Opiate Withdrawal Remedies
This is a collection of opiate withdrawal remedies to help others recovering from opiates to get clean without the pain of opiate withdrawal cold-turkey. I have personally used the remedies listed and am very thankful for them. I am always looking for new remedies, If you know of any good remedies that have helped you please share them by commenting on this article.
Food & Drink
If you can’t eat, drink heavy protein shakes. Make sure you get enough sugar, vitamins and protein I have kicked dope several times, and it was much easier when I was drinking energy drinks and protein shakes full of vitamins.
Using Loperamide (Imodium) for Withdrawals
Loperamide Tablets (Imodium) is an opiate that doesn’t cross the ‘blood-brain’ barrier, so it will not get you high and it help your stomach a great deal. Use Aspirin to lower your already elevated blood-pressure and Ibuprofen will help a bit with your muscle aches.
(below information is courtesy of AliveandWell from Reddit.com)
There’s a method for using Loperamide (active ingredient in Immodium) to combat withdrawals and taper off just like a suboxone taper. The obvious advantage here is that it’s super cheap and you don’t have to visit a doctor.
A lot of people don’t believe it’s true. How the hell can a diarrhea medicine help with my opiate withdrawals? However my own evidence supported by hundreds of other testimonies throughout the opiate community shows that it does work. How? Loperamide is a full opiate agonist that doesn’t cross the blood brain barrier. Well, it does but it’s instantly kicked out by transporter proteins. It helps with diarrhea by acting on the opiate receptors in the bowels and causing constipation. Just like other opiates like heroin and oxy.
Disclaimer: I, nor the people who have given supporting testimonies, do not have the credentials to support these ideas professionally.
The idea with this is that if you take a mega-dose of Loperamide it will overwhelm the transport proteins so that some of the drug will slip by and act on the CNS. The other idea is that there are periphery opiate receptors throughout the body and activating these soothes the majority of the withdrawal symptoms. Both make sense to me but seeing as there’s been no studies it’s impossible to say how it works.
By mega-dose we’re talking 40-100mg. The normal dose on the box is 2mg. 40mg for moderate users and 100mg for heavy users. I personally used 60mg and had a $30-$50/day heroin smoking habit. This sounds like a lot and a lot of people wonder what the risks are. From what I’ve gathered from various resources, including professional medication books, there are no real risks and specifically the risk of toxicity occurs at doses much much higher. People also wonder: Won’t taking that much diarrhea medicine stop me up for days? The answer is not really. First of all, your body already has a tolerance to opiates and the constipating effects of said opiates. Secondly, the drug will last 12-24 hours after which bowels will move normal again. Thirdly, if one does experience bowel issues (can’t take a shit for 3 days) a mild laxative (non-stimulant) will fix it no problem.
Start with a dose on the lower end based on your use. If you’re a moderate user start with 40mg (20 pills. Don’t worry. They’re pretty small). If after 3 hours (takes a while to kick in) you feel little or no relief, increase your dose by another 20mg. This means take 20mg more. Do NOT re-dose by taking 40mg + 20mg more for a total of 60mg. That would mean you will now have 100mg in your system when we only wanted to bump it up to 60mg total.
The drug has a pretty long half-life which means it will provide relief for a good amount of time. In my experience I only need to dose every 24 hours. Some people say every 12 hours. Find what works for you by finding the lowest dose that works for you (see above) then waiting until you feel mild-moderate discomfort. Note the time it took and use this as your dosing interval.
Now we get to the taper part. Because Loperamide is an opiate agonist your body WILL become dependent on it meaning if you stop cold turkey you’ll experience physical withdrawals. From what I’ve heard it’s much like withdrawing off suboxone – no fun. However it is easy to taper off of because it comes in small doses and it doesn’t get you high (except I’ve noticed it has a very faint “high” to it. Nothing like good opiates and not something to chase after). You’re not going to be craving it. Taper off by decreasing your dose 2mg every day. Or more if you can handle it. Maybe 2mg every dose. With this slow of a taper you’re not going to notice much discomfort and when you jump off 2mg at the end it’s going to be a very small jump.
