Greetings all.
We are in an interesting situation. We are a couple who has been abusing narcotics (percocet, vicodin, and fentanyl) for quite some time. It is honestly a sickening situation; it seems as though we are in a vicious cycle trying to avoid the prolonged withdrawal that is due to come. We have resorted to hospital hopping to obtain percocet or vicodin to relieve the severe withdrawals coming from fentanyl, (have read it's 80 times more powerful than morphine) and we're at the point where percocet 10/325's are barely touching us. So where, if so, can we find a step-down program? We have obviously tried the cold-turkey approach, and have failed miserably multiple times. This is truly an embarrasing situation, and we were happy to find a resource like this. Hopefully we will be able to gain insight into "detoxing," and regaining a healthy life, narcotic-free. We have taken the first step, which is coming to the realization that we cannot fall into the same cycle again; yet we sit in front of a bottle of Percocet. Go figure?
What alternatives are there to the cold-turkey approach?
Desperately,
J&N
there is detox and rehab, those are two good starts. a detox dr will give you mediceine to help ease the symptoms of withdrawals they are non narcotic meds. try immodium, advil, hot baths, pray, try to move around and walk, stay busy even if you feel like you cant, you make yourself, and you could try and na/aa meeting for some f2f support. many have done it before you, yur not alone and theres nothing to be ashamed of. its a disease. you wouldnt be ashamed of being diabetic. but stick around others will have more ideas.
and welcome aboard. keep asking questions. the more knowledge you gain the better you'll feel. i'm terrianne i'm an addict of every pain killer anything prescribed imagined cocktailed with benzos and muscle relaxers. i did it i survived. its hell for a couple weeks but it gets better and better. your worth it both of you. it can be done.
and welcome aboard. keep asking questions. the more knowledge you gain the better you'll feel. i'm terrianne i'm an addict of every pain killer anything prescribed imagined cocktailed with benzos and muscle relaxers. i did it i survived. its hell for a couple weeks but it gets better and better. your worth it both of you. it can be done.
Welcome..this is the place to go for support. Everyone here has been there done that, and has heard it all so nothing shocks them.. I have tried the cold turkey many many times and it is just too hard. You will need to go to a detox dr and get help that way, they will help you with the withdraws wchich are like the flu but 100 times worse..I have heard advil, immodium, vitamin B-12, and Benadryl helps with the withdraws. You can do this, just seek as much help as you possibly can, I have been trying like H**l to do this alone and I just can't. Keep coming here the people are great..Kim
Hi I am Rae and welcome to the board. So how long have you and your husband been using? Do you take the vicodin and percocet everyday? if so how much? Just a few questions to get to know you situation better. Stick around there are many cool people on here that will give you suggestions and advice... Take care! Rae
first off i agree with boo in saying it can be done and you are worth it. my wife and i are also addicted to any pain killer around so i know what it feels like to also have a spouse addicted( taking for ganted by your post this is your situation). i used to beat myself up alot for bringing it in and getting her addicted but also, she has had injuries and also has legit reason for using. it is just we abused them and always ran out early so it was a cycle of wd/ use, w/d use, w/d use. it was actually pure hell about every 26 days or so for about 5 to 7 days a month so i guess i am just saying there are a lot of us here who know what you are going through so welcome to the board and good luck in finding your way out of this hell. and i don't think there is any easy way of quitting without going through the w/d's for about 2 week or so. hang in there you can do it
with Christ's love
johnny
with Christ's love
johnny
For most of us like you and you wife,the best thing to do is tring a methadone program when your on it you have no withdrawls and feel good also you wont go to er rooms to score pills,i been there to the point of writing rxs,on been doing it since 85, Anyway if you both agree that no matter what you will chase pills to you die, Try methadone program you can be setup in 1 to 2 days, and never chase pills again able to work and live a nomal life it took me 20 years to find it for me
Hey and welcome to the board! Sound like you are ready for a different way to live. If that is so, do not go the methadone route. That is just trading one addiction for another, and methadone is very,very hard to withdraw from. I would suggest you find a detox/addiction dr. and let him guide your withdrawal. Don't know much about the fentanyl, but it sounds pretty strong and I would definitely seek prof. help with it.
