Hi, everyone
My son admitted to me tonight that he has gone from vicodin to percocet to oxycontin to heroin but said he's not taking nearly what he was up to before. He said that he started taking it because of the knee pain. He had been clean for about 1 1/2 years. He said he's been trying for over a month to get in to the only suboxone doctor we know of in the Harrisburg, PA area (Dr. Fierer). He had gotton suboxone from him before for a short time. They told him he had to be put on a long waiting list. He checked into what detox would cost (because he doesn't have medical insurance) and they said about $2,300. He told his girlfriend that he's been trying to detox but hasn't been able to make it through (that's the profuse sweating we've seen on a few occasions). He doesn't want to lose his job so he said he's going to try to detox using vicodin. Any suggestions, advice, or information would be appreciated. He told me that he did have methadone offered to him and he didn't feel he needed to go to that and knew it was an unreliable source (the person might need to use it and he'd be stuck without any). He told me he hasn't done coke or meth either.
Thanks so much. At least he's talking and admitting. That's a small step in the right direction.
Love,
Susan
Susan I would say that using Vicodin to come off heroin is futile.
Aside from Sub, there is the old Catapres/Valium detox that was the best on offer until recently. Any Dr can prescribe it and he can detox at home.
You might want to look at Naltrexone (Revia) for when he is clean, as pain is a major trigger for relapse.
I will search for one of my old posts on catapres (clonidine) detox and post it for you.
Aside from Sub, there is the old Catapres/Valium detox that was the best on offer until recently. Any Dr can prescribe it and he can detox at home.
You might want to look at Naltrexone (Revia) for when he is clean, as pain is a major trigger for relapse.
I will search for one of my old posts on catapres (clonidine) detox and post it for you.
Clonidine (Catapres) Detox. (PDF File) You will need Adobe Reader to view this file.
The opiate detox guideline is Chapter 4. Before Bupe, Clonidine detox was the main method of inpatient/outpatient detox.
It starts on page 71, but the detox guideline using catapres is on about page 90
Good luck
The opiate detox guideline is Chapter 4. Before Bupe, Clonidine detox was the main method of inpatient/outpatient detox.
It starts on page 71, but the detox guideline using catapres is on about page 90
Good luck
Silent Partner
Thanks so much for posting this. I am in Australia and it is fascinating reading. Again thanks
Wendy
Ps the codeine forum is sooo hard to use, I read but cant figure it out at all
Thanks so much for posting this. I am in Australia and it is fascinating reading. Again thanks
Wendy
Ps the codeine forum is sooo hard to use, I read but cant figure it out at all
Susan
Good that your openly discussing your sons problem. Before I went to WD rehab - I spent 3 weeks in Giesinger(sp) M.C on that old Catapres /valium treatment- it was no trip to the beach- however ,it sounds like your son doesnt have to big of a habit yet.--and it was before the days of subs - -
All the more reason to act swiftly,because we know what starts off as a relief of pain ,for an addict can turn into a savage addiction before we even realize it.
The idea that he could use vicadan to detox is silly,as you can see that no matter what, the DOC always returns.
Doing the detox at home is something I cant speak on, as I did in in the hospital(I had a huge habit & I believe a home detox would never had worked for me)
Keep your head, and continued support- he will see that ,and it will give him needed confidance
Keep in touch
much peace,
jack
Good that your openly discussing your sons problem. Before I went to WD rehab - I spent 3 weeks in Giesinger(sp) M.C on that old Catapres /valium treatment- it was no trip to the beach- however ,it sounds like your son doesnt have to big of a habit yet.--and it was before the days of subs - -
All the more reason to act swiftly,because we know what starts off as a relief of pain ,for an addict can turn into a savage addiction before we even realize it.
The idea that he could use vicadan to detox is silly,as you can see that no matter what, the DOC always returns.
Doing the detox at home is something I cant speak on, as I did in in the hospital(I had a huge habit & I believe a home detox would never had worked for me)
Keep your head, and continued support- he will see that ,and it will give him needed confidance
Keep in touch
much peace,
jack
Hi Susan, I don't know anything about vics - for some reason we don't seem to have the same pill problem over here. I just don't hear about it. I still thinks subs are the best option. I remember that you said that he used low doses of Seroquel to help with the insomnia and that was quite effective. The thing about withdrawals is they are more bearable during the day, when you have distractions and things going on to take your mind off it, but at night when it's just you and your demons, it's a literal nightmare. So perhaps he could get a 2 week Seroquel script, and perhaps diazapam to take the edge off the withdrawals. And apart from that its good old ibuprofen and paracetamol. Again, I don't know about clonidine coz I've never come across it.
One of the things that helped me during detox was to try and keep occupied, even though I felt rough, because there was nothing worse than sitting about just thinking about it.
love
Diff xxx
ps. At least you KNOW now...
One of the things that helped me during detox was to try and keep occupied, even though I felt rough, because there was nothing worse than sitting about just thinking about it.
love
Diff xxx
ps. At least you KNOW now...
Oh Susan that stinks. It's really good though he has told you. He's at least telling the truth.