Myself and others have noticed the right dose will take care of 90-100% of the withdrawal symptoms. I can sleep, eat, take care of business, and even have energy during the day! It’s a miracle! I wish I learned about this so much sooner and now I’m spreading the word.
Buy the store brand not name brand Immodium. Store brand is about 10x cheaper if you go to Costco and buy Kirkland Signature brand. 400 pills for $5.
Orther Meds That Help
Seroquel , a common anti-psychotic, will knock you out or at least help you sleep. I’ve used it before to help me through the first couple days. Try Clonidine, A non-addictive and non-narcotic anxiety and blood-pressure med, it will reduce your cold chills, sweats and restlessness and is often given at hospitals for opiate withdrawal.
Do you have any opiate withdrawal remedies of your own? Send them in to help others! Comment on this page or send to nick@gettingoffdope.com
Are You Trying to Get Sober?
My name is Nick and I am a recovering drug addict. I just built this site and it now belongs to you and our recovery community. I spent eight years of my life using crystal meth, off and on, and another three years using oxycodone and heroin. I’ve been through A LOT… yet many of you have been through much more. If you’re still stuck in the mud, this is the place where you can ask questions and find solutions. If you’re into recovery, this is the place where you can give back and let us know how you did it. Somehow I found the power to build this site. Now I’m hoping you’ll come on board and help create an online recovery community. No matter where you are at this moment in time, you have the power to share… this is a “WE” website… Send in your experiences, your stories, your failures, your successes… whatever… to-
nick@gettingoffdope.com
Great Info, Thank you
Well I’ve been off heroin for 24 hours, felt like shit but then I bought a whole bunch of the loperamide tablets, 2mg, and I took 20 at once. In about 45 minutes I felt it, It actually works!! I don’t feel like shit right now, don’t feel high or anything, but just sorta normal
really? Im looking at the 8 boxes i bought and im gona need the jaws of life to open these things,lol.but i did so hear goes nothing
well.. taking 20 for a 100+ methodome at home remedies
Off topic, but I got a bit startled when I saw you name after I posted my comment…my daughter’s name is Kassie with a “K”.
So did they help? It’s been 8 days! lol
Thank u for this review! Just hearing from SEVERAL ppl that this method can @least help me get thru the beginning painful part of detoxing makes me feel relieved! I’m buying some today & will let everyone know how I feel! Currently, my stomach is in knots, I wanna throw up, I cant get comfortable – u know I’m withdrawing!!!! Thanks again!!!
percocet user want to stop but cant stand withdraw. litttle nervous about trying the anti diarrhea med as i suffer from constipation even when im not taking opiates. any other advise that could help my biggest problem with withdraw ia the restless leg syndrom and hot and cold sweats. thanks
try hot bath~ and make sure u have ibp to keep the fever down. I took the 20 imodiums, but i think addicton is like 80% mental in my case when i dont have what i want.
I have a heavy dilaudid and heroine addiction and I need help!! Rehabs, methadone, suboxone, etc. nothing helps. I’ve quit by myself numerous times but it never lasts longer than a month. I’ve battled with addiction for 8 years now. I’m terrified to try this Imodium method, my grandmother takes this and I’ve used it before but I’ve only taken like 1/2 a pill and couldn’t shit for a week! You guys are taking 20?!? I’d like to keep my colon… Any other methods pleaseeee???
I have found the miracle prescription that only has one downfall…no generic. Lyrica. I found it by accident when I was looking up the scripts in my cabinet and cross checking with the term “opiate withdrawal”. It truly works, but only comes as a script. You can also build up a tolerance to it quickly but by then you are past the worst symptoms. Most important, FIND A SAUNA!!! Hydrate yourself with Vitamin Water Zero which is loaded with B Vitamins and Electrolytes. Get a trial membership to a gym that has one and go everyday. You feel better and sweat out the toxins that are stored in your fat cells. They say you get a mild high as they are released from your fat cells! LOL
Was wondering if anyone else has tried the loperamide lately for withdraws. I am currently taking 120mg a day of OxyContin and 80mg of Norco. This has been going on for 4yrs because of several back surgeries. I want off all this crap but feel like I’m stuck in a hole and got to take it to survive or feel normal. I have tried detox in the past and gave in because the stomach pain was unbearable. I also read somewhere about taking Zantac and drinking grapefruit juice along with the loperamide and was wondering your thoughts on this. I really want off these things but am terrified of doing it as the stomach pain made me want to put a bullet in my head. Please any advise will be greatly appreciated.