Congratulations on admitting you need help and asking for it. I wish you the best of luck. This board is a great help. You will always find much support and information here. Good luck!!
Roger,
Almost everytime I read one of your posts you tell someone to go to a methadone clinic and you speak so highly of it. "It makes you feel great and you can work and never chase pills again". Then you say how you won't feel withdrawls and you have energy bla bla bla...... It may work for you because you have been on it since 1985 and I assume you plan on being on it til you die.
That is great because it works for you and it may be quality of life for you. I will not knock you, but for this couple I will say...
I was addicted to methadone for 2 1/2 years back in 2002. I weaned myself down to 2.5 mg before stopping. I went through the worst withdrawls anyone could ever imagine. I was praying for death and begging God to help me...
The stomach cramps, diarrhea, cramping in the legs so bad I wanted to cut them off. Couldn't sleep for the longest time. Body aches so bad I couldn't even stand up to shower.It even hurt to brush my hair. OTC meds barely eased the pain. It took a LONG time to feel "normal again"... If anyone thinks that switching to methadone is the answer think again. I may be great for someone that is in chronic pain and is going to die, like Cancer , Aids or for those that plan to be on it FOREVER. I would never suggest it in detoxing from Vicodin or percocet. That is just ridiculous.You would be setting yourself up for a huge dissappointment when it was time to quit..... Way harder to detox from.
This is my opinion from my experience. I would highly recommend rehab or medical supervison while detoxing..Methadone is not the answer and once you started going to a clinic they would keep you coming back for more and it doesn't take long to be hooked and ultimately screwed. Rae
Almost everytime I read one of your posts you tell someone to go to a methadone clinic and you speak so highly of it. "It makes you feel great and you can work and never chase pills again". Then you say how you won't feel withdrawls and you have energy bla bla bla...... It may work for you because you have been on it since 1985 and I assume you plan on being on it til you die.
That is great because it works for you and it may be quality of life for you. I will not knock you, but for this couple I will say...
I was addicted to methadone for 2 1/2 years back in 2002. I weaned myself down to 2.5 mg before stopping. I went through the worst withdrawls anyone could ever imagine. I was praying for death and begging God to help me...
The stomach cramps, diarrhea, cramping in the legs so bad I wanted to cut them off. Couldn't sleep for the longest time. Body aches so bad I couldn't even stand up to shower.It even hurt to brush my hair. OTC meds barely eased the pain. It took a LONG time to feel "normal again"... If anyone thinks that switching to methadone is the answer think again. I may be great for someone that is in chronic pain and is going to die, like Cancer , Aids or for those that plan to be on it FOREVER. I would never suggest it in detoxing from Vicodin or percocet. That is just ridiculous.You would be setting yourself up for a huge dissappointment when it was time to quit..... Way harder to detox from.
This is my opinion from my experience. I would highly recommend rehab or medical supervison while detoxing..Methadone is not the answer and once you started going to a clinic they would keep you coming back for more and it doesn't take long to be hooked and ultimately screwed. Rae
Hi,
When I first read this post..I thought..oh wow can i relate to this or what..lol.My husband and myself are bothe recovering addicts/alcoholics. This is the second time for us. First time my husband went to detox/rehab for 33 days while I cold turkeyed it at home....second time alittle over a year ago....tried to taper down...that didnt work so we c./t it together. For me going to meetings helped alot. I went with 24 hours clean. I sat there and shook and all it was horrible but I made it through. Maybe you could check out a detox or call your dr to help? Going c/t isnt easy but it can be done. Good luck. take care
God bless
gina :)
When I first read this post..I thought..oh wow can i relate to this or what..lol.My husband and myself are bothe recovering addicts/alcoholics. This is the second time for us. First time my husband went to detox/rehab for 33 days while I cold turkeyed it at home....second time alittle over a year ago....tried to taper down...that didnt work so we c./t it together. For me going to meetings helped alot. I went with 24 hours clean. I sat there and shook and all it was horrible but I made it through. Maybe you could check out a detox or call your dr to help? Going c/t isnt easy but it can be done. Good luck. take care
God bless
gina :)
NewAddicts,
Please look into buprenorphine. I in the middle of it saving my life from pain pills. http://www.herion-detox.com will give you all the info you need. Good luck!
