week of hell for every week past two weeks that i am on them. I have had my runs of years on this little wicked bastard and the faster i get off them the better. Good luck to everyone. i know you and i will both need everything we have to kick these bad boys…
How come no one is talking about the wonders of alcohol?? I have had a really rough path with this given the fact that my doc is giving me 120 a month.. and I found about 200 else where a month.. the 200 is a strong norco yellow pill.. Anyways I am following the recipe and so far so good.. I have surgery coming up and I plan on staying off em..
this is my secund day of my wdl and you can imaging how i feel, iam gona try he recipe wish me luck
Good luck Claudia! Life just so sweet when you’re not going through withdrawals.
Im so glad you guys have made it to the point of quitting. Any tips on actually planning to quit. I do about 10 7.5’s a day and I say Im going to quit but I just keep going back. I buy ten more to wean off of em and I always end up eating them and then saying, this time it’s it, Im quitting tomorrow. When I wake up it’s the hell of knowing I have those to wean off and I start freaking myself out about not doing them and then I do 1 just so I start weaning off. Then I always go get another half, just in case or some crap. I had this problem before and I did quit but I don’t know how I did last time. My life has been filled with years of abuse. Im sick of it and I feel guilty everyday about it. Im successful, happy, why is this crap taking over? I guess I just need somewhere to vent. Thanks. I was going to get some suboxcin to try and detox. Has anyone tried it and if so what can I expect? Is there still rls?
I have been taking about 60-100 every day for about 3 weeks after shoulder surgery. I had no idea I could get addictedsto quickly! These withdrawals are the worst thing I’ve ever been through, and I’ve just started tapering off over the past few days! Throw in some nasty stomach flu and it’s been just fabulous.
I imagine it’s worse for people who have used for years. I already suffer from clinical depression and I’m on medication for that. So now it’s the sleeplessness and anxiety I have to deal with. I took my last pill 14 hours ago. I hope I can get through this. I don’t even feel like the same person.
Listen I know people are in Need for support here and i just wanna give u background of my use. For the past year I would say about 20 ES a day and now I have been clean for 26 hours. I was so sick of driving 30 minutes out of my way to pick em up everyday so sick of all my friends call me to get em and sick of the way they made me feel. I work a full time job and have othe obligations that need done but I cannot take a day off or I loose money. Ihave stopped many of times before in my 3 year run. It first startered when I got a script for a torn muscle then I didn’t look back. But it really has been bad the last 6 months. I look at WD as a beautiful release. I did this to myself and have no one to blame but myself. I am still going to work like today and the next. Not every one has a job where u can take a 15 min break when u start shivering or u need to walk. I do. Taking off ur time is running from ur demon. I would say oh I got this coming up so I will quit after that then after that this comes up. This addiction has effected my whole life and I’m fucking sick of it. I took about 12 ES last night an thought long and hard for my motivation to quit. I finally found it and will not be denied my freedom of this drug. I have tried everything to curb the symptoms and the one thing I have found works best for me is when ur body hurts, u can think, and u feel like ur skins going to jump off ur body remember your motivation to quit. If that motivation is truely strong enough u will do it. Take a picture easiely accesable write a note so u can look at it and Believe me there is always a calm after a storm. When u feel a wave coming on motivate urself. Other drugs u tAke to get off this one is just taking another drug that u might have WD from. Go grab a bag of blow pops, orange juice, bannannas, Gatorade, water or what ever works for u. Then find ur motivation and just quit. I am a firm beilever in tough love and I always want to believe people have It in them. This post is helping me cope and I hope it helps u. Just take it 6 hours a time. U might have 2 or 3 storms in 6 hours for 20 minutes a storm but once u hit ur peak where you hit the most WD in a 6 hour time then when that number starts to decrease your over ur hump. WD is a mutha fucker I am not going to lie but it is a necassary part for parets to play with their kids again, people to live normal lifes, and you to be on ur way to recovery. I will leave u with this last thought that got me throught the first time I was clean for a year before I got hurt and what I am using now. I found what I need to motivate me to quit and am a pissed off individual right now mostly becasue I let it get this bad and I will not take no for an answer. Stay strong and keep busy the more u have projects or something going on you will not sit in your room and watch the clock. I hope this post helps 1 person and if it does please let me know.
Yes, indeed this helped. I have been taking 9 vicodins for about 6 months. The 500 not the 7.5. I had knee surgery. Dr. said no more. So. I had 8 left yesterday. Took three at 6:00 last night.
I will take 3 today, 1 tomorrow and 1 the next day. At least thats the plan. I am taking tons of vitamins and I have xanax.25 when needed. Your post was inspirational. How are you doing. I am afraid. Its been 15 hours since a vicodin and I feel ok so maybe it won’t be too bad. I am a baby. I hate pain. Wa, Wa, Wa. I hope you are well and thanks for sharing. J
I have been taking norcos, 6 to 15 a day for about 2 years. If you need to know the yellows. I decided to stop on my own. Never had a script, it seemed like fun at first. I tapered as much as possible which as we all know wasn’t much as an addict. Anyway I’m a little over 48 hours since last dose. I realize some of you may say I am not that bad off but it’s been hard. I still have access to the drug . Asked all my “friends” to never give it to me again. I also realize what it has done to me. Stumbled across this guide on the internet and figured, almost a day in, any help was better than none. Thank God I have some friends who helped me out. While I lay in bed feeling like death my mom and a friend helped to get all ingredients on the list. I even let my boss know what was going on and she was very understanding ; gave me a few days off. Xanax is all I could find for the sleep. I am taking the vitamins religiously. The RLS I noticed gets bad only if I’m not in a walking coma. I hate bananas, but anything for relief. Been taking baths as much as possible and as hot as I can stand. Have to say it’s helping greatly. Just got out of the tub and obviously I’m typing and out of bed. Imodium is great, the stomach cramps without it are excruciating. I didn’t follow it to a T, I am already taking the L-Tyrosine in the mornings. I have to parent. Don’t worry people my mom is helping. Started on it low, then took more. Feeling a little better though. I know I will make it through this. May be sick for a while, but I have my whole life to look forward to. I’ll keep you guys updated. Good riddance to bad rubbish! Also thank you for this site, It may not cure withdrawals. It sure in the hell takes the edge off.
Sue,
Listen, you’re awesome! As I’ve said before, it’s difficult for me to give advice on staying clean, because I truly do believe that everyone’s process is going to be different. You, like so many others on this site, have reached out. That’s ALWAYS the first step. Everything else will fall into place at some point or another. It’s just a matter of time. If this is the last time you go through this, great, if not, you’ll do it again. The only problem with this process that we go through, is that it’s a very tight rope, however, the only thing that can stop you is death. I know it’s brutal to think that, but it’s reality. We see it with celebrities all the time, but what we don’t hear about are the thousands of average joe’s and jane’s out there that fall off that rope each year. All I can say is, BE CAREFUL, take care of yourself. Create a life outside of that high, that you know will be better than your life with that high. It’s there…find it.
Jane,
Be brave! There’s obviously a part of you that wants this. A part of you that wants to be rid of the pills. Hold on to that, and I guarantee you that that inner baby will eventually go away.
God bless!
Thanks for the advice. I am now just past 72 hours. A little tired, but got around today to get some exercise. Finally the bad part is over. Thank you guys so much for the help. Too many sites suggest taking the drug to get off it. That just seems stupid. Everyone out there feeling like crap stick it out. I promise it gets better.
Sue,
It’s only stupid if it’s done wrong. I’m not a big fan of methadone or suboxone, but some people swear by it. If you can go cold turkey, by all means…go for it!
I have been inhaling/snorting norco, vicodin, morphine, dilaudid for the last 2 1/2 yrs of my 5 year addiction to pain meds. Does anyone have any advice on what to use to ease the pain in my nasal passages and sinuses when I quit? It is terrible and I have a hard time moving past this point. I know once I’m past it I’ll be able to do the rest. There is no joy or high in these drugs anymore-not for me. I take them to keep from getting sick and that is a humbling piece of knowledge. I’ll appreciate anything you have to offer. Alexa
How long does it take for norco to be completely out of your system and is that when the withdrawls start? How long do they last?
Theresa,
It really depends on how much you’ve been using, and for how long. For me, the withdrawals were full-blown within 48-72hrs, which is pretty standard from what I’ve read.
I’ve been taking about 8 norco/day for about 18 months. How sick will I be , will I be able to go to work? What about the mental effects I already have severe depression and occasional thoughts of suiside. Will these become worse? I really want to get off this stuff. I have also been taking about 2-3 ativan per day for severe panick attacks, would valium work better for the withdrawls? and then how do you get off the benzos. The whole thing sounds pretty scary and I really need to know how long it will last. What about taking clonidine to help?
Hello all, I’m here because I take 6 10mg of Norco a day and have for 3-4 years. I ran out and can re-up anyday now from my Dr. Thought that this was crazy to keep on like this. Barley slept last night and am aching and irratable bigtime. My wife and kids are off school all week so I think I can take the time to detox now. They don’t know and am very embarraced of my addiction. I feel if I can kick it like I did cigarettes then i’ll be ok. Can I do this cold turkey or am I asking for trouble? I feeel like I have the flu and my body is aching. I don’t have the motivation to do anything and that is my biggest and hardest to deal with as of now. Today is my first day and I can’t do anything. Any advice will do. I like bananas even more if they will help with RLS. Check back later for more advice.
Hey Frank, I wanted to give my two cents but I want to be clear that this is a very individual thing, so take my opinion with a grain of salt.
I have been on and off Norco for years due to a reoccurring back problem. I’m usually on for six months and off from six months to a year or two, so I have been on this roller coaster many times. I am currently nearing the point where I will wean myself and begin my detox but I am on 8 Norco per day as we speak.
In my humble opinion it is important not to get caught up in the language of addiction. The way we think about this and the language we use colors our experience and, often, pigeonholes us into the worst possible version of what you are experiencing. What I am getting at is that for me, and maybe for you, looking at quiting the pain medication as a part of the treatment process removes a lot of angst and negativity from the process. In other words, I am injured/sick and have been given medication. When I have recovered I stop taking the medication, which has side effects but is simply the last phase in the process of dealing with my injury or illness. It is what it is, do what you have to do and don’t get too caught up in over-thinking it. Again, this is simply my opinion but it does have a significant physical and emotional effect. There is nothing to be embarrassed about, and the unpleasantness is simply part of the process. Better that than fretting about being an addict, and choosing to carry all of the baggage that goes with it. Plus it allows you to focus on making yourself comfortable throughout the process.
I try to taper as much as possible. Cut your dosage by 1/2 a pill ever few days or even every week. It doesn’t make the final stage go away but my experience is that it significantly reduces some of the side effects.
When I get down to about 1/3 of my highest dosage I begin taking more vitamins, minerals, and amino acids. Phenylanaline, 5-HTP, Choline, Glantamine, and GABA. The Choline is very important. The GABA is best before bed. You will have to look into dosage, and be sure to read about each before taking them to make sure that they are right for you. I also start taking Sena tea to help get my bowel closer to normal before I stop taking the meds. It will help reduce the severity of dia area
I usually hit a wall where any reduction results in full on withdrawl symptoms, usually 1/2 norco three times a day. At that point I continue with the vitamins, minerals, and amino acids but I also take xanax, clonidine, compazine, and immodium (all as needed). Make yourself as comfortable as possible, keep hydrated, and the bad part will be over in 3 or 4 days. I try to think of it as a really bad flu and just forget about the stupid hydrocodone.
Thank you so much everyone- I am in the planning stage and your letters are inspiring me to really do this thing. I have helped people kick for many years and feel I had much love and compassion for them. Now that it’s me, and I have had only a small taste of detox, I am scared to death. I can still keep my meds with the medical issues I have, but for me, it’s the soul loss that’s really killing me. Grief stricken at the loss of freedom, just a little bit sick most of the time. Thanks again-you are Angels to me. Where can I get the Opiate Withdrawal Survival Kit part One?
I am 3 full days with no Vicodin (weeny addiction compared to some (3 -4 5/500’s a day, but the bowel water issue and muscle aches are killing me! Doc gave me Tramadal and some other muscle relaxer but I feel Like I Am Going To Die! Can’t sleep and am hoping to get some exercise in, grouchy and wanting to take tylenol ANYTING to feel normal again. Can’t do the up and down thing anymore and cannot stand the idea of never being over this or not feeling like this. Someone please tell me this too will pass and I can do it! I am hoping the supplements in Thomas’ recipe do not interfere with my other meds, but I feel like death warmed over anyhow so I am going to dive in head first. Good luck to all of us who try to kick this trash! It is so ROUGH!
I have been taking anywhere from 15-20 10mg yellow pills for over 6 years and I finally woke yep a few days ago and said to myself that I have had enough. I took the last of my supply, and I few extra just for the heck of it, and I have now been clean for 16 hours. It hurtsm dont get me wrong, it hurts like crap, and to make things worse, I am at work right now. The worst part to me is the RLS. I hate not being able to sleep and I am sure that I will have a lot more of it to come. I just keep telling myself that if I can stick it out for the next week or two, then I will be ok
I am going through methadone detox through a clinic. I started out using oxy’s and roxis religiously for about a year, every single day. At least 40 mg but mostly around 80-120 a day.(If I got lucky up to 200mg) Anyway, been at the clinic about 8 months and am working my way down.I am at 25mg, my highest dose was 55mg.Word of advice for people considering methadone detox: DO NOT let yourself replace one addiction for another, like many do. I went into this knowing my limits, even though it totally SUCKS watching people go in there day after day getting a “legal high”. If you just take what you need to function, and not to get totally high, you will succeed. Anyway, Detox is getting harder, especially with the malaise, apathy, anxiety, body aches, sweats etc.I may switch to Suboxene to end my detox. But about the recipe: Potassium for the restless limbs, it controls nerves and helps calms the muscles.L-tyrosine works wonders for mental and physical energy, CINNAMON supplement for hot/cold sweats(not listed in recipe), multi vitamin/mineral with the iron, zinc and such helps with overall well being and getting your body back in balance.Drugs force our bodies to become dependent on the drug of choice, and all the nutrients are flushed out.I have only been following this for two days and I feel wayyy better, I highly recommend this rather than giving in to illicit drug use to calm symptoms.The benzo’s are ok, just don’t let yourself grow to love them..Also WATER and fiber help to keep you regular.Only use the fiber if you are irregular. Good luck, your not alone in this. It’s hard, but just remember how much happier life was without dependence on drugs. You feel naturally high, something many forget when falling into addiction.Tackle this monster one day at a time…
Jacqueline
I am on day 3 of detox and the first two were horrible of course. Luckily I have phenergan and klonopin for nausea and RLS! My question is what do I do about the actual pain that I’m having, whcih started this whole thing anyway. I have taken, over the past 4 years anything you can think of, fentanyl patch, vicodin 10, oxycodone 10 and anything else I could find. The pain in my lower back is excruciating and I can’t work with this kind of pain! I don’t know what to do. I want to be free from this madness but at the same time I need relief from the constant pain in my back and legs. I don’t know what to do! Thanks for letting me vent. This is a great website! Kim
Did all ya’ll tell your dr.’s about your addiction? I’m too embarrassed to consult with my dr. What if she thinks I’m just there to “score” more meds. Were you able to just come clean about coming off of this stuff? I definitley want to stop… I’ve tried weaning myself off, but that doesn’t work for me. If I have them, I’m gonna take them!! Have been taking 8-10 a day for the past 2 years. Last time I stopped I haf terrible stomach cramps, RLS like a mo fo, and these weird “jolts” like a friggin’ crack head. Scared to tell my dr. about it, cause I really don’t want that “label” when I go there. But how else can I get these med’s to help with the wd’s?
So nice to find this website.! Been taking 1-5 vics for about 9 months after a couple years of weekend only use. My source may have dried up and forced my hand as I’ve had 0 today. No one knows, just me and now I guess this board. Please wish me luck win withdrawal and recovery.
Problem is, I like being stoned. But I suppose it can’t last forever. Thanks fro being here
What a great website this is!
kristy it seems like you really have to tell your doc. They can help you and they can’t tell anyone else.
I quit Friday (2 days ago), but then had one this AM. So it probably doesn’t count as quitting
. The anxiety is killing me. And I am already on Buspar, maybe I need a higher dose?
For those of you that could quit – how long before the anxiety fades? It is usually a week for all w/d symptoms?
To Joe’s Mama and the others who started detox within the last weeke or 2. How are you guys doing? Still craving?
I have been clean so far today, but damn it’s tuff. I want that stuff so abd, even though I hate the dependency of it, I love how it “cures” my anxiety. From one of your earlier posts I saw the 5-HTP suggestion and am adding it to my regimen (which is the Thomas recipie).
Thanks again for this place.
I guess I have been adicted for 13 years, since I had my daughter by c-section and my husband was abusing vicodin and got the Dr. to keep refilling my scrip. I then went on to Dr. shopping to get more and the excuse I was using for pain is no longer viable and I can’t get the pills anymore. I have 10 left and I am freaking out, I take 3-4 7.5’s a day and drink quite a bit with them. I don’t feel I can do anything without them, daily stuff, being there for my kids, socializing, doing anything. I truly feel I can’t do anything without them and that’s why I am so scared to have to give them up. I don’t have the time to go through WD, I have such a busy calendar and all I think is that even if I do get through WD, I won’t be “me” I won’t be able to be the mom, friend, partner, etc that I am when I’m medicated. I feel I will be an empty shell and I will be unable to do any of things I have to do. I am very scared.
To those that have gone through WD, how do you feel after? Do you get your get-up-and-go back? Do you have any energy or enthusiasm for things you did before? What do I have to look forward too? Will I just be a lifeless zombie, or can I go back to be super-mom without the help of my little friends?
Any input is helpful.
A couple years ago i wrecked my ankle. Doc gave me some vicodin to get me through until surgery. After surgery i was on cruches for 8 weeks. My ankle now felt better but my back was jacked from being on cruches. So he continued to give me pills for a while. About a year later i started having elbow issues. did PT for a while again the dr gave me pills to manage the pain. had the elbow surgery. continued pills for a couple months. dr cut me off. still having continued pain i found my own way of getting them. was on them for about a year. 3-6 es a day. recently i decided i wanted to see if i do without. i have been clean 6 days. Wow does this suck. not having the chills like some have discussed. but just the pain and the rls, no sleep is insane. last night i took a long bath with epsom salt. i slept great. legs didn’t bother me all night. Still suffering constant pain in my back, knees, ankles, elbows.
My delema? whats worse have a drug problem and feeling good. Being able to play ball with my kids, make love to my wife, and just generally feeling decent. Or having no drug problem and being miserable. I don’t want to move around, or my body hurts.
To southernmom – I’m a dad, but I totally feel the same way. I stayed clean for a week and now just went back on. The depression and anxiety was horrible and seemed to be getting worse. I have been working with a psychitrist and I am going to try to get him to change my meds (fluvoxamine and buspar) as they are not doing the job. Otherwise I just don;’t know what tto do either. I’m sorry this was not very encouraging for you, but I feel the same way.
Brandon – yeah, i would rather be a good father and husband and take the drugs. The only problem is that they are illegal and I don’t have a reliable source. And if my wife found out I think she would turn me in. So I figure I have to keep tryin gto quit. This sure sucks thought.
i am a 36 yr old professional who needs to w.d. asap. scared as hell but, yet determaned. i have been on vike es or better for about 1-1 1/2 years. now i dont think i have ever taken more than 12 in a day. but this all started wth a gallbladder surgery that went from the scope type to a wide open 10 inch incision ( i know no excuse). but i am sorta like the other readers/posters on here. i work days mon-fri have no personal or vacation time. i dont think even if i started to detox on a fri, by monday i would be able to stand let alone work. i did detox in oct. but according to my er dr, i have “the swine flu”. i thought i was dying, cried didnt sleep off work for 7 days it took 10 days to totally feel ok. we (my hubby and i) really thought thats what was wrong with me lol. but long story short, it wasnt and i didnt figure this out till i read some of these blogs on here. i am asking for any help. anything. i get rls now, i cant imagine what it will be like detoxing, scares the hell outta me. i cant take tylenol pm, flexerill, or any of the benzos because i have a small seizure history (yes i am in the medical feild so i know if i do seizures are very common) help!!!!!
my weening phase (i am in right now) is this i take 2 es in the am around 7 am, 2 es 7pm, and one at bed time. i am gonna drop the 7pm to 1 next week, then to 1,1,and1, the week after. during next week i was told to take the supplements. my end day is may 1. i wanna be vike/wd symptom free. does anyone see this as able to be done? any question/response is not a dumb one. anything will be accepted as helpful hints. i am scared to death, dont wanna seize in front of my kids or family, only reason why i am trying to ween etc. HELP!!!!!!!!!!!
I am trying to “wean” myself also. I definitely need a pill in the am or I can’t get out of bed, I’m nauseous, stomach cramps, can’t focus, can’t function actually. So I take the pill and 2 hours later here comes the pain again… Problem, I am out as of this am and I can’t get anymore.
Hell yes I’m scared, I have no idea what is going to happen to me tomorrow, or the next week. I can’t tell anyone because they don’t know what I’ve been doing so I am alone.
I have some huge projects to finish and I don’t think I will be able to even come up with a creative thought to finish them. I just know my family, job and friends are all going to see there is something wrong with me and I can’t tell them the truth.
I wish I was the praying type but I doubt that would help anyway.
I thank you all for sharing your thoughts, it really helps knowing I’m not alone, in fact it makes me feel like less of person for what I’ve done to myself and those who love me.
Wish me luck.
Oh…SouthernMom…I’m on day 2 without and feel like I could crawl into a hole until I can function again. I so desperately want to find just a few to help me function. I work full time, run my own partime side job and in the beginning of starting my own business, full on. I’m scared to death to go to work today because I cant think clearly, can’t control my crying, am beyond fatigued and only have enough stamina to last for a few hours before I have to lay down and sleep. My heart is racing and hand sweating…
I totally relate to your secrecy…I’m a hypocrite to everyone that I love and mentor…
My question for anyone, is do I continue cold turkey and suffer through or will getting a few to take as a weaning process make it more tolerable?
Southern Mom and Tormented Angel….Get to the GNC store and get some potassium and L-Tyrosine, as it says to in the Thomas recipe….They will help you IMMENSELY!!! Put your faith in them, and ride out the storm. I too am tapering, and preparing to change my addicted life too. I DO believe in prayer, and SouthernMom, if you just give prayer a try, it WILL work for you. Just TRY. Keep us posted here, and KNOW that you are both being prayed for and thought of today!!!! YOU CAN DO THIS…
Tormented Angel and Meetoo,
I so appreciate your comments. I went through 2 days without and spent the whole time throwing up, trying to relax in hot baths, unable to even keep sips of water down, I couldn’t even talk to my family or friends. Today I was able to get 2 more pills and took them both and felt incredible. Tomorrow I’ll be back to square one. I am going to try to multi vitamin with potasium and the L-Tyrosine, hopefully I will able to function because I was unable to leave my bed for the 2 days without.
As far as prayer goes, I just don’t have it in right now because prayer has failed me and my family so much in the past. I know I can’t rely on all my problems to be fixed by prayer but it seems like a huge waste of time when I pray every day and nothing changes. My doubts lie in the bible and and the more I read the bible and the more I take from it, the more I have doubts. The bible was written by men and that reason alone make me skeptical, because I have many men in my life and the majority of them have some pretty bizarre ideas and thoughts. When/If I pray I do pray to God to give me the wisdom and strength I need and so far I get nothing, so it’s hard right now to ask for help and left alone, scared and worrying about whether my life is worth living.
When I wake up tomorrow and have to go through another day of hell, the only thing I’ll be praying for is my family and hope they don’t hate for what I have done to us.
Ok, southernmom….I will pray on your behalf then. Let’s see if that will work! I am not a Bible reader, persay, because of all the things you mentioned, but I am a spiritual person, and I know that God listens AND hears, even when we think He doesn’t. I will seriously be praying hard for YOU.
Cuz I KNOW you can make it through this!! I have faith in you!!