I was an opiate addict for over 10 years, got clean for four, and recently had a moderate relapse after an injury. It is certainly not the worst I’ve ever had, but withdrawal symptoms can make anything feel impossible. In the spirit of ‘getting clean’ I hesitate to bring this up, but I personally have zero qualms about Marijuana use as I have used it to treat chronic illness for 3 years in lieu of opiates and additional Rx’s. It certainly can ease opiate withdrawal symptoms, namely, nausea, anxiety, restlessness and pain. Again, I am not advocating further drug use to anyone, but my experience and research, along with personal success without developing a further dependence, is I think worth noting.
While I didn’t use marijuana, I used Kratom to help and I conpletely agree with you and appreciate your comment as it ads alot to this forum. Thank you.
How long do you wait before you start tapering off the loperamide? How long should you take the loperamide for?
1-3 weeks. It depends on your tolerance. Also if you can tolerate slight WD then let off quicker…
I have dealt with an opiate habit for almost 15 years after back surgery. I can/could take 15 30mg roxies every morning or 15 methadone. Thats 450mg of oxycodone or 150 of methadone.
The Cure: In the 70′s a doctor did a study where he treated heroin addicts with large amounts of vitamin C. He is on utube in a radio spot. Anyway, it cures you immediately. Try 30 grams a day and then go down. Maybe 2 grams every hour. Build your body up with good diet during and after.
Great info! This is my second time kicking the opioid habit. I just started taking them again last summer when my back went out, I then had surgery in October of last year. I’m still in a lot of pain but I’ve got Ibprofen and ill see about non narcotic pain meds. I have a high tolerance for pain. I have been doing great by taking…….. Ibprofen, aspririn, multivitamin, b12 vitamin, energy drinks and l-tyrosine vitamin. I also stay busy. I read a lot or do some sort of art or walk. It all helps me. :)
Hello, i have been on loratabs or perkocets for 2 yrs now. I’ve quit cold turkey once for like 8 days but then relapse :-( Today is my LAST day of my meds. I have done ANYTHING to get some more. I’ve paid for them or borrowed them over the last year. It’s horrible knowing that I’ve spent my families money on this sh*t!!. I would have NEVER thought pain pills would so this to people! So TOMORROW MAY 27,2013 will be my 1st day of quitting. I have 4 children (set of twins that are 2, a 9 yr old and a 12 yr old) so it’s VERY hard for me NOT to be able to just lay around. And just GO through it. I have NO help. Nobody knows about my addiction except my husband and he works everyday all day so I’m by myself. If I can make it to day 4 then I’m alone better. It’s just getting to day 4 w/o borrowing money or trying to find someone to let me get some from. I have alot of health issues why I am on loratabs or perkocets. I can take up to 80-90mg of either loratabs or perocet a day. Idk how the HELL I’m gonna do this again but I HAVE to!! Plz say a prayer for me that I make it through this. I have severe constipation issues (not going poop for 2 wks at a time) so I’m worried bout taking the imodium. But I’ll try it if I can’t handle the withdrawal. Congrats to all of U that have kicked the habit and I hope that u have continued to stay clean :-) When I quit for the 8 days awhile back ago OMG it was SO nice! I was back to my old self again & I LOVED IT! I DEFF want to be like that again bc I’m tired of wondering where I’m getting more when run out. It’s time for a new start again and I pray I can do it again. If I had someone to give me encouraging words or someone to talk me out of getting more I kno that would help but my husband does NOT understand how this feels. He feels bad for me but doesn’t really understand. Lord I how I can get through this!! Thanks for listening!! And wish me luck bc I’m doing it cold turkey unless I get the imodium!!
Katie, PLEASE keep us posted on your progress and efforts. Ive been clean for a week, used the Immodium method and for me, it worked. Today is the first day ive felt half human. For now, im taking “one minute at a time”. Good luck to all and Thanks for the site Nick. Congrats on your sobriety!