Brian
Please look into buprenorphine. I in the middle of it saving my life from pain pills. http://www.herion-detox.com will give you all the info you need. Good luck!
Brian
great post rae
you and i both know what methadone does to the body, huh
it is the worst thing i ever had. when i first was put on it it was for pain management and i thought it was going to be great afterall it is what they got people off heroin with, right, wrong i didn't know it also was an opioid but to my surprise i am now addicted to methadone. a friend of mine was a heroin addict and he told me "getting off herion with methadone is like getting an alcoholic off of beer with liquor" he was right i have never had anything take such a hold on me so if at all possible STAY OFF THE METHADONE please for your own sake
in Christ's love
johnny
you and i both know what methadone does to the body, huh
it is the worst thing i ever had. when i first was put on it it was for pain management and i thought it was going to be great afterall it is what they got people off heroin with, right, wrong i didn't know it also was an opioid but to my surprise i am now addicted to methadone. a friend of mine was a heroin addict and he told me "getting off herion with methadone is like getting an alcoholic off of beer with liquor" he was right i have never had anything take such a hold on me so if at all possible STAY OFF THE METHADONE please for your own sake
in Christ's love
johnny
Thank goodness for your posts Rae and Johnny....I wish it were a few years back when I had NEVER heard of methadone. It twisted my life and body so far out of wack!!! How can people say its helpful. Its MY drug of choice....it made me steal, lie, lose my job, lose my place, stay in a horrible relationship...now i'm at my bottom and dealing with the sickness. Not the answer in my book. please just be aware.
San-
San-
Rae I think you use this broard instead of the phone I read many of you post replys I think you are not a addict, You just need to talk
Most addicts never get drug free and thats a fact,I say methadone will give you a better life, Then relapasing over and over, clean a year then dirty a year ,If your honestwith youself can you think you will be drug free,Its away to be able to work and have some kind of Life.
You are too funny. I read your post to my boyfriend and he laughed his a$$ off,,,Want me to send ya my phone bill. You think I use the board instead of the phone,hahahahahahahahahahahah. No Roger I use the phone, I know I have a big mouth and I can admit it but I hardly use the board just to talk...
I use the board to help others whenever I can because I have been there, I have relapsed and I have been through my share of withdrawls from a few different narcotics. Am I proud, hell no but I resent the fact that you say I am not an addict and just want to talk.The board helps me deal with using. It truely keeps me down to 5-10 mg a day of vicodin. One day I will quit. I never claimed I was clean and never said I was perfect. Do I really sound like a liar? Cause I am not. Go back and read all my old posts I am consistant with what I say and I know where I have been. I don't have to prove myself to you, I know who I am.
You have your opinion about Methadone and I have mine. I took 10-20 mg a day for 2 1/2 years and I went through horrible withdrawls. I understand you are on it and you love it. You can work on it, have a life, your not relapsing but let me ask you this~~~stop. Quit taking it...just for about 5 days and then get back to me. See how that works out for you. Then you get back on the board and act like you are "pro"methadone and suggest it to everyone you post to. Go ahead.
If I am so full of sh*t and methadone is so great then get off it and let us know how you feel, bet you'll change your tune!! Rae
I use the board to help others whenever I can because I have been there, I have relapsed and I have been through my share of withdrawls from a few different narcotics. Am I proud, hell no but I resent the fact that you say I am not an addict and just want to talk.The board helps me deal with using. It truely keeps me down to 5-10 mg a day of vicodin. One day I will quit. I never claimed I was clean and never said I was perfect. Do I really sound like a liar? Cause I am not. Go back and read all my old posts I am consistant with what I say and I know where I have been. I don't have to prove myself to you, I know who I am.
You have your opinion about Methadone and I have mine. I took 10-20 mg a day for 2 1/2 years and I went through horrible withdrawls. I understand you are on it and you love it. You can work on it, have a life, your not relapsing but let me ask you this~~~stop. Quit taking it...just for about 5 days and then get back to me. See how that works out for you. Then you get back on the board and act like you are "pro"methadone and suggest it to everyone you post to. Go ahead.