You should get a separate potassium tablet….I think those really helped my RLS a LOT. Don’t be afraid to take a few a day!!
One thing that helped me a lot on my several tours through this detox was remembering that “you’re not the only apple on the tree…” So many others are suffering, many in the same way you are. We are never alone, and if we can help someone else along the way, it helps US more than we can imagine. Ask God to send you someone who needs something that YOU have…he always answers that prayer!!!! ALWAYS. Ask it, and be ready to give what you can to someone else who needs you. It will help get you out of yourself for a bit.
I hope this isn’t too sappy for you, I guess I am feeling ultra emotional today!! Thanks for bearing with me!!
WE ARE NOT ALONE.
I’ll be on my knees.
Southernmom I can so relate to your situation. I will pray for you too.
Oh, I am now in my umpteenth taper down – this week it’s been just 2 a day, next week 1 and then I really hope I can do it this time.
Hey, SouthernMom and Tormented Angel….please post..! Are you two ok??? I’m over here praying my head off!!!!
Please post, even if just to say hello. I am thinking of you both!!!
Hello,
I am glad that I have found this site. I stopped taking any meds on sunday of this week and have not taken anything since noon on sunday. It has been rough and I have dealt but I developed some sort of issue with my ears. They feel like they are filled with water and it is driving me nuts and I am worried about it bad. I came off pain killers over a year ago after taking them daily for 4 years and stayed clean till I hurt my knee and got surgery. I took vicodin and darvocet on and off for a couple months because of the pain and then felt that dreaded feeling. I knew I had to stop and did. It’s been 4 days now and doesn’t feell like last time, it’s a little more rough. I am drawing alot of support from reading the posts hear and am totally motivated to stopping. I do not feel the desire to take any more, I absolutely don’t want to I just want to feel better.
In reading a lot of the posts I can totally relate to about everything everyone has said in one way of the other. When I first detoxed over a year ago after many failed attempts I did it for myself and only that, not love, life, family or any of that. That is why I truly believed it worked. Now I am doping it all over again and the one thought in my mind is I know I am a better person drug free than with taking them. No matter how good, invincible, creative or motivated you feel taking them it ends when it wears off. It’s a brutal cycle and only you can break it, no medicines, crutches or anything will do it for you (even though soem things do aid) just you making the concious decision to follow through. It does get better and doesn’t last forever (the bad feelings) and slowly you will wake up to the person you were and hoepfully stonger. I believe this and it is what drives me, I know I can’t continue to take them as it will ruin lives, relationships, and more. Just remind yourself you can do it and force yourself to get up and move even if for a little bit. I am still suffering some effects but jsut excersied and the endorphins are carrying me right now. Every day is one step. Good luck everyone.
metoo;
Hey, sorry I haven’t been able to post, leaving the bed or the tub is agony. The only reason I am up today is because I actually found a pill in an old purse and I was able to do something, anything.
Thank you so much for your prayers, I know God is never going to give me more than I can handle, I just need to find some strength, where, I have no idea.
My family is so worried, they want me to go to the ER because I can’t eat and I am just a zombie. I know I can’t keep hoping I’ll find a pill somewhere so I can take care of my home for a few hours. Sleep is the only thing that helps, at least I don’t feel anything and I don’t dream. I can’t even get to GNC to get the suppliments and I can’t ask anyone to get them for me in case they know what I am using it for.
I know I should just quit and get through this but like I said I don’t know who I’ll be after I detox. I was a very happy upbeat, do it all, go everywhere, volunteer for everything, running my own business on top of everything mom. Who will I be without my little friends?
Wow depression really sucks and so does self-pity, I hate people like me!
Well, personally, I know exactly how you feel. I hope you keep finding little pills everywhere! AT LEAST ENOUGH TO GET YOU THROUGH UNTIL you can PLAN your detox. Sometimes NOW just isn’t the right time. I SO understand you!!!!! I am still praying though!!!! I’ll alter my prayer now so that you will find the relief you need….that your little friends will keep finding their way to you!!
Next time you find a couple, GET TO GNC. ok??? And also get some “Ensure” liquid vitamin drinks too. I have issues with eating at times like these too, and the drinks will keep your shorts on, at least!
Hang in there. Find some more pills. Plan it out for next time!!!
I’m with you in spirit!
Metoo;
If you don’t mind my asking, have you gone through this before, if so, how often. I only ask because my main concern is if I get through this and become whoever I become, am I going to relapse if I get the chance? I really only want to do this onece and just get over it, if that’s possible. But if I can can find another source will I go back until I run out again and start over?
I am just trying to figure out if I am going to be me again or if I need to let my family know that I am going to be a nasty mess for however long.
Why can’t I think straight?
Why do I feel so bad that I can’t stop hurting my family?
How much more pathetic can I get?
My life is so in significant yet I I need to be there for my kids and they are just bugging the living daylights out of me, for no reason at all and they don’t deserve this. I have no tears left to cry, just shame and remorse. I’m at the place where I feel everyone would be better off without me.
Oh, yes, I have gone through it plenty of times. I started using hydrocodone about six years ago….first occasionally, and then when both my parents died, along with another close family member, it turned into a daily thing. Within the span of four months, I lost 3/4 of my foundation. I had started taking them for migraines, and soon found a source who keeps me supplied. I have been out of them quite a few times in the course of six years….funny thing, when you don’t REALIZE that what you’re going through is a detox, (that sounds stupid), you’re just pissed at the world because you are out of pills.
Currently, I am tapering. I have 3 pills left. I am trying to decide if I want to splurge and have two tonight. They are 7.5 vicodins. I WOULD like to save them to be able to take 1/2 and make that be it for the day, but I am just NOT STRONG ENOUGH.
I was committed to quiting in November, and I lasted about a week. I’m in a tough spot right now, with marital issues, not related to my abuse….but then again….what isn’t related to it??? Who am I kidding??
SouthernMom, I hope you don’t relapse…and if you’re strong enough, and give yourself enough pep talks, you can make it. AND I think you’ll be better than before!!!!!! Do you remeber what it felt like to feel REAL joy?????? I am trying to get my JOY back. more later!!!!! Keep typing!!!
And I have taken 5-10 per day…I am tired of them ruling my life, and my emotions. I know for certain when I get more later this month, I will take them….the game I play of “oh, THIS TIME I will respect them” is a game I never win. When I reread this, I sound miserable and pathetic as they come. It USED to be fun. NOW it’s a ball and chain. I need strength, and I know I have it inside me…I just don’t know how to get it out. I used to have joy…but I’ve misplaced it.
So, SouthernMom….WHO’S pathetic???? It’s not you, my friend.
Trust me – I am jsut as pathetic as anyone here, porbably more so. I too am stuck trying to taper and quit for the umpteenth time, but it is somehow validating to hear from others in the same boat. You guys write well and have perfectly described this crappy journey that I am on too. Thanks you, and I’ll pray of us all.
OK I feel real bad about throwing the “pathetic card”. I never wanted to compare myself with anything anyone else is going through, maybe I am throwing a huge pity party because I haven’t gone through anything like this before, but I truly never wanted to make anyone else feel bad.
I agree this one crappy journey, can you believe I was jealous when metoo said they were going to get more pills??? I want more pills so bad
I think it helps talking with others that are going down this lonely path with me. I am even encouraged by things you all write, somehow it makes me feel less desperate and that maybe we all can get through this together (no, I don’t mean in a Kumbaya way) but sharing, encouraging, understanding and being sympathetic seems to help me feel like less of an butt head for doing this this to myself and my family (by the way I am buzzed again because I was able to score a few more pills from someone that really needed them, God I suck so bad!!!)
Your prayers, your words, and your concern are the things that are probably keeping me going right now. Thank you!
I found something good that helps! Google it! Kratom. I bought some online, and it helps get over the withdrawals….and it’s LEGAL.
Hey all, was wondering if anyone had any advice on taking suboxone? Trying to quit and my friend gave me a few but I don’t think he really knows how to take them. So if you have any, or know where I can find so
e advice please share. Thank you so much.
Pete
How is everyone doing out there today???? Please post SOMETHING so I can measure the power of prayer!!!
Well, I took my last three 7.5 vicodin on Thursday evening. I’ve been pumping the potassium supplements, L-Tyrosine, a zinc (maybe two a day). It’s Monday morning, and wow….I have had NO RLS, which is usually the very worst of it physically for me. I HAVE been anxious, and quite depressed, but most of that was in actually preparing for what I thought was going to be absolute horror. This weekend was a wonderful one for me. WITH NO VICODIN. Ok….so…I had been taking 5-10 7.5’s a day….was my lack of physical withdrawal symptoms BECAUSE I have been pumping potassium and L-Tyrosine??? I had to do some pretty serious self talk too…and of course, I have been praying every time I turn around! Praying for all of us.
AND, I found “Kratom”. I had ordered it last week in preparation. In thinking about it, I figured there ought to be an HERB out there that can make you feel as good as vicodin does. I FOUND IT. And you know what?? It’s herbal, it’s legal. I feel like I CAN go without the vic’s, and use this kratom when I WANT to. I can drive it, not let IT DRIVE ME. And, if I don’t want to take it, I can know that’s ok too, there are no proven withdrawal symptoms with recreational use. Do google it! I am feeling hopeful for the first time in a LONG time. I have felt so GUILTY under the thumb of vicodin. Kratom will be that vacation that I so need some days!!! Without having to take it every day to maintain and not withdraw.
I’m sure there are lots of folks with more information and knowledge on kratom than I have. I just think for me, this is the answer. Oh, and I got some SAMe vitamins, some B-6, B-12, and mood boosting teas too.
I hope everyone is well!!!!! Please post~~~especially SouthernMom and Tormented Angel, and our dear Shmoe !!!!
I just wanted to share one thing with those that are quitting .. I took my last dose 3-26-2010 .. I was thinking that the worst of the WD’s were over come Wed (5 days later) and for the most part they were. I’m on day 10 now and I can sleep at night .. smoking *good* pot really helps (if it has a seed in it, your not smoking the good stuff) .. for what its worth ..
However .. still dragging, no energy, basically I feel like the life has been sucked literally out of my body .. I have felt this way since Wednesday. From the research I’ve done, it can take up to a month (or more) for your body to recover ..
I hate to sound negative .. but I also feel people should be aware that you ‘may’ not feel 100% after the 5 day detox .. this was only the beginning for me and is definitely the worst of it….however I had to return to work today….for which I did absolutely jack shit
I’m down to 2 vics a day, I hope I can still with it. It really is so comforting to know that others are going through this shit too.
I would love to score some Kratom, but that is out of the question for me, as my family has no idea what is going on, and they simply can’t find out. However, I do have some pot and it does help. I really hope I can quit this time.
Thanks you all so much for being here.
Hey, fatigued….have you tried the L-Tyrosine with Vit. B-6? Have you tried to find mood improving supplements?? THEY WORK. Pump them, sit back, and have FAITH. This will be only day 6 for me, and I KNOW that it is early for me yet in my detox, BUT, I can honestly say I haven’t felt this good, physically AND emotionally in a long time. Really, please, go get some supplements. I just got the SAMe, and will give that a good shot. It can’t hurt!!
Hey, Shmoe…glad to hear you’re still tapering….I wish you had a local “head shop” where you could probably find some Kratom. If you can hide some pot, you can sure hide some kratom. Just sayin….and you won’t believe how it helps! You can also find it on the internet. I don’t know if I can say where exactly on the internet here, so I won’t. I wish there was a private message thing here!
Always praying!! And I am hoping SouthernMom is doing ok….thinking of you…please post!!
I’m buying some Kratom today so I’ll keep ya’ll updated. I’m so excited to try this, because the withdrawals are keeping me from quitting. I’m tired of spending $200/ week on v’s! Hopefully this will help, thanks for posting about this!!!!
Sorry I haven’t been able to post I’ve got back to back weeks of my kids on Spring Break. I ran into a friend I used to party with at the beach for Easter and she quit cold turkey about 6 months ago(found out she was pregnant) and I know she thought she was doing me a favor when she gave me what she had left, and it will help me get through spring break hell, but I was ready to jump. Now I have a reason to postpone and hopefully find some of the kratom metoo was talking about, load up at GNC and take the bull by the horns.
I hope you guys are still around when my time comes, you gave me the strength to take a good hard look at myself and I didn’t like what I saw. Once I’m out (again) I sure could use your kind words, encouragement and even your prayers.
Stay tuned
I will be right here with you, SUPERmom!!!!
You can COUNT on my prayers and my support!!! Is there a way to private message here?? I would like to give you more info on Kratom!!! Can I say kratomking.com CAPSULES??????
I was also able to place an order on-line from the web-site you recomended metoo. This site says it’s legal drug, so I don’t see a problem with sharing if it helps even one person get through this hell (selfishly, I hope it’s me). Can you believe I am almost excited about quitting, I know frustrated said they still haven’t shaken off the down side.
My gym actually offers b-12 shots once a week and I am heading to GNC tomorrow and as soon as I ride my house of 8-10 kids every day, I am going to go for it. If I have any pills left over I am going to have to make a pact with myself to lock them up and when an emergency drop ins (like they always do) I will have something to get me through it or hopefully I won’t need it at all. My hope is the latter.
Metoo, a special thank you for being so upbeat and encouraging, you are making a difference in my life that I am truly grateful for.
YAY!!! Thank you, SouthernMom….that brings tears to my eyes!!!!! I have had you on my mind and heart since I read your first post. I hope that in some small way I have helped you, the way you have helped me! We are all in this together!
Your post made my day!!
It is nice stuff, this kratom. And, well, if it helps get us through and off this crap, it’s a great thing. I hope you ordered a decent quantity….I have been taking 8 capsules at a time. IT SUCKS swallowing all those pills, but once you get them down, about a half hour to forty five minutes later, you are pretty much on cloud nine. Don’t mix them with vics though. Have you written down your shopping list for GNC?? Most important for me is the potassium. I can’t believe that this last time I had NO rls!!! Absolutely NONE. And no lost sleep either…..And with kratom, I am considering telling my source that I don’t want the vics anymore.
I had another thought this morning, SouthernMom….I prayed that you might be given whatever you needed to make it through this. I prayed for you to find some more vics to tide you over until you could do this right. Here we are. GOD LISTENS AND HEARS….
With the 50 gram buy you will get 95 capsules…just an fyi I forgot to post in my previous post. I just ordered the 200 grams, and another friend will share it with me. She tried some of mine yesterday, and LOVED IT.
Everything’s gonna be ok.
I am not sure how many I ordered, but they do offer overnight shipping if I need more. You know, I have never had a problem with RLS and I slepp well with about 4 Tylenol PM’s everynight. It’s my creative side that suffers when I don’t have my pills. It’s like I can’t think or create and that’s my job and my life. I have to be up and outgoing and always making everyone happy. That’s my fear, I won’t be there for what I need to do and for those that need me to be there for them. Most important my kids, they really work me and I hate to let them down, but I know I’ll be a better mom if I’m not addicted to drugs and alcohol.
I was thinking once they go back to school I have a month to clean my act up and be the mom they deserve for the summer.
I am also worried that my sexual appetite might waiver. I love my husband and we have a great sex life when I’m high, what is going to happen when I’m not high? Will I still want…? Wow sorry to reveal so much, but so much of my life has been wrapped around this the blasted addiction.
I have my GNC list, pottasium, lots of B vitamins, L-Tyrosine. I have a super multi-vitamin I have been taking and some C. Soon I can add the Kratom to the mix, at least I’ll get my daily water requirement from taking all those pills!
I am going to use your mantra…
Everything’s going to be OK
HI EVERYONE,
This is my 4th day clean i was taking narco 10mg like 8 to 11 pills a day . i started due to heriated disks that pitches my siaitca nerveand goes down my left leg. this started 3 years ago . i was never on any meds before this nor did i do drugs ..this changed my life and now i am an addict . iam angry ,sad ashameed of it .I feel I just wanna take them i wanna use and i feel better when iam on them ..BUT I KNOW THATS MY BRAIN TELLING ME THAT NON SENCE) WHAT I FEEL NOW IS SADNESS DOWN AND DEPPRESSED . my back flares up when i am at work its the worst i am always on my feet,dragging and not carefull (i am in the medical profeesion) iam 26 and i know i cant be on pain meds my whole life. I just feel shitty my physical withdrawls got better i was taking tiny doses of suboxone . I am depreesed and and no spark in me and dont feel like doing anything ..I am a lil afraid of resorting to anti deppressent meds dont wanna be on something else for the rest of my life i know i have an addicting personality.. Does ANYONE HAVE ANY ADVISE ..
southernmom
does the kratom really feel like or make u feel as if u were taking a vicoden? and if so how much do u take ..tablet or as atea.. i just found this out (about kratom) iam checking out the website thanx
metoo
do u know of some helpful vitamines to help with the sadness and mood? WOW i am so happy i found this site and reading these post makes it feel like i am not alone and i could relate to people who understand me .. THANK YOU EVERYONE !!
From what I’ve experienced personally just this past weekend, your sex life will be BETTER with kratom. WAY BETTER than with the vics!!!
I think the best part for me is I don’t have to feel guilty that I am taking an illegal drug. My tiny prescription doesn’t hardly last a week, and then I’m on to my source’s. Usually at the end of the month, I am a week shy (at least) of more pills. Then it’s detox AGAIN. UGH!! I think this new stuff I found is better than the vics. I can’t wait to see what you think, southernmom!!!
Yeah. Buy water!!!!
metoo:
I have not tried the L-Tyrosine with Vit. B-6, but I have been taking lots of C and B v’s. I picked up a Super B-Complex bottle about a month ago (I’ve been taking v-B for about a year now .. heard from my doc a while back that it is really good for the body)
Today I am feeling better .. I called in a favor from my neighbor and he hooked me up with 4mg Suboxone (half an 8mg). I took 1mg last night and another 1mg this morning and I’m feeling a LOT better. I’m not high or anything like that, but I feel NORMAL with just a slight bit of fatigue .. that’s probably because I only got around 6 hours sleep last night. I took the 1mg around 8pm last night and then couldn’t go to sleep for a bit.
I will go to GNC today and see about picking up some L-Tyrosine .. I have also heard of and tried Kratom before in the past, but it was when I was still on the vics. I didn’t get anything off of it, but that is probably because I was on the vics
.. I will probably call up my friend that has this again and see if I can buy a little to try before I buy some. For those about to try Kratom .. FYI it does NOT mix well with water. My friend buys it by the bag and it looks like finely ground up weed .. pill form would be better .. a lot better. When you mix it with water it turns into a paste and is difficult to swallow .. I just thought I’d mention this. She has told me that it does, however, mix well with apple sauce .. so if anyone out there likes apple sauce .. well give it a try.
Well I am at work this morning … finally able to go back .. hope this 1mg sub keeps me going for the rest of the day. When I get some Kratom, I’ll report back how it deals with my PAWS to let everyone know .. but from the way it sounds .. this appears to be an answer. Thanks to everyone for the feedback!
Here is a quote that I found from another website that I was also going to look into .. has anyone tried DLPA during PAWS? If so, please provide some personal feedback on this .. thanks!
“D-L-Phenylalanine (DLPA) for instance, is an amino acid involved in the production of endorphins. Lack of intake of this amino acid could result in a low physical and emotional pain threshold. Another person may have a diet with adequate DLPA, but does not convert it to endorphins as well as most. They would need more DLPA than most in order to produce the necessary endorphins. There are, of course, many other factors and nutrients involved in this process, and we target the precursors for endorphin production in the appropriate ways.”
Hey, erica….I would try SAMe for a mood booster. I got some a few days ago, and I don’t know what is helping, but SOMETHING is helping me! I bought the SAMe, B-12, B-6….already had the L-Tyrosine and potassium and zinc. I’m just going to keep taking them, because something is helping my mood, and most importantly, my morning anxiety. I decided it was time to take a break from alcohol too, so I haven’t had any drinks for a couple of days. I am also drinking at least 60 oz. of water a day. It’s just TIME, you know??
As far as Kratom goes, I bought the capsules. YES, for me, they feel even better than vicodin!! HARD TO BELIEVE, isn’t it?? You need to figure out how much is in each capsule to figure out your dosage. I have been taking about 4 grams….(10 capsules). 4 grams is a low dosage, and it depends on your tolerance level from vicodin. I had been taking 5-10 7.5 vics a day. If you take too small a dose, you won’t feel it, but if you take too much you will barf. I dun wanna barf. LOL!!!! I also had some powdered Kratom, and it went down fine with yogurt. I mixed it in hot cocoa once and was going to hurl. I won’t do that again! I am just glad I stumbled upon Kratom, because now there is something legal that does the trick.
Southernmom, I’ll be interested to hear how your Kratom feels!!! Please post when you take it! I’m here for ya!
Still praying for all of us!!!
To Fatigued,
I was researching suboxone and then watched a Dr. Drew rehab show and they use suboxone as a help to detox from heroin!!! Then they said it was almost as hard to get off the suboxone as it was to kick heroin and methodone. I don’t know if this is right but I would hate for you to get hooked on another drug that is going to make it hard for yout to detox again.
I am going to trust metoo and do the vitamins, suppliments and kratom. I don’t know if I can give up my evening cocktails because they really are a huge part of my social life and it would be obvious if I gave that up and was still in a pissy mood. I hate having to put on a face for family and friends, but I don’t think could handle knowing what I have been doing because I have been going through their medicine cabinets and sat ther listening while they accused other friends of ripping them off. This disease so sucks, I can’t belive what I have done to people I love.
Well, I am waiting on my K order and see what happens. I do know that I will not do anything like I have done in the past to get more pills and metoo, I feel we have a bond and yes, I feel your prayers are helping me because I feel stronger than I ever have to get over this.
Thank you my friends!
Heck, southernmom, I just gave up alcohol for a couple days….more to prove to myself that I could do it than anything. I just had a nice visit with my sister, and I’m about 4 beers in now! I just wanted to make sure I am not addicted to alcohol too. Hey, I think you and I could have a heck of a time~do you sing karaoke too???? lol!!!!! I had been sharing my vicodin with my sister also, and now I just shared with her some kratom. She couldn’t feel the kratom so much, but she wasn’t on an EMPTY STOMACH~~~~VERY IMPORTANT part to start on kratom. She is going to try it again tomorrow. I’ll let you know about how she likes it.
Southernmom, I hope you love your kratom! And I hope we hear from Shmoe soon too….doesn’t he know how I worry??? And how about Tormented Angel…..Please post, people….we are all in this together, and together we can beat this stuff!!!!
Praying still…and I LIKE KUMBAYA!!!! lmao!!!!
metoo – thanks so much for all of your posts!! Both to myself and others, they always give me a boost. I am down to 1 vic a day, definately got teh body aches and RLS, but not so abd I can’t deal. I think my doc has the meds right this time (cymbalta and buspar) because so far I have not had that simply crushing depression with allteh anxiety that comes with it.
So maybe, just maybe I can do it this time. I am praying for me and all of us. too.
Hey southernmom – you struck such a chorch with me there when you mentioned going through friends medicen cabinets. For the past 6-8 months, that has been my normal thing to do. Every time I’m at someone’s house, it’s guarenteed I’ll need to 1) pee and 2) go into the kitchen when no one else is there. Take a quick look around, and if that special pill bottle is there I snatch a few.
Never told anyone that! And I tell myself it’s not hurting anyone cuz I never take all the pills, just a few, but I hate doing it and feel really guilty and just kind of like a scum bag for doing it. Example – a frriend had surgery last winter and I was the first to visit him at home – yeah what a good guy
– I just knew I’d found a short term source.
Thanks again to all of you for being here!
Hey Shmoe, I know it’s hard to look in the mirror and see the truth, it was hard for me to come clean for the first time on this site and I am so proud of you for reaching in there, really down in there and acknowledging the unimaginable, that’s what I call it, stealing from my friends to feed my my addiction. I am so sorry that I did that to my friends and I don’t know if I’ll ever be able to be this honest except for this blessed site!
OK metoo, I got my “K” today and I think I messed up, I ordered “Maeng Da Kratom Incense Capsules Bag” and on the receipt it said”The product(s) in this shipment are not intended for human consumption”!!! What did I do wrong? I hope I haven’t blown over $40 for the wrong thing.
