I won't be able to post on the blog for a while do to my location, so I wanted to give any potential readers a heads up. I will be writing out on paper blogs for when I return about various tips for quitting opiates. Sorry for the delay, and I hope you all can use my past blog posts for information about quitting if you're in an urgent situation.
If you HAVE to quit, follow my guide lines for supplements and medicines and you should be alright.
Remember, stay strong; it will be over soon. Its hard to rationalize that when you're a couple days into withdrawal and feeling like total crap. But take it from me and the millions who've quit that after day 5 for suboxone, and day 3 for shorter acting opiates like oxycodone, you WILL start to feel better. Beyond those days its important to supplement with things like B vitamins and L-Tyrosine for energy. Exercise if you can and get those natural endorphins going. Keep at it no matter what, you've already come this far--there's no point going back!
Much love,
Pink~Cloud
Sunday, January 6, 2013
Saturday, January 5, 2013
Clonidine for Opiate WD
Clonidine is something that I've used for withdrawal, and I
can tell you that it certainly helps out a lot.
It is a medicine that most doctors prescribe willingly, as there is very
low potential for abuse and addiction.
It solves many of the aspects of withdrawal, and is used for detox off
of other substances like cocaine, amphetamine, benzodiazepines, and alcohol. It is one of the only drugs given for detox
in prison and involuntary hospitalization.
I've used both clonidine and benzodiazepines during
withdrawal, and I find clonidine to be more effective in many ways. Part of this is that clonidine fixes the
cause of with physical withdrawal, rather than masks it like benzodiazepines
do.
According to Howard Shen, “Clonidine treats high blood
pressure by stimulating α2 receptors in the brain, which decreases cardiac
output and peripheral vascular resistance, lowering blood pressure. It has
specificity towards the presynaptic α2 receptors in the vasomotor center in the
brainstem. This binding decreases presynaptic calcium levels, and inhibits the
release of norepinephrine (NE). The net effect is a decrease in sympathetic
tone.”
Basically, I’ve found that clonidine prevents the random
rise and fall of blood pressure and heart rate that is so commonly experienced
during acute opiate withdrawal.
Additionally, clonidine has a great side effect of sedation, so it can
help with the insomnia experienced.
If you find that you’re having trouble with the sedation
side effect during day time use, just know that it goes away after repeated
use.
NOTE, I AM NOT A LICENSED PHYSICIAN IN ANYWAY, AN THIS IS
JUST MY EXPERIENCE, AND MINE ONLY. I used
clonidine in the .1mg increment during the day, every 8 hours or so. At night I’d up my dose to .3mg. If I had suffered much more severe
withdrawals, I may have needed more.
It should be noted that if you use clonidine for more than a
week or two, you may have to do a quick taper.
This is because rebound hypertension can be experienced from sudden
discontinuation.
Email me if you have any questions.
Thursday, December 27, 2012
Loperamide (Imodium) and WD
Theres only a couple drugs I consider to be godsends in withdrawal, and one of those are loperamide.
Before you instantly stop her since its about a diarrheal med, let me elaborate.
Much of this was posted in a shorter blog, so I apologize for redundancies.
loperamide (immodium)- This one is debated upon. However, it's generally agreed that everyone should have this during the acute withdrawal period in therapeutic doses. It will help with having to run to the bathroom constantly. The debated upon part is loperamide in higher doses for opiate withdrawal. Loperamide was originally developed as a painkiller. It was a schedule 4 drug in the USA for a short while before the discovery that it in fact did not cross the blood brain barrier, meaning it didn't affect the brain and the central nervous system, which are responsible for the "high." What they did find was that it bound strongly to the external opioid receptors throughout the body, which is why they approved it as an anti-diarrheal. The great thing about loperamide is that it helps with the physical withdrawal symptoms a lot. You won't get the "kicks," the "creepy crawlies," and general dope sickness as bad if you take the loperamide in above recommended doses. It should be noted though that loperamide may only delay the inevitable. Since it technically is an opioid (one that's closely related to fentanyl), there WILL be some withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. However, those symptoms will be no where near as bad as a normal opiate.
