10 year addicting to Opiates

Hi.

I can almost guarantee you that a lot of the problems you are facing are down to Oxycontin. Even though some will say it isn't.

I was on this drug for 8yrs & when I stopped last year I was on around 1500mgs per day.

My GP prescribed me 800mgs per day but it just kept creeping up & up & up.

I'm now on methadone to get off it & I've reduced that from 115mils per day now down to 40mils. I know it's not about addiction anymore because I keep forgetting to take it.

Oxycontin destroyed my life. I was suicidal when I tried to come off it, my sex life was zero as my testosterone level was almost zero & the consultant said it was purely down to the Oxy.

I have severe mixed sleep apnoea where I stop breathing up to 80 x per hour per night, again, consultant says 99% down to this.

I don't want to do anything anymore, don't want to go out, don't enjoy things as I used too etc etc etc.

Anything I can help you with please ask

Take care

Ritchie xx

Oh My God!!!!

Yet again waiting to be moderated, what is wrong with you people on here!!???

I haven't swore or said anything wrong!!

I thought this was a site to help people looking for help from those whove been there?

You people are incredible!!!!!

Hi

My original post is waiting to be moderated so you will never see it!

This always happens on this site!

Because I knew they would I've copied the post before sending it so I'm gonna paste it to you in private message

Ritchie xx

You idea to taper sounds good. Having just quit morphine cold turkey after nearly a decade, I don't recommend it, particularly if you have a child to care for and other health problems. 

However, 10 mg a day may still be too fast. Are your pills 10 mg in size? I would try 10 mg every four days to a week, it will give your body time to adjust. Are you still in pain? That is the biggest problem I am having (and that I only just got my first night of sleep in over three weeks, which can make you really crazy). 

It affects everyone differently, the drugs and the withdrawal. I would tell your doctor your plans, assuming you have one. They should be able to prescribe something(s) to help make your journey easier. 

Good luck for now, and please keep us posted. You have made a bold and brave decision, but don't kick yourself if it doesn't go as planned. I would take it a little more slowly. 10 mg would only be 3%, but as you get down to 100 mg / day it becomes 10%, then eventually 50% (to get to your goal). If you try to go 10 mg / day, slow the taper when you get to 150 mg, then slow further at 50 mg.

Unsupervised tapering or quitting are never recommended, but can be done.

Wishing you good health and the strength to succeed.

Judi

Please take on board what Judi has to Say as 10mg per day is too much.

I know everyone is different, again, as Judy says but, it isn't a race just take your time, the main thing is you know what this legal Heroin is doing & has done to you & you're making the correct decision to "claim your life back" im sure you know what i mean by that!!!

This website is a right pain for moderating stuff they shouldn't but everyone is here for you.

Keep your chin up & take things slowly.

I did great till I got down to 320mgs per day, that's when things went really bad for me but, I kept fighting it to get my life back.

Keep us informed & all the very best

Ritchie xx

wow you have been through a lot, I think tapering slowly is definitely the way to go, it really dosnt matter how long it takes the fact you have mentally prepared for it is a great start, it is going to be tough but you already know this. Like judi I would start with 10mg for the first week and see how you go, let your body adjust before tapering more. Magnesium for me was brilliant as it helps with muscle cramps and spasms, hot baths, ice/heat packs, walking even when you feel so bad it will help you sleep, keep hydrated and try and eat well, if the withdrawals become to much ask your doc for gabapentin this will also help with withdrawals and sleeping,.

I went to quick with my taper and I still suffer with PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) a year on, there really wasn't any need for me to suffer but because I was so impatient I practically went cold turkey, if I had known I would never have done that. As for the pain you will have to try and find another way to deal with it, I still suffer 24/7 but I will never take another opiod for pain relief, I might be suffering but I have my mind and family and that's what keeps me going, we are here for you to help you through the tough times, I had great support from here  which got me through it. Good luck 😊

Go on Suboxone.  It's not an opiate and much easier to get off of.  It does help with the pain some.  When taking suboxone you can't use any type of opiate...that's the purpose of it.  You have to get off before it destroys your stomach on top of what you've gone through with your bowels....which is caused by the opiates.  I'm 68 years old and am still going through hell due to the opiates.  Please, please get off the opiates; they're a killer.  God's blessings.

I live in the US; California,  I don't know if you can get it in the UK.  It's a God send.  It's so much easier to get off.  You go off the opiates for one day and the doctor gives  you the Suboxone the next day.   It's a subliminal strip.  You just taper off to a smaller piece until you're off.   Please check with a pain management doctor and give it a try.  It'll save your life.  God be with you.

I was working full time in law enforcement.  I was hurt on the job and have had both hips replaced and need back surgery.  That occurred back in 1992.  I raised 4 kids on my own without child support so I know the struggles.  If I had known back then the horrors of opiates; I never would have gone on them.  Please please while you're  young...get off the opiates; they'll kill you.  

Sorry not been back on. I'm actually doing really well. I have got down to 150mg a day just now. I know it's still a lot to take but I can't remember the last time I could take this amount and not be climbing the walls!!

I have been doing yoga every day, meditating every morning and night. I've just been listening to a guy on YouTube who's got a channel that really helps. I was struggling to sleep but that really helped.

The first 2 days were awful with cravings but that's really a lot better. Today I had 110mg and didn't even really want the last 40mg but thought I'd better take it so I slept.

The sweating has been horrific. I always have sweats in the morning anyway. But I'm getting them all throughout the day. And hellish headaches but Nurofen helps those.I really don't want to ask the GO for anything else. Has anyone done this without any methadone or similar?

The anxiety doesn't seem too bad yet. I've had a couple of moments where terrible anxiety suddenly comes over me where I get really hot and sheer panic kicks in. It can happen right in the middle of us all sitting eating dinner. Normally when this happens I'd go and take some shortec. But if I just sit and concentrate on my breathing and try and think of 5 things I can see, smell, touch etc. I used to think these things were a waste of time. But it is really helping me. I don't think I've ever really truly wanted to be open to other ideas to be honest. But this time I'm determined to stop. I really hope I can keep this going. It's really helped having everyone in here supporting me. Thank you so much.