Also I went to my pharmacy to get the Pottassium and it had Glutomate in it also, did I get this wrong too?
I am trying to get all my ducks in a row because it looks like I get to go through my 2nd week of spring break with a bunch of 13 year old girls without anything. I am totally freaking!!!
One last thing, I don’t think I could think about trying to kick this if it wasn’t for all of you, I really need your input and encouragement, and metoo, I actually prayed last night, for me, my family and all of you and I cried knowing that I really felt my prayers would be answered. Thank you for bringing that back into my life
COOL, Southernmom!! The Maeng Da is supposed to be even better than the Bali that I got! And, yes, they all say incense capsules…not intended for human consumption. But that’s what they are. You can take them! But do it at least 2-3 hours after eating, to try to do it on an empty stomach….
Enjoy your kratom!!! And me n Jesus are so glad you’ve prayed….that’s what we really wanted….:) You rock, southernmom!!!! And you can do this!!!
Hey, Southernmom, Shmoe, and anyone else out there who is up for a challenge~~~~~As you are going through your detox, how about a little book to “take your mind off things”???? I would like you to make a trip to a book store, and pick up a copy of “The Ten Prayers God Always Says Yes to”…I can’t remember the author’s name right off the top of my head. This is a book that is read one chapter at a time, and they are short chapters….but this book is a great one. I was just thinking about it, and I think that book would be especially poignant during our recoveries. Chapter two is my favorite!! It will prove to you that God IS listening..
As far as the potassium goes, who knows!! I have 99mg…and that is supposed to be only 3% of the RDA. I just take one a few times a day, whenever I think of it. I’d look at the glutomate as an added benefit I guess!
Isn’t it great that we have this website?? I DO feel connected to all of you, and it’s awesome to know that we aren’t going through this alone!! Hey, I guess I’m on day 7~~I even had to stop and count. Thank goodness for kratom. I hope it serves some of you as well as it has served me. Monday I should get another prescription filled….any suggestions as to how I should handle that?? I wish I didn’t like to be f’d up so much. It seems that since my folks died, I have real trouble finding the joy that I KNOW exists. (And it’s only been over 5 freakin’ years..lol!) What does anyone else here do to laugh and giggle???
I am thankful for each and every one of you!!!!!
Hey, all!
Everything’s gonna be ok… 
I am just posting again so that this thread is a part of the recent comments thingie, so that we can find it again!
I realized that my first day of not taking vics was April 1st, so actually yesterday was day 8 for me, today is day 9.
I woke up in the middle of the night, and I realized how GOOD I felt….so I was probably awake for an hour praying even more for all of us. Something is working. Something can work for all of us. There is hope, and we are going to make it through this!!!
Been taking 6-10 7.5 vicodins for about two months now following torn ACL and surgery. I’m pretty deep into rehab and don’t need the vicodin anymore for pain, but I’ve got a pretty bad addiction, and it has been a bear to deal with. I’m going to try this method, as my attempts to compensate for WD with booze and pot haven’t worked. Heartrate, muscle ache and restlessness are definitely the worst part of this. I haven’t been able to get past one or two days of WD without digging out my pill bottle.
Southernmom – you are right about the suboxone, they can be addictive if taken regularly over the course of time .. and like any drug, you must watch your dose. Research it a little bit more and you will find that Subutex and Suboxone are both used to treat withdrawls from any opiod. I have done A LOT of research over the subjects lately and that’s why I’ve never done over 1mg in a single day. I just needed something so that I could work. I’m going cold turkey this weekend since I don’t have to work and then see how I feel on Monday .. hopefully I won’t need it at all after this weekend. Plus I picked up some Kratom to try out in case I do begin to feel the PAWS again.
I found this off wikipedia in regards to Kratom addiction:
“Kratom is mildly addictive and withdrawal is possible after frequent heavy use. While rarely severe or disabling, withdrawal symptoms can include depression, fatigue, restlessness, teary eyes, and insomnia. It is comparable to morphine withdrawal in character and caffeine withdrawal in severity.”
It doesn’t seem to bad as long as you are not a heavy user. I also found a great study that was done over Kratom addiction here:
http://www.erowid.org/plants/kratom/kratom_journal3.shtml
It was very good reading for those interested in Kratom. Hope this information helps and is informative.
on day 7 and I take all the vitamins but doesnt seem to make me have any energy at all. Thats is the problem now no energy and on edge.
Van, how are you doing???? I am thinking of you, and praying for you as well. Southernmom, how is the kratom working for you?? David (on the part 3 thread) has tried it, and likes it too! Van, that might be something for you to check out also~~Heaven knows it can’t hurt!!!
Thinking of all of you, so please post….
Metoo – Thanks again for being a force for good here. I’m on day 2 of no vics, it’s no fun. Will try Kratom if I can puchase at a local head shop….
I’m on your team, Shmoe, you can do this thing!!! You’ve spent a lot of time “looking forward” to the time you actually quit! Your taper was long and slow, so this can’t be as awful as quitting cold turkey.
It’s YOUR time to shine!!!
So how are you feeling, Shmoe?? And what are you taking to help?? I hope you can find some kratom at a head shop!!! Let me know how you do!!!!
You can do this, Shmoe!!!!
metoo – you are awesome. Thanks so much.
I am doing the Thomas recipe pretty closely, take my B vits, l-Tyrosine, potassium and multi’s every day. The physical part is no fun, but the mental part my “cross to bear”. I do see a shrink, and am currently on cymbalta, buspar, and clonazapam. And I still couldn’t sleep last night and still have had on/off panics . But not as bad as they used to be so maybe I can really do this.
Thanks again so much for all the support.
Hey, Shmoe…I am on buspar too! I take 5mg twice a day. It seems to work for me. BUT I THINK that this SAMe is working for me too. I just FEEL better, and I am happier.
Have you tried melatonin for sleep? ALSO~~kava kava is supposed to work for anxiety also!! Just some “herbal” ideas for you to run by the shrink~~natural things have just GOT to be better for you.
Shmoe, I CARE how you do with this…I am here for you, and I check this site every time I turn around!! I don’t know how one goes about sharing email addresses on this site, but I sure wish there was a way to private message some of you folks!! I am thinking about fatigued, tormented angel, and southernmom so much, and I hope we hear from them soon. I realize some people HAVE A LIFE~~~ LMAO!!
Shmoe, I meant it when I said it’s YOUR TIME to shine! I believe in you…
hello everyone!
I have got to say that having a person like metoo cheering you on is such a huge blessing. You are so upbeat and optomistic. In a time when I am feeling like a huge butt head for doing what I am doing to get through a day, a week however long I know I am going to be unable to survive with our my little friends, I see a light at the end of the tunnel.
Next Monday is my day to start detox, the kids go back to school, I won’t have to take 6-8 kids to the beach or Busch Gardens or Disney, I can have some quiet time that I think I am going to need and try to hide from family that I am going through withdrawls because they don’t have a clue what I am doing.
Every pill I take this week keeps me incontrol and gives me the boost I need to keep up with everyone. Next week, no boost, no crutch, just me trying to figure out how to do this without losing it.
I don’t do caffine, but I love my wine so hopefully with the Thomas recipe and kratom a glass of really good chardonnay, I am going to dive in head first and see if I really am strong enough to stop being weak to a drug.
As far as sharing e-dresses, I don’t how this board is monitored and I for one have done some things that I am ashamed about. How does everyone else feel about sharing?
I was thinking about setting up a new email address…a non-incriminating one! lol!!! Can it be done?? No way am I giving out my real address. But I would like to be able to correspond….and it stinks not to be able to! I’m such a puss. hee hee!!!
I did it…. metoo05@live.com !
I like the correspondance idea too and will set up my own address just for detox stuff.
So being re-assured that Kratom is used for other things, I think I will order some too. Scrolling back though I didn’t see where you guys ordered from – is there any particular site anyone could recommend that worked and didn’t rip you off?
Shmoe I went to
http://www.kratomking.com
I ordered the capsules, they say it is not for human consumption but I think that is theri way of selling kratom withough having legal problems. With s&h it was about $40. I must be honest, I haven’t tried it yet, not ’til next week, I can let you know then if it works, or maybe we can take this ride together.
Thanks southernmom, I will try that.
Unfortuantely, 3 days into detox and I broke down and took 2 this morning. So yeah, this is my next plan, get back to 1 vic a day for a couple days, then with kratom I’ll try again. So I’ll be in withdrawal about the same time you are. I’ll pray for us both!
Well, I too broke down yesterday. I was 11 days in, and doing fine, and I got my refill. I am going to do a brand new withdrawal next week with Shmoe and Southernmom. Here we go again!!!!!! Ah, the
camaraderie!!! Don’t feel too bad, Shmoe…I feel bad too.
Shmoe,
OK you, metoo and myself will kick this off next Monday. I’ve been in contact with metoo’s site, so maybe we can keep in touch through that site, if you’re OK with it.
I need to go back to GNC to get the L-Tyrosine, I don’t know what it’s for but it’s part of the recipe so I want to be fully prepared to do this, get past this and start my new life sober.
Failed. Had to pop open my bottle twice again, meaning I’m right back where I started. Crippling depression is eating my life. Been sitting playing videogames for two days straight hoping it would help me ignore WD symptoms but it didn’t. Showers and vitamins have been good though, thanks for the tip. Thanks for the support.
Metoo and southernmom – thanks so much for the support – I am in! Monday we kick off and I’ll be happy to use the metoo email. I am farily busy at work and do have some family responsibilities, although my kids are away at college, so I may be a little slow to respond some days. But know that I will keep in touch as best as I can.
Van – have you seen a shrink for the depression? They can help. I have struggled with OCD and depression my whole life – I found that medicating with vic really helped. However, I did start seeing a shrink who’s been very good, I think we finally have meds that seem to work for me, but now I am still dependent on the vics. Each time I tried to quit the issues came back. Last week it wasn’t as bad and now I feel that the meds I’m on (buspar and cymbalta) have had a chance to work so I’m optimistic that with southernmom and metoo we can all kick it next week.
Also, like southernmom, the vics allowed me to be a husband, father while working full time as an engineer and keep up a positive attitude, even in normal family crisis situations. I too want to stay that way, just without the vics.
Hey, Van~~~Would you like to join Shmoe, Southernmom and me for a little “next week detox”???? We always have room for one more fantastic person on our crew!!!! All are welcome!!! Together, we can DO this!!!!!!
I can’t believe that we are willing to do this together. I am excited and scared at the same time. I have the opportunity to score a few more vics, but I think I would rather take this trip with all of you. I am going to try a few of the Kratoms this weekend and see if they will help me get over the down side and depression.
I am so hopeful that we can all go through this and come out better, happier and ready to live a substantial sober life. I can’t let my family down and now I consider all of you to be my family now.
Metoo, I have praying my socks off and I only want the best for everyone.
Good luck everyone!
Wow, southernmom…WOW. I am now not only a participant in this detox, I AM HONORED to be going on this “adventure” with you and Shmoe. HONORED. For you to have decided to take this trip with us is worth the world. That just tells me that it IS time for you. You ARE ready to do this, and to SUCCEED at it. That, I believe, is the first step. I am proud of you!!! (I hope I can be as proud of me, but I’ve got to give myself some more serious self talk, because, dammit, it’s my time too!)
It’s TIME for us to be exactly WHO we are, and not to be hiding behind a handful of pills. I also have a new stash coming in on Friday, and I am going to have to hand them off to someone else. I have to get them out of my sight, because I too want to take this trip. I NEED to take this trip. We are gonna do it!!!!
Southernmom, I am so happy that you’ve been praying your socks off!! That made me cry AGAIN!!!!! Sheesh!!!! Also, I’ve been doing some research on the Maeng Da kratom that you got. It is effective at just 2grams, so we need to figure out just how much is in each capsule. Mine will be in tomorrow, so I will count and do some ‘cipherin!!!! But, you should only need a few pills, 4 max to start!!!
Sittin’ on ready, and rockin’ on go~~~everything’s gonna be ok, doncha know!!!
You know, I feel honored too – I really do. And I agree, van you are welcome to join us as well.
Only a minute, I am at the beach with 7 13 year old girls and I really think I am losing my mind! They never stop!!!
We are staying to Sunday and my goal is to get kick off our detox Monday am if I am still alive
I too am honored and overjoyed this is happening and I feel close to all of you because I think we have all been paddling the same boat and it’s our time to get our lives back.
ttySunday pm
Here we go now, one, two, three…please keep us in your prayers, Southernmom, Shmoe and me…..pray for our physical and emotional sanity!!!
Let us support each other, and be there always to lend an ear or a shoulder for someone else who might need us~~let them not have to ask or to explain…let us just be there for each other to ease the unspoken pain. Everyone’s got something. EVERYONE. Be kind. You don’t know what someone else’s battles are….
Just random thoughts…thanks for listening, and hearing.
Hope survived the experience southernmom.!
Today is day 1 for me, I think tomorrow is day 1 for metoo. Here goes nuthin!
How are you doing, Shmoe?? I haven’t had any yet today either…and I’m at work now! I have some time to think about it….GOD, I HATE WHAT THIS STUFF DOES TO YOU! How it just grabs you and makes you WANT it!!
This is my second time trying to withdraw, the first time I made it 3 days and relapsed. I’m finishing up my first day today and all I can think about is getting another fix, its bad I search my place everywhere, all of the hiding spots I put my stash so my girlfriend doesn’t find it when I’m using. The mental part is the hardest, I struggle with social anxiety and started taking so I could relax and fit in in social settings, otherwise I don’t talk. I don’t tell my girlfriend because I don’t think she would understand as she has repeated often that if she knew me during my party years in college where I got drunk and partied every night she wouldnt have stayed with me. I can handle the physical parts of withdrawals, not being able to sleep at night, muscle aches, stomach aches, loss of appetite, but the mental ones are the ones that kill me and I want to stop. I dont want to rely on this, it does not make me happy but I have to now just to make it through a day. Today was my first day not doing it and all I thought about was doing it all day long. Tomorrow I go to the zoo with my mother, my nieces and my girlfriend, its not going to be a fun day and it should be and this is my biggest problem. I dont enjoy the things in life that I used to enjoy before I became addicted. I have been addicted for approximately a year and I try to think about my life before addiction and how I enjoyed it but I just start thinking about how much I miss doing it. I just want to quit.
My first day will be a different day….I got a refill, and I am not strong enough. If anyone is taking time to pray for me, please pray that I can someday just walk away from those white pills. Strength. I could use some. I’ll get there though!
Char…how are you doing today??? Have you gotten all of the supplies you’ll need to detox? Please post more, so that we can help you!!!!! You’ve found the perfect place for support and encouragement!!!! We are all in the same boat, and you are not going to do this alone. Help is here!!!! I set up an email address, and you can join me there if you’d like… metoo05@live.com
You can do this. We can help!!! Hang in there!!!!
Hello Char,
I hope you are doing OK, this addiction is a bitch and I feel so much like you, if I’m not high, I feel like an empty shell, I have no personality, no enthusiasm, nothing and I have been doing this for 13 years.
I’ve got to say you have come to the right place for support, Metoo is an amazing person, optomistic, supportive, helpful everything an addict needs when things start getting rough. The prayers are so inspiring, you just know that God is listening when He hears prayers like Metoo’s.
I am in a bad place to kick it right now, hopefully I can get my act together soon and walk away from this addiction a better and stronger person.
Like Metoo, helping others, helps us help ourselves!
Lean on us, I know Metoo won’t let you down.
Hey Schmoe, how are you? Please contact either me or metoo so we know you are OK! OK?
ttys
Hi folks – Char , welcome to teh group. You sound just like me. I can handle the physical stuff too, but the mental stuff pulls me back every time. I currently take buspar (40mg / day) and cymbalta, and it’s not enough.
Today was day 2 and I jsut relapsed. I took some kratom, caught a buzz from it, but still had some panic so after hodling out for a day and a half, I fell back and took 2 jsut a few hours ago.
metoo suggested a bigger dose of kratom so I’ll try that next, might try again in a day or 2.
Thanks for the encouragement and kind words southern mom.
Char BTW, metoo has been great support for a lot of us, no question.
Hi first thank you everyone for the support and well wishes. I realize I should have clarified a little more in my original post. I don’t know if it makes a difference or not but for the last year I have taken stuff much heavier than vicodin. Thursday was the last day I have taken that, which is a combination of many different opiates which really makes the withdrawals a devil. Friday night I received a supply of Norco which is different from the stuff I normally take, and of course 30 pills were gone by Monday morning. 6-12 pills a day. Last time I quit cold turkey a couple of weeks ago my withdrawals didn’t start until late in the second day due the long half life. This time I was already feeling them Monday, the day after I last took something. I believe this is because I was starting to feel withdrawals from all of the other opiates, but not 100% sure. I know vicodin withdrawals occur quicker. Anyhow metoo I have found that kava works extremely well in curbing restlessness, relaxing my muscles, relaxing my mind and helping me get at least some sleep at night. Night one there was little of the moving my leg, but I still did not get a great nights sleep. I have a feeling tonight will be much worse. This morning I was up at 730 after going to sleep at 2 and I was wide awake. I usually get up between 9-10. This is the same pattern that occurred the last time. Each night got worse and worse until I finally gave in because I just wanted to be able to sleep at night. I went to the zoo today with my nieces, gf and mom, and I felt blah. I have no appetite, my muscles ache again, my stomach hurts, I’m still having cravings although not as bad today, also with hot and cold flashes. Sorry to bore you all with the symptoms. Metoo I will be praying for you, as I am so familiar with not being able to resist. Southernmom I am sorry to hear about your struggles. I will be thinking about you and encouraging you. I have found something that has really helped me is to change my normal daily routine, and to cut out as much as possible that I enjoy doing while I am on them. Shmoe I feel your pain, I am not an expert but every time I think about taking, I try to put that out of my head and see how many words I can say of a particular letter, like a, apple, apricot, armadillo, etc. until I am not thinking about it anymore. This so far has been my biggest struggle as I just want to feel good again, but I just want to enjoy my life without needing to have to rely on these. ps I dont know if you guys know but even though Kratom is not an opiate, it does bind to the opiate receptors so while you are kicking one addiction you could very well end up with another. I’ll be thinking about all of you, please pray for me as I try to make it through another rough day. The worst part is lying to my gf and warning her I’m not feeling good, telling her to bear with me, and then feeling like blah all day.
Char, I’m sure you’ve heard it before, but a taper makes a huuuuuuge difference. I wasn’t rocking as hard as you, but going from 6-8 pills per day to nothing was almost impossible for me. Went down to 3 pills per day then 2 then 1 then half then I got a scrip for 150s of tylenol-3. Again did 3, 2, 1 over a little more than a week and now I’m on day 3 of nothing and feeling kind of ok. I think I’m going to be able to do it this time, so try the taper if you can. However, after chatting with people here as well as others who have been through this, if you can’t pull it off on your own, it may not be a bad idea to see if you can give suboxone a go.
When should I expect the vomiting and diarrhea? It’s been 48 hours since I’ve had opiates. Currently I feel relatively alright, except I continuously think about taking them, and I also have been have had four bowel movements today, when I took opiates had about one really dry painful one every 3-4 days. My bowel movements are all back to normal though, before I started doing opiates. So should I expect them to get even looser in the upcoming hours? Also does everyone that withdraws from opiates experience diarrhea and vomiting or does it depend on the person?
Van sadly enough that was tapering for me. I know it wasn’t a month or a month and a half taper but over the last couple of weeks I have really cut my intake down. These withdrawals so far are nothing like the withdrawals I had 3 weeks ago, but they are still affecting everything. Kava really seems to help. All I want to do is to take some more to get rid of the horrible edginess and anxiety. I have no desire to do anything, no sex drive, no interest in eating or drinking. That was another question I had. When does a person normally start having an appetite again for sex and for food/drink. I can only go so long telling my gf I am sick and dont feel in the mood.
I should clarify in my last post, all I want to do is to take opiates again, not kava.
I feel so relaxed right now. Just the constant stomach rumbling, lack of desire, (used to love watching sports and reading about them on the internet) now I have no desire, along with sex, food and liquids as I said in my previous post. Will I ever get my desire back to do the things I love??
Hey, Char and Van!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! It’s GREAT to hear from both of you!!!!!! Thank you for being here!!!
Well, Char, you’re on the right track! Tell your gf that you just MUST have the flu, and you’re sure feeling down. She will nurse you back to health without having to be told why~~~because she loves you. And you know what?? Her love WILL go a long way. Soak it in, let her take care of you.
I am interested in the kava-kava comments! I bought some of the 84% capsules, some of the cocoa, and some clove tea or something, and it didn’t do a thing for me. I have been trying to do my research and find OTHER herbal remedies out there. Kava was one of my finds, along with kratom. AND, yes, kratom is NOT an opioid. BUT, it sure is better than not having opioids at all. I have checked out the addictions there also, and it is basically nothing compared to what we are all going through now~and that is why I passed it along on this board. Gosh, we ALL want that high, don’t we???? Is there anything else that anyone knows of that can get us there???? SERIOUSLY! How is it possible that we are all scratching for vicodin???? There has just GOT to be an alternative!!!
Char, as far as the diarrhea goes, don’t worry about it. If it happens, it happens. Maybe for you it won’t!?! I always look at that as just natures way of cleaning you out, and man, that always feels good to me. Let it be. I have never taken Immodium or any of those products. Also, withdrawals have NEVER made me barf. I might not eat anything for a few days, which I HATE (then you need to drink meal replacement crap that is really for old people, but what the hell, I am an old people so who do I think I’m faking out…lmfao…) but either way, bottom line….~~~You’re NOT GOING TO DIE. Yes, it’s going to get worse before it gets better; it’s going to really suck so bad you’ll want to just die; yes, it’s not going to be fun. BUT~~~~~I think if maybe we all just try a little attitude adjustment, we could make it better. I am working on the attitude adjustment part because on some level, we have to accept what WE’VE done to ourselves. Eventually, we will have to PAY. When you think about that, well, heck….we have been putting our bodies through this for YEARS. So we will be in pain for a few days????? I don’t think that’s so bad, really….
And, we’ve given our minds an “unnatural euphoria” for how long??? Of COURSE it’s going to retaliate and make us feel anxious and depressed to get back at us!!! Wouldn’t you????? (I personally DETEST this part of detox….) But it is there for a reason. We need to pay our dues. But we have to stand firm and strong.
Personally, and I know this isn’t for everyone….but if you add the physical and emotional sufferings of detox together, and you’re feeling pretty low, maybe it’s a good time for each of us to “hit our knees” and pray. There is one man who faced far worse than we are facing now. The physical things as well as the emotional. If we offer our sufferings up to Him, He WILL take them away. I apologize in advance if this is too much for some~I don’t wish to offend ANYONE. I just think it’s true.
Hopefully I’m at my worst and only getting better physically now. I’m about halfway through day 3, woke up at 5 this morning but did get six hours of sleep so not too bad. Nevermind about the diarrhea, that started today. My biggest problems in order are, all I can think, dream, think and dream are about opiates, as soon as I wake up whenever that might be I cant go back to sleep, I have no appetite or desire to do anything, and now the diarrhea. The kava kava has really helped me with relaxing my anxiety, relieving my muscle aches, and cheering up my mood. My problem is I don’t want to have to start taking this all of the time just to get through the day. I have researched it and it’s supposedly not addictive but I don’t trust anything that can alter my mood. I dont want to take the immodium for my diarrhea after reading about it having opiates in it that do not cross the BBB, I am scared this will just prolong my diarrhea as the opiate receptors in my stomach tract will be satisfied and I will have to start all over again. Good luck to everyone and thanks for your support, everyone has been a great help.
Great job Char – You’re doing great! I have been hiding this from my wife and most everyone else too, and I hate doing that. Hate it. You may feel miserable but you are helping to inspire me to finally quit. My past ateempt was pathetic, but I will try again.
I had tried kava years ago and it didn;t seem todo much but you and metoo have liked so I will try it again. Maybe I got a bad batch.