--An example of using loperamide for withdrawal would be this (and its STRICTLY that, an example and should never be taken as advice):
Note, 36 hours between doses is preferable because lope has a long half life, and taken too often builds up in the system.
Day 1: 30mg
Day 2: 20mg
Day 3: 15mg
Day 4: 10mg
Day 5: 6mg
Day 6: 4mg
Day 7: 3mg
You can jump off at any point. Expect some physical discomfort after stoppi the lope, but there should be no mental WD symptoms unless you were taking heroic doses.
Obviously certain people with stronger WDs would need an altered schedule.
I PROMISE if will work just give it two hours or so.
To fight any of the potential constipation issues (though I doubt this will be a problem in withdrawal), make sure you drink lots of water. Magnesium oxide supplements and fiber work well to help the GI tract move along as well.
Email me for questions and personal attention to situations.
Before you instantly stop her since its about a diarrheal med, let me elaborate.
Much of this was posted in a shorter blog, so I apologize for redundancies.
loperamide (immodium)- This one is debated upon. However, it's generally agreed that everyone should have this during the acute withdrawal period in therapeutic doses. It will help with having to run to the bathroom constantly. The debated upon part is loperamide in higher doses for opiate withdrawal. Loperamide was originally developed as a painkiller. It was a schedule 4 drug in the USA for a short while before the discovery that it in fact did not cross the blood brain barrier, meaning it didn't affect the brain and the central nervous system, which are responsible for the "high." What they did find was that it bound strongly to the external opioid receptors throughout the body, which is why they approved it as an anti-diarrheal. The great thing about loperamide is that it helps with the physical withdrawal symptoms a lot. You won't get the "kicks," the "creepy crawlies," and general dope sickness as bad if you take the loperamide in above recommended doses. It should be noted though that loperamide may only delay the inevitable. Since it technically is an opioid (one that's closely related to fentanyl), there WILL be some withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. However, those symptoms will be no where near as bad as a normal opiate.
--An example of using loperamide for withdrawal would be this (and its STRICTLY that, an example and should never be taken as advice):
Note, 36 hours between doses is preferable because lope has a long half life, and taken too often builds up in the system.
Day 1: 30mg
Day 2: 20mg
Day 3: 15mg
Day 4: 10mg
Day 5: 6mg
Day 6: 4mg
Day 7: 3mg
You can jump off at any point. Expect some physical discomfort after stoppi the lope, but there should be no mental WD symptoms unless you were taking heroic doses.
Obviously certain people with stronger WDs would need an altered schedule.
I PROMISE if will work just give it two hours or so.
To fight any of the potential constipation issues (though I doubt this will be a problem in withdrawal), make sure you drink lots of water. Magnesium oxide supplements and fiber work well to help the GI tract move along as well.
Email me for questions and personal attention to situations.
Wednesday, December 26, 2012
Opiate/suboxone withdrawal tips (continued)
Heres a little bit more of stuff that really helps in withdrawal. I plan on covering things that aren't medicine next, like saunas and the like.
DXM- separates the body from the mind. This was probably the thing that got me through the initial WD phase and eventually off subs for good. It's a dissociative NMDA drug. NMDA drugs have been studied and proven to help with withdrawals and tolerance of many types of drugs.
DXM is an interesting drug, one that I particularly enjoyed at one point of my life. However, to many it is uncomfortable and unenjoyble. I had experience with it so I knew what to expect. I highly suggest people try it before withdrawaling because I can't imagine tripping in acute WD on something unfamiliar.
The best feature of DXM is that it separates the body from the mind, so you can't feel the withdrawal. Like, it's almost cheating it worked so well in helping me quit.
5-HTP- helps with sleep and overall mood.
