Best Ways to Get Off Opioid Pain Medication

Joan Shepherd, FNP, has treated thousands of people with Opioid Use Disorder at the Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine. Here she shares her advice on this common question from patients about what to do when their doctor stops writing them prescriptions for opioid medications or they just decide on their own that it's time to get off opiates.
-Safe, Comfortable Outpatient Detox
The Coleman Institute for Addiction Medicine has been a leading outpatient addiction treatment center since 1998. Our innovative withdrawal management programs, often referred to as The Coleman Method, have helped thousands of people free themselves from addiction to Alcohol, Opioids, and Benzodiazepines. Originally founded in Richmond, Virginia, our network has expanded to cover 14 cities across the US.
-3 - 8 Day Opioid Detoxification Process
For short-acting opiates like oxycodone, most patients complete their detox and begin Naltrexone therapy within 5 days. Longer-acting opiates like Suboxone and Methadone typically take 8 days. Our standard opioid treatment package in Richmond, VA, Willoughby, OH (Cleveland area) and Wellesley, MA (Boston area) includes the detox and 6 months of case management and Naltrexone therapy. As a non-addictive opioid blocker, Naltrexone dramatically reduces cravings so that patients can focus on their recovery. We have a 98% success rate for completing detoxification and starting Naltrexone therapy. During the detox, we work with patients and their families to develop an appropriate aftercare plan. We also offer a convenient, 3-day outpatient alcohol detox and a Rapid Benzodiazepine Detox.
-Caring, Empathetic Environment
Dr. Peter Coleman understands first-hand the challenges our patients are facing due to his own personal struggle with the disease of addiction. He has been in long term recovery since 1984. Dr. Coleman has dedicated his career to treating addiction patients and creating a team and an environment conducive to long term recovery for his patients.
-For more information, please call us at 888-788-5474 or visit us at www.thecolemaninstitute.com

[@bamamama-ws7kp]

Let's face it, you searched for this video. I hope y'all find the help y'all need 🙏

[@EeZ3-808]

This made me smile… I needed that, searching for solutions at 3am. Broke my back in 2016, work related so I get to deal with the fun games of the insurance company. Had an unsuccessful surgery in 2020 right before Covid lockdowns so no physical therapy or any therapy… trying to get approved for a S1 L5 fusion as a last resort. Been taking 2 10/325 Hydrocodone every 6 hours for years now, and it does nothing. I am soooo over it, living in pain. Again.. sorry for the long reply. Was kinda nice talking about it. Thanks for the smile. Aloha 🤙🏽

[@bestiefswlady5251]

@@EeZ3-808 will your MD shift you from Norco to Percocet periodically? Even if it remains at the same mg. For some people, that helps a little bit. Side note: I’ve found that Percocet blocks pain slightly better than Norco but is less euphoric mentally, but most people feel the opposite.

[@agentjackstone3543]

Struggling with this now. I thought I knew what addiction was in my 20s since I did drugs as a past time, but in my 30s I started working for a guy who survived bone cancer, and he likes to party, and started giving me free roxys every single day, after he got fired I turned to the streets and it's wiped me out. I got clean actually, then 3 months later started again. I got clean again, and now I'm on it again. Jesus Christ I feel like I'm a different person now, I don't even care about anything but I want to. The brain is fragile, don't play with drugs lol

[@TheRealTycoNash]

Right there with ya dude :( pure hell.

[@jessicabarrios4174]

​@@TheRealTycoNashsame! Im on day 3 of at home detox Its hard as hell

[@sgttinkerbell8921]

I feel it bro

[@maretazimmerman3748]

Look Up How to Detox Off Opiates Naturally and Follow the Protocol

[@anthonyjonas6236]

​@jessicabarrios4174 did you slip or clean still?

[@clems6989]

I live in fear of losing my pain meds, Like I'm a slave to the pain mngt doctor. However, I cannot stand the pain without them.. BTW: Methadone works quite well for certain types of pain. And it is prescribed monthly..

[@FitzSchlitz]

Implants? I’m very curious. I’m documenting my methadone detox and would not suggest this to the majority of people! PAWS is no joke! I have been on both sides of this topic and have personally seen the mistreatment of people and top down county and city failings in a severe way. The first two options I hope no one will choose. The repercussions can be worse than the initial issue itself and most of the time does. Please keep us updated on the implants and their effectiveness. Thank you for this info!! Sending healing vibes, love and blessings!✌️❤️

[@SAMEntalhealth]

She's not insisting on methadone She's just stating the options

[@venice9405]

I will be calling for an appointment @your California location…I’ve been on Norco for 17 years & I have to do something…Kaiser Permanente is creating addicts daily…if I had known what this pain medication was going to do to my brain, I would have never touched it!!…I can’t function without it…I’m starting to get very worried 😕 I tried Suboxone, but I had to stop because I could not control my vomiting.

