Hints & Tips for an easier detox

 

  • MUSIC - Listening to music that reminds you of happier times. Remembering those times rather than the times that you were using. Recommended by Steven.

  • ICE CREAM / SMOOTHIES / GELATOS – Recommended by Kat. She recommends getting ice cream, smoothies, gelatos and such because they are easier to eat when you don't feel like you can manage it. As eating does help make you feel better.

  • HOURLY CALENDAR – Recommended by Kat. She created an hour calendar made up of 100 hours. After each hour she marked one off and circled the 72nd hour (supposedly the worst). She found that by then the worst was over and it felt like she was really getting somewhere.

  • HOT BATHS - with or without a muscle relaxing bath foam or herbal remedies. This releases endorphins, which make you feel good. If you can, go to your local sauna. This helps sweat out toxins that linger in the body and also releases the all important endorphins. Washing well with a high-fat soap helps remove the toxins excreted on the skin after heaving perspiration, and prevents their re-absorption.

  • TALC - after bathing, before bed or whenever. It absorbs sweat, especially good before going to bed (keeps the bed-sheets dry).

  • MUSCLE RUB – good for helping with sore, restless legs. i.e. tired leg cream, ice rub, muscle sprays.

  • NOURISHMENT DRINKS - These are good as they give your body everything it needs in a day. Any sort of nourishment or build-up drink is good.

  • EATING HEALTHY – a lot of fruit, vegetables and healthy foods will perk you up. Your body will be badly lacking in energy and vitamins, so give yourself a boost. Many addicts can become hypoglycemic, which is a blood sugar problem caused by a poor diet over an extended period of time. Do you constantly crave fatty foods? This is because your body is craving nutrients, but do try to stay away from fast foods, canned drinks and fatty foods. Try to eat well BEFORE you start your detox (for a week at least, more if possible), as when detoxing you probably wont eat at all or be able to keep anything down. You will become very weak and more likely to give in. Try to build yourself up beforehand in anticipation for this.

  • VITAMINS – as mentioned above, your body will be badly lacking. Try to take a good multi-vitamin. It should contain all of the vitamins especially vitamin B, C, B5 and the minerals calcium and magnesium.  B vitamins are important for the proper function of your brain and nervous system. Calcium nourishes the central nervous system and works with magnesium to help calm the body. Vitamin C detoxifies the body and helps to lessen the craving for drugs.

  • TELL YOURSELF YOUR WELL – keep telling yourself that you don’t feel that bad and that your going to feel 100% soon. A large part of turkeying is physiological and getting in the right frame of mind can make all the difference. If you keep thinking your ill and thinking about how long its going to last – then you will feel worse.

  • GETTING READY – brushing your hair & teeth, and getting dressed properly. You might not feel like it but it makes you feel human again. Its easy to just sit around in pajamas or tracksuit bottoms, not changing for days but believe me, it does work.

  • MAKING A PLAN – beforehand of things that you would like to do or could do to keep you busy. Things that have helped me include: swimming, playing on the computer, talking on chat rooms, going for a walk/drive in the car. Also try to go away, either to friends in a different area or even on holiday.

  • DRINKING - if you can face it have a good drink, especially at night as it helps you to sleep, numbs your mind a little and passes time.

  • BEING WITH PEOPLE THAT DON’T KNOW – as you can’t talk about gear or moan about it. Also, because you have to pretend that your feeling okay it means that it doesn’t play on your mind as much.

  • HAVING VISITORS – preferably people that are not on gear or that don’t know you’re an addict, as its nice to have someone else to talk to. I know you often don't feel like seeing people when your detoxing but you will find that when people come round, you will enjoy it - it makes time go quicker and stops your mind working overtime.  Also, as with above, if they don't know you can't moan or go on about how ill you are.

  • TIME AWAY FROM HOME - take a week (or more if you can) away from where you live. When you know that you can’t get any gear even if you could afford it or want it, it does make it easier to handle. You get in the right frame of mind and you feel better than you would if you do your detox at home, knowing that you could phone up right now and get sorted out.

  • HOLIDAY ABROAD – if you can afford it or can borrow money, this is probably the best thing and the most likely to work. When your in a foreign country you know that you can't score so you get on with it, as you have no other choice. It is a lot better than going away locally, as when your abroad you don’t spend any or as much time thinking ‘How can I get home’. As you can't just drive home, hop on a train, get a bus or hitchhike.

  • WORKING OUT – this helps when you get clean (I wouldn't try it when you are withdrawing!). Working out a little, a couple of times a week, helps your muscles and nervous system get back into shape and also releases endorphins.

  • MARIJUANA – Helps ease the symptoms of withdrawal. It is sort-of like drinking, and is something to do which numbs you a little to the pain and boredom. As above, it can't take away the pain but it can help a little. Recommended by Chance.

  • PEPTO BISMOL - Over-the-counter medicine for upset stomachs and nausea. It also helps with diarrhea, as does Darvocet. Recommended by Kevin.

  • MELATONIN – Is a sleep agent that your body produces naturally when your a kid but slows down when you get older. It can be purchased in pill form at a nutrition center. Good aid in relaxation when your tossin and a turnnin. Recommended by Chris.

  • LAVENDER AND CHAMOMILE - in your bath or as drops on your pillow. Lavender aids sleeping and Chamomile calms you. 