Doxylamine succinate- a potent antihistamine that can be used for sleep. Many people find that it works greatin WD, while others say it intensifies certain aspects like restless legs
6
Magnesium (preferably magnesium citrate)- magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant and is great for neurotransmitter health. It will help with muscle stiffness and cramps you experience with withdrawal. Get magnesium citrate or another one of the high absorption ones. The commonly sold magnesium oxide is terrible for WD because it doesn't absorb well into the body, so it ends up in the intestines, acting as a laxative and intensifying (an already terrible) diarrhea.
L-Tyrosine- this works really well as an energy enhancer once the initial acute withdrawal phase is over. Without going into much technical detail, tyrosine converts itself into dopamine. Dopamine will help a lot with mood and get you back on track to happiness
Multi vitamin WITH minerals- this one is rather obvious. Add it to your regiment of WD aids.
Naproxen sodium (aleve)- helps with muscle pains and discomforts. I typically prefer this over Tylenol, although its mostly because I've taken a lot in the past with hydros and oxys and don't want to do any more damage!
Potassium- helps with cramping, electrolyte levels, etc. Very helpful.
DXM- separates the body from the mind. This was probably the thing that got me through the initial WD phase and eventually off subs for good. It's a dissociative NMDA drug. NMDA drugs have been studied and proven to help with withdrawals and tolerance of many types of drugs.
DXM is an interesting drug, one that I particularly enjoyed at one point of my life. However, to many it is uncomfortable and unenjoyble. I had experience with it so I knew what to expect. I highly suggest people try it before withdrawaling because I can't imagine tripping in acute WD on something unfamiliar.
The best feature of DXM is that it separates the body from the mind, so you can't feel the withdrawal. Like, it's almost cheating it worked so well in helping me quit.
5-HTP- helps with sleep and overall mood.
Doxylamine succinate- a potent antihistamine that can be used for sleep. Many people find that it works greatin WD, while others say it intensifies certain aspects like restless legs
6
Magnesium (preferably magnesium citrate)- magnesium is a natural muscle relaxant and is great for neurotransmitter health. It will help with muscle stiffness and cramps you experience with withdrawal. Get magnesium citrate or another one of the high absorption ones. The commonly sold magnesium oxide is terrible for WD because it doesn't absorb well into the body, so it ends up in the intestines, acting as a laxative and intensifying (an already terrible) diarrhea.
L-Tyrosine- this works really well as an energy enhancer once the initial acute withdrawal phase is over. Without going into much technical detail, tyrosine converts itself into dopamine. Dopamine will help a lot with mood and get you back on track to happiness
Multi vitamin WITH minerals- this one is rather obvious. Add it to your regiment of WD aids.
Naproxen sodium (aleve)- helps with muscle pains and discomforts. I typically prefer this over Tylenol, although its mostly because I've taken a lot in the past with hydros and oxys and don't want to do any more damage!
Potassium- helps with cramping, electrolyte levels, etc. Very helpful.
Opiate/suboxone WD tips (work in progress)
Here's a little list I've been working on. All this stuff helped me get off subs. I will continue to work and expand on it. A lot of the stuff on here has been written about before, but I tried these and found them to work, so here it is:
supplies:
Water (LOTS)- This is the nutrient that all life is made up of. Its extremely necessary to drink boat loads of water in withdrawal. The reason behind this is that opiates tend to "store" water in the body. Basically, when you're high your body soaks up all the water (like from your bowels, which results in the opiate constipation). When you're withdrawling your body is no longer "holding" the water. So it ends up coming out in diarrhea, vomit, sweat, pee, etc. I cannot stress enough how important water is during acute withdrawal. Water will really help with the creepy crawly feeling you get in your limbs.