Paying for all of you, and thanks fro being here.
Hey shmoe I will be pulling for you, keep us updated and if you ever have an urge to take, come on here and post and I will try to respond as quickly as possible to help you try to get through it. I know what you are going through. I can’t guarantee the kava will work for you, but it has made my withdrawals noticeably better than last time, not sure if that was due to tapering or the kava, but I believe the kava. When I start to get anxious, muscle aches, kava has really relieved both. Hopefully it works for you. I’ve been stuck around my place today due to the diarrhea. Just want my appetite back. 6 more hours and Ive made it 4 days, new record for me.
Also want to say, two weeks ago when I tried to withdraw my ability to sleep was much, much worse. I would wake up in the middle of the night and would not be able to keep my leg from moving. Each night so far before bed I have taken kava and while my sleep hasnt been great, I have been getting six hours, much better than 2-3 last time, and my leg is rarely moving.
Into my fourth day going strong, still having diarheaa about every four hours now. Finally ate a meal four days in. End of day 3 start of day 4 I felt so good mentally. Have not taken any kava today, just multivitamin, ibuprofen, and excedrin for caffeine purposes. May have to take kava before bed. Shooting for day 5, only 22 hours to go.
Char, what form of kava do you have, and how do you take it? I bought the cocoa, the chai stuff, and capsules. Please tell me how to use this! (Tastes like crap, huh?) I hope you are doing well today!!!
Hey metoo I can’t promise this works for you. I had bought a bunch of boxes of this a long time ago and just tried them since they said ont he box they were a muscle relaxant, sleep aid, promote feelings of serenity, and may reduce restlessness. If you google kava kava 500 mg tablets, the first results you see, there will be a picture of a box. That’s what I have been using. I think you can buy them just about anywhere, I got mine on ebay though and they are pretty cheap. This way I don’t get the bad taste. The first 3 days of withdrawals any time my muscles started really aching or I would get restless I would take one pill. I also took one to two pills before bed. It seemed too immensely help. I have researched kava and it doesn’t appear addictive, but I wouldnt suggest taking it after you are through your withdrawal symptoms. How are you doing? Have you quit yet metoo? Seven more hours and I’ve reached day 5. Halfway between day 4 and day 5, and I feel so much better. Still have the diarrhea, but not near as frequently, 12 hours between bowel movements before two back to back within an hour. Nights are still a major struggle with the inability to sit still more than a minute. I got eight hours of sleep last night, but it was horrible sleep, I’m sure people that have experienced withdrawals know what I mean by that, but hell I’ll take eight hours for sure. I did have to take two nyquil to be able to fall asleep last night. My stomach pains are almost completely gone. This is the first day I have been able to walk around my place in just a t-shirt and go outside in just a t-shirt, the chills seem to be gone as well. Still worried about tonight, as the nights are my biggest struggle.
At this point I have no desire for opiates, I have heard the desire grows stronger after the physical symptoms are alleviated. I do think about them all of the time, but not in a craving sense anymore. Guys and girls you can do this, yesterday was so amazing for me, its a world of difference once you get past the worst of the withdrawals and start doing stuff again. I see everything so differently, I’m happy now. Just one word of advice as you struggle to quit doing opiates and are completely feeling shitty, dont think about it as a negative thing like you are worthless or anything but be proud of yourself for making it each hour, making it each day, because you should be, this is seriously the worst crap I have ever gone through, but the rewards I am starting to feel, totally, totally worth it. Im pulling for everyone. This morning took excedrin for caffeine purposes, had a bowl of cereal, still drinking plenty of orange juice, gallon a day plus other liquids, no appetite yet, took some glucosamine for joint aches, and a multivitamin. Will take ibuprofen later if my muscles are aching. Good luck to everyone.
I would advise against taking immodium. Yes you will have the craps for several days, but I believe it will prolong the diarrhea, each time you take the immodium you are satisfying your opiate receptors in your stomach, (but not your head), so I believe you will be starting the stomach withdrawals all over again. If you are tapering, then its ok, but if you just quit cold turkey, I believe it’s going to be a huge setback, find something else to take for diarrhea and drink plenty of liquids, juice, gatorade etc so you don’t get dehydrated. You do not want to be dehydrated while going through this.
Help, I’m freaking out. I have 2 norco left. I want to quit and get off of this up and down hell roller coaster. I just had a baby in December, then gall bladder surgery a month later. I had been taking the norco for about a year for back pain, then after the gall bladder surgery (which was very painful) I got hooked. I would take them to feel good. I’m so scared of the wd’s (withdrawals). It’s so hard with a new baby and a 4 yr old with Autism. Lots of stress and anxiety. My husband works very long hours and commutes. He comes home late, so I feel very alone. I have to get off of these. I have planned for the cold turkey thomas recipe. I have 30 klonopin pills (.5mg). How much do I take a day? I need to be able to drive and take care of my baby. I don’t have anyone to help me. I need to pick up my 4 yr old from school (45 minute drive one way). I also have Ambien to help with sleep. Will it actually help? I’m terrified of the wd’s. Scared out of my mind. To top it off my hot water heater just broke. No hot water for baths or showers. Any advice on the klonopin and ambien. Tonight I will be starting day 1. I can’t wait to be on day 4 or day 5. I want to get on the other side of this hill.
Just alittle more info about me. I’ve been trying to taper down with my doctors help. Last Friday, I saw my doctor for a refill, I was down to 3 a day (10/325 hydrocodone). He was only giving me a week supply at a time. I had come down from 60 a week. The tapering down was awful. So hard. I was always watching the clock and waiting til my next pill. Then on Friday, he gave me two weeks worth at once. He said I was lucky he wasn’t making me go cold turkey. I think he knew with so many pills I would take them all before the next refill. Which I did. Today I have 2 left. I only blame myself and feel so ashamed about what I’ve done. My husband knows what’s going on, but is too busy to understand. Tomorrow will be so hard with no pills to rely on to get me through. Come this weekend, I won’t be alone my husband will be here and I can hide in the bedroom while he takes care of the baby and our 4 yr old. Hopefully, come Monday I will feel a little better. I’m so scared. Tonight and tomorrow will be day one and I’m terrified. I want to call my doctor but my refill is not due til Friday, April 30 and I know he won’t give me more. This is it. I have to do this. I’ve just started back to church on Sunday’s. I know Jesus can help me. I’m just so weak and scared and anxious. It helps to read your posts, that I’m not alone, even though I feel alone. It’s weird that I’m never alone with children (tee hee) yet I feel so alone right now. Please write me.
I hope you guys don’t mind that I litter this site with so many comments but this has truly been a very important crutch in helping me to continue strong. I have made it into Day 5. I cannot explain how great I feel…I haven’t been in this good of a mood in over a year, (before I started doing opiates). I cannot believe it…I thought I was taking these opiates to help myself in social situations, but I don’t need them. My personality has came back strong, I am starting to desire sex again, no appetite yet but did eat 3 full meals today! Still have diarrhea, no desire to do opiates. My hot and cold flashes are gone, my muscle aches are gone, my inability to sit still is gone, my stomach ache is gone, I have honestly never felt so good mentally in my life. I will report tomorrow on how my sleep goes, the one thing I’m most concerned about now. Good luck everyone.
THANK YOU, Char!!!! And congratulations to YOU!!!! You are a bright spot of hope for those of us who have yet to experience what you have described…I know it’s out there for me, I KNOW it’s out there for Shmoe, and I KNOW it’s out there for Southernmom too!!!! It’s out there. It’s the pot of gold at the end of our rainbow, and gosh darn it, we DESERVE to see it too!!! Thank you for HOPE, Char…….Keep it coming……really!!!
Six more hours and I’ve reached my sixth day. Last night was the most comfortable night yet. I got five hours of sleep, but it was good uninterrupted sleep. I fell asleep as soon as I laid down and didn’t look back. 14 hours between bowel movements but still having loose stools. No appetite yet but am eating. Went on about an hour walk today. Havent taken kava in a day and a half. Think about opiates all of the time but don’t necessarily crave them at this point.
Char,
You are giving everyone on this site hope!! Thank you so much for that. One of my biggest concerns was am I still going to be up and happy and effective person and mom. I have many responsibilities and I really don’t want to all of a sudden become down, depressed and no motivation.
You are an inspiration!
Thnaks Char – you are still inspiring me. I am going to try and quit again in a week – may 3rd. Most times I don;t think I care but your sincere and succesful efforts are making me think … oh hell maybe, just maybe I can….
RKitty,
It’s OK to be scared, all of us on this site are scared. I assume you are young with your young children and I know what it’s like to be home alone with your babies all day, while your husband is at work. The day never seems to end.
I am not familiar with the drug you are taking, but it sounds like most of the opiates we all ar taking and you are right, it’s not easy to stop taking them.
Several of us have or are going to try Kratom, you can purchase it from th web-site and it helps you detox off opiates. I’m sorry to say I haven’t tried it yet but some of the other poaster have and have good results.
The best thing about this site is you are not alone. we are all going through the same thing and I for one have found it to be the most helpful influence in my life!!!
We are here for you, let us know what we can do, there is quite a few of us that have incredible wisdom about what is going on with you, let us help!
ttys
RKitty!!!!! Keep on praying, girl!!! You will do just fine with this. Sometimes I think the best way is to just go cold turkey. If I were you, this is what I’d do: 1) Take potassium like crazy! (I think that is the MOST helpful of the supplements!!) 2) Pray like mad every time you think about a pill!! 3) Take a zinc a day so you won’t get sick 4) DO talk to yourself!! YOU can talk YOU through this. Use a mirror if at all possible!! 5) Get angry at vics….THEN DO BATTLE.
Love you, kid. You’ll be fine.
I am personally getting ready to do my LAST detox. I’ve done too many of them already. It’s time for change, and the time is now. The time is now for you too, RKitty. Use the discomfort to get your dander up (Gosh, now I sound old. hahha!) and get darn good and mad at vicodin for taking so much from you!! Also, know that every moment of that discomfort, you are one moment CLOSER to the other side of addiction~~~Be strong, and let it’s take it’s course, leaving YOU clean, and better than ever for your beautiful little family. Isn’t THAT what it’s all about??? YOU can do this, RKitty~I believe in YOU! Prayers incoming!!!!!!
Dear Southermom and Metoo, Thanks so much for the encouragement. I so need it. I’ve made it through Day 1 (37 hours and counting with no vicodin). Yeah! I’ve only been taking Tylenol, Vitamins/Minerals, CQ-10, and B-Complex. I tried Ambien last night for sleep and it worked, tonight it did not work. I’ve been tossing and turning all night with weird scary dreams. Now it’s the beginning of the weekend, I have two whole days with my husband home to take care of our 4 yr old and 3 mon, so I can just stay in the bedroom. I’m anxious, shaky, and my skin sometimes feels like its on fire or crawling. Oh yeah, can’t eat, bad diarrhea. Yucky! I have the Klonopin but have not taken it. I’m afraid I’d also get addicted to it. Anybody here use Klonopin to help? It’s part of the recipe. Yesterday I was curled up in a ball on the bed just crying out to God to help me. When do I hit the worst point and things start to get better. I know with His help I can do this, “I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.” 37 hours and counting, Yeah! tee hee
Hey southermom, metoo and shmoe. Thank you for your words of encouragment. I know every person will be unique in how they are able to handle the situation mentally, but I hope I can offer hope. Did attend my first social gala last night, on no drugs and no alcohol. I did well, even better than I would do if I was on opiates. Schmoe you can do this. I know you can do this. Keep us posted, it truly has helped me just to have others that understand what I am going through and will do wonders for you as well. Theres no one else that I know of in my life that could possibly understand the effects of opiate withdrawals.
Rkitty-Keep up the good work! You are doing great. I’m not sure how heavy of a user you were but its going to get tough. This is your time to show yourself what you are made of. If you can make it through the tough physical days it only gets easier and for me it truly made me realize if I can beat this, I can do anything I set my mind to. I know you can as well. Its great that your husband is supportive when he’s home. Use him as a crutch when you are thinking about taking, use Christ as a crutch when you are thinking about taking, and use this place as a crutch when you are thinking about taking. I will be praying for you.
I’m 8 hours away from making it to the seventh day. I have not had diarrhea going on 17 hours. Have to go to a wedding tonight and once again will be going with no drugs or alcohol in my system. My stomach still hurts, but its nothing compared to 3 days ago. Also have been sneezing quite a lot. Again was able to eat 3 meals, but still no appetite. My sex drive is hit and miss currently. I currently have no other symptoms and have not had any other symptoms in about 2 days now. Second straight night I slept like a baby. This time got seven hours of sleep. Haven’t taken kava in a couple of days. My relationship with my girlfriend has actually became better, have never felt so connected to her, can talk forever about anything, couldnt do that while on opiates. Occasionally I think about taking opiates but I always tell myself “no do you realize what kind of hell you are and have went through, they arent worth it”. Think about them often, crave them not as much.
Rkitty-Something that might really help you when you are feeling like you need a picker upper is finding a song that really moves you, playing it as many times as you need and thinking positive thoughts while you listen to it…think about how you are doing it, how you are beating it, how proud of yourself you are..a song that I’ve used a million times this week is live, lightning crashes. Find something that works for you.
this is a good…I am day 3 (67 hrs) off of 5-10 norcos. I think worst is over, but not sure. I hope we all succeed in our mission
Chickaroo5 – I’m right there with you. I just finished day 3 (73 hours and going) just starting day 4. My stomach is still a mess, and I still have diarrhea, not as often, I’m forcing myself to eat, still no appetite, but I still can’t sleep. I hope I sleep tonight. My husband goes back to work tomorrow and I’ll be on duty with the kids all by myself. I’m very week.
Char – Yesterday, I download that song, got outside on the lawn tractor with my iPod and mowed for 3 hours , we have lots of land, singing and shouting at the top of my lungs. It was a great release. Though today I’m tired and weak and have bad dreams and keep thinking of getting some pills. But the thought of going through this again would be awful. I want the euphoria but not the withdrawals. So frustrating. I keep telling myself Jesus is with me. Another good song is, “Set the World on Fire” by Brit Nicole. Great to sing out loud and cry out to God. When will I start to feel better? Will I ever stop thinking of ways to get pills?
Thanks again Char – more good advice. You’re right, it ’s tough to find someone who really gets it. You have really helped.
I have actually tapered down using codiene to replace some of the vic pills I was taking, but I am still targeting May 3rd as my go clean date. I find myself constantly wanting more, but hopefully this will make the final withdrawal easier. next week..
Another one of us on this board has started detox this week, but I’ll let that person post their own success! I know it’ll go well, I feel it.
Praying for us all….
Rkitty-For me the worst was over with by the end of day 5. You are doing great, keep it up. Don’t worry, I felt the same way around then, wondering if I would ever feel better. Of course each person’s recovery will vary depending on multiple factors but I believe the physical symptoms should be gone within 5-10 days.
Schmoe- you are doing great, thats a great idea tapering down with codeine. If I had the opportunity I probably would have did that as well. Keep it up, you are doing great!
I have now started my ninth day, havent had any physical symptoms in over 3 days. Cravings are starting to occur more often though.
Aww, Shmoe…you are so sweet!!! Yes, it is I, metoo, who is on day 2!! The funny thing is, I feel GREAT. I took my last pill at midnight on Saturday night, and slept pretty much like a baby last night..(got 10 hours of sleep too..) had no RLS, and am just thankful that I don’t have any pills here to tempt me! I have been using kratom, and I just can’t say enough about that stuff!!!! I woke up this morning LESS jittery and anxious than when I WAS taking vicodin!! If I don’t experience any RLS as I sleep tonight, I am officially considering my detox over tomorrow morning. I feel just great, and, my conscience is clean too.
So, what I have been taking is: 3-99mg Potassium supplements a day, 1-50mg Zinc supplement a day, 2-400mg SAM-e vitamins (one in the morning, one in the evening), and 2-3mg Melatonin about two hours before bedtime. Also kratom, as desired. This goes along with my two normal medications: 100mcg Levothyroxine(for hypothyriodism), and 15mg Buspar twice a day(for anxiety). That’s my recipe, and I don’t know what’s working, but something is DEFINITELY WORKING. Also, I have been the recipient of a LOT of prayers…Southernmom and Shmoe have been daily, often HOURLY supporters!!! Their emails are the brightest spots in my day….and I don’t feel alone~I feel blessed, and I am thankful for the friendships that this board, as well as this addiction has gained me.
I am better today than I was yesterday, and tomorrow? Well, hell, tomorrow the sky’s the limit!!!!!
Thank you EVERYONE for keeping this entire community in your daily prayers!! This is one special group of people! God Bless us, one and all!!!!! KEEP ROCKIN’!!!!
Char,
You have been an inspiration to many of us on this board so I have to ask, who is inspiring you? Do have a support system at home? Metoo, Shmoe and myself have been working our way through this with prayer and being there for each other when things get rough. I know that I can speak for myself and probably metoo and shmoe that we want to be there for you too, encouragement, support and friendship.
We offer that to anyone on this board that needs this, you are not alone and if we can help even 1 person we have fulfilled God’s plan for us.
Our email address is metoo05@live.com for ANYONE who needs or wants some extra, more personal support and contact. It’s working…and all are welcome!!! We are not judges, or doctors, just hoping to be able to HELP others….just as southernmom said!!
And said well, might I add!!! 
Ok…it’s been 57 hours for me….No RLS to report, and no stomach upset, irritable bowels, nothing! Something is working! Thank you for your prayers!!
Southernmom it’s a struggle everyday but I just have to keep telling myself I do not want them in my life anymore. The only way I have made it this far is because I want to do it for myself. I finally came to a point where I was sick of having to rely on a substance to make it through each day. I was sick of spending each day getting high just so I could go do everything else. I was sick of the constipation and the painful bowel movements. Lastly I was sick of not even getting high anymore, seeing as how I had become so tolerant. I was wasting my money, 100 or so a week just to get through a day. I was sick of knowing I was doing serious damage to my organs, I was sick of never having an appetite, never craving food and enjoying food like I used to. I was sick of not enjoying the things I used to in life before I started getting high every day. I was sick of hiding things from everyone in my life. So that has inspired me to quit. It became even more inspirational as I suffered through each day of withdrawals thinking I was one day closer to not having to rely on them anymore and each day I think that. I think I never want to have to go through those withdrawals again, I never want my body or brain to have to rely on something so toxic just to get through the day, and finally this place has been inspirational to me. It helps to be able to know that there are others that can possibly know what I’m going through. I have talked to a couple of friends I trust entirely that won’t judge me and they can only understand half the pain and suffering, the cravings, the psychological withdrawals. Knowing that people on here understand, don’t judge, and support no matter what happens is huge. Southernmom I also know that you can beat this. Trust me this is coming from someone that was a heavy user of many different opiates. After about a week my natural endorphins started kicking in again (I got plenty of exercise going on a couple of walks a day and getting fresh air). Wow was it amazing to actually feel my natural endorphins again after a year of the opiates suppressing them. They come on very strong and I got a natural high every afternoon and evening that lasted for hours. Day 9 I went on an hour walk and a couple of hours later a 45 minute run, first day I felt my stomach could handle heavier exercise and I did fine. I know you are concerned about having a blah personality once you are done and I cant promise you wont, but I believe we can relate to the fact that we both use/used to feel better about ourselves, to feel confident in ourselves and to feel like we were fun to be with. Well I can feel that way now without them and it feels great, and I think you could as well.
Rkitty keep us updated on how you are doing. You should have made it through the worst part right now. I am praying for you!
I’m closing in on day 10.
Metoo congratulations! You are doing great, keep it up! I have researched kratom, not sure how heavy you are taking it, or how heavy you took opiates, and I do want to warn you that you can end up with a kratom addiction and have to suffer the subsequent withdrawals from that. I have read they are not near as bad as opiate withdrawals but I also understand there is not near as much information on kratom as there are on opiates. I do know that kratom does activate opiate receptors in the brain (not sure if it does in the stomach). If this works for you that will be amazing. Are you planning on slowly tapering off of kratom and if so you should let us know how you taper down. Also let us know what you know about kratom and how it affects opiate withdrawals. I would advise you to taper down and off of kratom as quick as possible using only when you start to feel withdrawals. I think that no matter what if you have been a heavy user you will experience some sort of withdrawals but like you said thats just your body’s way of getting the toxins out. I would like to say I have tried kratom in the past (dont care for the feeling of it nauseous and horrible tasting and doesn’t really give me a good high) when I was out of opiates and starting to withdraw and they would go away right away. I fear this is because they satisfy the opiate receptors…fill us in please! Praying for you
When you say our email address metooo, who are you referring to? Does more than one person check and respond?
I am just finishing up hour 25 without percocet. I hadn’t realized it was a problem until I realized I was running out and panicked. I was taking 15 mg a day. For almost 2 months. Yesterday was going to be my quit day but after spending so much time at work throwing up I broke down and took half my normal dose. Took off of work today and felt horrible until I found this site. Thank you all so much for sharing. I am just so scared that I am going to keep feeling like this. I can’t really afford to take any more time off work and I just need someone to tell me that tomorrow is going to be better than today…
How will I know I am going to be ok at work tomorrow?
Well, I said “we” meaning that is how to contact us as a group. The email itself is mine.
Hi, Char! I have been taking 7-10 7.5 vocodin per day for off and on the course of about 3 years….just started recreationally, and then, you know how that story goes. So, my tolerance was right up there!! This past weekend, up until I took my last pill, it didn’t matter how many I took, I couldn’t feel them anymore. So, I guess I got to the end of “my” tolerance. Took my last one at midnight Saturday!
And I like it… 
I’ve detoxed quite a few times throughout the years, but it has NEVER been this easy. I can’t say I experienced any discomfort at all.
As far as the kratom goes, I’ve done enough research to know that it is far less a threat than opiates. My thinking is that if kratom is the lesser of two evils, and I DO enjoy it, and it’s legal, and my conscience is clear, that’s the thing that will help me get off the opiates. I don’t know that this is “the” answer, but I’m not questioning it! I’m glad I found it. I get what you’re saying too~~~there comes a time when all of our “feel good” stuff has to go. I’m just thinking that kratom has to be “better” for you than pot too, although I don’t know that for sure either. LOL…I have some pot too…but haven’t smoked any in months. I don’t really want to get into that much either. All I can say is that the kratom is very helpful!
Char,
I have to agree with metoo, if something works and there are less symptoms of withdrawl and it makes life easier then that’s the way to go. I think we all are going to have to figure out our own process to get through this and that’s why this board is so important. Everyone can learn from it through other’s experiences. You have ispired us with your very easy detox, it gives us all hope and Metoo also inspires us with the journey and I for one couldn’t live without those prayers.
I don’t think it’s a good idea to pick apart someone’s detox, you just take away from it what you need and I have taken a lot from this board and when I can detox, I feel I’ll be ready and have an amazing support group to get me through this, If Kratom works for even one person, then I am going to try it and doubt this could be even close to addictive as the vicodin. The vitamins and mineral suppliments have worked for many people, The Thomas recipe has helped many and I am so relieved to have this knowledge to get through my addiction and I’ll try anything to make sure I get through it!!!
I am praying for everyone on this board and I hope you feel what I feel, that God is with us and He will be there when things get rough!
Char,
You have told us about your girlfriend, is she your support system? And you don’t have to answer this if you it makes you uncomfortable, but are you a heterosexual couple? My husband is not my support system, metoo and Shmoe are, and the both of them bring a different insight to this detox and it is helpful to know.
Please don’t be offended by question, it just takes our very special relationship to a new level of trust and like I said, if you don’t want to share, that is totally your choice.
My date to detox is the end of May, when I can get a break from life and do this without having it influence my friends and family and I am so thankful for all the wise advice I have recieved on this board. Char you make me feel less afraid, that this won’t be life shattering and I hope I can go through this like you did!!!
Hi Guys, I feel like I know all of you. I have been reading all of your info and suggestions the past 2 days. I am on day 3 of no Vicodin. In 2003 was taking 18- 7.5mg a DAY!!! A few years ago I tapered down to about 7 – 5mg a day. I didnt know I was becoming addicted back then, once it happened it seemed too late. I had a life to run and thats how i justified it……. i guess. I havent gotten the reicipe of vitamins yet, haven’t felt like going out of the house.
