A search online for at home solutions to opiate withdrawal is sure to uncover references to the Thomas Recipe. You will find it mentioned in forums and on addiction blogs throughout the internet. But does it really work? Can it really help to ease opiate withdrawal? I guess if by “ease opiate withdrawal” you mean will it be slightly less worse without the Thomas Recipe than with it, the answer would be yes. If you mean will it give you significant relief throughout your withdrawal, that is unlikely.
Read on to learn what The Thomas Recipe is
and if it is right for you.
What is the Thomas Recipe?
The Thomas Recipe was designed by a long-time prescription opiate addict. It is an at-home self-detox regimen that includes a blend of supplements and vitamins, along with a prescription based sleep medication that is to be taken following a specific schedule. You will find some slight variations online to the recipe, but generally it includes these ingredients:
- Valium or another type of benzodiazepine such as Ativan, Klonopin or Xanax. The recipe recommends Valium or Klonopin because they are manufactured in tablet form and can be easily broken or cut apart. This will make tapering easier. These are available by prescription only.
- Imodium AD or Loperamide.
- L-Tyrosine 500 mg capsules.
- A mineral supplement containing 100% of the RDA of zinc, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, and potassium.
- Vitamin B6.
- Access to hot baths or showers.
The Thomas Recipe Schedule:
- Start taking the vitamins and mineral supplements right away. It is best to take them with food. The potassium is really important early on in the detox to help with Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS). Bananas are a popular alternative source of potassium.
- Take regular doses of the benzodiazepine in the beginning of your detox. You need to take a dose high enough to induce sleep. Be sure that you are aware of the safe dosage limits for the particular benzodiazepine you were prescribed. Each of them are a little different and can be extremely dangerous if taken in incorrect dosages. Taper the dosage down each day. You want to get through the first 4-5 days, and then be off of the benzo. Benzodiazepines are highly addictive. It is vital that you taper off of them. If you do not, you might just be adding another addiction.
- Muscle aches will hit often. Use hot baths or showers as frequently as needed to help ease them. The baths or showers can also help to promote better sleep.
- Take Imodium AD as often as needed. Diarrhea and irritable bowel are common symptoms of opiate withdrawal. By the end of the 4th or 5th day, you should not need the Imodium anymore.
- Starting on the 5th day, take the L-Tyrosine and vitamin B6 on an empty stomach. Start with 2,000 mg of L-Tyrosine and scale it up or down as needed based on how you feel. You can take up to 4,000 mg of it. The vitamin B6 assists your body in absorbing it. The L-Tyrosine should give you a burst of energy to counteract the lethargic feeling that often sets in at about this point in the withdrawal. Continue to take it each morning for as long as it helps. If you find that it makes you feel too jittery, lower the dosage or discontinue it completely. You can expect to get the runs when taking L-Tyrosine, but it is usually a fairly mild case.
- Continue the vitamin and mineral supplements each day with breakfast throughout your detox.
- As soon as you can, start some mild exercise. Walking or swimming are perfect examples. It may feel difficult to do this at first, but exercise causes our bodies to produce endorphins. Endorphins are natural painkillers in our body and will help to make you feel considerably better.
The Thomas Recipe is more myth and legend than a true method to relieve opiate withdrawal. Like many legends, this one continues to grow even without substantial proof that it works.
Where the Thomas Recipe Goes Wrong:
There are several problems with the Thomas Recipe. First and foremost, good luck obtaining all of the ingredients easily. Valium or another benzo is going to require a prescription from your physician because they are highly addictive. Their use should not be taken lightly, and your physician is unlikely to do so. The last thing someone wants as a result of their detox is to end up addicted to another substance.
A mineral supplement containing 100% of the RDA of zinc, phosphorus, copper, magnesium, and potassium is impossible to find. It does not exist. Shop all you want. You won’t find it. You will have to buy the supplements individually or mix and match different supplements that contain combinations of each. You will find nothing that contains 100% of the RDA of potassium, which is 4,700mg. Anything containing more than 350 mg of potassium also requires a prescription. Too much potassium in your blood can cause a condition called Hyperkalemia.
Bananas contain between 400 and 500 mg of potassium each, so stock up.
Their is a misconception out there that the Thomas Recipe is an inexpensive way to address the symptoms of opiate withdrawal. It is not. Without even factoring in any costs that might be associated with visiting your doctor to obtain a prescription for Valium, you are probably looking at around $75-85 for all of the ingredients. Add in doctor visits fees, and the total can jump much higher.
