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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 6 of 6. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 4, 2003, at 19:55:58
In reply to Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP, posted by splitinit on November 4, 2003, at 3:09:48
> Hello, I could use some help from anyone willing to contribute information on a better way to detox quickly. I am a male living in Missouri.
> I have been using heroin on a daily basis now for about 6 months and my habit has skyrocketed to nearly $200 bucks a day. To make matters worse I have done alot of damage to my veins and have little left to hit. I had used for years before but got clean for a long time. I started using again 6 months ago and I really want to quit.
> When I got clean before I did a methadone detox and kicked cold at about 20 milligrams which was down from the 80 I started at on that program.
> The withdrawls were horific and since I don't take methadone now I would really rather not start. I need to get clean now as my world is crumbling all around me. My ex-wife is taking me back to court to keep my kids from me as she thinks I am using again. My employer has all but fired me. My finances are a complete mess and last but not least I just caught a controlled substance possession charge 3 weeks ago. They found 5 buttons of smack sliding down my pants leg.
> I am a complete mess...I hear of new methods available to kick but I just don't know what to think. Most of these places are scam jobs who want 10K and throw you in a padded room with ice cream and aspirin. I don't want to sound like a baby but I am just not prepared emotionally to deal with a painful detox ontop of all the other crap falling apart in my life. I am truly desperate for answers and would be so grateful to anyone that will respond. I have hear of rapid detox but it cost 8500 cash which I just don't have. I have also heard that it may not be real effective. Again, my habit is on China white heroin and I inject maybe 200 dollars worth daily. This is probably of lower quality than what you would see in other areas of the country but still a heap of dope nonetheless.
>
> Please help,.......Sincerely, splitinit.
Posted by Temmie on November 5, 2003, at 16:02:33
In reply to Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP « splitinit, posted by Dr. Bob on November 4, 2003, at 19:55:58
I am sorry, and I don't know ... no .... Can you call a local hospital for help and information? I am sorry for all our poor addicts, and wish you well. This thread is of interest to me, and I will follow your progress. Good for you -- for making the choice yourself. Hang in there! Help is on the way ... Temmie.
Posted by Dr. Bob on November 5, 2003, at 19:04:03
In reply to Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP « splitinit, posted by Dr. Bob on November 4, 2003, at 19:55:58
[Posted by splitinit on November 4, 2003, at 21:30:31
In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/276590.html]
> > Well... it isn't kicking per se, but have you heard of buprenorphine maintenance treatment? It is similiar to methadone maintenace, except you don't have to go to a clinic everyday to pick up your dose - you get the buprenorphine from a doctor. Most ex-junkies who have tried buprenorphine maintenance have had really good results - buprenorphine keeps you from getting sick, eliminates cravings, and you can't get high on it (it is a mixed agonist/antagonist). It is generally considered far superior to methadone programs.
>
> Hi, Thank you....After some considerable searching I found a list of 9 doctors who have received training/certification and ar now able to legally administer Buprnorphine for opiate detox. I called every number and all but one werent set-up to start yet.
>
> Which takes me to the "ONE"... I have been accepted by him as a new patient and start on Monday. A modest $210 dollar fee is paid in cash up front which covers the initial evaluation and the first and second doctors visits as well the medication. Thereafter it cost $60 per week + the cost of meds...which should not be bad as my insurance has a $20 dollar cap on name brand meds....
>
> SO, I was prepared to pay $8500 for doctors Kavorkian's death machine (rapid detox)...Or jump on the humane band wagon you mentioned above.
>
> I will try the beup....detox.
>
> Any comments, tips, input would be appreciated.
>
> Thanks in advance for your time and consideration...splitinit.