I may be able to go today.From what I have read they seem to help. I need a mental boost I AM DRAIIIINED!! I can’t tell anyone either. I just tell everone I’m not feeeling well. Thank GOD for thid site. It makes me feel less alone, and that It can be done?!?!?!
Well, it’s day 4 here, and all is well!!! Got my 9 hours of sleep again, and woke up refreshed, and really, better than ever. I think the vics really did a number on my conscience. I am feeling better about myself, and I am doing a little better every day!
At this point, I am willing to give more of the credit to the SAMe vitamins… Google it, and check it out. It is the only thing other than the kratom that is different. And I don’t think taking kratom once a day at a small dose is going to ward off withdrawals~~~more like it gives you a break for a few hours. You can’t stay high and happy on kratom all day like you can on vics. You CAN take a mini vacation though! So, really, I am thinking this SAMe has done a bit of the work. WELL, that AND all the prayers!!!!
As I said I am at day 3 havent done any vitamins yet. Was conc. buying Sam-E too. it is raining where I live today. I can NOT belive how much of the little things I have been numb too all these years!! It smells better, looks beautiful, and feels nice. Nice too to be off Vikes…lol. Looking forward to getting another day down. Having the kids around makes it really rough to detox, but soon I know it will be easier. I pray throughout the day for God to give me the strength and peace to get me through this. I will do the same for all of you. Keep it up “Metoo and “scared” your hearts know its the rite thing to do your head is the on messing w/ you
~same to you too “southernmom”
Oh, and thanks for the info on kratom. I almost was going to try it and see if it helped. I dont think it would work for me at this time. Do any of you out there know how long it takes to not crave this crap anymore??
Day 4!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I still cant sleep past 5 – 5:30 am. I am waking up feeling much better everyday. The main thing that remains>>>> besides the cravings, are the chills. I just cant stay warm. I found this site the 1st day of detox and it has been a lifesaver. I was scared to post, so I just read. Anyone out there doing the same as I did dont be scared. There really are great people here that get it. Here is the only place that knows what I am going thru and It is working. I am doing the recipe that Thomas put above and have added the Sam-e that Meetoo suggested. No many of us have the ablity to go to a rehab center. For me personally I dont think I need one now anyway. I did think that was the only way 4 days ago :-/ Since I made the decision I have been over run w/ the same addictions airing on TV. Yesterday on Oprah she had the former Miss USA talking about using “perscription meds”…. we all know what she was talking about. Then again on Dr. Phil; a mother who has the same problem we all do and made a promise to get off of them for her family. I have never beeen addicted to anything. When I started taking V I could do anything, got anything done. Years into my addiction I had to work so much harder just to finish loading the dishwasher!!! It is a nasty game the V plays w/ your head. You think you are fine………… I did. I pray this is it for me. I can’t go back to that, and rite now I don’t want to. I know there may come a few times today that my head tells me I need it. Those moments have gotten further apart each hour/ day. Stay strong out there all of you. There is a light at the end of the tunnel….. and it’s not a train PROMISE O:)
I am needing some info on what to use to help me detox for vics, i am taking about 30 of the 750 a day, and am scared to death to detox, need some suggestions on how to even begin this process.
I’ve made it 8 DAYS! I can sleep through the night. That’s a great change. The diarrhea is just about gone. Yeah! On Monday Day 4 I completely broke down in to a severe depression. My husband had to leave work early morning and come home to take care of me and the kids. I could not get out of bed, terrible nightmares with the slim sleep I had at the time. I was scared to death of being on my own. He stayed with me for two days. Praise God. Now he’s back to working long long long hours to make up for it. I’m scared again because I’m home alone again and sad. I missed church last Sunday, Day 3 because I was curled up in a ball in bed not functioning. Things are better. Still scared and lonely. I’m joining a women’s bible study this coming Tuesday night and looking forward to meeting some women in Christ and having some fellowship, and studying God’s Word. I live in the country, my friends live in other cities who work full time and also have kids. Too busy to ever visit. I have no family other than my husband. With my son who’s 4 with Autism, he goes to a special school everyday (one way 45 minute drive). Lots of driving for me and the 4 month old baby. Plus my 4 yr old is lots to handle when he is home, then add the baby and a broken down water heater that should be fixed next week. So I boil water to give everyone a bath, even me and my husband. My problem besides loneliness, my doctor refilled my hydrocodone/Vicodin. I was picking up my birth control pills and they said my hydrocodone was also ready. I immediately grabbed it. Now what do I do? I want to take some. Is it possible to take one now and then? It’s 2 a day for 2 weeks. He was tapering me down. My mind is clear, the fogginess is gone, but I still crave and think about the pills all the time and now I have some. I don’t know what to do. Part of me thinks I should flush them right away. Another part of me screams NO. Just take one now and then. Any advice would be helpful. I’m still clean. That’s amazing. It was sure hell to get here. Would I really have to go through that hell again, if I took alittle now and then? I’m so ashamed at how weak I am. I also lost 15 lbs. If my husband new I started up again he would be even more disappointed. At my worst point, I was crying out to God for help, and my husband, my husband told me to go in my room, close the door and take a nap or read a book. He is so clueless at what hell I was going through. I couldn’t sleep, I was coming out of my skin, and I couldn’t focus at all to read. I love sharing on the board and am routing and praying for all of us.
Barbie, I was thake close to the same amont a few years ago. I cut back first week I cut my doses in half for 7 -10 days. Then I cut way down for the next few months. Try starting to cut back and continue to do so until you are ready to quit. Detoxing off of a lesser amout on your own, and proving to yourself you CAN take control back will help. I have been off of V’s now for 6 days!!! After taking them for over 7 years. I feel whole again. The recipe that is on this board I have been using and it had def. helped. Best of luck to you
R KItty,
Your post broke my heart. Since I decided to quit I have gotten involed w/ Church too. I has mad all of this so much easier. I know how you feel needing to get everthing done and no time left for you to take down time >>>> with out the guilt. If you havent touch your new perscription yet don’t. It is just a quick fix. You have gone through the worst of it. If you have today is a new day and easier to get it out of your system if you havent been feeding the addiction for another long period of time. Have to tried the recipe suggested at the top of the page?? It works. I have been doing it along w/ Sam-e the “me-too” suggested and it has made it much easier. I have detoxed alone w/ no vitamins and to was much harder. I started detox on Monday found this board the same day. It has helped so much knowing there are others “like me’.
Sorry to hear all your stresses. Just know God will never give us more than we can handle. You need him to give you the strenght. He will. Best of luck
I don’t know if anyone has mentioned this before but if you go to the Thomas Recipe page there is a link at the bottom. It is a recipe of sorts for withdrawal from methadone in a more natural way. I have been taking around 40 norco 10’s for probably close to a year now, and lower dosages of hydrocodone before that. I do have a back injury but was using way beyond my need. I found that my happiness was depending on whether I had a drug in my system or not and that is no longer acceptable to me. I am letting my 4-year-old daughters life go by while I’m waiting for my next dose. Suprising as it may or may not be my doctor has supported the majority of my habit, increasing my dose when ever I asked without much to do. So I tapered my self down to about 9 a day and went cold turkey. The first day I was miserable so on that sleepless agonizing night I went searching the internet for something… anything! I found the Thomas recipe and at the bottom he sites a webpage that he found helpful. That page is probably the sole reason I will be clean a year from now. I’m on day four of my withdrawal and aside from a little bit of fatigue I feel exceptionally well. The herbs/minerals and such that he suggests are a bit pricey but well worth your health. Other than just surviving your withdrawal symptoms, which the recipe seems to do very successfully, it helps to repair the things that you have damaged in your body with all of the dope. The damage you (and I) are doing to out body is profound. That is also no longer acceptable to me. I know that for anyone who is detoxing right now it might sound crazy for me to tell you to take a long list to the health food store but it really will ease your suffering. Let the people who work there find the things for you if you feel like you can’t. If you get nothing else pick up some Valerian root and potassium. The Valerian root is like a herbal xanax and will help ease your mind and help you sleep when taken at night. The potassium you must be very careful with (please research or ask a Dr. before taking) but it will ease your aches and most RLS symptoms. Please do check out the site I mentioned above… if it helped me it can help others. Google the Thomas Recipe and click the link he suggests at the bottom. The pain of addiction is, in the end, far worse than our physical pain because an addiction is not just our own… it is our family’s, our friend’s, and even our children’s burden. I wish you all luck and happiness in a better future we can hopefully all share together. May your path never lead you down this horrible road again.
RKitty – that’s rough. I don;t know what to say but you are in a tough spot. I have no real advice, but I jsut feel really bad for you, so I’ll pray. Remember that all of us here can understand much of what you are going through in a way others often can’t.
For whatever it’s worth today is day 1 of detox for me, thanks in large part to southernmom and metoo, and now also onedayatatime. Thanks to you folks I am in a much better place now.
Been thinking of you “rKitty” I have been checking everyday to see if you have posted anything. I have been keeping you in my prayers. For me making the decision to strat life with out the V’s was that hardest part. I was scared to see what I was without them. I guess in a strange way……. I had an excuess for being the way I was. An excusse only I knew about. It was good enough for me. Good enough to keep the V’s around for 7 years.
It hasnt been easy, at times downrite nasty. Here I am one week down and the nasty is gone. Being replaced with joy. As crazy as this sounds I have joy doing the dishes feeling the air come through the kithchen window onto my face. Joy seeing my daughter walking towards the car when I pick her up from school. Before she would just walk towards the car, get in, and we would go home.????!!!
I am on day 7 now
Way to go “Shmoe”!!!! Day one is better than I thought I coulda done 8 days ago. I found this board on day one of my detox. I read every part of it! Too scared to post, just knowing I wasn’t alone got me through day one and on day 2 I posted for the first time. It’s def nice not feeling alone. I know all of you guys have helped to get me here. Though we have never met I will for ever hold all of you so close to my heart.
Well today would be day 11. Yeah! But I back tracked and now am at day 2 again. I don’t feel bad. I actually feel more empowered to beat this beast. Sunday morning after church when no one was looking in the parking lot. I took out my V bottle and dumped them all out on the street and jumped up and down and smashed them to power. It was really windy that morning and the wind came and washed them all away. I felt so strong that now I can do anything. I did take some on Friday and Saturday, but I had been clean for 8 days and they did not make me feel good like I imagined they would. I haven’t had any now for 1 day and 13 hours. Yeah! I don’t feel bad with any withdrawals yet. I hope I don’t get them again, but if I do I know I can do this. I hope. The craving I once had for them is gone. I’m not thinking of how can I get them anymore. I just want to live free and focus on my family, ME (for once), and Jesus. I start a new bible study tomorrow night, and hope to make some women fellowship that I desperately need in my life. This board is the only place I feel that someone understands the fear, that can over take you. Again, no withdrawal systems yet from my small mishap. I just pray they are not as bad as before. The withdrawals really scare me because I freak out when I’m alone and get really really depressed. But so far so good. Thank everyone who is praying for me and those of you just starting the withdrawals, they will get better. Praise Jesus.
RKitty, Way to go. I know how that feeling of getting rid of your supply is. I flushed mine. Dumped them and watched them melt and flushed them away, away outa my life!!! I am glad your feeling so good. This board has made a huge change in the way I view my addiction. I am not “the only one”. It has helped to get me to day 9 b4 nooooooo way could I have done it….. I tried.
I was taking 14 -750ml.per day for 8 years,I am 37 yrs old,also drink about a case of beer a day,working in the bar biz.also I take soma,and xanax at night,and smoke the
Good weed….ok,I tapered myself down to 4 pills for 3 days,and then went cold turkey.I only felt bad the first day,and drank at work and blacked out…but besides the explosive diarria,and mild chills,and mild sweating,I am on my 4th day and I’m feeling great,also I felt great yesterday…could this be possible that I had hardly any wd symptoms?I have been on the thomas recipe though,I jst took the tryasino even though I feel mentally great!also I started my period on my 3rd day of detox,and I’m wondering if that helped me somehow.although you woud think that wopuld make things even worse,lol….well good luck to you all!I think a lot has to do with how strong your willpower is.with that you can conquer anything!!!for me,I am very strong willed,and can’t deny the wd symptoms” to be expected “,but other than that I fee so much happier without that monkey on my back,and jst knowing that alone is a great feeling of joy!!!things are so great to me now,little things that I didn’t notice before,because I was so hopped up in a numb daze all the time…hopefully you all wil feel the same!god bless!:-)
on day 10. It has gotten easier and easier. The first few days the guilt and depression wore me down but I kept busy… drug myself to work and did housework till I was exhausted enough to sleep. Then about 3 days ago I realized I hadn’t thought about pills at all the whole day. Was proud of myself for the first time in a long time. Appetite is starting to come back too. And even tho every once In a while I think about taking just one I remember those first 2 days. Not going to take a chance that I might slip right back into the rut. I am amazed at how happy and content I can be even without the pills but I think I am a better happier person now. That was a huge fear… what If people don’t like the sober me? But I am more comfortable being myself and not having to hide anything from anyone anymore. I didn’t realize how trapped I was. Never thought id say this but… pills are fun but being sober is amazing
I couldn’t have done it if I hadnt found this site. Thank you everyone for making me feel so not alone and if there is any way I can help any of you like you helped me please let me know. And when it gets tough just remember that each tomorrow gets easier.
Just saw your post “scared” good job!! I am on day 11 now. I 100% agree w/ all your feelings. By doing so doesn’t leave me much to say. I have been feeling really tired the last 3 days too. Waiting for that to go away! Dont want to go back to how I felt on them though. I have tried detoxing b4 and aways failed. Finding this board has made a huge change in my head…… I guess not feeling so alone? Being able to see people are doing it helps too. I just keep waning to feel lest tired and get my motivation back. Once that comes I will be ALLLLLLL GOOD!! Keep it up it is soooooooo worth it. One day ata time” soon we will turn around and look back and it will all be a distant memory.
In my 20th day here and doing great. Sounds like everyone else is doing good as well. Keep up the good work guys. Metoo how have you been doing? Thats great, I wasnt trying to pick apart your detox, just worried about you, I thought about kratom as well to wean off opiates, just didnt like them. Keep us updated on how you are doing. Keep up the good work! Schmoe…how are you doing? How is your detox coming along?? Southernmom, I am a guy…in a heterosexual relationship. My gf isn’t any support to me…she works at an emergency room and always whines about drug seekers..not that I ever did that but if I needed money who knows what might have happened. So its unfortunate I cant count on her for support. How have you been?
Hi Char,
I am so glad to hear from you and are really doing great with your detox, 20 days is quite an accomplishment.
I totally understand not having your significant other being your support, my husband doesn’t even know about my addiction. Sometimes he just notices I am not as happy as usual.
I am glad that we can be here for each other, it’s so comforting to know that there are othere going through the same thing you are going through, they understand and you have been very helpful when you share what you are going through so others can learn from it. I said it before and I’ll say it again, you are an inspiration to all us of us who need to detox and get this crap out of our lives. ‘
Please keep sharing, you are helping others and we all need your input.
I am 37 yrs old,and was taking about 14-750s a day for 8 years,also I drink a case of beer everyday,and smoke take 1 xanax at nite,and1 soma at nite,so I took only 4 pills for 3 days,then went cold tukey,on the thomas r….I had hardly any withdrwels,also started my period on the second day,I’m wondering if this may have helped my body not feel withdrawels?although,you’d think it would make it worse!on my fourth day,I felt wonderful!!!extremely happy,I even worked all week ,and I work at a bikini bar,so I used to numb myself with the vikes jst to make it through the shift.but I felt great,even drank way less….I’m on day 5,and forgot to take the b-complex,and I don’t f
With vikes jst to make it through a shift!that was the hardest part of my pain.but I drank way less,because,I tried drinking as much as I normally do with the pills,and it gets you way drunk without them,I blacked out the first day doing that,so I had to cut down a lot!the buzz way heavier,without the pills.I’m on day 5 felling a little achy in my neck and I can feel my liver aching .I’m not as energetic as yesterday,I think its bcause I forggot to take the b-complex today.wow I felt on top of the world yesterday!super happy!!!!I love it!4 different ppeople offered me pills and I didn’t have any desire for them…good luck to you all!!!maybe you girls should try detoxing when your period comes,maybe that’s a cure????let me know…its a miracle that I had only diarria and slight chills and that’
it.I’m feeing super excite,and high on life!its so great!everything is brand new to me!like a child.hope you all get there too!it was way too easy,easier than all the fear I had getting off of them…I think u gotta also have strong willpower,your mind can make your body do weird things!just don’t think about it…good luck!!!
Hello all…i have been sitting here for the past hour reading all of your posts and i just realized how much i am not alone. I have been taking 10mg Norcos three times a day for the past year and was suddenly cut off without notice yesterday. I had a refill request sent to my doctor on tuesday that went unanswered until i called the doctor myself yesterday, in which he says he’s done all he can for me, and i need to have a laparascopy done, but with no insurance will cost 10 grand, so he can no longer refill my pills. I was in shock and just hung up, but sat there for hours thinking about how i always thought i’d be able to ween myself off and how scared i am about having to quit cold turkey. So i called them back and reminded them that i had been on these demons for a year now and was concerned about withdrawals. The doctor finally called me in some tramadol today and said it will help get me through withdrawals. Is this true? Have any of you or anyone you know tried tramadol(ultram) 50mg to help with withdrawals? I am a 27 year old mother of a 5 and 8 yr old, my 5 yr old does not attend school yet so i am at home with her all day and am scared to death about not being able to hide in my room like i want to in order to get through this. I also attend college and have finals coming up on wednesday and thursday next week and am worried i wont be able to concentrate or sit through it. My fiance is very supportive but doesnt quite understand because he has never taken pain meds or illegal drugs a day in his life, therefore he has never had to face addiction. I am on hour 24 of no vicodin (or norco) now and have heard that the worst has yet to come. I have a few xanax handy but have never taken one so am kinda scared of them, but i think im more scared of the anxiety i will face. I have had anxiety problems for years even before i ever started the pain meds so im worried the anxiety will be unbearable. I took immodium today to prevent diarrhea. I’m scared to death and am an emotional, nervous wreck and would love some advice on what to do to get through this. Will i be able to get through final exams next week? Will i be able to take care of my children while detoxing? Will the tramadol help? Someone please help me with these questions! I know i’m not alone, but yet i feel like i am. I will be checking the posts frequently, as i truly believe you are the ones that will help me the most. Thank you!
Sla…hang in there! If you’ve got over 24 hours under your belt now, you’re on your way. I would think with a year of use your withdrawals shouldn’t be that terrible, and you probably do like I do~~get all worked up about it, and THAT is anxiety. Keep that xanax handy for the anxiety, and if you’ve never taken that before, I’d start out with a half a tablet of that.
Do you have any of the items in the Thomas Recipe?? For me, the potassium is the MOST important one. Try to get what you can to follow the recipe…it works!
Most importantly, you are so not alone. We are all here for the same reason…we are right here with you on your path. You’ll get through this, I promise!! And, you will be just fine by next week too. I can tell you are strong…you’ll make it, and hey, LOOK~~you’re already on your way!!! THINK POSITIVE…STAY UP….and keep posting!! Prayers are going out to you, Sla!!
To sla,-dont be scared!its not that bad…I was taking 3 times as much as you,for 3 times longer than yoi,and I hardly had any withdrawels.it wasn’t that bad!jst do the thopmas recipe,and take the xanax,ibuprofin works great take 800 ml twice a day.I feel great!!!!I’m on day 6 and if you can,get the b-comlex.it works wonders!!!!oh,and along with the tyrisine.start that on day 3….its really pretty mental…if your strong willed,then you probly won’t feel that bad…don’t let the horror stories scare you.
Don’t even think about it…oh btw,I got the runs from the tyisine,but I felt great!!!!so better off without those pills.you think you need them,but reaally its all the fear of the stories you hear about that makes you fear the worst is gonna happen…don’t let your mind go there…think positive.the outcome is wonderful,let me tell you…good luck to you!you can get through a couple uncomfortable days,jst do it!!!!
Btw,u don’t need that stuff the dr.gave you,don’t take it…jst go clean frm any of that garbage,I guarantee you will love how you feel !!!!
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Thank you soooo much metoo!! I am now 42 hours hydrocodone free!! The tramadol is working wonders for me and the doc only prescribed me a weeks worth so i dont have to worry about getting addicted to that too! The anxiety is the worst, along with some pretty horrible muscle aches in my neck, but other than that, i slept a full 8 hours last night, i’m eating, and having no flu-like symptoms or diarrhea yet! The hot showers help with the muscle aches and i’ve just been dealing with the anxiety. I dont have any potassium but i’ll definitely look into getting some today! I appreciate your prayers like you wouldn’t believe! I know with all of the support i have, i CAN get through this!
Thank you jen p! I only took two of the tramadol yesterday and i think it helped me through the worst of it. I haven’t taken any today and i feel okay, just a little fatigued. So i will be getting the b complex and l-tyrisine when i get the potassium today and see if i cant muster up some energy to get on with my life! Thanks again for the advice jen!
Sla,good for you!!!!glad your feelin good:-)I have neck pain also,”weird”idk why that is?lol…so epsom salt is really good in the bath also…I’m happy for you,and you will be so proud of yourself when you know you conquered this little pill…take care,and hang in there!:-)your pretty much there…
It is so nice to hear everyone doing so well. I am on day 6 clean, and not too bad. Still a little depressed, anxious, craving that opiate buzz; but because of a few of the people on this board I think I might just make it this time. metoo, southernmom and onedayatatime have been kind and supportive beyond anything I could imagine. Thanks also to some of you others – Char you too were a big help.
To whoever now has tramadol – that seemed to help me a while back but at that time I was not ready to quit so for psychological reasons I went right back to vics. But the tramadol did minimize withdrawal symptoms.
I hate to say it, but I really hope this is all worth it. I am scared I’ll go through withdrawal and in 3 weeks think – wow life sucks I think I’ll go back to being an addict and enjoy the buzz. But I guess I’ll find out!
I hear you, Shmoe….I feel the same way. Life sucks, and vics make me happy. What is the answer to that dilemma??? If anyone has ideas, I’m all ears!!!
It also seems that detoxing is pretty easy to forget when you’re done and over it. Then it doesn’t seem like it was all that bad, so I could just go back to vics again. And I think the easier the detox, the easier it would be to go back to using again.
Does anyone have any answers for these dilemmas??
well i’m 52 hours without now and i have been fine up until recently today i got a horrible headache i can’t get rid of and it seems unbearable at times, especially with the awful anxiety! I have 2 vicodin stashed and have been at war with myself on whether or not to just take one and make everything better. I’m winning the war so far but not sure for how much longer if i cant figure out how to tame this awful headache!! Anyone know what to do to for the headache part? I’m open to any suggestions that might keep me away from those damn vicodin!
You have read my mind @meetoo. I worry that a minth or so down the road I will look back and say that wasnt too bad so whats one more. I know as long as I dont take for granted my health and notice the changes that I am noticing now it may help to keep me from popping one. Also no more lies or keeping things from people I care about. Only time will tell ?????
Sla…I would take the last two, get it over with, enjoy them, and KNOW that that’s IT. I notice the time on your post and know that you’ve already made your decision I’m sure, but you know me~~~gotta get my two cents worth in!!! LOL!!!! You really can’t have “strays” around and stay sane. Get them gone and have that issue no more, I say!!!
I am so proud of Shmoe…. Geez, where ARE my pom-poms???? Yay, rah! Shmoe is great, Ya! 
Shmoe rocks….he is on day 6, well, heck, it’s after midnight, so HE’S ON DAY 7!!!!!! He rocked right PAST day 3, folks….that has been the hardest day for him in the past, and he just flew right through it!!!