When you are talking about detoxing from opiates, price should not really be an overriding factor. It will cost far more money to stay on them than it will to get off of them.
Ignoring price and the difficulty in obtaining the proper ingredients to follow the instructions, the real issue is whether or not it helps to really relieve the symptoms of opiate withdrawal and give you the best opportunity for a successful detox. This is where the Thomas Recipe fails the most.
The Thomas Recipe does not provide relief for the insomnia, anxiety, and irritability that are sure to last beyond the first few days in your detox. The Valium (or substitute) will help, but what happens after day 4 or 5? It also provides no relief for:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Abdominal cramping
- Hot and cold sweats
- Runny nose
- Tearing
- Restlessness
These are all common symptoms in opiate withdrawal, and the Thomas Recipe does not address them.
When you consider the ingredients and difficulty in finding them, the pricing, the danger for someone already suffering through addiction to use a medication like Valium, and the fact that it will only provide mild relief for a few of the symptoms one will experience in withdrawal, it is pretty easy to see that there are better solutions out there.
I unfortunately have had a lot of experience in this department. I have tried pretty much all of the popular remedies out there to get through opiate withdrawal. I would have to rank the Thomas Recipe near the bottom of the list. It really did nothing for me.
As this article points out, the first few days were not too bad while taking the benzo. Still felt pretty awful, but I was managing. After stopping the benzo, the insomnia and anxiety got much worse. The RLS never really ceased. The first time I tried I really underestimated how miserable the RLS is.
Maybe others have had better luck with it, but the Thomas Recipe did little for me.
I went from 80mg to 10mg of methadone but it took some time…a year was a little bumpy but i had a family member whom I let keep my medicine each month, that was the only way for me but now I’m going to go to 5mg and then off…I will let you know how it goes…good luck to everyone on here and God bless!!!
hi! am dealing with weaning off methadone not as an addict, but for pain management. i was diagnosed with fibromyalgia well over 10 years ago and lived quite a long time with 3 prescription meds, including pain med, believing that all were needed to manage my pain. long story short, after i came off my anxiety med, i began to wonder if the fibro was real. i have weaned down to 7.5mg methadone, and it seems my pain is reducing in similar increments. anyway, i won’t go into all my mess, just want to say reading your stuff and others is helping me understand what i am going through as the drs. around here aren’t helpful. any advice or support you can pass my way would be appreciated. i am having some very difficult days, perhaps more so because i don’t understand everything that is happening to me and why.
Kratom! Red or horned only. I prefer horned. I’m a 14 yr addict and have no issues on kratom.
Where can i find it all the head shops stopped selling it near me
Christina where can I buy this?
It depends where you live. You can buy it online, there’s a Reddit/kratom that recommends good vendors though mostly American.
I’ve heard of kratom in red, yellow, green, and white, but what is horned?
I have tried kratom for withdrawals and it does help. Depends on the individual.
Fuck trading one for the other! Try valarium (think that’s how it’s spelled)root.u can get it at Walgreens.
I’ve been a junkie for twenty years I’ve tried everything I was on methadone for a while and just went off in the withdrawals were worse than anything I’ve ever went through my wife was online looking at s*** and she went to the Walgreens and come back with this Valerian stuff so I tried it and I’ll tell you from experience that s*** is the truth brother!!!!
Ask your doctor for a prescription called requip I take 0.25 mg and it seems to help me sleep better I hope it works for you
It’s for RSL
Going through this now again.. Blah anyway I’m on day 5 and I have been using Thomas recipe and in addition to that a few other things. I got some clonidine from my dr which helps alot. Still got RSL at night like crazy. Been using cannabis to help in the evening and some flexeral that I had laying around. Going to get acupuncture treatment today to see if it helps a bit more. I have to work tomorrow so here is hoping. Thomas recipe treats symptoms it’s not perfect but it does help if your symptoms are milder.
Good luck Patrick and keep us updated.
Best regards Patrick!!
Keep is posted
Hey, potassium does not help with RLS. Magnesium helps to soothe and relax restlessness. But chances are if you are low on any electrolyte then they all will be low.
I have been on oxy for quite awhile now and have been struggling to get off.
Last year I decided to try this combined with a tapering schedule. I had heard about this method from a few other websites and forums.
It didn’t work. Maybe I was too aggressive in my tapering, but the ingredients in the Thomas Recipe provided little help for me. I cannot imagine anyone quitting cold turkey with this.
