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.
If you have trouble getting your hands on some of the above ingredients, then there are over-the-counter products like Withdrawal-Ease that might serve as a good substitue.
935 comments
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.
this is the site:
http://www.dpeg.org/treatment/methadone_withdrawal.htm
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.
I am on day 7 now 🙂 🙂 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.????!!!
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!!!
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!!! 😀 I am so proud of Shmoe…. Geez, where ARE my pom-poms???? Yay, rah! Shmoe is great, Ya! 😀
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 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 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 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! 🙂
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