How do you come off pain killers?

Answer 1

I've gotten off Vicodin before and it's definitely difficult. The best thing I can say to do is to take Aleve for the sweats, stay away from caffienne and try to get yourself on an antidepressant before coming off. I usually stayed in bed most of the time I was coming off. If you find you're still having a hard time I'd suggest going to rehab, or going to your dr and asking for a prescription to help you get off medication. I have had Catapress before which worked well. Mostly, the best thing you can do is to STAY AWAY from them! It's the worst feeling in the entire world to come off Vicodin

Answer 2

There's a couple of ways to do it: Withdrawal assistance drugs and Incremental Dosage Reduction. You never want to just stop taking an opiate - depending on the person and dosages involved, real problems could occur if you try doing it cold turkey.

Withdrawal drugs essentially ease the withdrawal process, but they can make you sick if you take them at the wrong time. I personally don't like using them as it's just something else in your system you have to deal with at some point. But each person is different, and it really depends on how you deal with withdrawal symptoms.

It's actually easier to do an incremental dosage reduction over time. Having been dependent on opiates for many years, and having had to increase and decrease my dosages many times over that period (10 years), I've used incremental dose reduction many times to lower my dosages. Usually it takes about 4-6 weeks depending on the drug. Since I use the strongest dosages of strongest opiates, and have been using them for over 10 years, it takes a bit longer for me than it might for someone using less for a shorter amount of time.

In incremental dose reduction, what you do is cut the pill in half or in quarters. If you're using 2 pills per dose, just cut one down and add the 1/2 or 3/4 of one pill to the other.

First try taking half your normal prescribed dose, and see how you deal with the withdrawals. If it's too strong, then start with only a 1/4 reduction in dosage by cutting the pill in quarters and taking 3/4 of your normal dose. Take it for a week, then drop another 1/4. If the withdrawals are too strong still, then stay at 1/4 dose reduction for another week (2 weeks total) , then try again. When you can tolerate the withdrawal, then reduce by another 1/4, and repeat the weekly process. Keep doing it until you're completely off of the drug.

Since I'm retired on disability, I have the luxury of being able to sedate myself heavily and remain in bed when dealing with large dosage reductions and withdrawals. Since most people don't have that available to them, it might take longer or shorter amount of time to reduce the drug to the point you can stop taking it. Most don't have the luxury of that much time off. For me, IDR works well because there are times when I've had to ramp up my dosages significantly (double or more) such as when additional spinal damage occurs. After being repaired and recovery, I then always want to return to my original dosages or less.

It also helps to take an OTC med to compensate and ease the withdrawal pain. Two of my favorites are Tylenol ES Rapid Release Gel-Caps, and Bayer Back and Body Aspirin. I also use them frequently when I don't feel like using any Percocet for breakthrough pain. Bayer works better for withdrawal pain though.

Regardless of how you do it, you should never try and reduce your dosages without your doctor's involvement. The body doesn't respond well to withdrawals, and each person's body reacts differently. You don't want to experience sudden withdrawal related problems, and your doctor can help you navigate that minefield.

Answer 3

Depends on what type of pain killer you are taking. Over the counter Id say just stop taking them. If you are taking narcotic opioids, you can quit cold turkey and go through the agonizing withdrawls, you can go into a rehab center, or you have the choice of weening off with the help of a methadone clinic, or a suboxone program.

Answer 4

You need to be totally committed to stop, if your not you will probably not be successful. Depending on how long you have been using the aftermath of stopping can be a long haul that's why you need to be committed.

You can use Suboxone or Subutex to curb the effects of withdrawal. If your situation is not life threatening I suggest a short taper on Subs. Start at a low dose and taper off quickly down to .25 mg.

If your situation and behavior requires long term treatment with Subs than so be it.

Just remember no pill can hold the answer. The answer lies within the individual, many times you see people looking for answers like, how bad is withdrawal, does Suboxone work, how long should I do this or that. Look in the mirror, that is the one who holds the answer. You must be willing to change, put in the effort, lose friends who use, find new activities, seek outside counseling, the list is long but doable.

Short term Sub detox is basically a 7-14 day taper. Your physical symptoms will be reduced greatly as long as you taper to a small amount. Then the mental battle begins, this is where most fail, you must decide you will not. You are fighting against your mind and by using positive thoughts you can make. Instead of this anxiety and lack of sleep is awful think of it as progress towards your goal, your healing and getting closer to the end.

Detox without Subs last about 5-7 days and more severe but afterwards they subside. you will not be very interested in doing anything, honker down at home and ride it out, there are many posts on what you should take to help the withdrawals.

After the physical detox you may experience mental withdrawal PAWS. That is where most cave in and use again. It can last for weeks after detox and you must be determined to get by this as well.

Eventually you will come out on the other side. Hard part is going about daily routines without drugs that you relied on, your brain will play tricks on you that you need the drugs to get by, you must overcome this urge.

One final note about Insurance, if you want your addiction to be completely private don't use Insurance. Later in life those records can be accessed legally (you want life insurance) they can and do access your medical records, the military, health insurance companies (preexisting conditions). People confuse this with a HIPPA violation, it is not. Insurance and health insurance companies have the legal right to access your records. HIPPA covers the fact that they do not disclose the information to others. Remember many employers pay some or all of an employees health care, so a an unusual rate for someone may raise eyebrows, who can say for sure what information is passed during a phone call.

Answer 5

My best guess would be, if you suffer from chronic pain and need them daily, to switch between medications. Your doctor should help you determine which medications will work for you, and if they are uncomfortable upping the dose, they will find you something else to take for a while to get the other out of your system.

Answer 6

You have to detox, or stop taking them. Rehab is also an option if you are strongly addicted. I would consult a professional and/ or a doctor for help. Doing this yourself is not a good idea.

Answer 7

Stop taking them

Answer 8

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