I know there are people out there who said it worked for them. My only guess is that their addiction was less severe. I don’t know. I felt pretty much identical to when I have tried quitting without using the Thomas Recipe.
Hi Kelly. How are you doing?
I’m doing well. I ended up finding a supplement mix that combined with tapering is working pretty well. I don’t feel great, but much better than I was with the Thomas Recipe.
Kelly, what other things did you in to get through your withdrawals?
TELL THE SUPPLIMENTS!
Like mentioned in this article, benzo’s can be really difficult to get. Most doctors are going to be hesitant to write a prescription for someone already battling an addiction. I have heard of some people substituting Benadryl instead.
If you are going to try quitting while using the Thomas Recipe, I would definitely recommend tapering because the recipe itself is only going to be effective for really mild withdrawal symptoms.
I have used Thomas recipe on a few occasions….20years addiction……on most opiates and abused ,i was almost 10months of opiates 2 month relapse….used Thomas recipe through acute withdrawals and the lops CAN alleviate acute withdrawal ..just used the recipe again my WAY..now I am opiate free 5 weeks ..and continue my journey I will…!…..I think the problem is the post acute for most people……PAWS……you have to prepare….mentally for changes were recipe won’t help….its so difficult ….does get better🖒
What did you change with the thomas recipe? I have been using H and I’m so done with this horrible drug. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.
Use kratom. For real. I used H for 6 years.
Did you make it, Alicia? I hope so! What a wonderful thing to take one’s life back that had been controlled by an inanimate object- in my case, I told myself that “No little pair of pills not bigger than the head of a pearl-topped pin was going to determine my day!” I wanted freedom. I did not use the Thomas recipe, but I DID quit nearly 12 years of MS Contin and Oxycodone use 3 X daily for spine, neck, arm and back pain… Stopped the opiates on April 1 this year, and knew there will be times when I have to take ONE. -ONE dose. As an RN, I knew my spine is not going to fix itself at this point. But, I wanted off the opiates. They were never enjoyable for me, and every day was withdrawal day from my last dose the night before. Hated mornings and the pain of the opiates leaving my body. So, I stopped. I began by decreasing my dose some, then I bought Kratom, tried it a couple of times, in place of a dose, seemed to help some, so I stopped the pain meds. For about 4-5 days, it hurt a lot, but the Kratom did ease it. I decided it wasn’t going to kill me to suffer a bit, as it wasn’t like I wasn’t suffering every time I needed another dose of pain meds, and my pain clinic doc had said that narcotics make the perception of pain in our bodies much worse. I wanted to see if he was acluistic -or truthful, so I just did it. Then after day 4, I became allergic to Kratom. But my body thinks is real-cute by making me allergic to most things, anyway, so I just stopped Kratom. After that, I was still hurting enough that I drove 50 miles round trip to the nearest town, to try to buy some CBD oil. Used it, with somewhat fair results, but its pricey, so I haven’t bought more. I already had a muscle relaxer for my back that I rarely ever used, and I have taken one of those a couple of times. Its been 34 days now since my regular use of opiates. I have been able to take Mama to town and go shopping with her, I tilled the smallest of my gardens, started the mowing of the yards, and am overall doing well. I DO have to stop and rest more. But if I can deal with withdrawal, everyone can do it if they want to. Just got to want free more than want to just give up, Don’t ever give up. What I did to get through the pain: 1. Drank lots of water to flush out the opiates from my system. (the solution to pollution is dilution) So, 1 quart of clean (filtered) water in the mornings- helped a lot with the pain, I might add. Dehydration HURTS. Our cells have to float poisons out of our system. They haven’t legs. I have access to an old spa, and that helped SO much when the pain got hard. I also have a bathtub, and I would soak in the warmest water I could stand when it was too cold to go out to the spa. When I’d wake at night, I ALWAYS got up, got a pint of water, drank it, laid back down, and ran my hands over my arms and legs and torso, to actually cause the firing of the nerves that were waking me by just lying there spasming- it felt like every cell was crying out, “Its been so long, I cant remember how to work!” So, the forcing the nerves to fire seemed to calm them down some, and i could go back to sleep for anther hour or two. Knowing the pain is temporary helped me get through it, because I have no additional support system here with me. Just me and GOD and my special needs son. You can walk a circle through my craft room, living room, and kitchen, so I would get up in the night when I hurt more and make myself walk that circle, and allowed myself to get cold- no robe, so that when I laid back down, I would think the bed felt good instead of horrid. Also, when these restless legs would not calm, I finally took a muscle relaxer, which helped. Never more than one in 24 hours, only twice through this 5-6 day time-frame. (yes, I am aware this is turning into a book, ) Since April 1st, I have taken 3 oxycodone. One on the 24th, to see if it would toss me back into withdrawals- I feared that it might- it did not, and I took one on the 26th, because of this hideous cough I still have- its a dry cough, just behind my uvula, really thick mucus that doesn’t run, but its very rare I can even cough it up- it just tickles most of the time, (but because I am allergic to white sugar, I refuse to suck on a cough-drop) so I wanted to see if opiates can suppress the cough reflex like codeine does. It did indeed reduce the tickling some
