Any experience getting off Opiates?
 

I coordinated with my Pain Med Dr. to get off Avinza (morphine) today. He prescribed Librium and Hytrin. I need to get off it due to other medical problems that have become life threatening.

Any experience out there? (watching CSI Miami does not count :)

I know my reactions to withdrawals because I forgot to take my Avinza 3 times. Like the flu. A really, really bad case. I hit WD at about 30 - 34 hours.

I took Librium in 1970, but don't remember any problems. Hytrin? Dunno.

Dr. said to take my last Avinza capsule at 8am Monday, then take the Librium and Hytrin 24 hours later and 8 hours thereafter.

I read that withdrawal symptoms only last a few days to a week. After reading about Librium I was thinking I might prefer to just get it over with. Take Valium or something.

Suggestions appreciated....thanks... (Oh, I haven't set a date to do it yet, no hurry, once I am ready, I planned on taking my last pill Sunday morning, then I have 5 working days to be sick or get different meds or talk to the doctor again, etc.)

I think a couple RSDers had to come off meds for various reasons , I recall they told of severe flu type feelings. For 2 weeks maybe?? not sure on that part.
You can make a post on the RSD forum and ask for more info-
here- http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/forum21.html

Might be best to stick with the plan that the pain dr suggested.

Jo55 - thank you.

I have no choice right now, I will certainly try the doctor's plan. I am really blessed that I do not seem to have an addiction to the Avinza. I was at 180mg a day at one time, then dropped to 90 overnight, then took a few months to get to 60, then a few months to get to 30mg and so on. My wife is worried about seizures, but I really don't like this stuff. I used it strictly to fight pain. I have not had any problems so far, but the last 30mg are scary. I remember the withdrawal feelings (as I sit here) and do not look forward to it.

I sleep on a Ventilator, with oxygen, so ........ I hope the meds help.

I was not sure I posted this in the right forum, thank you for the suggestion. I will search over there, then I might post my questions again. Or, if you want, you are welcome to move this thread over there. Your choice ... and thanks again....

I copied your first post over to the RSD forum - so you might get replies here and on that one too.
your copied post on RSD forum -
http://neurotalk.psychcentral.com/sh...ad.php?t=50091

Jo55,
Thanks again. I searched for people getting off morphine and read through several threads, will try again later.

While I plan on following the doctor's plan, I ALWAYS like to have a Plan B. My complicated
medical problems have a way of biting me in the most inconvenient moments.

An example is Vocal Cord Dysfunction (VCD). My GERD can trigger VCD and I pass out (as I have done a few times before) --- CCHS kicks in and I may not recover. Complicated. I can't predict it, all I can do is try to be prepared. Thanks again.......

No morphine since last Saturday. Detox is as hard as advertised. I have only slept a few hours.

Restless Legs Syndrome (RLS) is my main problem right now. NOTHING WORKED. NOTHING.

This morning, about 4am I took Oxycodone. I did not want to take it, but I was at my wits end. I had punched my legs with my fists, trying to get some form of relief, even though my conscious mind (somewhere) knew better. I walked fast, I jumped up and down...then when I sat down, the pain returned. 15mg of Oxycodone and all the pain left me.

I whipped morphine. But I never anticipated RLS to such a severe degree. NOTHING, and I mean NOTHING else helped. A total of 2400mg of Neurontin was like candy. Requip x 2 of the 1mg pills was nothing. Valium was nothing...15mg of it. I knew....for hours....that oxycodone would stop it in its tracks. I held out. But little sleep in 2+ days won out. I slept several hours and am still woozy at 5:25pm on Wednesday. I think it was the other drugs, combined with the Oxycodone. I will take oxycodone tonight, hoping for my first real nights sleep.

I don't know how long my RLS will last, but I have access to another prescription of oxycodone.

Am I REALLY getting off opiates if I have to have Oxycodone daily (15mg) so I can sleep?

Day 5, I am so tired. RLS is killing me. No sleep, just woen out

RLS is th e worst.....anyone know of a Tins unit strong enough to reach the thighs?

Friday night... we discovered Librium brings on RLS. I skipped it a couple of days, but cannot remember why I did it. I took it Thursday evening and had bad RLS Thursday night.

So here I sit debating whether to take an Oxycodone before I go to bed. BUT how can I get off opiates if I keep using opiates because of RLS???? Pretty frustrating.

My sleep is totally whacked. I keep falling asleep during the evening. My whole body aches and my RLS is worse than I thought possible. I am taking 2mg of ReQuip and 1200mg of Neurontin.

The entire experience has amazed me as to how tired I get. Exhausted. I wish we had other feedback to compare to mine.

I did it
 

after a back fx a long time ago, and fibro type pain with lots of spastic stuff, the pain clinic transitioned me onto MS Contin (morphine sulfate continual action) I was taking about 90mgs three times a day. it was blessed relief for a looooong time.