One day~~we are going to have to keep each other strong. We have to keep reminding each other how terrible it was…how worried we were for each other…
To all: Please let us never forget the power of prayer. Prayers for ourselves, and prayers for others. When you pray, please include all of us here~the people whom you have never met, but share a bond with. The people who rely on the Grace and Mercy of God to get us through. Thank you to all who have had me in their prayers….you know who you are, and fortunately, so does God. Everyone reading this rocks!!!!!
metoo, your two cents means alot at this point! lol! I still haven’t taken the two vicodin i have. I’m testing myself to see how strong i can be, but funny enough i’m not strong enough to throw them out or flush them. I guess they’re my crutch right now. I really haven’t thought too much about them except when the headaches and anxiety start feeling unbearable. But i’ve forced myself to not take them and i took a tramadol instead. I think the tramadol might be causing some of the headaches and also contributing to my sleeplessness. Things are still seeming kinda foggy to me at times and these last couple of days have felt like FOREVER!! 55 hours down now! Is it gonna get harder from here or easier? I sure hope my Mother’s Day isn’t ruined
Which reminds me, Happy Mother’s Day to all of you wonderful, strong mothers on here! I’m taking it day by day, hour by hour. Thanks everyone for your support, especially you metoo, your faith makes me stronger!!
Sla, way to go keeping them near you and not taking them. It took me a few days into detox b4 I could bring myself to flush mine. I dumped them and watched them go down
Your body just needs to regulate. Those pills have messed with stuff that needs to be cleaned out. I am on day 14!!!! I have been feeling better and better each day! I had a few days with anxiety too if you dont have Zanax try valerian root, its what they make valium from you can buy it just about anywhere. @meetoo told me to up my thyrosine and sam-e because I was so tired. It worked! I take 1,500 mg of thyrosine when I wake up and 400mg of sam-e. one day ata time, you will turn around and look back and know with all of your soul you did the right thing. Hang in there!! My prayers and thoughs are with you
Thank you OneDayAtaTime! I’m 67 hours free now! The anxiety and headaches have been better today! I slept 8 hours last night and feel pretty good today, just a little fatigued. I’ve been eating bananas and taking the vitamin B6. I think the thing that bothers me most is the actual pain i was taking the medicine for in the first place! I will try ibuprofen and see if it helps. My fiancee tried to find me some l-tyrosine last night and couldnt find it so i’ll have to go somewhere else and look for it. Am i past the physical part yet?
I understand 100% !! I was put on vikes following a car accident that fractured my c-5 in my next in 2003 then in 2005 I was rearended again and totally messed up my lower back. I has been fearful to stop taking them too for fear of the pain too. I have been able to hang in there. Motrin has been helping too. I know the L-thyrosine has helped me a ton!! As for being done with the worst of it……. If you were me I would say make it to dat 3-4 and thats the ending of the worst. I noticed a huge change in my cravings and tiredness once I got to day 5. That was also the day I started taking more of the l-thyrosine and same-e.
I keep telling myself: next hour will be better than this and tomorrow will be better and brighter than today. “one day ata time” Looking back as I write you I must admit after day 5 I lost track!!! It must be that after day 5 my system just went with the flow and it became easier. Take care, stay strong, your doiing GREAT!!!!!!!
I feel happier, sleep better, and I am not feeling as numb as I was while on the vikes. I didnt notice how much of me was turned down or off on those peices of caca
I am soooo looking forward to the happiness coming my way after conquering this! I remember thinking after i would take my vicodin, how i wished i wasn’t on them. I would look at my kids and fiance and wish my life were as easy and vicodin free as theirs. I felt guilt with every dose i took. I didnt wanna clean my house, take care of pets or even leave the house half the time if i didnt absolutely have to. I was numb to everything around me sadly. I am looking forward to not feeling that way anymore. No more guilt, numbness, fatigue and depression caused from vicodin. I too will soon be one of the people i used to wished i were! And i couldn’t do it without the immense support i’m getting from your posts!! I am now at 72 hours!! 3 days down!! Woohoo!!
Your addiction sounds so much like mine. I didn’t want to go anywhere or do anything either…. unless I had to. Some days once I got moving I was ok. This might help to keep you going: On day 6 of my detox I rearranged my whole living room and polished my living room floors. Somthing I had dreams of doing, made my self feel guilty for never getting around to doing it, and had I started it on Vikes Id of NEVER finished lol. Today I woke up had some coffee took my L-thyrosine and washed dishes, cleaned the kitchen and mopped the floor all before the kids got up!!!
NEVER NEVER would I have gotten that done in a week. I would have wanted to and it wouldnt have happend ~insert guilt here~ Promise YOU will come back and be the carefree mom you are meant to be without addiction. It is sooooo worth it. I ma looking back at all the guilt I have been putting on myself all these years and wondering why I didn’t do this sooner. I know back then it wasnt meant to be now is.!!!!
Oh wow that sounds like me! Two years ago when i moved in with my fiance i was a neat freak and cleaned every single day…every room in the house was immaculate until i became addicted to the vicodin. It took everything i had just to wash the dishes or a load of laundry! Our bedroom and bathroom need an overhaul in cleaning! I can’t wait to be able to get all these things done and get back to my neat freak self!! Not to mention getting out of the house to take my children to the park on nice days or go shopping..things i wouldn’t normally feel like doing while on the vikes!! Thank you again OneDayAtaTime! You make me realize all the awesome things i have to look forward to in the days ahead, which makes it easier to forget the nightmares i’m leaving behind in the past!!
I am realizing them now!! so now is a good time to pick my brain lol. I got so much done today I am still in shock. All though I do still feel alitte tired and depressed Its NOTHING like when I was popping those evil things. I even notice the sun feeling nicer ect. Oh, and my kids laughs how beautiful they are. Too many years turned way down for me. I am excited for you to start turning up and on. I look forward to hearing all your milestones. I know you will have them just having them happpen makes it easier to get through the tough times. If you want to e-mail me my addy is OneDayAtaTime777@yahoo.com. Just remember there is a light at the end of the tunnel and it IS NOT a train…….. its the rest of your life waiting for you to enjoy all of it to the fullest.
Hey everyone,
I’ve been on Vicodin (12-17/day 7.5mg). Today is day one of unplanned withdrawals. Is there anyone who’d be able to email back and forth with me to help me through this? Thank you all for the help.
Jeff
Jeffrage87@gmail.com
Please say a prayer for all of those on this board when you finish reading this post. Please pray that we find a way to fill the void that our opiates were thought to fill. When we take the opiates away, sure, we can get through the withdrawal, we can do the detox…but THEN WHAT???
Please post ideas of ways to fill the void. Let’s brainstorm, folks. I know that I am now left with a void. Please help me, and the others with advice on the next step….
Thanks…
I too would love to hear ideas on how to fill this void left by no opiates..
But whatever happens I continue to pray for everyone dealing with this crap.
metoo, in one hour i will be 4 days free of vicodin but still have a burning sensation in my stomach and no energy. I cant stop thinking about taking one pill! But just to throw a few ideas at ya of what i’ve been doing to help keep my mind off of it…i have found some good books that grabbed my interest and make me wanna keep reading to see what will happen next, and also, as lame as some people may think, i am really involved in alot of facebook games such as farmville, fishville, cafe world..LOL…i know it sounds dumb but it has been keeping me busy! Theres always something to do! Feed fish, harvest crops, etc…or i play on pogo.com…i have met alot of really neat people playing the facebook games, so i feel like i have alot of friends to spend time with in a weird sort of way, and its one of the few things that helps me smile at a time like this. I know these aren’t things everyone likes to do but its just a jumping off point to the brainstorming you asked for! I’m just trying anything to keep me busy so i dont think of wanting to take a pill or about the things i did or didnt do when taking a pill…i cant afford a gym membership or anything like that right now so i went the free route with facebook and reading books or watching a good movie on t.v….atleast until i find something more productive to do!
Great input, Sla!! EXACTLY the kind of stuff I was looking for…hey, you might want to check out Netflix too….for about $9 a month you can watch as many movies as you want; shipping is included, and they are pretty quick.
I am also concerned about a long term fill in. How will we fill the time…how will we occupy our minds? How many days does it take to break a habit??? I think I heard that it’s 15 days….
Way to go Sla!! So happy to hear you are still trucken along! Funny I joined facebook too just to have that to keep me busy also.
It takes 15 days to break a habit and at least a month for your body to stop craving the opiate. Each day of that month it does get easier, though. I am on day 15 and have noticed that I am not reacting/ or thinking to wanting to swallow a pill….. thats the habit part. I wish I could offer ideas on how to fill the void. I have just been starting projects and keeping busy. For me being able to want to start a project or want to go shopping helps me to see a positive difference and gives me a lil boost to keep going. Take care all of you
I agree OneDayAtaTime! I have also taken up scrapbooking and hope to have the energy to work on it more when i feel better! Today has actually been pretty rough…a very painful day with the actual pain i was taking the vicodin for…trying to just take advil and tylenol again and make myself believe it’s helping. My fiance is at the store right now trying to track down some l-tyrosine and b-complex for me. I hope it works! Do you have to take it in the morning or can you take it anytime? I’m heading towards day 5 now and trying to stay strong! You guys are super awesome! I know for a fact i couldn’t have done it without your support!
I pray he finds it for you. Do you have a health food type store where you live?? Thats where I found it. I take it first thing in the am on a emtpy stomach. I started taking 1000 mg and I needed more so I take 1,500mg in the am and then around noon or 1 I take another 1000mg. You can take up to 4000 mg a day. VitaminB works well too. When I start to drag during the day I put a few drops under my toung and I feel better. Are you planning on taking Sam-e too? I took Sam-e for a few years awhile back and it def. helps to bring your mood up!! I didn’t have the L-thyrosine or sam-e when I started detox. Once I felt up to it I went to the store and bought some. I took it in the parking lot and I can 100% say I felt a big dif. with in the hour. I hope your husband finds it for you. You are very lucky to have him so willing to help
Lucky Lady 
I am on I think day14 or 15 and feeling good…. sometimes great. You are in whe worst of it now, hang in there. I posted my email for you if you have any ?s you need an answer to quickly. I am logged on all the time through my phone. If you cant find it where you live I know you can buy it on the intenet and have it maild to your home. Take care 
Trying to quit bought the kronton was wondering if southernmom tried it yet. Was thinking about taking it.
i just got the l-tyrosine and b-complex…took it just as fast as i could get the bottle open! Hope it helps! I’ll let everyone know how it works for me!
HA HA tell you hubby good job for not giving up and finding it for you. Please check in w/ us tomorrow and fill us in!!
Jeff,ib was taking the same amount for 8 years…I went cold turkey.its uncomfortable,but jst do it!u can get through this mentally…I’m on my 9th day clean,and a guy handed me a bottle at the bar yesterday,I have them,but I don’t want a single one.that’s way in the past now.done with it.do the thomas recipe,it works!!!and ibuprophen and bcomplex and red bull…hang in,you can do it!!!!
Jeff-plus I work at a bar,wanting to be numb,jst to get thropugh the day with all the pervs tryin to grab me in my bikini,and I even made it through a whole week of work detoxing,diarria,the runs ect,and I did it!its amazing!stay busy,and have a lot of sex,and take epsom salt baths….you can do it!!!!!!
B.t.w.,sex is so much better now!
Jeff-also drink ensure with ur vitamins in the morning,1 hour aftr the tyrosine….I startd mine on my 3erd day.stay busy io workd all week,even with the runs while having to wear a bikini working in a pervert bar…so if I can do it I’m sure anyone can…stay active !u can do it!u don’t need those pils!!!!!
Jst got b-12 under tongue shots,but beware u can have too much b12….it works wonders though,along with the sunshine!get some rays!!!!
Oh,and fish oil omega 3…..and try to go have sushi….
Hi sla.glad u got the b complex and the tyrosine….I jst had a very taxing past 2 days,because of family issues….but I got some b-12 2500ml spray,and it works to get u motivated,if ur alone….I live alone,so its hard for me…..good luck to u and all of u!god bless!!!!
Glad to here peole are doing well.
Question that I shouldn’t be asking, but if you stay clean for a few weeks, then take a few vics for one day, is that “free” or do you typically go through the whole withdrawal thing again?
Thanks Jen! I am on day 6 now and have made it through the worst! Still have a little bit of a burning sensation in my stomach and feel fatigued at times, but the l-tyrosine and b-complex have really been helping to give me that small boost to get me going! Shmoe, i haven’t been clean for weeks and already wonder the same thing! Especially when i’m suffering from the pain and i know relief is right there in my kitchen drawer! I battle with myself constantly: i only have a couple left, i can’t get anymore so what’s the harm?, it took a year to get addicted, whats one day?….thankfully my withdrawals scared me enough to win the battle and not take them but i’m still not at the point where i’m strong enough to toss them out. I hope everyone else out there is staying strong and doing well!!
Hi Chasing dragon, I haven’t tried the Kratom yet, metoo said I should give it a go, I just need to do it at a time that if I have an adverse reaction that I am not around my family and.or friends. I have a dy planned to try and I can let you know. If you try it before then, let me know how it works for you.
You know, I think I check this website TOO often! How could I have missed Chasing Dragon’s post?? Please DO let us know how the kratom is working for you, CD…
Shmoe is still doing just GREAT!! We are so proud of him!
Keep up the good work there, Shmoe!
For anyone else that would like to be a part of our “more familiar” team to help or be helped…just shoot us an email. Southernmom, Shmoe, Onedayatatime, Sla and Jeff are a part of a smaller group interacting via email. Oh, yeah, and I guess I’m in their group too, so Metoo is too! (That’s a lot of too’s!)
For anyone who would like to join us, here is my email address.
See YOU there?!
metoo05@live.com
All are welcome, and no one judges. DFZ….”Drama Free Zone”
I need something for energy i have none at alll!
I have been taking 10-12 norco (yellow) for about 10 months. I ran out last Wednesday and have been going through withdrawals ever since. Really bad at first, but still not doing good. I have a 13 month old and this is going to sound horrible, but he’s still being breastfed. My biggest problem (well, obviously there are a few big problems here) is that I’ve stopped producing breast milk. I talked to my doctor when I started taking these (originally for a staff infection) and he said as long as my baby progresses well, I wouldn’t have to worry about anything. I’m torn right now between making it through this withdrawal cold turkey, or calling my doctor and getting in sometime in the next couple days and getting a new script. I feel guilty about taking them in the first place, but even more guilty that I feel like I can’t take care of my baby. My boyfriend thinks I have the flu, he didn’t know about the pain meds continuing this long. I’m at a total loss of what to do. Oh, and we’re moving in two weeks and I have to pack and know I’m not going to have any energy.
Tasha….you do realize that your baby is also addicted now as well?? Please DON’T get a new prescription. I think you’ve probably done enough harm to your child. Feed the baby baby food, and know that HE will be going through withdrawals also!!!
At some point we need to realize what our addiction is doing to others. Prime example here. PRIME.
I don’t mean to be so harsh, Tasha, but what you do to YOUR body is YOUR BUSINESS. What you do to your BABY is WRONG. Get off it NOW….
I am praying for you….
That is a bad situation but if you are already passed the first couple of days of withdrawl i wouldnt take anymore you are passed the worst part. you can do it it is hard I have 4 kids so I know its tough
I just want to say, for the record, that before taking any medication whatsoever, I talked to the pediatrition, I talked to my doctor and also did research on the internet. Our bodies are medical wonders and it’s amazing how they can process things. I completely understand concerns people may have over what I posted. I thought and worried the same things myself. But my son has shown no signs of having any problems other than he’s upset over the lack of breastmilk which I can only guess is caused because of the shock my body went through, as well as my lack of calorie consuption. I’m going to stick it out, but just know that I do take my role parenting seriously and would never do anything to knowingly hurt my child.
You know, I think the fact that I was initially given the medication for a serious staff infection and questioned both the hospital and the pediatrition and they said it was fine and nothing to worry about is why I let it go so long.
Tasha,
Did you ever think that your baby misses the breast milk because he is addicted and even a baby knows that when something makes them feel good they crave it. He is craving your breast milk for his fix!!!!
I agree with metoo, you need to stop taking any and all medications if you are going to try and breast feed your baby again. What you put into you comes out in your fluids!
If you do decided to get another prescription please do not feed your precious baby your toxic milk.
I am trying to keep my stuffing IN about this situation. Tasha…you have been BLESSED with a child. I wasn’t. Maybe that will help you to understand my view a bit better~I pray it does!
If your serious staff infection is over, your meds need to be too. You have a precious family to take care of. As a mother, you KNOW what is good for your family, your baby. A doctor is just doing the same thing everyone else does~get through the day/week of work. Just saying that a doctor does not LOVE your son the way you do. Hence, do you REALLY think the doctor gives a crap??? THE MOTHER is the GUARDIAN of that child. THE MOTHER is ULTIMATELY responsible. You KNOW IN YOUR HEART that you are jeopardizing your child by carrying on an addiction long past the infection. So, I think if I were you, I would switch your 1 year old son to jars of baby food. HE’S A YEAR OLD, FGS!!
If there is any doubt in your mind that you need to be done with this addiction, for the love of Christ, get your baby on his own diet before you get ANY more. Tasha, you are first in my prayers at this time. And so is your boy… PLEASE let us know how you are doing~~~and AGAIN, I’m sorry if this comes off as harsh. On one hand I would love to come unglued and really say things. But, the other hand is where it comes into my mind that we are all children of God. If I can help you Tasha, I am here…you’ll both be ok…but it’s very very very important that you stop his addiction too. He didn’t ask for it.
I agree with them also dont give your baby the breast milk , if you want to continue using pills which i pray you dont that is on you but dont give the baby breast milk. I have children and I never breast fed because I took diet pills and did notwant them to harm my children they were bottle fed from day one. Also yes the pills will affect the baby in some form I pray you get better and hope the best for you and your baby.
For whatever it is worth Tasha – we are all struggling with addiction here so we know how hard it is to quit. If you can’t quit today we get it.
The real point is that it is not worth the risk of feeding your baby opiates. So if you can’t quit, get formula and skip the breast milk. And I know from experience that metoo will be the first to pray for you and support you as you try to quit your own addiction.
You know, when i first was looking online to find out how long my withdrawal syptoms would last and if there was something I could do to aleviate them, I found this site and thought “how great, a forum of people who encourage and support one another while going through similar circumstance”. I had no idea it was actually a forum of judgemental a-holes with Ph.Ds hanging on their walls. My doctor was aware of what amounts I was taking. Don’t you think if it was cause for concern, he would have made mention of it? When I first started taking them, I called the pediatrion, they said also, not to worry. I then looked it up online. Something like .01% of medication ends up in the breastmilk, which after a few hours, your metoblism takes care of. One hour after giving birth via c-section, I was on morphine every 30 minutes for the first 18 hours, and then percocet every 3 hours for 10 days. All the while breastfeeding every hour or two. Strange how all of you seem to know more than the doctors. I would encourage you to all to make sure you know what your talking about before passing judgements. I have stopped taking them, talked to both my boyfriend and mom (neither of which were critical of me unlike the people on this site, and they’re related to my son!). My son has shown ZERO signs of anything being wrong. He’s been an on-demand feeder since day one, and when momma’s milk stopped coming in as strong as he was used to, thats what he was upset about. He was gone with his dad a full day at gramma’s my second day of detox and there was nothing wrong with him.
Don’t bother responding, I’m not checking back into this site. I get it sounds logical that everything ends up in the milk, but I would never had taken anything stronger than a tylonel if I thought for one second it would harm my baby. Not that I really give a s##t what you people think.
Wow, must have hit a nerve!!!!
I’d like to what state Tahsa lives in where doctors tell their patients to take opiates and breast feed.
I didn’t mean for my comments to offend her, I just wanted to speak on behalf of her baby who has no voice.
I hope and pray she finds the help she needs.
I’m sorry that we did hit a nerve, but I’ve done some looking into this subject also! One of the most pertinent things I found:
http://pain.emedtv.com/norco/norco-and-breastfeeding.html
Tasha, I wish the best for you, and I’m sorry that you were so offended that we were being overprotective of your son. But, that main thing is, SOMETHING woke you up, and that’s what you needed. I am proud to be someone who offended you for the sake of your son. He needed us. We helped him, whether you are angry now or not doesn’t matter. He was heard.
Best wishes, Tasha!! Prayers are still coming your way.
Hey all I have been following this post. Am a addict myself. On 48 hours of withdrawls. But how is everyone doing. Southernmom and metoo. How are you two doing. Keep me posted I am praying for us all. Keep positive. Something that has helped a little is jogging. I know it may seem like “no way” but I am not a jogger and after around the block once I feel better. Now it lasts for like a hour but that’s eternity for us. Lol. Love u all keep me poster
I have been addicted to opiates in one form or another for 8 years now. It started with Vicodin ES; 3 pills every 4 hours for years. Fast forward til the last year, I have been taking 9 Vicodin ES or 12 OXY’s evry 4 hours. Or Rather 270mg of Hydrocodone, or 240mg-320mg of Oxycodone every day. I do this not to brag, but I need to get this off my chest. Not only am I posting this today, I started the process of entering a Treatment Center today. It includes methadone treatment, but people I have tried evrything else. Everything. I have been in NA, I have done in-patient programs, outpatient programs, and Suboxone. Nothing seems to work. I am at my wits end. Life is too painful living like this. I am a father of 2 daughters, and work for a sucessful auto manufacturer. I don’t consider myself a “people person”, but I need people to support me through this. Although I have not started the Methadone yet (I will on Tuesday), I will try the Thomas Recipie, because my options have run out. Please help me guys. I’m going to die if I keep going on.
Hey Cemiller,
2 days into detox and you have already found something that makes you feel good, even if it’s only for a couple hours, CONGRATULATIONS!!! That is huge step, finding something, anything to take your mind of the addiction is the case scenario. You should be very proud of yourself!
I haven’t started my detox yet but I have really tapered down to where I am doing about 1/3 of what I used to do. Keeping myself busy in the morning and keeping my mind off the drugs is my biggest hurdle, I go to the gym, clean the house, do my work from home, do my sewing and try to get lost in what I’m doing rather than what I would rather be doing.
I am also trying kick my addiction to alcohol, I have been a steady drinker since I was 16, being in the bar biz was easy access to liquor all day long. I find the more I drink the more pills I want so kicking both seems to be the only wy to go.
I really appreciate your prayers and I have added you to my prayer list also.
It helps to know you are not alone, there are many of us out there and we all need each other’s support to get through this and get our lives back.
ttys
Blackdogp89,
Hey there! WOW you have really been through alot! I don’t know the reason you were on the vics but with the amount you were taking you must have been in some serious pain.
Going to the treatment center is a huge step and methadone is an even bigger step. I have seen addicts that get off one drug and get on methadone and then have to get off that and it is intense, but if it gets your life and your mind together then that’s what you need to do for yourself, your family and your future.
You say you are not a people person but you came to this board and put yourself out there and I want you to know that you have come to the right place. There are so many of us who support each other through this and you have joined our support group. I am so proud of you for reaching out for someone to listen to you, give advice if we can and most of all pray for you. Believe me this groups prayers have changed my life and I know that I have the stength and the courage to kick this crap that’s killing me. We want to be there for you too. Metoo, Shmoe and myself have formed a prayer bond that has helped us make huge steps in our recovery and we will be there for you too.
The Thomas recipe works and we all have adapted it to our own likes and dislikes and we can give you our advice and support even while you are in rehab.
It’s Sunday and everybody will be checking in by Monday and we will circle the wagons and be there for you in whatever way you need us.
Tonight I will pray for you, my prayer is that you know you are not alone and also that God loves you!
If there is anything else you need from me, just let me know, I am here!
Wow. I stumbled onto this site and read everything you have all written non stop. I have been on and off of pain killers for 14 years. When I was 21 I broke my ankle and took my pain killers as needed, however, I found that I really liked them and took them even after I didn’t need them anymore.
Through the years I would get a persciption here and there…faking my pain mostly…and I would take the entire perscription of 20 or 30 pills within a few days. It would be weeks or months before the next script so it was mostly recrational use until recently. The past two to three months I started using opiates quite regularly, increasing the mg’s more and more and taking the pills daily for almost 3 months. For the first time it was very easy to purchase and I took full advantage of that. I already quit drinking and have been sober from alcohol for 61 days. Now its time to kick my pill habit. I’m 35 years old, just got married and if I want the happy, healthy family I’ve always dreamed of, then its time to take back control.