… And I’d rototilled that day and hurt so badly. What I LOVE about no longer taking around the clock opiates, is that my head is clearer, I can think SO much more acutely that I was able to on the opiates, although I never thought at the time was impaired- (I was, by about 15-20%, I think) I am again omni-tasking, and the pain in my body is lowering slowly. I no longer have that every cell in my body-type pain that is part of hungering for that next dose, either! That was decreasing by about day 6. And, for that third dose, I just took an oxy a few minutes ago, because I tilled more and mowed more, and my low back has me staggering instead of walking today. I am terribly allergic to tylenol, and aspirin tears up my stomach even with one dose, and ibuprofen gave my dad a massive stroke several years ago, so I was told to avoid it… I could have taken a cyclobenzaprine, (muscle relaxer) but they make me too sleepy and its barely after noon. I need to do bills today. I do not like that head-tunneling-thing that happens with oxy though. My goal in life is to feel as great as I did as a 30 year old woman. I’m on the southern-end of 60 now, and its a worthy goal to work toward whether or not I get all the way there. I already feel better than i have in 12 years mentally. Incidentally, the OTC meds I just mentioned, Ibuprofen and aspirin, both relieved my back and neck/arm/shoulder pain much better than the opiates ever did.
When the opiates were not enough, pre-withdrawal, I would sneak one of those OTC pills, and just suffer the pain in my stomach for a few days as a trade-off for the relief. Sure wish I could tolerate them. Never would have gotten addicted to opiates then. I also used Morton Nu-Salt on my food as an additional potassium source during withdrawal, to help decrease the restless legs; every meal for two weeks, also a little extra sodium… The only thing I am doing now, is to add the Nu-salt lightly on things I want salt on, as i still get occasional leg cramps, and am still drinking the extra water, to address any ongoing withdrawal symptoms. Be sure to keep your electrolytes adequate! I also have a massage chair that has helped quite a bit. It only does shiatsu massage on my back, but better than no massage. Side-note for opiate users: Are you aware that according to the National Vitamin Company, who puts out a flier I found at my pharmacy, titled “Drug-Induced Nutrient Depletion Guide” (Casa Grande AZ) –
(for Rx drugs only,) Oxycodone and its compounds (oxycontin) depletes your Folic Acid, Glutathione, Iron, Potassium, Sodium, and Vitamin C from your body? Users of this drug need to ask their Doc to run blood tests to see where they are at in these levels, and supplement accordingly. Remember that the US Minimum RDA levels refer to the level that one can still have fairly OK health at before they physically ‘crash’; most vitamins and minerals can be taken (and should be for optimum health) at a higher level than the Minimum RDA amounts. Good luck, Alicia, and everyone!
What did you use?
I myself is weaning myself off Norcros and is not easy. I went to the CNC store and got a7 day cleanse and some vitamins to help build my endorphin and give me energy. So far I feel a little loopy but not sick at all day 2
Ive had gear today and starting my detox tomorrow ive gt vallium lorazepam Xanax and pregablin oh also bromazapam any tips help anything as been threw this before but in a unit and that’s nt possible anymore unless u want to wait a year x
It seems to be a recipe for a very mild OP withdrawal. Maybe for small amount of codeine or so. There are lots of relatively cheap OTC herbs and supplements which can be nowadays used instead of addictive benzos etc. What about Mucuna Prurensis/L-dopa/-dopamine precursor, Kratom, Kava-Kava, Passiflora, CANNABIS or pure CBD, Hopps, Valerian ,Chamomile and many others? You need B-vitamins, MG,CA,ZN, and isotonic drink to replace ionts of salt losted through diarhoea..What about aminoacids like Tryptophan/5-HTP/Serotonine precursor, D-phenylalanin, Melatonin and liquid complete aminoacids which as a protein are essential for rebuilding brain structures if you can not eat properlly ( Tyrosine make ppl nervous and jittery, absolutely not recomandable for first stage of wd.)? What about GABA or Phenibut? What about sedative Antihistamines? SSRI? And CLONIDINE, LYRICA ( if you have no problem with visiting a doctor?)There are so many options better then those in “famous Thomas recipe”.!
