Has Anyone Gone Through A Safe Medical Detox???

[pandora]

Due to this damn back injury..I have become "addicted", though my community support worker tells me I am "dependant" Either way I need to get off of them. The plan after I move is to go to a safe medical detox, like a 5 day and then follow up with outpatient group meetings. Has anyone ever done this? How did you feel? Did it work? What were the other people like? Did they give you medications to help with the withdawals? Any info would be greatly appreciated as I am very, very scared.:eek::eek::eek::eek::eek:

Or does anyone know someone that has had to go through this type of rehab...yep...i am scared!

 

[TLight]

Sorry your scared Pandora........
Fortunately, I have never been physically addicted to anything like that, so I can't offer any comfort.

I have, however, been on Cymbalta for many years, and AD, and gently and slowly withdrew myself from the med alone. It was not medically supervised because I don't think I trusted my med docs.......so I just sort of did what was best for me.

I hope you can talk with some people on here who can clue you in to what is going to happen.
I'm sure it will be all OK.

 

[Deleted member 541]

Pand,

I have never been addicted to meds, so I can't give you personal advice on this either. I just wanted to tell you how proud I am of you right now. You made a promise to me, several months ago, and you are following through with it. Congratulations, on taking this huge step forward......

Many hugs, and sending you my love.....This will be a tough journey, but I have faith that you can see this through till the end.....

 

[Marlene]

I became addicted to klonopin. In talking with my psychiatrist and psychologist, we came up with a plan to slowly wean me off of the meds. I still had withdrawals. I won't lie...it was nasty for a while. But once I got over the worst of it, the symptoms of withdrawals lessened until they went away. All told it last about two months. But part of that was the cut down to the amount of meds I took.

Everyone's different. I'd talk to your doctor about slowly weaning yourself down and if there's any meds to help it not be so bad. I could have done that but I'm too damned stubborn to take more pills to get off of other pills. But these weren't pain pills. Get some advice from a doctor. The worst part of it for me was that it made my PTSD symptoms rebound on me. Especially since the meds were taken to keep them in check.

Good luck and get as much information as you can.

Lisa

 

[pandora]

Thank you..thank you both. I did promise and I intend to keep that promise I just had to get everything in order as i explained with having someone take care of my son. It makes it hard with his disabilities and his need for sameness and now he will not have to leave the comfort and stability of his own home and the familiarity will be the same for me. He trusts my Mom completely so that makes me comfortable leaving him with my mother. I promise....I WILL DO THIS!!!! Have to for me and my son and my Mom as my Mom thinks i am killing myself slowly. I hate the ups and downs and the mood swings that now I feel I am taking it out on my son at times. We do have a conversation after but I swore i would never yell at him like my my mother yelld at me ...and lately, I have. The difference being now is that I stop or at least try to stop when the yelling starts. I do not yell mean like my mom did and I always made him come to me after and explained I had a bad day but I also said...when i say..i need a time out....he NEEDS TO GIVE ME SPACE. He has a hard time with that! But we always talk after a fight and NEVER go to bed angry! THe cycle has changed but it has been hard work and a lot of therapy. I am trying to break the cycle and I think and I have to a certain degree. I know the meds are making my emotions go all over the place. I know I have come to grips with the ptsd now it is time to get contol of this.....She......I made you that promise and I intend to keep it!!!!To you and myelf and to my son!!!! I have to I am sick of feeling sick.

 

[lrs]

I am a clinical pharmacist, and this is my opinion.
The best way to discontinue almost all drugs, is to slowly taper the dose for an extended period.
Without knowing which drug you are talking about or your current dosing regimen I could not provide you with an exact tapering schedule, nor would I try to do so in this setting.
I would not recommend a 5 day detox program.

 

[pandora]

You think weaning is better???? Why???

 

[Cate]

Hi Pandora.

I've been to detox and it wasn't a horrible place. The people are all in there for the same reason and everyone just wants to get healthy.