Man, I am so sorry.
There's no advice I can give. Everyone else has given good advice. I too had tried countless times detoxing with either perc's or vic's, and that had me chasing more and more pills. Thank goodness he survived those oxy's. Susan, when he had that trouble resurface for his knee I was afraid of this. Truthfully if everyone told me I could have NADA and I was in pain I think I'd go right out and cop dope. It's the fact people would tell me I had to stay in pain would make me nuts. Nobody should be in pain. I know, I know now he's in more pain as are all his loved ones. I am so sorry.
Big time prayers for your son, and you, Susan. Your instincts were right. He knows the drill, and caught it in time I believe. I am so sorry.
Man, I am so sorry.
There's no advice I can give. Everyone else has given good advice. I too had tried countless times detoxing with either perc's or vic's, and that had me chasing more and more pills. Thank goodness he survived those oxy's. Susan, when he had that trouble resurface for his knee I was afraid of this. Truthfully if everyone told me I could have NADA and I was in pain I think I'd go right out and cop dope. It's the fact people would tell me I had to stay in pain would make me nuts. Nobody should be in pain. I know, I know now he's in more pain as are all his loved ones. I am so sorry.
Big time prayers for your son, and you, Susan. Your instincts were right. He knows the drill, and caught it in time I believe. I am so sorry.
Hi, everyone
The receptionist at the suboxone doctor's office told us he would call us today but neither of us received a call. Before you jump all over me...the reason they were going to call me if they didn't get through to him was because he was working in a bad reception area for his cell phone and that was the only option he had to receive a call because he paints houses. Anyway, he took 2 325 mg percocets this evening and that's it so far. He told me that he was taking about 1/2 a bundle/day of heroin which he said was no where near what he was up to before. I noticed a BIG change in him this past weekend. There was NO DOUBT he was using something. We're going to try checking with some other doctors tomorrow. We just thought the one he dealt with before would be the quickest way to obtain some.
Love,
Susan
The receptionist at the suboxone doctor's office told us he would call us today but neither of us received a call. Before you jump all over me...the reason they were going to call me if they didn't get through to him was because he was working in a bad reception area for his cell phone and that was the only option he had to receive a call because he paints houses. Anyway, he took 2 325 mg percocets this evening and that's it so far. He told me that he was taking about 1/2 a bundle/day of heroin which he said was no where near what he was up to before. I noticed a BIG change in him this past weekend. There was NO DOUBT he was using something. We're going to try checking with some other doctors tomorrow. We just thought the one he dealt with before would be the quickest way to obtain some.
Love,
Susan
Hello ..Susan..just a quick post..hows Harry getting on?as best as can be expected i presume....as the others said now at least you know whats goin on&can be proactive about his issues.Hope things work out..hes done it before&can do it again ..kick it i mean.All the best to the two of you.......Davey
Hi, Davey
Thanks for asking. The suboxone doctor didn't call yesterday and wasn't in today. They said that they left another note for him to call tomorrow. If he doesn't, we'll try another doctor in the area. My son has only had to take 4 percocets (325 mg) to get through yesterday and today. I HOPE that's all he's taking. It's on him if he's not being honest. He said he's trying to get along with as little as possible...only taking when it gets really bad. Please keep the prayers coming.
Hope all is well with you. :)
Love,
Susan
Thanks for asking. The suboxone doctor didn't call yesterday and wasn't in today. They said that they left another note for him to call tomorrow. If he doesn't, we'll try another doctor in the area. My son has only had to take 4 percocets (325 mg) to get through yesterday and today. I HOPE that's all he's taking. It's on him if he's not being honest. He said he's trying to get along with as little as possible...only taking when it gets really bad. Please keep the prayers coming.
Hope all is well with you. :)
Love,
Susan
Susan
I hope you get ahold of that doctor soon. It sounds to me if he was doing 5- to 6- bags of heroin daily for awhile like he said- - 2 percs would never be enough to get him thru work , the day, and thru the night.- - but- who knows ,maybe he,s fighting it (mentally,and otherwise) like crazy.- anyway-
I,ve mentioned how drinking can be a trigger for me. Its sounds like it might be one for your son also. You want to feel sooo normal with the guys at work- you want to have a few beers after a hard day- - you want to be one of the crew - but in cases like this you really have to think 1st. I know I do.
The only reason it might be a little easier for me ,is I have about a thousand years experiance with this nonscence.
all the best & much love of course
jack
I hope you get ahold of that doctor soon. It sounds to me if he was doing 5- to 6- bags of heroin daily for awhile like he said- - 2 percs would never be enough to get him thru work , the day, and thru the night.- - but- who knows ,maybe he,s fighting it (mentally,and otherwise) like crazy.- anyway-
I,ve mentioned how drinking can be a trigger for me. Its sounds like it might be one for your son also. You want to feel sooo normal with the guys at work- you want to have a few beers after a hard day- - you want to be one of the crew - but in cases like this you really have to think 1st. I know I do.