loperamide (immodium)- This one is debated upon. However, it's generally agreed that everyone should have this during the acute withdrawal period in therapeutic doses. It will help with having to run to the bathroom constantly. The debated upon part is loperamide in higher doses for opiate withdrawal. Loperamide was originally developed as a painkiller. It was a schedule 4 drug in the USA for a short while before the discovery that it in fact did not cross the blood brain barrier, meaning it didn't affect the brain and the central nervous system, which are responsible for the "high." What they did find was that it bound strongly to the external opioid receptors throughout the body, which is why they approved it as an anti-diarrheal. The great thing about loperamide is that it helps with the physical withdrawal symptoms a lot. You won't get the "kicks," the "creepy crawlies," and general dope sickness as bad if you take the loperamide in above recommended doses. It should be noted though that loperamide may only delay the inevitable. Since it technically is an opioid (one that's closely related to fentanyl), there WILL be some withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. However, those symptoms will be no where near as bad as a normal opiate.
Melatonin- This one is for sleep. One of the worst parts of withdrawal is the sleepless nights. Melatonin is naturally produced in our brains, and it helps get us in the "mood" to
Health Shakes-The kind that help people maintain a healthy weight, like Ensure. You won't be hungry, so these are good to use. It will help maintain nutrition.
supplies:
Water (LOTS)- This is the nutrient that all life is made up of. Its extremely necessary to drink boat loads of water in withdrawal. The reason behind this is that opiates tend to "store" water in the body. Basically, when you're high your body soaks up all the water (like from your bowels, which results in the opiate constipation). When you're withdrawling your body is no longer "holding" the water. So it ends up coming out in diarrhea, vomit, sweat, pee, etc. I cannot stress enough how important water is during acute withdrawal. Water will really help with the creepy crawly feeling you get in your limbs.
loperamide (immodium)- This one is debated upon. However, it's generally agreed that everyone should have this during the acute withdrawal period in therapeutic doses. It will help with having to run to the bathroom constantly. The debated upon part is loperamide in higher doses for opiate withdrawal. Loperamide was originally developed as a painkiller. It was a schedule 4 drug in the USA for a short while before the discovery that it in fact did not cross the blood brain barrier, meaning it didn't affect the brain and the central nervous system, which are responsible for the "high." What they did find was that it bound strongly to the external opioid receptors throughout the body, which is why they approved it as an anti-diarrheal. The great thing about loperamide is that it helps with the physical withdrawal symptoms a lot. You won't get the "kicks," the "creepy crawlies," and general dope sickness as bad if you take the loperamide in above recommended doses. It should be noted though that loperamide may only delay the inevitable. Since it technically is an opioid (one that's closely related to fentanyl), there WILL be some withdrawal symptoms when you stop taking it. However, those symptoms will be no where near as bad as a normal opiate.
Melatonin- This one is for sleep. One of the worst parts of withdrawal is the sleepless nights. Melatonin is naturally produced in our brains, and it helps get us in the "mood" to
Health Shakes-The kind that help people maintain a healthy weight, like Ensure. You won't be hungry, so these are good to use. It will help maintain nutrition.
First post
Hello,
I've felt compelled to start this for a while. I've struggled with poly drug abuse--mainly struggling with opiates. I was on high doses of suboxone for about 3 years and was finally able to get off of them this fall. I plan on sharing what I did to help me succeed; additionally, I'll use this as an outlet to discuss some of the challenges of a "sober" life style.
I'm not someone who has gotten into Alcoholics Anonymous of narcotics anonymous, so don't expect me to push that in my posts. I just want to share my experiences and hopefully help some of the people suffering out there.
My first topic post will come soon.
Thanks,
Pink Cloud
I've felt compelled to start this for a while. I've struggled with poly drug abuse--mainly struggling with opiates. I was on high doses of suboxone for about 3 years and was finally able to get off of them this fall. I plan on sharing what I did to help me succeed; additionally, I'll use this as an outlet to discuss some of the challenges of a "sober" life style.
I'm not someone who has gotten into Alcoholics Anonymous of narcotics anonymous, so don't expect me to push that in my posts. I just want to share my experiences and hopefully help some of the people suffering out there.
My first topic post will come soon.
Thanks,
Pink Cloud
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