To all amateur pharmacists...

[fassbinder]

I need some help/advice. I have successfully weened myself off of opiates for the most part. I have not been dope sick for about 6 months, but I do use occasionally, usually a roxy 30, 30-50mg morphine, or maybe a 4mg dilly - about twice a month. This is a huge accomplishment for me, but my biggest problem now is those two times a month that I cannot live without them.

For some reason I will get the idea of taking a shot into my head, and I will try to score, fail - and then spend the next week in a horrible, agitated, mean-spirited, angry haze. Sometimes I do score, and take a shot, and I'm fine for a month. I have worked hard to get myself down to this MOSTLY non-dependent state, and I was wondering what would could help me regain control when I start to crave.

I don't think methadone is the right path for me. Subs might be, but I don't know if a doctor will prescribe them to take that irregularly. maybe a benzo - I don't know. I will NOT take a SSRI, I have been on many of them, and they all make me hallucinate and turn me into a manic asshole. Do I even need medicine?

What can you fine folk recommend for me? Any and all advice appreciated.

[Indy]

If you can't live without opiates, pods or seeds are a good alternative. Hey, don't knock it til you try it. If you find the right seeds it'll be surprisingly effective, and i GUARANTEE pods will work for you if you take enough. poppy seed tea is a bit like a roulette, but if you get the right kind of pods it's basically 99% that it will work.

We can't give you sources for pods on the forum, but rest assured it's easy to find a place to buy them online.

As for seeds, i'm not sure if we can discuss sources on here or not, so i won't for now.

[JonnyMohawk]

hey man, sorry to here about your blight.

I think weening yourself off is a great achievement, the will power for that is hard to muster, but fuck me when it comes to staying off, sometimes I dream about oxy, the feeling it brings, and I totally see where you are coming from.

I know you said you shoot your junk, but have you considered buying a small supply of pods/kratom for when the going gets tough?

My habit is usually around a 100mgs of oxy to feel good, and pods more then sustain me, and with your tolerance having gone down its an idea.

I mean other then that not much you can do besides scoring, but they may hold you over for a while.

[Narkotikon]

You could try a mood-stabilizer / neuroleptic like Depakote, Lithium, Trileptal, Tegretol, or Topamax. But, I warn you, they have some nasty side effects. Lithium has to be dosed at the right level, and you really do need to have your bloodwork done every so often to make sure it's within the right range, as it can be toxic at too high of a dose. Depakote can make people gain weight. Topamax is apparently also good for cravings (especially food cravings). Trileptal and Tegretal I had nasty allergic reactions to, so I can't speak too highly of them.

A benzo might be a good option if you're extremely anxious, but they usually don't like to give those for anger issues. They're more likely to give you a neuroletpic like above or even an anti-psychotic. I would advise against the anti-psychotics, but that's just me. I never liked those drugs. They made me feel like a zombie. Even the newer-generation ones, like Geodon, Risperdal, and Abilify. If you do take those, I would suggest learning as much as you can about them. They can cause some unwanted side-effects too. Well, really, all psych meds can. Also, they are probably not likely to prescribe a benzo if you're upfront about your opiate past, or any drug really. Benzos are contraindicated for those with substance abuse issues. Although I don't totally agree with that.

If you don't want to take an SSRI, there are the atypicals like Effexor and Wellbutrin, which act on different combinations of neurotransmitters (I think Effexor does serotonin and norepinephrine and Wellbutrin does dopamine if I remember correctly). Then there are the tri-cyclics, which are an older class of antidepressants, but those can be very sedating. Also, if taken in too high of a dose, they can cause death. Tricyclics OD's are very dangerous, which is why they don't often prescribe them to depressed patients anymore if they suspect suicidal tendencies. I mean, why would you give a suicidal patient something they could OD on? Then there are the MAOI's, but those are very rarely used anymore, as they have a lot of drugs and even food interactions. I mean, when you take those, you really can't eat certain foods. And if you've ever looked at practically any OTC med, it will always say do not combine with an MAOI.

As Indy said, you could try pods or seeds. Seeds are more of a gamble, but once you find the good kind, they are very satisfying.

I doubt methadone would be a good choice, and I also don't think a Sub doctor would allow you to take it only twice a month. They would both want you to take it daily.

You could also try non-pharmaceutical techniques, like relaxation tapes, yoga, progressive muscle relaxation (where you basically lay down and progressively relax your muscles), and breathing techniques. Those can be somewhat effective, but if you're truly anxious, as in a state of panic / agitation, I really don't think they're that effective. Whenever I've been recommended those, I just want to slap the doctor and say "thanks, dumbass." I just don't think they're that effective.

[roxi*stardust]

You are having craving, using an opiate isn't the answer. You should find out what triggers your cravings. If SSRIs make you maniac you should never take the alone. This means your depression and anxiety is more likely caused by a mood disorder like bi-polar. My SO has the same reaction to SSRIs. He has been successfully taking Abilify for quite a while now. You should see a doctor or counseler. Using during your craving will only lead to more frquent using and your eventual dependence.

[Synack]

You could try a mood-stabilizer / neuroleptic like Depakote, Lithium, Trileptal, Tegretol, or Topamax. But, I warn you, they have some nasty side effects. Lithium has to be dosed at the right level, and you really do need to have your bloodwork done every so often to make sure it's within the right range, as it can be toxic at too high of a dose. Depakote can make people gain weight. Topamax is apparently also good for cravings (especially food cravings). Trileptal and Tegretal I had nasty allergic reactions to, so I can't speak too highly of them.
SWiM was on lithium for a while and it may strip your soul but its better than being so sad you won't get out of bed.

[taj]

I'm on Seroquel for a mood stabilizer/anti-psychotic. A lot of people knock it but it's been a god-send for me. I am a very anxious person and they won't give me benzos (except for K-pins, they make me violent) I take a steady dose of the Seroquel bit I also take 50-100mg as needed for anxiety, it really helps me, and I know others who take it just occasionally, even and ex who would take some to deal with cravings....might be something to look into.

I've never done it (it's a money situation) but acupuncture can be really effective for some people, used for all sorts of reasons, even acne or quitting smoking and general relaxation and well-being, you can do it for all sorts of reasons.

I hope you find something that helps and I want to commend you for the AWESOME job you've done already regarding your opiate usage

[fassbinder]

Thanks for the replies, everyone. I am especially interested in the progressive muscle relaxation (thanks narkotikon!) and all of the advice about mood stabilizers. They are a type of drug that I have never considered and I am going to do some research. I know that some of them can be expensive, but what isn't? I successfully skipped one dose last month by getting tequila drunk and having sex with a co-worker, and I would pay all the money in the world to never make a mistake like that again.