Great ideas, Veganfighter! My Doc put me on Lyrica once, and I went home and looked at the studies done on it (on the net) and noted one study that said every single rodent they used it on developed cancer, so they assumed their batch of rodents was a batch of inferior subjects and they TOSSED THE ENTIRE batch and started over. They did indicate they wondered if it was their feed, but do you think they actually worked to see if it was their med? Nope. So, I called my Doc and said NO way am I taking Lyrica. I told him about the manipulation of the study. He thought i was stupid because it had helped (the first few doses not as much as the next few, tho) but he put me on something else. That was in my very early days post injury, right after Lyrica came out, before it was considered a narcotic, even. In 2015, I developed breast cancer. Go figure. Coincidence? ??? Maybe …or not.
Hi going through hell once again…I had my meds stolen.
My Doctor won’t give them to me until my due date. I even made a police report.
I hate this…feeling sorry for myself.
I have legitimate pain issues or they would not give them at all.
I fought for months to get off Methadone (my idea to get off Methadone not Doctors)…that’s what they were giving me for pain before Norco..this really sucks.
I heard LSD is good for withdrawals…I would never do that.
I pray for all of you..just needed to get this off my heart.
Maybe Suboxone? Thanks for listening!
I bought all the stuff for Thomas Recipe which led me to this site.
Haven’t taken any yet…not sure it’s safe!
Outside of the benzo’s, there is nothing really “unsafe” in the Thomas Recipe. The concern with it is more around whether or not it will work, which for most people it will not. Good luck and keep us updated.
Hi. Terrible that your medication was stolen. I bought the ingredients for the Thomas Recipe and I’m hoping it works. I didn’t get the benzos, though, I’m using cannibas instead). I really hope time goes quickly for you until your next refill. Maybe get a small safe + keep them in there? I’d hate to see this happening to you again! Once I complete detoxing, I will never take another opioid again. I’ve tapered myself down to 20mg of codone. I’m not going to lie. It’s hard. But I have to do this because I have MS! Next I have to quit smoking if I’m ever to live a normal life! I hope everyone here is doing okay!
try canabinoids i hope it helps your ms.Iwas on 3 30 mg time release and 2 breakthrough oxycodone 18 yrs and the doctor cut me down to one time release generic 30mgs oxycontin which seems to last 8 hours pushing it. but i`m in severe pain from arthritic shoulders to ruptured neck thoracic and lumbar rods .i want the rods out but comps not budging. seems i go through mild withdrawl every morning.but pysco pain.will my brain be better if i`m off and naturally help my worn out body?
Yes, your brain will be better when you’re off. I’ve had back surgery post MVA. I need a second surgery. The pain is constant, L5 – S1 with sciatic radiculopathy. I’ve gotten off hydrocodone several times and benzos once (I will never touch them again). My brain is always worse on opiates. It seems better at first. But then only if you chase the dragon. What helps me most is a small amount of MJ morning and evening. It’s legal where I live. Walks, hydrotherapy (water exercizes in heated pool, 94 degrees), vitamin C & B stress complex, L- theonine (sleep) and seeking the spiritual are some of the things that help me most. I can deal with the pain when I focus on the joy in my life. I’m grateful for this blog to remind me I’m not so alone.
Thats what I was wondering if its safe. If it wasn’t for my legs hurting so bad at nite I could tolerate going thru withdrawals. But I always go back to percocet because of the pain.
I believe it is safe.
Hear are some helpful medications. Including one herbal.
1. Kava extract
(Available to most people on line.)
2. Gabapentin
Most doctors will prescribe this since it is consider non-narcotic.
3. Zoloft -anti-depressent
Lot of patients suffer depression due to all kinds of pain.
Thank you.
Bad doc you had there. I know this is an old topic but if you or anyone else runs out of meds for whatever reason, you can go to an ER in a hospital. Tell them the truth about what happened, even bring the police report. Then tell them that you need to be medically stabilized to avoid withdrawals until you receive your next dose of meds. They might help you or not. God bless and good luck.
