Hi everyone!!

I have had an "issue" with opioids for the past five years. I am at the point now where I am ready to be done. I have tried numerous times to stop, but end up back in the same place. I have gotten myself weaned down to the point where I am only taking a few doses per day. I was at one point taking upwards of 90 mg of oxycodone and 200 mg of ms contin per day. I am down to no oxycodone and only about 50 mg of ms contin per day. I have thought about talking to my doctor about different things, but I am not sure that I qualify. I was specifically interested in the Vivitrol shots and did some research on them, but I am not sure my insurance would pay for it.

The biggest problem that I have is the withdrawal and returning to "normal". I have successfully detoxed and been "clean" for several weeks, but it seemed that the withdrawal symptoms never went away. I had a horrible time sleeping, I would constantly wake up in the middle of the night and either be shaky or have a feeling like I couldnt sit still. Also, during the day I had a general feeling of lethargy and lack of motivation. This is one of the things that the oxycodone "fixed" as I could take one and about 15 mins later I would have ton of energy and be feeling good and then I could go do stuff. I recently started back up an antidepressant (Escitalopram or Lexapro) and am waiting to feel the effects. I have been on antidepressants before and I am well aware of the 6 to 8 week timeline for it to start working. I am just not a very patient person.

The reason I want to stop is because I have recently started a new job that does not allow me to have any of this stuff in my system. I have been very honest with my new boss and he is okay with it for now but is expecting me to get off this stuff within the next 6 months - 1 year. I am not obtaining these medications by buying them from someone in a dark alley. I have been legally prescribed these medications for the past several years. It is not the doctors fault for my addiction as I started taking them before I started seeing a doctor regularly as I do have a legitimate medical need for them for back and arthritis issues. I had a partner who sort of enabled me and that is where I obtained them from for a while.

My question to those of you who have been this before is: What did you do to overcome this? Are there any medications or supplements or natural remedies to help with the withdrawal side effects? What else can I do to help with the anxiety? Any thoughts and/or suggestions are welcomed.

Thanks.