Finding out I had MS and learning about spastic stuff, vs pain from old fx stuff I chose to stop taking the MS contin. I cut back on ONE pill at a time. I had the pharmacy adjust my script to lower dose pills so I could break up the dose. so, instead of 3 pills a day, it was 9. I cut out the afternoon ones first. one at a time. This week was 2 in the afternoon, next week was 1 in the afternoon and then 0 in the afternoon. I cut back ONE pill at night for one week, and one pill in AM for one week and rocked tilled I got to ONE pill in AM, and ONE pill in PM. I was exhausted and chose to rest at that level for a bit.

My pain load increased, as I had been on that med for years. My brain was upset that it didnt have the drug. I had diarrhea, and leg cramps. stomach cramps as well, but used a heating pad, and spastic meds to help. After getting my body to rest at that level for 3 full months, I started on my last two. I would take NO pill in the am on monday, and then for the rest of the week, take them on schedule. Next week was none on monday, and none on friday. kept that schedule for one week. then none on MWF. kept that for one week. I didnt touch the night pills because they brought such blessed relief. I kept that routine until I had no pills to take in the AM. only my PM pill left.

Same deal. forgot it on Mon. took it the rest of the week. next week, forgot it on M and F and took the rest. then MWF and took the rest. i stayed there for 2 weeks, and then knocked out the MWFand sunday pill. stayed there for 2 weeks. I reached frustration with the whole thing, and simply laid them down. I dealt with the tummy ache, and leg cramps for a week or 10 days, and then it got better and better. NO siezures, and I have been MS free for awhile now. I have RETAUGHT myself about sleep.

I go to bed at a certain hour, no matter what great thing is on TV. I had to keep to a schedule to retrain my brain. I Tivo or tape whatever was interesting. I get up at the same time everyday. it really did help to have a routine.

It was hard work, but I felt since we had found the answer to my situation was spastic, and not pain from bone as originally thought, it was MY choice to stop.

Its been a few weeks since your post. I hope you are doing well. :hug:

Suboxone
 

http://www.suboxone.com/

This is a miracle drug--the only problem is, finding a doctor to prescribe it. If you live in a fairly large city--check out the pain management clinics--or even rehab centers--as often doctors there can prescribe it.

The good: instant relief from withdrawl symtoms, general feeling of normalcy (many people, including myself say "I haven't felt like this in years--it's my old healthy self again". When you stop taking the Suboxone, there is little to zero withdrawl.

The bad: you have to BE IN WITHDRAWL for at least 24 hours before you take it for the first time. That means no opiates in your system. That 24 hours can be rough--but 30 minutes after you take the first dose, the withdrawl vanishes.

If you have any other questions, don't hesitate to ask!

brandytryan,

It is August 22 and I THINK I am over the withdrawals. I don't know for sure. One doctor told me the withdrawal symptoms can last up to 90 days. I hope not. I was dependent and not addicted.

Since April 10, 2008 my life has not been pleasant. I had oral surgery (I drank drano when I was 3 and had false teeth at 4-5) where they cut a large portion of the roof of my mouth off, then sewed it to my lower gums. My gums were severely damaged in 1948. THEN, adding insult to injury, as the pain was subsiding, I had tooth aches in the whole upper right side of my mouth. I had a root canal on May 9th. They said I had a jaw infection, so more meds. About 2 weeks or so later, I had a similar toothache. Another root canal was ordered. Then we had all the fires in California and I couldn't breathe, so I went on Prednisone for about 5 to 6 weeks while I stayed home, inside, next to one of my 6 HEPA filters. My Heat/Air has HEPA filters in them too. More fun. Our grandson, whom we affectionately refer to as "Typhoid Lucas" came over and made everyone sick. Even my wife, who taught elementary school since Lincoln was President is sick. Three of us have lung infections and I went into my "Chronic Bronchitis" mode and more antibiotics. He gave us the cold/flu lung infection over 2 weeks ago and we are still sick. 134 days & counting.

I entered the detox phase July 19th. I am doing better......... but there is a severe complication.

My Restless Legs Syndrome and an unknown (as yet) neurological problem has made my
life more complicated. Only 7.5mg of Oxycodone relieves it. So I had to get a script for the Oxycodone again. I start getting RLS about 6pm, the bottoms of my feet start first. I was told it is probably fibromyalgia, sooooooo who knows. I feel like my doctors are waiting for me to complete all detox before they try to diagnose it.

HOW CAN I DETOX FROM OPIATES IF I AM ON OPIATES??????????????????????????????
In fairness to them, I have tried ReQuip, Neurontin and other meds. None have handled the RLS. I was told the Oxycodone is out of my system in about 6 or so hours. IF that is true, and I take my 2nd 7.5mg (half of a 15mg) around 11pm, how can I sleep to 7am without the RLS coming back??? Maybe I am splitting hairs, but I am really trying to understand what is happening.