Hi long time heroin user here. Tried all other available options. Methadone, subutex.I’m on around 2g a day and am truly miserable was looking at the Thomas recipe and was feeling optimistic about it until late I read this thread. But I haven’t seen an alternative provided on here. Please please please help.
Lots of xanax, pot, and subutex. And if you can get some flexeril or somas or any type of muscle relaxer to help with the restless legs that will help. my first night was awful and if i didnt have my bars i never would of made it. even though i was taking suboxone, i did take a percoset right before i tried to go back to sleep because i couldnt take the restless leg syndrome anymore. my arms and legs wouldnt stay still. finally after popping my third bar and that perc, i fell asleep, and day 2 wasnt all that bad but then i ended up back on the boy. going to detox tomorrow, as i find it too hard to do this at home with an addict living in the next room. goodluck to you all, and i noticed on this thread so maNY people mentioning how hard it would be for a doctor to prescribe the benzos… yes i agree, but were addicts, gotta buy the benzos off the street. i wouldnt reccommend trying to detox off opiates without any kind of benzo. clonidine also helps wonders if you can get it.
Question….. can I take the L-tyrosine during the day too if I start feeling sluggish at work? Or only in the am????
It is best to consult a physician, but side effects of L-Tyrosine are similar to an anxiety or panic attack. You can experience things like tightness in the chest, shortness of breath, chest pains, rashes, and itchy skin. In that regards, it could actually increase the intensity of some of the withdrawal effects you already experience.
If you are going to do it, split up the dosage rather than taking an additional dose during the day.
I also bought kratom at my local smoke shop. i took 2 of them as well, but do not know if it helped at all because i had taken so much other stuff too. coming off h is awful, and if there is a detox facility where you live i would suggest checking it out. i live in palm beach county, fl and i do not have insurance, but there is 1 state funded detox program in delray that i am going to try to get in tomorrow. it is the only free detox in palm beach county, being the other one closed down so it is hard to get in but i hope i do because i cant live like this anymore. i was 5 years clean, and been on my relapse now for 13 months and have lost everything.
I’m having trouble finding Kratom. I went to a smoke shop today and the person I spoke with has never heard of it before. I live in. Northwest Washington. I do have a few Xanax, gabapentin and all of the ingredients for the Thomas recipe. Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Thank you so very mich.
kratom can be found all over Seattle. I would look at your local Pipe/Head Shop to see if they carry it.
You could buy it online too. Best of luck to you.
You can buy Kratom online. I found the Red more helpful with pain but it kept me awake at night. Just bought the calming kind and haven’t tried it yet, but it does sort of lift you out of the intensity of bodily symptoms of withdrawal. Beware though, it does have a miserable taste. Some people get similar effects from MJ but it’s not legal where I live.
Still, I found it impossible to reduce my 60 mg morphine to 30 mg. I take it for severe pain and have done so for 14 years and withdrawal lasted for a month and didn’t seem to be improving in that time. I had to travel, so went back on my usual dose. Main problems were insomnia, body pain, flu symptoms and extreme fatigue which didn’t let up. I’ve heard the longer you’re on these drugs the longer the withdrawal, but I just couldn’t give myself the length of time to be dysfunctional.
I noticed one man said cannabis Xanax benzo etc. and Suboxone?!?! please do not take any benzo’s and Suboxone or Subutex at the same time because it is lethal and will kill you!!!! do not mix methadone Suboxone and Subutex with any Benzos i’ve had friends die that way thank you and good luck
The Thomas Recipe makes sense from a medical perspective.
Just try it. It’s better than the alternative.
Also try yogurt & the bananas. Eat like 4-5 a day.
Use Benadryl if you cannot get your hands on a benzo.
& just breathe.
Try to distract yourself from the symptoms somehow.
The RLS is awful. I know. If you can try the Valerian Root from Pharmacy in the Vitamins section. This is what Valium derives from.
What is a good / best multivitamin and mineral supplement to take?
Pretty much any multivitamin is okay. They are all very similar. I went with Centrum.
The anxiety is one of the worst parts of withdrawal, so I weaned myself down on caffeine which can contribute to anxiety. I was a 4-5 cups a day coffee drinker. Now I have one in the morning.
I used Imodium AD a good bit early on when the stomach and bowel pains were at their worst and stuff wanted to come out of both ends.
PediaLyte was also good early on in the withdrawal to stay hydrated. Vomiting and diarrhea can lead to dehydration. It’s better than Gatorade and other sports drinks because there is less sugar in it.
Ibuprofen for some of the muscle aches as well as something like BenGay.
