DHC withdrawl & natural herbs

[kq501]

SWIM is desperately trying to get off this Jekyll & Hyde drug. SWIM is taking up to 20-30 x 30mg tabs a day and has FINALLY decided to get off these little fu**ers!!! (4-5 years, started off just 3 a day lol (more a desperate "lol"!)).

SWIM has read well into the tapering down method, but SWIM believes after those first tabs, more will come, as SWIM's body/mind just wants more and forgets all about tapering off and quitting until last thing at night... "Start again tomorrow.... ". SWIM is just being realistic with their mindset and willpower and apologies for being so weak minded.

SWIM has recently been taking MILK THISTLE capsules (several months now) to help poor old liver and just tonight SWIM took 2 capsules of PASSIFLORA for first time, as has also read good things concerning this herb in insomnia, relaxation and withdrawal aid.

SWIM has access to diazepam, but would rather use more herbal methods (SWIM doesn't want to add to intake off prescription drugs!!!).

SWIM has began running again (sadly after popping several DHC tabs for performance, but SWIM feels that natural energy levels are important to finally beat their addiction... especially after (hopefully) stopping them altogether). Been running 10k regularly. SWIM has also been eating properly and taking multi-vitamins to try aid poisoned body!

Due to SWIM's job, erratic hours in a bar/nightclub, SWIM is taking these pills at irregular times each day. SWIM is manager of this busy outlet and has no access to week or two holiday to focus on stopping, so has to try coincide withdrawing with job.... grrrr!!! Salary is very good (SWIM's salary is excellent, thus gives SWIM money to get DHC on a regular basis) so quitting not an option either unfortunately, although SWIM has given it serious thought so as to give full focus on obvious withdrawal which would come with stopping!

Can anyone please offer advice to SWIM, for the following...

a) Are MILK THISTLE & PASSIFLORA worthwhile or just myth, or can they seriously aid in SWIM coming off DHC or even keeping more healthy body?

b) Should SWIM quit job, and give quitting full focus, as it looks like stresses of job are MAIN reason SWIM still takes pills... SWIMs recreational use went a long time ago, it is more a necessity to take these pills, as many of you will know!

c) Can anyone recommend SWIM any other natural (firstly) or prescription OTC aids?

d) Should SWIM just put up with the embarrassment and come clean to GP and accept medical help? (SWIM would really rather beat on SWIM's own)

e) Has SWIY had success in beating this horrible addiction and what experience and advice could they give?

I'm sorry for such a long post and hope that some of you have kept reading for the sake of SWIM, as SWIM is feeling very down at this time in their life.

All responses get SWIM's heart felt thanks and SWIM's hopes that they can one day offer the same support as this forum clearly offers.

[Methadrone]

In swim's experience with DHC any excuse to take them will do. Swim deosn't think quitting swiy's job will help in any way shape or form to swiy quitting. In fact it could have the opposite effect, as swiy could become depressed.

Swim has detoxed off DHC and found that it will take swiy at least six weeks of being totally clean to get any energy back at all. Swim would suggest vitamin B which is best from a local GP who will administer it with a small jab into the upper arm. Swim found this helped ennormously in the first few days/weeks of being clean as it gave much needed energy to stay clean, a good GP will give swiy a jab every 6 weeks or so. Swim would suggest if an option to swiy that swiy should take some leave (holidays) or get a Dr (GP) to sign them off sick for at least 4 weeks. In swim's experience there is no possible way of continuing to work when doing a detox. Certainly not without colleagues noticing. Swim thinks swiy would more than likely 'relapse' if swiy continues to work whilst being totally clean.

Swim thinks DHC detoxes are the worst to do as they last so long. All swim can say is try the Vit B and with determinatin and willpower swiy should be able to get through. Tapering down usually results in relapse and / or dose increasing.

Swim wishes swiy best of luck with it and hopes swiy can stick to it. It will get better, eventually.

[Richard_smoker]

if you can enlist the assistance of a medical professional, that would be the wisest scenario.

The best solution for your problem would probably be 10 to 14 days of buprenorphine. You don't need much.

If swiy're ready to quit the DHC now, then you won't need much buprenorphine (suboxone, subutex, temgesic, buprenex) to get completely off DHC forever.

You should wait about 24 hours after your last dose. Then you should try about 2mg buprenorphine under your tongue. Don't swallow your saliva for 10 minutes. now wait. within the next hour or two, you should begin to feel normal... if not, then try another 2mg.

people have been known to snort crushed buprenorphine or take rectally at first, in order to enhance absorption. this is generally frowned upon though, because it also increases the addictiveness of buprenorphine itself. but it will decrease the time it takes to kick in.

on day 3, you can start tapering your dose down very rapidly.

this has been done with great success in 7 to 14 day when necessity dictates. however, most clinical information suggests that you will need around 1 week of buprenorphine for EVERY YEAR THAT YOU HAVE BEEN ON OPIATES (DHC).
(i.e. 4 years on DHC-->4 weeks buprenorphine).

why? probably so that you can "break out" of your addictive cycle. It's important to realize that you've adopted a very malajusted habit. It has taken quite a while to instill that behavior into your brain. It will certainly take some time to break the cycle of addiction in your behavior.

If buprenorphine is unavailable, you could try methadone. Realize that methadone is less attractive for quitting opiates than buprenorphine. For one thing, buprenorphine is called a "partial agonist"--meaning that it partially activates the opiate receptors, and partially deactivates them simultaneously. This will help you with your addiction AUTOMATICALLY. Also, bupe will block out your receptors, so you SIMPLY CANNOT take DHC or any other traditional opiate. If you do slip-up and take regular opiates, you'll be in for a huge disappointment. they won't work.

But, some people have no other choice than methadone. if you are in this scenario, you will need to decide how powerful your habit / addiction to DHC actually are. Will you be able to take methadone for 2-3 weeks, while decreasing your dose steadily every 2-3 days? or will you need 'maintenance treatment'--a prolongued, indefinite course of methadone that WILL make you addicted to the methadone itself.

choices, choices... they're all around. -DICK