How to Stop Addiction to Prescription Pain Pills Cold Turkey

Quitting prescription pain medication cold turkey is risky business. Depending on your level of addiction, withdrawal symptoms could include seizures, irregular heartbeat, moderate to severe pain, hot and cold flashes, vomiting and more. In certain situations, like going to jail, running out of drugs and lack of money, a safe, medical detoxification is not an option. If you are unable to wean yourself off of prescription pain medication, you may have to quit cold turkey.

Instructions

• 1

  Get a prescription. Tell your doctor about the problem and ask if she can prescribe a medication that eases withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is a drug that blocks cravings without producing a narcotic high.

• 2

  See an addiction specialist. Quitting a drug habit has both physical and emotional symptoms. You're likely to feel depressed, angry, fearful and sad. A counselor can help you work through this difficult time using cognitive behavioral therapy. This type of therapy works by changing the way you see situations, which in turn changes your feelings and behaviors.

• 3

  Avoid risky situations. One of the most common causes of drug relapse is craving. Though cravings are to be expected, you can minimize your desire to use drugs by avoiding situations that make you want to take them. Even if you do not have a drinking problem, alcohol lowers your inhibitions and can easily make you crave drugs and cave in to taking them. Refrain from drinking alcohol for at least the first three months after you quit taking prescription pain pills. Talk to your addiction specialist about whether it is O.K. for you to drink again at some point.