  • VALERIAN – A herb that can be bought from any health/gnc store. It’s primary effects are as a muscle relaxant and a mild tranquillizer. It also induces sleep naturally. You take 3-6 an hour before bed and it helps you sleep. It's make-up is similar to that of Valium. Recommended by Rose.

  • KAVA KAVA – Another herb with calming effects, which can cause mild euphoria in small doses and extreme relaxation in higher ones. It has similar effects to weed and cocaine. As with the Valerian, this helps make the detox a little easier. Whilst nothing can take away the pain, this helps relax you which has obviously got to make things a little better. Take 3 pills when you need them. Only problem is that in the UK it has recently been taken off the market while it is further researched by the Medical Council. May become prescription only. Recommended by Rose.

  • ANTI-DEPRESSANTS - Recommended by Coda. It can sometimes be useful to get on a course on anti-depressants a month or more before you detox. This way they can start working before you stop taking drugs. Coming off drugs causes all sorts of emotions in the body and many people find they become so depressed they start using again. By taking a course of anti-depressants for a period, of say 6 months, you can help overcome this.

  • THE CARRIER CLINIC (New Jersey, USA) - Recommended by Susan. They use something like bupernex liquid under your tongue - it masks the withdrawal symptoms so that you only have a feeling of tiredness. She also recommends: Clonodine, Pepto bismol, Sleeping pills, Antidiarrhoeal medication, Gatoraid, Percocet, Vicadin, and lots of fresh fruit like apples, bananas, oranges, grapes, pears. Contact them on: 1-800 933-3579.

  • HAZELDON REHAB (Minneapolis, Minnesota, USA) – Their web page is www.Hazelden.org. People come to this rehab from all over the country (& abroad) and they will pick you up from the airport and take you to the facility. It's the leading rehab in the world and was started in the 40's. The only major drawback is the cost. It's about $13,000 for a month and they have an 80% success rate. Recommended by Katie.

  • LIFEBACK CLINIC (Isle of Wight, UK) – Detox and Naltrexone implants.  Contact them on:  01983 530760

  • BOOKS - Its often good to read stories (fact & fiction) on heroin addiction. Click on the link to view the list, also includes books on beating addiction, etc.  Some books aren't really advisable to read during a detox, as its not very helpful to read about someone scoring and getting high, when you are sitting feeling like shit.  Makes you think about scoring, so try to avoid these type of books until you feel a bit stronger.  Books can be bought through Amazon.com by clicking on the image of the front cover.

  • Addiction is a tough opponent to face and some people need Drug Rehab to help them win that ever important fight.  A caring and quality Addiction Treatment Center that will make you feel at home instead of a hospital will make that fight that much easier.  Drugs can ruin one's life and addiction treatment can save your loved ones life.  Drug Rehabilitation is a lengthy process that will clean your life up and help you start over.  (Please click on these links to visit different website's that can help).

 

I received a helpful e-mail from a man called Kevin, who gave me some advice from his experiences which lead to him getting clean. The advice is as follows (please take advice from a doctor before trying this yourself):

 

  • CATAPRES (Clonodine hcl 2 mg. tablets) - reduces your blood pressure (more helpful with withdrawals than most people realise) and aids in relaxation and sleeping.

  • FLEXERIL (cyclobenzaprine 10 mg. tablets) – a muscle relaxant which helps with cramps and general discomfort, as with Soma.

  • FIORNAL (butalbital compound) – helps with headaches.  It's a barbiturate and also comes in a Fiornal with codeine version.

  • VALIUM (Diazepam, Xanax, Ativan, Clonipin) – are good sleeping tablets and helpful with nerves.

Information from Rich:  

"The best way I have found that doesn't leave you addicted to something (like methadone) is a
lorazepam/clonidine/klonopin combo. You take the clonidine and lorazepam during the day and then klonopin at night to sleep. Lorazepam is like valium but lasts longer. You can find Dr's willing to prescribe these meds, although they are far and few between, so I suggest buying them on the internet as they are readily available (try drugbuyers.com for info). Another good combo is a weaker opiate like hydrocodone or even ultram or codeine mixed with a benzo like xanax, and then weaning yourself off, although it takes a lot of the weaker opiates at first."

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These hints and tips should help ease the withdrawal symptoms.  They can't take away all the pain, but any relief is welcome. If possible, its worth you trying out as many as possible, as this will give you a better chance of making it. These do help make the symptoms more bearable but the real test comes when you have finished the detox - in trying to remain clean.  That is the hardest thing of all, not to use again, as the thought will always be in your mind.  Make a plan of what you are going to do. arrange some counselling, think of things to do when you get the urge, etc. - whatever you think will help keep your mind off heroin and keep you clean.  Good luck with it.

 

Please be careful when taking medication. Always ask the advice of a Doctor or failing that follow the guidelines given on the medication. Never take more than it is advised in a day.

 

If you have a Hint or Tip that isn't displayed here, please e-mail me with it so I can put it on the page (you can remain anonymous if you want). This also includes tips on how to stay clean. As its sometimes easy enough to do the turkey, but not to stay off gear permanently. By doing this, you will help other addicts get clean and stay clean. Please also e-mail me with books/videos etc. Thanks.

 

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Last updated: 28 June  2005