I'm not sure if detox or weaning is better. Have you considered seeing an addiction doctor for another opinion? When I became dependent on alcohol to sleep (before I realized I had ptsd) I went to an addiction doctor and his advice really helped me. He's the doctor who diagnosed me with ptsd.

Anyway, I wish you luck and good health!!

:occasion:

Cate

 

[SunnyBrookFarm]

My sister-in-law has been in detox several times (over many years) for addictions to pain meds and benzos. I first want to clarify that she was "addicted". She was doctor shopping, buying off the streets, and taking far beyond her prescribed dosage. From what I understand being "dependent" is different. Dependent is when you take a medication as prescribed by your doctor and you become dependent on it. (I will acknowledge I am dependent on valium now - simply because I have been on it for 2 years - even though I take it as prescribed and always fill my prescription late - because sometimes I don't take as much as I'm prescribed). In my case, when I'm ready - I will taper down slowly under my doctors guidance. In my SIL's case - she would have never been able to taper because that would have required her being able to control her dosages - being an addict she was not capable of doing that.

In detox - they will not give you other meds to help you adjust, you are detoxing plain and simple - you are not allowed any stimulants during your detox period (caffeine, sugar, or cigs -at least at the detox centers in our area). 5 days is a short time period and it can be very difficult emotionally and physically. It still requires alot of rest and working with your doctor after you come out of detox.

Having said all of that -if you are at a dangerous place with your meds - then yes - you should absolutely detox.

Only you know for sure which category you fall into.

 

[anthony]

I am going to say this.... addiction is addiction, regardless what it is. Five days and you are fooling yourself before you begin. To taper of a prescribed depressant / anxiety med you need month/s to do, and regardless what anyone says, you will have attitude / mood reactions.

The only thing you need to honestly worry about is your own mindset. If you know you are addicted to something, and that something is bad for you, then only you can change this and remove the dependency yourself. Yes, support is needed, though so is a strong brain and self will. Regardless how much someone forces you to remove yourself from something, if you truly don't want too and stick with it during... then you will just walk out of the place and take the drug again.

Want it... remember it... then taper yourself from it... do not attempt cold turkey, you have the highest risk of failure by trying cold turkey.

 

[Seeking_Nirvana]

Hi Pandora, I think detox places make you go cold turkey but I feel that can cause a heart attack depending on which drug you are addicted to, and the dosage you were taking. I would play it safe and slowly get the medication down to the lowest level dosage before going to detox program if that is what you choose to do.

I was addicted to liquid Demerol after being hospitalized for a month. I got a shot of 50mg IM every 4-6 hours for a full month.

When I left the hospital they didn't give me anything to help me or tell me that I will probably be addicted. Since I had a brain injury and the blood hemorrhaging put pressure on parts of my brain and that created lapses in memory and confusion.

I didn't realize I was addicted, and would go to the emergency room and get the shots weather I had a migraine or not. It was horrible. I realize now I was addicted because the hemorrhage stopped and I can think clearer.

I stole a bottle of Demerol and almost OD'd, so I went cold turkey after that. I haven't had a shot of Demerol in so many years I can't remember. There are meds and drugs that have body addictions, mental addiction, and both. The body addiction one are the worse. IMO

I'm pretty sure I'm addicted to Ambien, which is a sleeping aid because I can't sleep at night without it. I try not to take it and I just don't sleep at the correct times (which means when my child sleeps I need to sleep, so when she wakes I'm awake). I will detox from that drug when she is old enough to be awake by herself.

I think that med is a mental addiction but not 100% sure.

Please be careful
Tammy

 

[pandora]

I have talked in depth with the community support worker and my doctor. I have been at a dangerous level with my meds. I need to figure out how to have more self control but the addiction does take over and I do not feel strong enough to beat this one unassisted. I am going for 5 days (detox)with a three week daily program with then three weeks of weekly meetings. I do not know too much more. I have my intake meeting this week and I start mid october. That is my option right now..again..I am sick of living my life around medication. Learning to live in chronic pain..well..others do it, right??? UUGGHH..Yep. I am petrified!