I was so excited after reading everyones comments last night that I logged on today to see if there were new posts. You are all an inspiration and truly give me hope. I can relate to every single one of you. Last night I prayed for all of you and I know you will keep me in your prayers too. I start my detox on Tuesday. I tapered down today and a have a few for tomorrow. I’m planning on going out to get every vitamin/mineral needed tomorrow so I will be prepared first thing Tuesday morning. I will keep everyone updated daily and I will continue to pray for you all. I feel very fortunate to have found this special group of people and I believe it was God that helped me find you all.
Hey Tdog!
I also belive that God has brought us all together on this web-site. I have felt the overwhelming love in the prayers and I feel the rejoice when I can lift up others. It sounds like you are doing all the right things, I am trying to do that alos, my detox starts next week and the closer the day gets the more I look forward to not letting this drug have a strangle hold on me and my life anymore.
You wants prayers, well you got ‘em!
Please stay in touch and let us know how you are doing , we are all in the same boat and we all keep each other’s head above the water and we will be there for you!
Take it one day at a time, and each day is one step closer to sobriety. Kicking alcohol was HUGE!!! If you can do that, you can do anything tomorrow will be 62 days, you should be so proud of yourself.
stay in touch!!!
I’m on day 11 of no pills. Glad I’m off em, but I have no desire or energy to do anything! With the pills, they seemed to give me a boost of energy and I felt like I needed them to get things done. Now I feel so tired and worn out all the time. I take a multi-vitamin, but think maybe should try something else. I just want some energy and some motivation. Any suggestions?
Jess!do the thomas recipe,I’m 30 days clean now after 10years of abusing vikes….everyday gets better,jst go walk it will get ur blood flowing!it works!stay really busy!also get the tyrosine,and b12!drink red bull….make sure u eat well also!even if u have to drink ensure!its so nice not having to worry when and where ur gonna get ur nxt pil…such a relief,wow!god bless!its a whole new world!delightful,keep it up!it gets better everday!but my first 2 weeks I thought the detox was over,but you wil have one good day and the next be really bad!jst hang in!I’m on my 30?day and feeling almost bacjk to my normal self….god bless!!!!
Jess,
I agree with Jen. From this board everyone says the Thomas recipe works, you just need to find what works for you. Everything on the list has it’s own reason for detox, physical, mental… You need to experiment and find out what works for you. Vitamins, caffiene, herbal supplimetns, try everything and see how it makes you feel, working out, your diet and things that make you feel good like music, movies, crafts, sports… whatever makes you happy, this is the time to take care of you, be good to you and do those things that you usually don’t do, but make you happy (except the vics).
The other thing is to pray, let God in and let Him help you. I will be praying for you and you need to be selfish right now and pray for yourself like crazy.
Good luck and stay in touch
so I remember reading somewhere in this long commentary about some of you using Kratom to help with the detox. how did that work out?
Kratom works for me!!! I didn’t have any withdrawals at all. It’s the lesser of the evils, IMO! I got mine from kratomking.com, and also from kratomherbs.com. Both seemed great! Yes, I am a certified Kratom fan…. Thank God it helped me to kick vics.
I am on day 14, still so tired. Started taking the vitamins and supplements that are in the Thomas recipe this morning. I’ve been doing a little research on Kratom. I’m tempted to try it for the lift in energy, but afraid of side effects and dependancy.
Eat extra fiber to avoid the biggest side effect. If you don’t want to be dependent, don’t take it everyday. Simple!
For me, it’s nice to know that there is something I CAN take when I want a buzz. Nice buzz, too…
I haven’t had time to post for a while, but I jsut had to add my 2 cents for you guys that have recently joined, I haev been praying for all of you. Most of us can identify to some degree with the mental pain you are going through, Blackdog89, TDog, jess, JenP and ccmiller, I am praying for all of you. Blackdog89 – I also pray that your family can be supportive through this time, it makes a big difference.
In return, you guys help inspire me. My dear friends metoo and southernmom have been so increbily supportive.
FYI – ealrlier thsi month I went 11 days clean, then had dental issues that caused me to use again. Now I am on day 2 clean again – no real physical issues, but the mental part is as tough as it ever was. I had hoped to be able to detox and then just use recreationally, but for me I don’t know if that’s really possible.
Good luck to everyone!
I have been taking 6, 10 mg daily for several years and have cut down to 1 1/2 for the past 3 days, if I keep tapering down by 1/2 a day every 4th day will I still have the horrible w/d when I finally go from 1/2 to 0? should I start the thomas recipe now to help when i do quit?
Hello everyone .. I thought I would come back and post after a couple months to let everyone know that the physical withdrawls and fatigue are finally over. It really did take 2 months and a *hell* of a lot of mental will-power. The physical withdrawl symptoms I kicked with suboxone .. the mental …. well I think that will still be a battle for some time. I picked up about 10 pills from a source a couple months ago as I posted before and as of today, I have 2 pills remaining. I started off taking around 1-2mg in the morning and 1mg at night (to help me sleep)…believe it or not, that was actually enough to make me feel fairly normal. I did this routine for about 2 weeks. Not going to lie, I did break down and *tried* to take a few 10mg vics one weekend and I hardly felt them. I sort of knew this beforehand having read about suboxone, but I guess you could say I wanted to see if it was really true .. yup it is lol. Having this mental knowledge of opiates not working when you are on the subs helped out a lot. I’m sure if I had taken about 5 or more, I would have felt it, but I felt guilty enough with just the couple .. having to remind myself the point of taking the subs to begin with. After a couple weeks, I started to see how long I could go in the mornings before feeling *drained* and got to where I just took 1mg around lunch. I sometimes woke up early, 3-4am, but this was acually sort of nice .. didn’t feel as “rushed” when going to work .. ha go figure. I did this for about another week and a half to two weeks. Near the end of the 2nd week, it was mostly mental as I really wasn’t feeling bad, not waking up early anymore, and that’s when I started to skip days .. to my surprise I was actually able to skip almost 2 days before feeling a loss of energy and I’m actually wondering if this may have been mental as well, but I did feel better after taking my 1mg dose .. but hell we all feel better after taking a dose right
… this was going fairly well with only having to take 1mg every couple days till about 2.5 weeks ago when my birthday hit and I ended up taking about 5 10mg vics over the course of the day. I hate saying this, but that was a really awesome day…but that was also my last day. I haven’t had any since and surprisingly I feel pretty good. The mental urge to take a few and get that nice rush of energy still exists, but I’m clean for now. I may get some more subs because at $10 for a 8mg pill it’s a hell of a lot cheaper than the vics and it definitely gets rid of the mental/physical cravings .. at least for me anyway ..
I want to thank everyone for their posts and just wanted to share my experience with Suboxone for what its worth. I know I haven’t been very active, but from time-to-time I would still go to this site and read the posts. Believe it or not, they were actually somewhat comforting and that is mostly the reason I’m posting today .. to let everyone know that even though someone doesn’t actually post .. your posts are read and do help.
My last thought…if only opium had the same physical qualities as pot .. same amount gets you pretty much the same buzz with little to no withdrawls after abruptly stopping .. if only we could have added this to Gods little checklist with these two plants at the beginning of time…..one can only wonder…
Good luck everyone and thanks again!
Kratom?? I bought some online in powder form and I can’t seem to find a way to use the powder so that I don’t want to instantly throw up. Has anyone used Kratom and if so, what’s the best way to ingest it?
I love kratom. I have heard that some people like to mix it with applesauce, but personally, I have first put some pudding on a spoon, put some kratom on the pudding, put more pudding on top of the kratom, and took it spoonful by spoonful like that. BUT. The easiest way is to take a bunch of capsules. No matter how you ingest it, I find that it’s worth it!! If you don’t feel anything in about 20 minutes, take another half a gram….reevaluate in another 20 minutes, and so on….Please let me know how it goes, Jess! What kind did you buy? I like Enhanced Bali from kratomherbs.com.
I just found this wonderful site, and wanted to ask everyone’s advice.
I’ve been taking Norco (7.5 mg) x6/day for about 3 1/2 years for chronic pain. I also take Valium (10 mg) x3/day for the same time, to help w/muscle tightness and sleep. Both are w/a Doctor’s prescription thru a pain management program. Tho I am aware I am physiologically addicted, I don’t actually care for either one.
Starting back in January, I started reducing the Norco by 1/2 tab every 2 weeks, alternating which dose period during the day I would reduce–i.e. 1st reduction was second dose of the day, 2nd reduction was 4th dose of the day, etc.
I am now down to 2 1/2 Norco/day. I’ve also started reducing the Valium, at a slower rate, and have it down to 2 tabs/day.
From reading people’s accounts here, it sounds like the reduction method only works up to a point. Is that true?
IOW, during my slow “reduction” method, am I going to reach a point where I hit a wall and start having WD, no matter how slowly I do the reductions?
I’m a patient person, esp when it comes to something as serious as this, so if I have to slowly reduce for 6 more months, I will. I’m in a weakened state due to my illness (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome), so the whole WD thing would probably steamroll me.
I do take a variety of vitamin supplements, and as mentioned I have a scrip for Valium. (I.e. the Thomas method, sort of.)
Tho I know everyone goes thru this a bit differently, I guess what I’m asking is: can I avoid the most severe WD symptoms if I keep SLOWLY reducing? Or is WD going to hit me at a certain point no matter what?
Thank you.
I have read most of the posts on this site. Many of which have rang true to me. I was taking vic’s for fybro, eat them in seven days and then go through detox. Well I didn’t think I was detoxing after just one week of use, thought it was a flair up of fybro with some “hot flashes’. Went to rehab and found out there was a definition for these monthly aches and paines. One year later, herniated disc with a cyst-six months of pain, refusing medication. Decided on surgery and was offered vic’s. My primary physician warned me that I have a persausive demeaner. Long story short, I went from the original 2 500’s x4 daily to 2 10’s4x’s daily and 120mg morphine. Whatever–I disappoint myself. What rings true, after going through detox and free of this menace is: “there is a light not a train at the end of the tunnel.”
I’m on day three, and ran out to get the cocktail of vitamins. Took all I could and feel great. I really hope the potassium will help with the RLS–I can hide the night sweats with frequent clothing changes and daily sheet washing. But the kicking, my husband seems to catching on to this. I don’t want to hide the detox from him, but how would this possibly benefit us. I have enough disappointment for the both of us.
I will pray, the energy is out there–I am tapped in and ready to contribute to all of you trying. Having gone through a period of remission, I guarantee you will love the results. Especially knowing you can overcome something so powerful.
I did go to NA for awhile, but found that I did not like dwelling on my limitations. I found more power in what I had perceived as an accomplishment. What I am saying, I happy that I am 2 and3/4 day clean.
Thanks for your inspiration and I will come back and update you.
Me2again;
Your e-mail was very inspirational. I am going through the tapering, doing alot of vitamins and will detox soon.
I wanted to share the one thing that helps me sleep, like a log (no RLS) are Tylenol pms. I take 2 or 3 depending on the day I’ve had and I sleep soundly with almost no movement at all (I wake up with a bent ear lobe from sleeping on it wrong
I appreciate your sharing your experience and I am hopeful to be sharing my sober story soon.
Good luck to you, I am praying for you and so are many others that come to this web-site for help and support.
God bless.
Southernmom,
You and the other (metoo,schmoe, slaa, etc.) are the real inspiration here. As I had eluded to in my last post, I have a history of a long term addiction to vic’s. I went into this back thing trying to avoid the drug, the pain overtook my better judgement. The drug, for me, overtook me once again. I am now six days clean after approximately 7 months of use. Like when I quit smoking cigarettes, I knew in my heart that I could continue the addiction and become gravely ill (emphasemia, cancer…)—or quit and be more healthy. The options are obvious and I would challenge anyone to dispute this, I chose health. Well, as with alcohol, I have to choose once again. I have made the right choice. Made love with my husband last night, WOW—why would I ever consider missing what I got last night. I digress (with a big smile on my face).
Anyways, I have to say the vitamin thing is really the best ever. I did not have the anti-anxiety medication, however, I know that would have made a big difference and definately a must if you have access. I used Valerean Root which seemed like it helped. Hey, lets just admit it—as long as I’m putting something in my mouth that looks like a drug, I’m happy.
Now the good news. Kratom. I really believe this herb would have been very helpful. I tried it last night and just felt all around real good. It helped with both my pain and I slept like a baby (however, the sleep may be attributed to another variable–lol). This morning, I feel clean and refreshed. Even before my morning Diet Coke!!!! This is an herb I will go into retirement with and see it as a healthy option to the anti-inflamatories I take too often. I think metoo mentioned that he has control of his use and the Kratom doesn’t control him. Honestly, as a highly addictive personality, I see how I can control this. I was always able to control the other herb some people at times smoke. So that’s my take on the viable option. Please try it, those vic’s will be very unhealthy for you. Choose health and good sex!!!!
Southernmom, as a northernmom of four (launching the last one in fall), my heart and energy is with you. I know you mentioned that you may be tapering and on your way to this side of life this week. Detox sucks. I don’t care what kind of frosting you put on it, it sucks. I’m on day six, the first real good day. I know I’ll have bad one, but I am feeling real good right now. I so want that for you and everyone else on this site. You all have been an inspiration and I can tell you that I have joined your energies (prayer, God…) and we will be strong. Please, keep trying and dwell on your strengths and know they out weigh your few weaknesses. May God be with you and everyone else that is choosing health as the option for life.
Hey, me2again! Thank you for the “endorsement” of kratom. (But, alas, I am a woman…lol….{did I talk about poop?? LOL} I wanted to add a few more things about kratom, and another tool I’ve discovered…
Kratom. me2again, you said you felt just “all around real good”…Isn’t it nice???? AND, if you would have taken maybe a half a gram more, you would have felt the buzz that I am talking about. Kratom is what I believe helped me to detox virtually symptom free, and I have come out of the detox ABSOLUTELY free of vics. I have found my new drug of choice. Vicodin no longer has a hold on me. THANK GOD…
For those of you who think that it is merely substituting one addiction for another, please stop and think about it. Would you RATHER lean on vicodin for the rest of your life, OR lean on a LEGAL HERB??? A legal herb that has NO withdrawal symptoms?? Would you rather lean on something that is man made or natural?? Something that you have to do illegal things to get or something you can order off the internet?? Something that makes you feel consciously bad, or something that gives you the buzz that you don’t have to feel terrible about?? Hmm?? I made my choice, and I am happy and relieved that I did find kratom. I have gone for many days without taking it at all, and in that time I did NOT crave a vic. I have my chosen alternative, and let me tell you, it is EVERY BIT AS GOOD, and heck, for me, it’s BETTER than vics ever were.
I can’t remember how many days I’ve been clean, but it just keeps getting better. For anyone who is struggling with a vicodin addiction, please think about getting some kratom, and giving it a try. It CAN help if you want it to!!
Another BEAUTIFUL thing I have found in my search for better days is “Chasteberry”…. I have been taking two capsules of chasteberry each night, and have awaken each morning for the last 9 days WITHOUT ANXIETY. And let me tell you, I had A LOT of anxiety. The chasteberry seems to have cleared that up, and I am SO HAPPY and SO PROUD to say that I feel as though I have found my way out of the vicodin addiction. THANK YOU, LORD!!!!
I am praying that these little discoveries can help so many more than just myself..after all, isn’t that why any of us are here? To help and be helped.
I too can add my endorsement of kratom. I am now on day 3 (yet again) and this has been the best/easiest detox yet. It took me a few tries to get my dosage right and I might
! But thankfully, metoo did ,
have even scrapped it if metoo hadn’t kept at me about it
and I thiink now that this stuff is a God send. I also started using chaste berry which I also think helps.
That said, I know that I am only on day 3 clean, so we’lll see how I do over the next few weeks. But so far day 3 has always been teh hardest for me, and today it’s been no
problem at all.
The one other variable that’s really helped is the incredible personal support I’ve
gotten from metoo and southernmom , who have given me so much I just can’t
thank them enough. Hard to quantify what that is worth.
God bless all of you trying to quit.
metoo. Tried your suggestion of the chocolate pudding method.
While it was the easiest way thus far, it still made me automatically gag. I think it psychological at this point since I’ve had such a hard time taking it in the various other ways. I don’t know if its the dusty consistency of the kratom, the taste or what, but it is a hard thing for me to get down. I might try the capsules. When I do manage to get some of it down and keep it down, I do feel the lift in energy which is great.
Other than that, I’m proud to say that I’m now over 30 days without pain meds!! I’m starting to feel like my old self again. There is still the occasional bout of feeling fatigued, but like everyone on here says, its getting better day by day. For all those who are beginning their journey out of the fog of regular pain med usage, keep strong and keep going. It’s such a great feeling not having to take some pills first thing in the morning just to feel “normal”. I feel better about myself and don’t have the guilt of hiding my habit from friends and family. I always felt like such a hypocrite since I don’t really drink or smoke or do anything else for that matter. From outward appearances, I seemed to have everything together. Little did anyone know I was taking between 12-16 norco a day. And I never even really got a buzz from it, that’s just what I took to feel normal and get through the day without aches and pains from withdrawal. When I look back now, it seems insane.
I don’t post often, but check every now and then to see what people are doing and to get tips and tricks on what works for everyone. The suggestions and help that people offer is so great and it makes you feel as though you’re going through this process with a group of people instead of all alone. Because lets face it, unless you’re going through it, it’s hard to explain or for other people to understand why you just don’t have the get up and go that you used to have. I got a lot of greif from my boyfriend after the 2nd week when my energy still wasn’t there. He would get down on me for laying around and not doing stuff around the house that needed to get done. He was understanding for about the first 10 days, and then it was just “get over it”. The understanding from people going through similar situations is so essential to alleviate the guilt others who are not going through it can sometimes put on you.
Anyway, babbling now. Take care everyone.
Hello all, I’m new here. 2 Weeks clean. I have the opportunity to get some tomorrow. I have no ambition still. I was taking 30 10mg a day for two years. Does ambition ever come back? I used to have dreams and goals.
I have been taking vicodin 750mg for about 2 yrs. I just quit cold turkey last thursday. I’m pretty much fine now. The only thing was the first day I had bad diaherra. By Sat. that was gone. The only other thing still now about 5 days without any is my legs ache but getting better. It’s not really that hard just have to be head strong. I still get the urge but still haven’t taken any. Good luck to all
I have been taking Vicodin for about a year now due to a back problem that is eventually going to require surgery. This more or less started in 2005 after a bad motorcycle wreck. I severely injured my left leg and had several surgeries in a 2 and 1/2 year period. During this time, I was on some kind of pain killer. Vicodin, Percocet, Darvocet etc… After all of my surgeries and recovery, my Dr cut me off cold turkey. I didn’t have a problem with withdrawls of any kind. I spent so long limping or using a cane or crutches, now my back is shot. Like I said before, I have been on Vicodin for the last year. I started taking 3 to 4 a day but has since increased to about 6 to 9 a day since my body has developed a tolerance to the drug. I’ve known for the last couple of months I was getting addicted to it and needed to stop. It looks like my Dr has cut me off now and have been without the drug for a little over 24 hours now. I and heavily withdrawing with the body aches, headache, diahrrea, RLS and sweating heavily. I’m going to try this recipe and hope that it works. The unfortunate thing is, I have to finish out the day at work today and do some kids activities tonight. My biggest fear is, if I can finally detox from this, what is going to happen when I do end up having back surgery? I will most likely fall right into the addiction again. It feels like a vicious circle.
Hi. I am new on here. I live with an incredible person that is battling vicodine addiction. He is on his second day now cold turkey, but he has been on and off of it since we started dating in January. I didn’t know about his addiction until about a month ago. He has been addicted for more than 20 years and has quit several times. He was going to go on methodone, but after researching this and another detox drug it seemed pointless to do that so he made the decision to go cold turkey. We have not had a love life due to his addiction, but I love him very much and want to see this through. He is a totally different person than the one I started dating. I am hoping for the best. He has no emotions what so ever and seems like a zombie most of the time and keeps to himself. I will keep everyone updated and could use your prayers. Thanks!
I have been 4-6 5mg aday on and off for 6 months. Somethings I go 4 or 5 days with out taking any. Then back on for 1 week or 2.
Do I really have anything to worry about here, since they are for pain ??
I have begun a taper plan to get off my Vicodin (10 a day) and I’m one month into it. I’m dropping by one pill a day, so this week I’m at six pills a day. Is it normal to experience withdrawal symptoms even on a taper like this? I find that the physical symptoms disappeared after about two weeks but the emotional/mental ones are still there. I find that “bad voice” telling me to not go through with this, just to take them, that life will suck without it. And I find my mood is all over the map. It’s been hell but I promised myself that I’d make it through this time for good.
Is this just my body and mind getting used to the taper process? Will I experience this throughout the entire taper and will it last even after I’m off the meds? If so, how long and will anything help?
hello everyone ive been takin 10 to 15 norcos a day for about 4 to 5 years and am goin through bad withdralws as we speak i took my last 1 last night and am going through it right now . i thought id hop on to find out how to ease the WDLS. right now i just feel like running down the street cause i cant keep my knees from wanting to shake or move all the time and have that anxiety really bad as well as da body aches please everyone prey for me ! iam in bad shape right now
I also don’t have ambition,tired all the time,was taking them around 10yrs,14,750s a day or more and norcos.people tell me that its not gonna happen over nite,it may take months,even years to get back to normal after all those years of being on vikes….I’ve been clean 2 months now…but everyday gets better.I guess its true that the number of years of abuse,2 months is realy not that long to get back to normal.hopefully it doesn’t take years …good luck to u all…
It sure is quiet here…is everyone ok?
I have a question. Does anyone besides myself experience morning anxiety?? If so, what do you do to combat it? Chasteberry helped me in the beginning, and I continue to take it at night to prevent the morning’s anxious ritual of waking up, but it seems to have ceased working. Does anyone have any advice or helpful hints?? I could REALLY use ANY ideas….
*taps the microphone* is this thing on??? lol
take a walk. ride a bike. go for a swim. i know it can be hard but if you push yourself to get some excersize in the morning it makes the whole day easier.
Thomas;
Starting as soon as I buy everything today I’m stopping trying your method. Been through withdrawls before but I’m tired of always worrying about running out. I’ll deal with pain another way. I’ll let you know how it goes at end of the week. Brett
Hey metoo I’m here if you need / want to talk. I hope all is well with you. I will try to be on often though I keep relapsing.
Kratom has done a great job at preventing any wd i’ve had in getting thru day 4. Been using for years but I was taking around ten roxy 30’s a day, sometimes more, for the past 6 months. I ordered the Kratom and it arrived on day 2 of quitting cold turkey. In past attempts to quit i’ve had terrible chills, diarrhea and impossible to sleep. I’ve had some valium for the sleep this time but thats hardly been an issue at all, I’ve been sleeping ok. But no other symptoms what so ever. Obviously there is the mental thing, which is very tough, but I have had enough energy to get through these days and none of the other issues that I’ve had in the past. I don’t get any sort of high that other people talk about, and thats not why I got it in the first place, but it does do an amazing job at preventing any wd. I hope that helps somebody but I’d like to ask if anybody knows if wd will still be a problem if the only thing i’m on is Kratom for a week or two or three? Will I be able to one day stop the Kratom and feel no wd from anything? Hope so, because this is kind of too good to be true. Hope everyone is doing well.
MY name is Emilie , I have been on vicodin for 9 yrs. in the past year I got to the point of taking antwhere from 160 to 180 milligrams every 4 hrs, dont ask me how im stll alive,God only knows, well I was doing anything I could to get them, doctors and buying them,everybody sells them, I have been clean since june 2 2010 and I feel so much better , I went through the throwing up, runs severe stomach cramps legs and arms shaking, I even had a seizure,but I got through it,Thank God, it was real bad for me for 2 weeks but As many as I was on,If I can get off them anyone can,I wish you all the best,and by the way,I didnt use anything,I got off cold turkey,no meds.