If I am so full of sh*t and methadone is so great then get off it and let us know how you feel, bet you'll change your tune!! Rae
2 5mgs vics aday is nothing and no meth clinic would take you on that you can drop to tlenol # 3 and have no with drawls
also I am not on methadone since jan 5 2005so i do know, 95% of drug addicts will never get off till they die 5 %do get off maybe your that 5 % group if you are thank god i lost family friends to drug im 44 i do know somethings
also Rae I am not trying to be hatfull I maybe WRONG If I am I am Sorry
One thing that scares me about the suboxone is that one day they are going to find out that it's like methadone - that the withdrawals are horrible coming off of, that's it's more addictive than the DOC you were on....
But I chose sub over the methadone because of the evidence so far pointing to the contrary.... The majority of people I've talked to that have tapered off said the withdrawals were mild..... And all the reading I've done on addiction has been against methadone. Not saying it's not right for some people or can't be useful, but Dr Drew Pinsky said "You will never see a practicing doctor or pilot on methadone because it affects your day to day life."
You have to do what works for you..... The hell in counting pills, freaking out when you start getting low, hopping from doctor to doctor, making yourself physically sick.... the shame & guilt that comes with being an addict is the worst and so right now your priority is to get off that roller coaster and start trying to get your life back.
I have only been clean 3 days, but I have been through this several times... However, your addiction sounds pretty severe and it would be irresponsible for me to say anything except that you should seek medical advice. I came clean with one of my doctors today, an old-fashioned 70 year old man, and he was very compassionate.... He was a little out of the loop about current treatments, but he wasn't judgemental or angry.
Since you don't want to go cold turkey, I would suggest tapering, but I'm scared to go into that too much because I don't know anything about fentanyl.
I hope you find the answers and support that you need.
Danielle
But I chose sub over the methadone because of the evidence so far pointing to the contrary.... The majority of people I've talked to that have tapered off said the withdrawals were mild..... And all the reading I've done on addiction has been against methadone. Not saying it's not right for some people or can't be useful, but Dr Drew Pinsky said "You will never see a practicing doctor or pilot on methadone because it affects your day to day life."
You have to do what works for you..... The hell in counting pills, freaking out when you start getting low, hopping from doctor to doctor, making yourself physically sick.... the shame & guilt that comes with being an addict is the worst and so right now your priority is to get off that roller coaster and start trying to get your life back.
I have only been clean 3 days, but I have been through this several times... However, your addiction sounds pretty severe and it would be irresponsible for me to say anything except that you should seek medical advice. I came clean with one of my doctors today, an old-fashioned 70 year old man, and he was very compassionate.... He was a little out of the loop about current treatments, but he wasn't judgemental or angry.
Since you don't want to go cold turkey, I would suggest tapering, but I'm scared to go into that too much because I don't know anything about fentanyl.
I hope you find the answers and support that you need.
Danielle
Roger, I am confused you tell me since I take 2 -- 5 mg vic's a day that no methadone clinic would accept me. Are you missing something? I wouldn't go to a methadone clinic if they PAID me every month for the rest of my life. I have ben there done that NEVER to do it again.
Second, you say you are not trying to be hateful but telling me I am not an addict and I just talk on this message board because I don't want to talk on the phone is being hateful. As a matter of fact it's like you are calling me a liar. There is one thing I am not and that is LIAR. There is nothing more that I hate than someone who lies, so yes I thought that was mean and yes you were wrong. I can get over it though, like I said I know who I am and what I have been through. One more thing I wouldn't stop taking the vic's and go to tyenol 3's anyway that is just switching addictions.
So if you are not on methadone since Jan 5th what are you currently taking? Rae
Second, you say you are not trying to be hateful but telling me I am not an addict and I just talk on this message board because I don't want to talk on the phone is being hateful. As a matter of fact it's like you are calling me a liar. There is one thing I am not and that is LIAR. There is nothing more that I hate than someone who lies, so yes I thought that was mean and yes you were wrong. I can get over it though, like I said I know who I am and what I have been through. One more thing I wouldn't stop taking the vic's and go to tyenol 3's anyway that is just switching addictions.
So if you are not on methadone since Jan 5th what are you currently taking? Rae