Posted by sandoz_pharm on November 9, 2003, at 16:34:10
In reply to Re: Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP « splitinit, posted by Dr. Bob on November 5, 2003, at 19:04:03
Dear splitinit,
Buprenorphine treatment is very useful. I have some personal experience with it, having been an IV heroin user. It is availible in an injectable form as well as two pill forms. The most useful one in my experience is suboxone (a pill form of buprenorphine with naloxone). It is useful in a controlled environment (such as in detox) and also the do-it-yourself w/ a prescription at home if you can find a doctor licenced to prescribe it. It prevents you from getting high on heroin. I really recommend some sort of outpatient program and/or meetings (such as NA), because it sounds like your life is getting a little out of control, but I'm not a doctor. My experience is that heroin and other drugs made my life very unmanageable. Best of luck taking on your addiction. This method should probably be the cheapest method if you can get the prescription, and is very effective if you are truly commited to not picking up the smack after you stop taking buprenorphine. In my experience, there is mild withdrawl even from stopping buprenorphine, and its probably best to take it for 1-2 weeks, because the withdrawl is much easier then heroin and ESPECIALLY methadone. Ask a doctor.
-Luke
> [Posted by splitinit on November 4, 2003, at 21:30:31
>
> In reply to http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20031030/msgs/276590.html]
>
> > > Well... it isn't kicking per se, but have you heard of buprenorphine maintenance treatment? It is similiar to methadone maintenace, except you don't have to go to a clinic everyday to pick up your dose - you get the buprenorphine from a doctor. Most ex-junkies who have tried buprenorphine maintenance have had really good results - buprenorphine keeps you from getting sick, eliminates cravings, and you can't get high on it (it is a mixed agonist/antagonist). It is generally considered far superior to methadone programs.
> >
> > Hi, Thank you....After some considerable searching I found a list of 9 doctors who have received training/certification and ar now able to legally administer Buprnorphine for opiate detox. I called every number and all but one werent set-up to start yet.
> >
> > Which takes me to the "ONE"... I have been accepted by him as a new patient and start on Monday. A modest $210 dollar fee is paid in cash up front which covers the initial evaluation and the first and second doctors visits as well the medication. Thereafter it cost $60 per week + the cost of meds...which should not be bad as my insurance has a $20 dollar cap on name brand meds....
> >
> > SO, I was prepared to pay $8500 for doctors Kavorkian's death machine (rapid detox)...Or jump on the humane band wagon you mentioned above.
> >
> > I will try the beup....detox.
> >
> > Any comments, tips, input would be appreciated.
> >
> > Thanks in advance for your time and consideration...splitinit.
Posted by Lindsay Rae on November 23, 2003, at 11:21:26
In reply to Re: Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP « splitinit, posted by Dr. Bob on November 5, 2003, at 19:04:03
I'm so glad you discovered Bup and found a doctor who will see you through it. Bup is not for everyone, but you are in the perfect position to start treatment with Bup (switching from Methadone to Bup can be ugly). A reliable source told me that withdrawing from Bup is "a joke" compared to Methadone. You're in good hands!
Linds
Posted by squids on December 4, 2003, at 16:10:33
In reply to Heroin Detox......HELPPPPPPPPPPPP « splitinit, posted by Dr. Bob on November 4, 2003, at 19:55:58
> > Hello, I could use some help from anyone willing to contribute information on a better way to detox quickly.
The following is my personal experience. I was the only H addict there and don't know how it worked for anyone else:
I detox'd in 7 days - from a 5 year habit of 1-4 grams of the black tar ($60-$240/day). I went to an inpatient facility and was given buprenorphine in liquid form (Buprenex) sublingually (under the tounge) along with phenobarbital (50-100mg). The burprenex could be taken every 3 hours in daily decreasing doses.
This was essentially "painless", all things considered. After 7 days they stopped the buprenex (though I was there for 28 days total). I had some minor stomach cramps and some leg pains, but that was it. After they stopped meds, I couldn't sleep for several days - but that was to be expected.
Overall I was pretty impressed with the procedure.
This is the first time I've been clean in 5 years and I never thought I could do it that quickly with such few withdrawal symptoms.I had to go inpatient because they need to take your vitals (blood pressure, pulse, temperature) every couple of hours.
It was pretty expensive though, around $7k for the one week of detox. And then I dropped another
7k for 3 weeks of rehab. An expensive lesson which I hope to never repeat...
This is the end of the thread.
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