I am taking Unisom. I still have trouble sleeping some nights, but it helps. I am also using passionflower, valerian root, and chamomile to help with the sleep. Once I started adding them with the Unisom I have been sleeping much better.
Kava kava helps a lot with the anxiety and restlessness.
I’m also using l-tyrosine, ginseng, vitamin B12, 5-HTP, GABA, and magnesium.
I know. It’s a long list, but it has been working for me.
Right on,congrats….
Im on day 6 off being tapered off suboxone. Was on it for 9.5 months, 12mg down to .5mg a day. Ive been using, ibuprofen and tylenol (rotating between the 2) dramamine for nausea, immodium for the diarrhea, ginseng because I read somewhere that its suppose to help with energy (i think?) Pepto bismol here and there for upset stomach-my stomach has been churning, i was taking propranolol 20mg 2x day the first 5 days and then today my psych doc prescribed me clonidine .1mg, I took half of one and it honestly has helped ease the awful cold chills and watery eyes, I am also prescribed wellbutrin(300mg) and Seroquel (150mg) bc I am bipolar but the seroquel doesnt do shit for sleep for me, I have tried melatonin along with benadryl and have been able to get around 3.5 solid hours of sleep the passed 2 nights. What also sucks is Im currently on my period so I have even more cramping going on, ugh. Honestly with the listed meds above and forcing myself to walk around .75miles a day its helped, no matter what were going to feel something and I feel like I should, after all the fucking damage I have done to my poor 25 year old 5’4″ 130lb body, I am lucky to be alive going through this process at all. I use to shoot heroin and ice, what fucked up years those were. Started smoking weed at 11 and graduated to coke then crack then pills at 13, tried heroin at 17, hated it, then again at 19 like a dumbass and loved it, got on methadone(130mgs) at 22 until I was 24 and then abused that like a dumbass(and did dope along w it), then started heroin again and that time i started IV,along with ice. Ive been clean (being on suboxone) for 9.5months and I am so thankful. You just have to want it too. And I do, I really do. Oh and I am also taking womens one a day vitamins each day. Hot showers definitely help, even if your curled in the fetal position lol.. anyway I am done with my long ass post. Wish me luck my fellow addicts and I wish you all the best of luck too!
Oh and I have been going to NA meetings off and on, I do have a sponsor who I talk with on a weekly basis. Currently on step 4 .. idk if NA makes a difference but I know it feels good to know people care, and not because they have to.
🙂
I’ve been on oxy for about 10 years for back pain. Hundred and 20 milligrams a day now for 2 years. A tapered from 120 milligrams 20 milligrams over 2 weeks, which was honestly extremely brutal. My doctor was shocked as he told me I could take six months tapering if I wanted to, so he gave me clonidine which seems to be helping although it makes my legs feel like rubber and my stomach hurt. He says the last 20 and flushing my extra medicine, is where the real test will become. I have a stimulation device implanted in my back for the pain the medicine was addressing. Not sure yet if it will be enough. Trying to be nice to your wife kids and grandkids while you’re going through withdrawal as a challenge. Any ideas besides this Thomas diet? i want off this week
Myself i was addicted to vics, i was then given suboxone from a friend not knowing how addictive that was I’ve been doing this for over 12 years now I’m to the point I want to get off the suboxone. I went to my doctor and he gave me a prescription called Chlordiazepoxide. It’s actually a withdrawal medication for alcoholism but I’ve been taking it for 3 days now and it really does help with the panic attacks and the emotional problems I was just told about the Thomas recipe but just to let you know if anyone’s interested this medication works just as great I haven’t had any real withdrawal symptoms since I’ve been on this pill hopefully this will help me quit 100% thank you. PS of course sleep is very important I noticed when I take the over counter sleep meds I do sleep as far as the back pain I use ibuprofen or Aleve but I haven’t had much problem with sleeping I think this medication really helps as well good luck to all you people best wishes.
it helped me alot. use iron for RLS. keep up the benzos and warm epsom salts baths with a few drops of tea trea and eucalyptus oils in the water.
good luck all
Do the extra vitamins and supplements really help? I was a heroin addict for 9 years then went on methadone. I ended up on the methadone almost as long (7 years). I was at 110mg at my highest methadone dose. I’m currently tapering off the methadone with the help of the doctor at the clinic. I’m down to 15mg now I have two more weeks left ,,going down 5mg each week then completely off from 5mg. Its taken me 7months to get from the 110 to now. So far withdrawal hasn’t been too bad, but my last two decreases were tough. Been waking up middle of the night drenched in sweat, cold , clammy, aching back and legs. My anxiety has been thru the roof. Ive started taking Benadryl to help me get thru the night . Wondering if the extra supplements are worth starting ?
