Cold-Turkey or Slow Taper 13 yr habit?

[robaroot]

swim was addicted to drugs as a teenager. Then from 24 to 38 sober. Then, swim got caught up w/smoking meth, which swim did for 6 years. swim went to a pdoc, who told them they was bipolar (isn't everybody on meth?) and they was self-medicating ADHD. So for the last 7 years, swim has been on high doses of Adderall, Dexedrine, Ritalin, Concerta, every stimulant around. Sometimes on more than one at a time. swim is so burnt out I can't tell you. swim has tried to quit twice. swim has quit meth, so I know they can quit. But stimulants are harder to quit. So swim is ready to try again. They are on 90 mg. Adderall daily. swim is really torn about cold-turkey vs. slow taper over a few months. Only thing is swim would have to find someone to hold the pills and give em to swim daily. swim couldn't taper if they had a bottle here. Any thoughts, if you could do it either way, which would you do?

[Junket]

So it is just solely adderall now that swiyou are trying to stop?

I would try a slow taper. It would allow getting accustomed to the change and wouldn't be such a harsh reality. Instead of a few months as you put it, I would do a few weeks at most. Drop it down by 5mg every other day, after a certain point, you aren't going to feel them at all and you could probably just drop it all together at that point.

If one is able to quit meth, they can surely kick all prescription stimulants. Just moderate. Have a close friend keep your pills.. get enough to last a scheduled weeks worth of doses. That way the temptation won't be there to take them all at once because you will know its all you can get for another 7 days, you know what I mean?

Reputation Comments on this post:

I see improvement, posting attitude has changed and on the path to helping people.

[robaroot]

Thanks for the response. Yes, SWIM want's to experience life without stimulants. For all these years, it is the only way SWIM can get up in the morning, and have any motivation to do anything. SWIM might be ADHD, but SWIM will have to find another way to treat it other than stimulants, because SWIM feels like a machine all day, and then crashes at night, becoming extremely depressed. The hard thing is going to be finding a friend to hold the pills. SWIM only has one friend, and when SWIM tried this last time, SWIM harassed and harassed the friend to give SWIM another pill when it got rough, and the friend gave in. SWIM may have to pay a nurse or someone to bring the pills each morning, or don't know what. But SWIM thinks the idea is the best. Don't drag it out long, but taper over maybe 6 weeks.

[dogzz]

Swim agrees, if swiy was able to quit meth,...adderal should be even easier. People prescribed adderal and/or other amphetamines are, or should be advised to take occassional breaks from the meds.....the body quickly builds tolerance, and it appears swiy has found that out as swiy is taking 90 mgs a day. and if swim reads swiy correctly,..additional meds on top of that??

Swim was a lifetime user of meth (35 years) and was such a fiend for it,...flat out stopping was only way swim got clean. Swim used the last of his stash and energy researching diets, supplements,...holistic approaches to swims recovery. The brain has become so dependent on artificially stimulating dopamine and the "feel good" reward system,....that getting back to a "normal" , clean way of feeling good.....that it takes time. Swim had one relapse,...or call it a one time "learning session" at swims one year anniversary......so it's either 3 years clean, or 4 years with a "quick lesson" at the one year mark.......but swiy is correct,....quitting is possible.
It can take from one year to over two years for the brain to "recover" Swim does need to take an anti-d for depression,...but over all life is pretty good.
Swim would recommend on days when swiy can, dont use at all,...but accept the fact swiy didnt get to where swiy is overnight, and it'll take a while to get back to normal......Work on diet along with supplements,...in addition to getting exercise everyday if possible,....3 or 4 times a week minimum.....it really helps with the depression and overall feel of wellbeing.
If swiy has a trustworthy friend, having them dispense you pills is a good idea....when ya really, and swim means..REALLY needs one,...then go ahead and get one, tapering off will make it easier, but keep in mind,....easier is just a relative term......getting of meth was the toughest thing swim has ever done....just know that it will and does get better......best wishes,

Reputation Comments on this post:

Always with words of wisdom.

[scruffyloather]

If SWIY is unable to taper off without having someone ration them pills, they are probably not psychologically ready to quit. They really should be trying to get to a stage mentally where they WANT to quit, where the choice is easy. In swim's experience tapering is bad game. The drug is still in your life, and as SWIY knows from experience, the battle between drug and discipline is one the drug always wins. The best approaches are radical one's. You need to chance the mode you live in so that the drug cannot find utility.

[mominneed]

understand your situation, not so many years invested ( if you call it that ) but i do know that if i had the bottle in front of me prescrption of my adderall i would take it as well.. i would give it to a trusted person ... who will not take them or give you anymore if you whine about it .. that or just jump into the end.. in the long run i think the ending is the same.. its a love hate thing for me .. i love to hate it and hate to love it , but now i'm hating everything about it

[ex-junkie]

tapering is only prolonging the inevitable.

sounds like swiy is ready wage war on the habit. goodluck with that. just accept swiy will feel like shit for a while, and get to work. when the mind starts to try and justify using again, knock it on the head while its still a thought.

at the end of the day they are just thoughts. its not that hard to ignore them. everytime swiy ignores them, it will get easier. its never going to get easier if swiy keeps going is it?

time is irrelevant. if it was impossible to break an addiction, there wouldnt be so many clean swimmers running around the world. they dont have anything within themselves that swiy doesnt.

[mominneed]

ya good luck on your ventures and tell me how you fair the weather since, i'm moving into a mental game of it myself i only hope for my sake i weather the storm and keep my sanity...let us know how you our doing