I am on a migraine preventative but have break through headaches from time to time. In my ultimate wisdom I used to try to get off the preventative only to end up back in hell!! I would take Fioricet (SP?) with codine to get rid of the headaches and it helped. Late 2009 I was on a preventative still and for some reason the headaches were crazy bad and I wish I could explain them but they are either the normal lights out/no noise migrain or and all day everyday pain that is running up the right side of my head squeezing and escalating all day everyday. At that time the doctor prescribed vicodin…it helped because the other meds didnt touch it. well thus began the cycle. I am a 40 year old mother of 3 who works full time. I dont smoke or drink often at all! Thankfully I was never one to judge other with problems like this because I would feel like a jackass now wouldnt I! I tried last wed to just stop and take nothing, can anyone here say “dumbass”??? I finally had to cave and fill the script that was at the pharmacy on Thur late morning. It had been a good 48 hours and I was a HOT mess. Wed night cramps and runs and sick and cant sleep and tired and I was determind to just stop I feel like a total idiot. I am so picky about the food and drink I put in my body yet here I am shoving these liver destroying pills down. Thankfully I have a very supportive husband who told me to just relax and back off slowly well since Thur I have pounded the vicodin I guess just trying to get rid of the pains. I had a refill for the fioricet request to my doctor on Friday. Monday his nurse called (thank God for her) she mentioned that since 2009 I have really been taking a lot etc. I explained my goal was to get off all meds. She was worried the meds were making my headaches worse. Makes perfect sense to me. I got advice from her to back off and take excedrine migraine first vs the narcotics. make sure I am hydrated. She asked how many a day I take…I didnt know. She said keep a log. I started that today along with the food and drinks to make sure I am hydrated etc. I have advised my family along with my 18 and 21 year olds what is going on …they knew I took headache meds but now they know I dont want to continue and feel like it is out of control. I hope they see that I will never judge them! Good luck to everyone and Iwill keep an eye out on here for helpful tips to get me through this. The depression section will be hard I am sure but I hope that backing off slowly and with purpose I will not shock my body and it might not be so bad (wishful thinking??? hope not) . I have traded my Slipknow CD for relaxation CD’s, I am getting made fun of but when you are looking for peace you look where it is. I have researched the healing power of stones…again, desperate people : )… Please everyone know you have value and good luck!!!
sorry to be a comment hog…I have also recently found yoga and plan to work up to as many classes a week as I can afford time and money wise. it is an incredible relaxation. I have began a new journey and getting off the meds is really part of it….right now it is going to have to be the biggest part…again, good luck to everyone!!! you are never alone there is always someone out there going through the same thing.
I was clean almost 3 months and was cleaning up around the house,and sure enough I came across a bottle of 26vicodin750s that I stashed last may,and my back was killin me from heavy lifting and painting,yard sale ect…so I said to myself,”why not”?what caan a pill do to make a difference rite now….I took 1 then anothr then anothr that nite….I didn’t feel any different.my back felt a little better,but didn’t really get high off it like b4…well,probly bcause I used to take 3 at a time b4.so the next day I worked,felt no urge all day to take 1,and rewarded myself when I got home to 2 vikes and a beer…felt pretty good…but a little guity…I was so proud of myself for being clean for that 3 months….so today,I am on the oat enjoying a few beers,and I jst took 2 more…I feel as if I got this under control…already know that I can overcome the withdrawel,and I think I’m fine,and once these pills are gone,I won’t seek out to find more.but if they are around,I know I can takke them in moderation,like an asprin for a headache”and not b dependent when I get out of bed first thing in the morning.I am strong now more than ever!and I know I’m not an addict because I control the pills now,they don’t control me.
It sux no matter which way you turn it! I’m on day 5 and today was my first day back to work. I’m just realizing how annoying everyone I work with is and how bored I am at my job! No more chemically induced bursts of energy that makes the world seem a better place. I guess the positive thing to remember is that there was a life before opiates which seemed a whole lot better than life on them! I recently uncovered some pics of myself where I wasn’t taking opiates (at least not as many and not on a regular basis) and I find it shocking how awful I look now in comparison. Good motivator!
The #1 best help for me was exercise and staying active to take the mind off it all. Good Luck to All (incl myself)!
I have read a lot about people going “cold Turkey,” yet, I am trying to wean down. For the past decade or so, I have been going throught bottle of 180 Tramadol each week (I am afraid to do the math). I can’t believe my liver is still functioning. I have tried to get off before, and even succeded once, but like the person above, I found some pills I forgot about in a drawer. Like an idiot, I thought, “Oh, I can control it this time.” Well, here I still am 5 years later… The cycle started all over again.
I decided 1-week ago, when I still had half a bottle left, to wean off .
The worst part is at night, with the sweating & tossing & turning. I have been using Solus to sleep (which is a combo of L-Tryptophan [the stuff in turkey] 5-HTP, Valerian, Hops Melatonin & a few other sleep aids), and it works for about 3-4 hours, then I take another dose in the middle of the night. After reading everyone’s posts, I am getting Valium to help with the anxiety.
My question is this, has anyone ever tried to titrate down? I am now down to about 8 pills a day (2 in the morning, 2 in afternoon, and 4 at night), but I want this to be even lower. Even with this dosing I am still getting anxiety, night sweets, RLS, anxiety, etc., so I cant even imagine what you are going through if your doing this cold turkey! I cant even sleep in the bed with my boyfriend because I toss and turn all night, and want him to get his sleep. Any suggestions?
Thanks every one =)
Hello?
I am now on day 10 of titrating down the meds. It is 3 AM, and I can’t sleep. I am sweating, tossing & turning. I thought I would check in to see if anyone posted. No one yet =(
I am now down to only TWO at night before bed, and I am proud of myself. However, if I am still having these symptoms I may as well go cold turkey. I keep busy during the day, lots of energy during the day (I am taking Wellbutrin, and it helps with energy & mood). I live on the beach, so I take walks regularly, and keep moving. But when night comes, it is unbearable. How long will the night sweats and sleeplessness last?? I just want my 8 hours sleep! Tonight is the worst yet… and its day 10!! Any suggestions for sleep? I cant get any benzo’s, and I have been taking 10 Vallerian Root tabs a night.
I hope someone is out there, I could really use the support right now. I just want to down 10 pills and make this go away!
Im 24 hrs into tryin to go cold turkey!!! I have chills, slight stomach irration and hot and cold sweats. I woke up this morning and said enough.. I have enough pain pills to last me for the next 3 days, taking about 9 7.5 aday. Im done. I feel like hell already. I have begun to take the recipe, I hope its really not as bad as it sounds. My life starts today!!!!!
On Friday August 30th, I found out my supply was gone. Oh yeah, i was taking 10-15 Lorcets per day. I had 1 day to mentally prepare for detox, so I threw out the remaining 2 pills and started as soon as I found out that I would’nt be able to get more. It is now Monday, and I already feel alot better. The first couple days were pretty bad and I had all the symptoms from RLS to insomnia. I literally took 6 shots of Jack on the first night just to pass out, and I don’t even drink. The second night was the worst, no sleep, legs hurt so bad, felt stressed etc… Sunday I was still as drained as you can imagine, but was already feeling like the worst had passed. Sunday night, I didn’t want to go through another sleepless night so I went to Walgreens and got some generic sleeping pills. Recommended dose is 1 pill, I ended up having to take 3 before I could sleep but I got 8 hours. Its Monday now and the only effect now is feeling extremely drained and tired. ITS REALLY NOT SO BAD! These pages have helped me alot with getting the strength to get off these horribly addictive pills, and hopefully with this post it will give one more person the confidence to take the dive. Just remember, If you have a 2 year old daughter like I do, that kid needs you alot more than you need a stupid pill! Go through with it. It’s like having the flu at worst, the only difference is theres no fever and no vomiting. GOOD LUCK AND BEST WISHES TO EVERYONE HERE, YOU HAVE ALREADY TAKEN THE FIRST STEP!
It’s the end of day 4 for me and last night was th e worst I’ve had in a long time. No sleep and RLS like crazy. I’ve been on about 3- 7.5mg a day for two years. I ve missed two years of my life and I’m sick of living a lie. I had the runs but used imodium so not a biggie. Depression was bad the first two days but seems to have left for the most part, thank god. I took double dose of nyquil and never did fall asleep last night so tonight I’m going to try Tylenol pm. I took a run last night for the first time in two year and I felt AWESOME…. Even though I didn’t run far… Thanks to my old buddy back pain but it still was a god send to get out and move around. I’m done with pills forever, I’m not ever going back to that haze. This may sound stupid but everything seems more vivid now. The sky, the sounds, the tastes. I can wait to see what tomorrow brings. I hope the worst is over for me but if not, I’ve gone to far now to turn back. I refuse to go out that way. Good luck folks….
I noticed that no one has posted in a few days, but if anyone is out there who can take the time to talk, I would appreciate it. I’m a mess and know that its just going to get worse. I also know that I am not the first person to go through this…so why do I feel so alone? Terrified to tell my husband. He knows that I’ve been on pain meds for years, but has no idea that I’m not only phyiscally dependent, but also psychologically addicted. Hell, I didn’t even know that I was addicted until about 3 days ago. I have been given a wide range of prescription narcotics for the last 4 years for a severe case of fibromyalgia. Lowest being vic 5/500, highest being percocet 10s. My tolerance grew so that as of yesterday, I have been taking an average of 20 pills a day. My last dose was at 1pm this afternoon, thinking that my doc was going to refill my script sometime today. Instead I was told that I would get nothing more. In the past while waiting on a script to fill, I would “find” a reason to need the ER. Can’t do that now. Financial responsibilites prevent the this-no $$ for the astronomical copay. Doc did give me the clonidine patch and I have ambien for sleep. The problem is that sleep is few and far between for fibromyalgia patients and I have been taking it regularly for 2 yrs and fear that I have a tolerance for it now, too. My husband is in bed and I feel terribly alone. Is there anyone out there willing to dialogue? please?
Just smoked a cigarette. My husband doesn’t smoke so when I want one I have to go the garage. Thinking about putting a chair down there b/c even standing for those 10 minutes was agony on my legs. No idea how I’m going to get through work the next few days. Calling in sick is not an option. I work retail and work tomorrow 5-10pm and then Thursday I do a split shift b/c of inventory. 9am-4 then 8pm-5am. Good God, I’m terrified just thinking about it. I can see that my comments are still awaiting moderation. Am praying that the moderators log on soon so that I can talk w/ someone. Almost like I need someone to acknowledge what I’m going through since I don’t have the guts to tell my husband or parents. I wish I could, but I don’t have enough faith in myself. I know that they are all wonderful beings, every one of them….and they think that I am, too. I don’t want their perception of me to change. I’ve already been labeled as a “drug seeker” by the medical field and can’t handle another stigma. Going to sign off for awhile and try to keep myself busy. Box set of “True Blood” and knitting. Just took my ambien, hoping it will kick in and allow me a few hours of blissful unconsciousness. Isn’t it ironic that the one thing that would let us escape this the one thing that eludes us? Thank you for this site, for the opportunity to put my feelings into words, the possibility to talk to someone who knows what this is like, hopefully doesn’t judge, and hopefully will be willing to talk when the spiders crawl and the hip/leg pain sets in. That’s what’s been worst for me in the past: agonizing pain in the lower back, hips, and legs. Another irony: back, hip, & leg pain are my main fibromyalgia trigger points and therefore what I began taking the meds for in the first place. Today’s official word of the day is “Irony”. Wonder what tomorrow’s will be.
It the end of day five and I probably feel worse then yesterday . Very very tired, I havent slept more then a few hours in the past two days. Nyquil, Tylenol pm, both failed to even make a dent and the RLS is still killing me. No runs today so I’m taking that as a good sign. I’m hitting the vitamins like crazy and I think it’s helping but the nights are killing me, I actually look forward to going to work, not cause I enjoy it but It gets my mind off the lack of sleep. Anyone know how long before the RLS goes away? I got to believe I’m at the tail end. The craving is always there but it gets easier as time goes by I think. Not as depressed as warier either so that’s going in my favor. It helps to read these post. I thank you ALL.
in the middle of tapering process trying to come off doing 4-5 oxy 30’s per day for the last 2 years. about six months ago i tried going cold turkey and made it to day 3 before relapsing. these are the evil, evil fuckers and i will not let them control my life ANYMORE! i am down to 2 today and it sucks but i have to keep going and get past this. Thanks for this site, its awesome to know i’m not the only one. good luck everyone
Jaymee, my wife is going through that too. You sound much more convinced than she was. She went back and forth on “Why should I have to live without these?” and I just kept telling myself that it was the meds talking, not her. She had the runs, phantom pain, and just crazy anger/depression. BUT like I said, she wasn’t as committed as you sound you are.
She got through it and is happier and more focused now. You can too! Besides, a True Blood marathon sounds great! I also recommend BBC’s Being Human for a quality vampire program.
I’m (or should I say we) are on day 9 of our Dr aided taper down schedule. My husband and I were doing 3-30 milgrm roxy’s/day fro 2 years. We tried to detox cold turkey 4 or 5 times but never got past day 3. I wish we werre aware of the Thomas Recipe, we may have had a better shot of being successful at it. After the last time we tried to detox we realized the severity of our problem. We have 3 kids and a full time jobs, plus I’m in school so we can’t just try detoxing whenever we want. I finally built up the guts to go to a Dr and tell him about our problem, I figured ‘what the hell, what could it hurt?’ He currently has us tapering off them, which is almost as hard as just going cold turkey. Having them here in the house and knowing we can’t do as much as we want when we want is very hard and is taking a huge amount of will power that I didn’t even know we had. We have our daily dosage rashined out per Dr’s orders. He drops our miligram dosage every few days, so just when our body has adjusted to getting the new amount, he drops us again, not alowing us to feel ‘comfortable.’ He’s going to taper us down as low as possible before he stops it all together, thus making the detox not as severe. That being said, instead of going thru hardcore detox over the course of a week, we are going thru mild-moderate detox symtoms daily. I dont’ know if its any better but it makes it so we can actually function and live our lives. Anyways, I want to try the thomas recipe for our tapering, obviously we won’t need such high dosages of the vitamens, has anyone had any experiance with doing this? Thanks!
Great website, detailed and compassionate. Been there. For those of you who believe, your faith will carry you through the darkestest moments.
End of day 7 and I got about6 hours of needed sleep last night, RLS is pretty much gone and not as depressed, I almost broke done and gave into that nagging craving. But thanks to these posts, I realized, why would I want to go back to starting this crap over? I hope the craving goes away, I can’t believe what a hold it has on you. I hope my story helps just one person like your stories have helped me.
Fingers & Thumbs-thank you! I can’t tell you how nice it was to get a “you can do it’
I truly hope that your wife is well, and really appreciate the kind words.
I’ve been taking the potassium and valerian root, the only ones I could afford. After reading everything those two sounded like if I can only pick two, those were the ones that could help the most. Still have on the clonidine patch. I’ve been very weepy-crying at the drop of a hat. Doc gave me some tramadol & that helped. But only gave me 2 days worth. So now I’m scared that the symptoms will come back with a vengeance tomorrow. My husband goes out of town again on Monday. I get mopey whenever he leaves for a trip, but expect this time to be worse since I’m so emotional.
Snoman-proud of you. Reading your words of courage are giving me courage. Thank you.
I did not read this site until day 5 !! Years of use, increasing from 2x per day, 5mg Norco, to 4x per day. I recently upped it to 8x per day to get rid of them. Now I am at day 7 and doing O.K. I have not had RLS or sleeping problems, just the opposite! I felt so fatigued for first few days. No muscle aches to speak of. I did try to hike every day for 30 to 60 min. up and down hill. Luckily I am retired, otherwise…I have been down this road before but like the morphine too much to stop completely. I have even though about maxing at 10mg per day and then 24 hrs without to allow usage without tolerance…oh well !!
Jaymee… Hang in there, the emotional roller-coaster slows down every day… At least it is for me. I too was a mess, and my wife is also gone right now so I know how it is to go it alone… But you really aren’t alone, we are here for you. End of day 9 and I feel awesome. I don’t remember ever feeling this much energy before, but it been two years since I started down the dark road. So I guess the little bastard( white pill) tricked me for awhile. It does get easier folks, maybe not as quick for some , but hang in there, it is worth it. I’m loving life again, something I thought was not possible sober. Is there temptation? HELL yeah, but why go back????? Move forward, and don’t beat yourself up if you fall, just start moving …. I know I wasn’t as deep as some on here but I am thankful for this outlet… If your battling withdrawals… Write something, it’s very liberating and it helps to know your not alone…. We know how you feel….
I have been opiate clean now for almost three months. I still have moments where I feel like I need it to get through the day or I can get away with taking it once. This happens a couple of times a week and I have found taking kava helps immensely with that. Congrats to everyone doing so well.
I meant to say almost four months.
If any of you are pray-ers, please paray for me tonight. It’s my first night back at work, only a 5 hr shift, but I’ll be on my feet the entire time training a new employee. I’m terrified that the leg/hip/back pain is going to get worse from this. Hope all of you are doing well. WE CAN DO THIS!
Char,glad to hear uve been clean the same amount of time as me,and I feel tired a lot,I gained 10lbs,because my appetite is actually back.recently though,I got my refill from dr.and gave them to a person at work,but I kept half the bottle and I took aroumd 3 a day of norco….it felt good,but I felt guilty…the difference from before,was that if I was running out,then I would make sure I had a constant supply.but now they ran out and I don’t find myself wanting to go find more….but now I know I don’t have to rely on them….I jst don’t wanto go through that withdrawel aggain…I think its ok to do recreationally tome time if u can handle it…it did feel good on those bad days at work.lol…not encourging it at all…jst have to admit that I relapsed,but at the same toime,it showed me that I can control the addiction now,and don’t have to get out of bed first thing and cluck out for the pill…good luck to you all,and stay off of them….btw,it really didn’t feel that great when I took the first pill,I actually noticed I feel way better without them….thereas such a difference now…
Jaymee… How are you doing? Hang in there, it’s worth it!!!…. Day 15 for me and I’ve had a list of small things, a slight cold and flu symptoms hit me a few days ago but lasted for about 24 hours. STILL not sleeping right, fall asleep fast but wake up around 2am and cant get back to sleep. RLS is back also, but I’m gonna try bananas and see if that works. Emotions are back under control at least, and I don’t feel depressed anymore, in fact, I feel more alive then ever, I’m controlling my pain with a non narcotic naproxen. Seems to work awesome for me. Better then the vics and non addictive. Good luck folks, and please don’t fool yourselves into thinking you can control the pills ” this time” if you play with snakes, sooner or later your gonna get bitten. Good luck, and remember we know what your going through….
Snoman: I’m hanging in there, thanks for checking on me. I’m on day 13 of no vics, day 10 of no tramadol, and just woke up from my second night of no ambien. The first night of w/o ambien i slept for about 6 and 1/2 hrs un-interrupted. I think that it was due to the fact that I worked a crazy busy 7 hr shift at work. Wanted to whack a few customers in the face w/ a board full of nails. Why do people think that we hide what they want “in the back”??? Yes, we keep a huge box full of the exact movie you want in our office and when you ask for it we lie and tell you that we’re out. Gah. Sorry about that tangent. It seems that while going through this excellent customer service is just not my forte. Anyway, last night was rough. I worked day instead of evening yesterday and though I was exhausted come bedtime, sleep was still eluding me. Finally fell asleep around 4am but continued to wake up every 30-40 minutes until I decided to stay up around 8:30am. I’m still on the valerian, potassium, and the clonidine patch. Last day for the patch is tomorrow. Snoman, I really hope that we get some good restful sleep tonight. The bananas should help the RLS. I know what you mean about feeling alive. I picked up my guitar 2 days ago for the first time in months. A friend’s band has decided to record an album and they want a female vocalist for one of the songs & they asked me to sing. All of the possibilities that I let slip by for so long are now giving me joy and excitement. Take care everyone. It really does get a little better each day. Keep yourself busy and remember that we’re all here on this site going or have gone through the same things. None of us is alone. If you’re just reading and haven’t posted, give it a try. It really does help to have an outlet.
Jaymee,
hey i have been tryin to round up all the meds and vitamins to start the detox i also have klonopin and clonidine. my question for you is i want to know how much i should take, how often and also for how long?
To everyone else,
Has anyone tried taking klonopin, clonidine, suboxone and all the other meds and vitamins for the recipe? main concern is the suboxone seeing that no one on here really has tried it in the mix with everything else? any help is really needed i am ready to start detox right now so info soon would be great! thanks everyone this blog has brought a great spirit to my eyes and i want nothingmore then to have my life back. I think a lot of people on here are recovering off vicodin i am currently doing oxycontin. weened myself down to about 40mg a day now (from 200mg!) and i am 100% commited to putting this in the past right here right now. thanks for the help!
Hey, camcrush: I am truly sorry that it took this long for me to read your post and respond. Work has been keeping me at the store crazy hours. To answer your questions, This is exactly what I did and the meds/vitamin supplements I took (slightly altered from the Thomas Recipe due to financial restraints). Please realize that I am not in any way a medical professional. This is just how I got through the worst of it with my doc’s help.
Clonidine Patch .01 mg per day dosage-I started this 2 days before I stopped the vics. I knew that I had about 2 days worth of vics left, and I had read somewhere that even thought its a 7 day patch it can take up to 24 hrs before the full effects kick in. The upside of the patch is that its transdermal-it releases the med through your skin at a constant dosing throughout the day. Plus you don’t have to worry about another pill to take since you change it every 7 days. I used the clonidine patch for the first 3 weeks. My doc had prescribed 4, but said that my heart rate had begun to decrease I could give up the patch after week 2 or 3. That’s another thing: when using the clonidine its a good idea to keep track of your heart rate. lay down in a resting position and find your heartbeat in either your neck or wrist and count the number of times your heart beats in one minute. I did this twice a day, about mid-day and right before I tried to sleep. I kept a small notepad on my nightstand. After the second or third week of being on the clonidine and narcotic-free you should see your heart rate number will be getting lower. When you feel ready just take off the patch.
Ativan .5 mgs- I was prescribed 30 pills. I took one tablet every six hrs for the first 4 days. Then I tapered down per the doc’s orders b/c you shouldn’t just stop a med like ativan, valium, or klonopin. I tapered starting the 5th day by taking 1 in morning, a half in afternoon, and 1 at dinner. Toast was all I was able to handle at that point still, but you really do need sustenance. 6th day I did a half in the morning, a half in afternoon, and a full one at dinnertime. Essentially I just tapered until the script was gone.
Ambien 10 mg- Everyone is different, but I found that it takes at least an hour for this to kick in for me. It definitely helped to get some sleep. It’s a choice for you, though. Some choose not to use prescription sleep aids b/c they can be habit forming. I would take this between 10-11pm.
Potassium 595 mg- I would take one pill at 9pm
Valerian 450mg-I would take 4 capsules at 9pm along with the potassium. If I was still awake at midnight, which I usually was since sleep is so rare during detox, I would take another 4 capsules. Keep in mind that this was also along with the ambien. My doc said that it was fine to mix these together.
B6 100 mg- I would take this in the morning while I was drinking my coffee. All the vitamins say on the label to take them preferably with a meal. Not really an option for us during detox what with the lack of appetite and the intestinal issues.
Use the Immodium as needed. Soak in hot baths and take hot showers to work the knots our of your neck and back. Keep your mind and your hands occupied. I would stretch out on the bed in a slight sitting position and I would knit/crochet/weave on my tiny loom while my husband would read classic books aloud to me. my mind and my hands were occupied. REALLY helped with the fidgeting.
camcrush, not sure of your gender
but some other small projects can be to dust and alphabetize your dvd collection. Same with books-dust them then organize them by author, subject, color, whatever 
just keep yourself occupied.
Remember, we all inspire each other. Proud of you already!
YOU CAN DO THIS! It will hurt, it will suck, it will be miserable. but…..its SO WORTH IT. Please let us know how you’re doing. If you have any other questions, just post them
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