[@freebutterfly102]

Kaiser is very strict and won’t prescribe it now. It depends on pain and Dr. I’ve been a member and in pain, and know there’s a shortage and they are very strict and do lab urine drug test to make sure your not using any other drug. I’m trying to wean because there’s a shortage and having hard time filling prescription. But I have major back pain and arthritis in back and neck. But I’m trying to stop and it’s best to stop because there’s a major shortage on many meds now.

[@kt9190]

I’m in the same boat as you are not through Kaiser And I’m not blaming any provider because at the time and current I could no longer live with my Cronic pain which the pain meds were the only thing that helped me. Although I would like to wean off for a while as a I don’t like to be dependent on any meds

[@joesnow9075]

it’s a nightmare getting off perks, for me the withdrawal symptoms were worst than the back pain.

[@christinatrickeycouch208]

Yep did it too but suboxone is so rough I been on on it 10 days and hate it already

[@alanphillips1209]

It is no use until I am able to get a spinal fusion/disc replacement surgery. The pain is too much. But I cannot get surgery because I live in Canada. The doctors have prescribed opioids for 20 years and refuse to address the cause of my pain. So what choice do I have ? If I could get the surgery, I could get off the opioids but doctors in Canada are not smart enough to figure this out so they just keep feeding me opioids. How long can a person be on opioids ? I hate drugs.

[@alover5409]

I am in the same place blessings to you.

[@thuglife217]

Sell me yours

[@MIkeHoncho0088]

Good info!

[@thecolemaninstituteforaddi6234]

Thanks, MikeHoncho0088! If there are other topics you’d like us to cover, please let us know.

[@suledean8884]

I'm in Canada and would like to try this implant one. Could you possibly help me find info on this if you're not in Canada and if you're in the states when I be able to come over there to get help. I'm in a bad situation right now with oxy. Need help getting off

[@Ashen1Always]

I’m in ont Canada and it sucks I have to quit literally forced

[@gracierainy9728]

But how do you get off methadone ? Been on for 5 yrs yes it’s helped me get my kids back but my life is still not back to normal I haven’t found anything to help me the clinic actually discourages me from getting off

[@jngostyle]

Exactly. They need to help people get off all meds period. A methadone withdrawal is even worse

[@Om999-]

Find kratom

[@jessicabarrios4174]

​@@Om999-then you have to get off the kratom 🤦‍♀️vicious cycle

[@Om999-]

@jessicabarrios4174 yes I got off with gabapentins. But still withdrawals are there you are right, functional

[@sevenblessed2543]

You might have to go cold turkey now you can do this!!

[@JustRoxy2023]

I just went to my car today to find my take homes taken. Is there any way i can get dosed? I have 3 days till i go in

[@MarcKlark]

Im not taking methadone. So another option please. Cold 🥶 turkey 🦃

[@vtheruthless1v898]

Isn’t it dangerous to just go cold turkey if you’re on a high dose of pain meds?

[@MarcKlark]

Im stuck 😢

[@MarcKlark]

I wish I had some dilaudid

[@saucebossgenetics56]

Fuck all that shit im stopped cold yurkey everytime. This time i dont for good

[@user-fr8qy6wi6x]

Was on bupanorphine jag and successfully got clean after a long H addiction. Btw nvr had any withdrawals!??

[@RyRitchDiesel2009]

What do you mean jag? Did you mean jab as in the BUP shot "Sublocade"? How long did you wait to get it after your last substance use? Im trying to research this now, any input will help so thank you!!

[@user-fr8qy6wi6x]

@@RyRitchDiesel2009 ok so was h addict for years then your offered methodone or subutex here in UK. So I went for subutex initially in tablet form then you can be offered the jag. Basically it’s a beuponorphine injection that you can have once a wee or 4 weekly. It’s was a bit ropey at first. Takes a while for your brain to process there are no cravings for H. Please feel free to dm me abd id love to help you out with your research??

[@saucebossgenetics56]

Suboxone is worse

[@texastoast5202]

Does naltrexone help with cravings?

[@texastoast5202]

I don’t understand

[@samgreen7334]

I’m about to get out of a really long hospital stay(18 months) I take a high dose of opiates and have every day for 18 months. Now I’m getting out and they’re only giving me a weeks worth. No weening, no substitutions. Just 1 week then I’m on my own… my pcp won’t prescribe anything because she doesn’t like to give opiates. One thing that really gets me is ik no one is going to believe me, any future doc will say “oh no thats malpractice they wouldn’t do that” but they are, and I’m fucked

[@kathycalhoun7217]

Porocet