The only reason it might be a little easier for me ,is I have about a thousand years experiance with this nonscence.
all the best & much love of course
jack
Hi, everyone
Thanks for the responses. The doctor returned the call today and he has an appointment tomorrow morning. It wasn't until about two weeks before Christmas that it seemed like the money from his paycheck was disappearing more rapidly. Of course he was buying Christmas gifts but he was charging some of that too. Well, at least he wasn't stealing to support his habit yet!
He said he really wants to do this. I HOPE he does.
Love,
Susan
Thanks for the responses. The doctor returned the call today and he has an appointment tomorrow morning. It wasn't until about two weeks before Christmas that it seemed like the money from his paycheck was disappearing more rapidly. Of course he was buying Christmas gifts but he was charging some of that too. Well, at least he wasn't stealing to support his habit yet!
He said he really wants to do this. I HOPE he does.
Love,
Susan
Hi Susan, Your son has your support and that's a big thing. He has someone he can talk to!! Someone that he knows cares about him.I know when I was trying so hard to get off heroin, my mom was always there for me! That meant so much to me as I'm sure it does for your son also. I went through the clonidine?valium detox several times. That's not saying it doesn't work. It works well for detox. It's afterwards that he'll be in trouble. I kept hanging with the same guys until eventually, I would be using again. He'll have to change friends and hangouts. If he has friends he's using with, they're probably not really friends anyway. That has been my experience. And I found that after I got clean, I had nothing in common with them anyway.
Susan how are ya?glad the Doct.got back&things may progress a bit now ,but a Shirley said he has to dump all his user friends&contacts...coz his physical discomfort may last a week but its afterwards that is the real battle.All the best as ever...Davey
Dear Shirley and Davey,
I don't think it was friends that lead him back to using. It was the knee injury and resulting pain. Because of his pain pills/heroin abuse, he has to take a lot of pain medication to get relief (at least that's what he claims). Since the doctor wouldn't prescribe anything for him....just told him to take Advil...he decided to relieve his pain the wrong way. And because it's expensive to buy the pain pills the wrong way, he went back to heroin. He did drop all his drug friends and was hanging out with his high school/college friends again. He was even recently contacted by his xgf and didn't meet up with her. Thank God for that!
Love,
Susan
I don't think it was friends that lead him back to using. It was the knee injury and resulting pain. Because of his pain pills/heroin abuse, he has to take a lot of pain medication to get relief (at least that's what he claims). Since the doctor wouldn't prescribe anything for him....just told him to take Advil...he decided to relieve his pain the wrong way. And because it's expensive to buy the pain pills the wrong way, he went back to heroin. He did drop all his drug friends and was hanging out with his high school/college friends again. He was even recently contacted by his xgf and didn't meet up with her. Thank God for that!
Love,
Susan
Susan,
That's good that Doctor got back to you guys. Wow, he was using 5-6 bags?
Man, that makes me so sad. Well at least he's ready to do this. He told, and like Shirley said he has your support. Your family is the best.
We all love you, Susan. Look at all these posts ya got. Harry is so fortunate to have you as a mom.
In all honesty, and maybe this is an excuse, but if my knee was that bad, and they told me to take a lousy Advil or something I'd be right where your son is. That just makes me livid. Our tolerance isn't up when we first pick up but it goes up QUICK. The pills are alot of loot too. So he's actually telling the truth there. Susan, I am so sorry. He's going to get through this though. Please let us know tomorrow how it goes. He's going to be O.K.
That's good that Doctor got back to you guys. Wow, he was using 5-6 bags?
Man, that makes me so sad. Well at least he's ready to do this. He told, and like Shirley said he has your support. Your family is the best.
We all love you, Susan. Look at all these posts ya got. Harry is so fortunate to have you as a mom.
In all honesty, and maybe this is an excuse, but if my knee was that bad, and they told me to take a lousy Advil or something I'd be right where your son is. That just makes me livid. Our tolerance isn't up when we first pick up but it goes up QUICK. The pills are alot of loot too. So he's actually telling the truth there. Susan, I am so sorry. He's going to get through this though. Please let us know tomorrow how it goes. He's going to be O.K.
Susan,
You have E mail.
You have E mail.
Hi, everyone
He went for his appointment today and the doctor told him that he could take the suboxone when he feels he's far enough into withdrawals. Lately it's been early morning that he's been feeling the need for the percocet so he's planning on that. He's supposed to take an 8 mg tablets twice a day. That seems like a lot, but I'm not going to question the doctor. Wow! $295/month! He BETTER get insurance real soon! He's not feeling good now but he's going to try to get to sleep like he's been doing so he can wait until early morning. Thanks for the prayers that have brought him to want to do this for himself!
Love,
Susan
He went for his appointment today and the doctor told him that he could take the suboxone when he feels he's far enough into withdrawals. Lately it's been early morning that he's been feeling the need for the percocet so he's planning on that. He's supposed to take an 8 mg tablets twice a day. That seems like a lot, but I'm not going to question the doctor. Wow! $295/month! He BETTER get insurance real soon! He's not feeling good now but he's going to try to get to sleep like he's been doing so he can wait until early morning. Thanks for the prayers that have brought him to want to do this for himself!
Love,
Susan