Many people have reported great success in managing their withdrawal symptoms by using supplements. No supplement out there is going to cure an addiction, nor can any of them completely eliminate the symptoms of withdrawal. The best they can do is make the symptoms less intense than they would be otherwise.
There are options out there that can help with anxiety symptoms. None of them are going to cure anxiety, but again, they can make the symptoms less intense.
http://www.anxietyresourcehub.org/elimidrol-effective-anti-anxiety-supplement/
Hi this is my 3rd day of cold turkey the 1st and 2nd day I could cope but the 3rd day has really took its toll nobody knows that am an addict no friends an no family I can’t even afford to buy stuff for like vitamins Imodium I can’t even afford to buy bananas is there anything else to help with RLS I can cope with every other thing
Jo, hate to tell you but there is no way to accomplish yr goal with what you say. you really need to come up with another plan. I do wish you the best Take a step at the time, starting reducing in smaller dosages.
Try Morton Nu-salt. Its potassium. Dont use it more than you would naturally salt food, though, as too much K+ (potassium) can mess with your heart. (not good!) Vitamins D, A, K and E are fat-soluble vitamins, so one needs to be aware of their OD symptoms in case one gets too much of them, -like if you forget you took them in a higher dose, then do it again same day, over a period of time… , (although its pretty hard to get too much Vitamin D) I take 12000 IU vitamin D every other day and its not too much for my small frame. I believe the Minimum RDA is still 2000 IU. If the sun is shining where you are, Jo, try lying out in the sun for a bit. Natural Vitamin D; dont get sunburned, tho. It’ll help too. Don’t forget to drink plenty of water.
FYI. I does work and did for me more then once. I did not even use benzos. The only side effects were night sweats. Had energy. Felt like I took opiates and had no pain. Went about my day(s) as usual.
Is anybody going to help me on here I’ve had a hiccup twice please I need help
I just replied to your last question, Jo. Hang in there, don’t give up, EVER, You can totally do this. Find my book-length post above, if admin doesn’t reject it for length, to see what I did to deal with withdrawals. Hot baths before bed- soak, if you can. IF not, wrap your legs in hot wet towels with the water running on them to keep the towels warm… Rub your hands over your legs and feet, firmly, to get the nerves that are basically in there wiggling like mean jell-o, to fire, because nerves cannot fire continuously, They have to fire, then relax before they can fire again, giving you anywhere from a few seconds of relief to many minutes of relief, depending upon how intense the RLS is. IF you have access to a spa with jets, USE it. You are stronger than ANY inanimate object, such as a drug; don’t let them lead you around. YOU are in control. Remind yourself that being free with TOTALLY be worth half a dozen rough days and nights- after all, it took you more than half a dozen days and nights to get here, right? THAT is what I kept telling myself. “I am in control, not the drugs. They can go to Hail! I am NOT succumbing to them again!” Self-talk, mini-walks in your house/room, rubbing them, every hour or more if you need to… You’ll make it. I got up in the night maybe 3 hours after a hot tub soak, and ran ANOTHER bath, and soaked. Decided I could sleep when this was all over. Good luck, you will make it. Wish I could reach thru and hug you.
Hi Grama
I took your advice an am doing ok
I finally bit the bullet an actually told my husband thinking that he was going to judge me I went the doctors the other day for more help and has diagnosed me with bipolar as I couldn’t stop taking pain killers spending money you name it I was doing it it was hard being on my own with this horror thinking all kinds of things since telling my mind has relaxed I feel I can just talk about it now am feeling good am the best thing is am going to GET BETTER
I am again going to detox myself.
I’ve done so in the past 3 or 4 times over a 4 year span being off 15mg of oxycodone that is prescribed to me every 4 hours. The major addiction I fell into was after a accident in 2014. I learned..well thought Suboxin was a life saver but as an addict I again fell into my addiction and tried cold turkey to stop subs but could not. I then went back on the Oxycodone. I’ve had the detoxed myself with Klonopins and staying hydrated as well as a mostly balanced diet of 3 meals a day…Breakfast for me was most important but I would have to force myself. This time I do not want to rely on any Benzo. I need to learn how to mentally say no and keep it that way. Any insight will help.