Some of the medical problems I had with Avinza have gotten MUCH better in the last ten days or so. Bladder problems for example. My breathing is much, much better. I sleep on a Respironics BiPAP Auto Servo Ventilator. Operative word is Ventilator. I bought software to track my problems and Encore Pro 1.8+ reports I have hit 30 cmH2O for 30 straight minutes. The National Jewish Hospital in Denver, CO is the #1 Respiratory Hospital in the USA for 11 straight years. I was tested for over a month last summer (2007) and was told a pressure of 20 cmH2O is like a hurricane in our throats .... so what is 30 cmH2O? One dr. asked me if it hurt. I told him I guessed not, I was asleep. NOW my numbers are much better. I am initiating most of my own breaths. THAT is a major improvement.

I really appreciate your suggestion and will keep it in mind. I don't feel dependent on the Oxycodone, and frankly don't take it for the coughing anymore (Bronchitis can cause rib pain among other things) ... I guess I will be on it until we figure out what to do about the
RLS. I am thinking about trying Acupuncture.

Life is complicated.

Just went off myself......here ask about
 

Suboxone!!!!!! There are a hand full of Doctors that can help with that. Try and find one. I live in the chicago area and what happends is they have you drop your meds and once you have so many symptom they give you sumboxone. It is what I would call a miracle. Ther is no withdrawal from it. How long were you on the meds before? My question is what are they going to do for you after you are offf all of these Its been a month for me and have to say the pain levels are not good. Its been really hard. Is there something else they are going to do to help with the pain. Were in the same boat so may be we can help each other? Lori T.

HOW CAN I DETOX FROM OPIATES IF I AM ON OPIATES??????????????????????????????

You stay on Suboxone ( a PARTIAL agonist narcotic) for a month or so, then ween of Suboxone, which has little to no side-effects.

Suboxone .... ok, but will Suboxone control my coughing (Chronic Bronchitis) and RLS?

I am certainly willing to try it, but without some strong controls, my RLS seems to really be worse than before.

I cannot take cough syrups, even OTC types. Since drinking the drano at 3 years old, I have no tolerance for "hot" liquids. Even what my wife considers warm hot chocolate "burns" my throat and I throw it back up most of the time. I drink Iced Tea all year long. No coffee, etc.

The Air Force gave me "G.I. Gin" for my cough. One time. It came back up and they had trouble at the ER stopping my vomiting. I don't know why. Doctors don't think it is important enough to find out. Sort of like the old story...."Every time I put my hand in the flames it hurts. Dr. tells the patient to quit putting his hand in the fire." Codeine used to stop my coughing. Then it took Hydrocodone/Homatropine. Now... stronger drugs. I don't know if I am just getting older or if my system is weakening or all of the above.

If I cough too much, the mucus/sputum (whatever you want to call it) will break loose, as it is supposed to do when you cough, and I start gagging for air. CCHS, VCD, Chronic Bronchitis, Asthma, Allergies, etc. can kill me, so I have to be careful to control my coughing.

I'm not sure what effect Suboxone would have on your cough. It has some pain killing characteristics--but in my experience, it doesn do much for acute sorts of pain. Same goes for RLS--not sure. I know only one thing: if you want to get off opiates--this is a miracle drug that will help you do it--no--I take that back--it will do it for you. That is its main purpose.

Suboxone is great....
 

Suboxone sure helped me....but I found out that I will have to most likely go back on opiates, since I have allergies to so much else. But it sure didn't hurt my body to be off of it for awhile. The pain stinks but i don't have the desire for them would prefer not to take them at all. I was lucky enough to be close to a bigger city so it was easier to find a doctor that can prescribe it. Some people stay on a low dose and it seems to keep them off the Addiction train. That was not necessary for me...but now the pain king is back. My pychiatrist warned me but i had to try and see what would happen and am still glad I did. A lower dose of meds and less meds is fine by me. You have to be so careful. The suboxone helped very little with the pain but it did help some. Still going to try other means also. Determined to find something that works. Lori T.

you got to be kidding
 

for a short low dose detox bup (subutex,suboxon) is OK. Long term, its worse than methadone. don't get caught up in the ******** the dea and drug companies are saying. they are making a killing. The drug has been around for over 30 years but they still have no generics. :confused:

One of the best opiate detox facilities in the US is Summerhouse (mia,fl) and they will use bup if your on heroin or any opiate, but will use it for 4-5 days. There are 20 year old kids in there that have been on bup for 4 years or more and they have t:confused:he longest stay, longer than methadone detoxes.
You need to get a liver check while on bup, but not methadone except when you first start up. Bup is with out a dought the worst on your organs.
Use it for a fast detox, but these doctors putting kids with a little oxy or hydro habit, are either out of touch or don't care.

have you tried the blood pressure med-clonidine? that help me withe rls. Quinne really helped but its hard to get. No subs for more than 4-5 days. its a nightmare.