How to Quit Pain Pills

You may have begun taking medication to treat an aching back or knee injury. At first, everything was fine. It reduced your pain and allowed you to resume your daily activities. The Vicodin or OxyContin you take is doctor-prescribed, so how bad can it be? The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services reports that from 1998 to 2000, the number of emergency room visits related to misusing Vicodin rose 48 percent and OxyContin 108 percent. If your use of pain medication has gotten out of hand, get help now.

Things You'll Need

• Physician
• Detox program
• Rehab program
• Pain management doctor

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Instructions

Getting Help for Your Addiction

• 1

  Tell your physician about the problem. There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Together with your doctor, come up with a plan of action. The length of time you've been taking prescription pain medication will determine how intense your withdrawal symptoms will be, how long you will withdraw, and the symptoms you're at risk for developing.

• 2

  Get into a detoxification program. If you stop taking opiates abruptly---without weaning off---you could experience tremors, seizures, sleeplessness, anxiety, depression and suicidal thoughts. You may need to go to a residential detox program, but if your doctor believes you can safely detox from home, you can enroll in an outpatient program. To find a detox program near you, see Resources.

• 3

  Commit yourself to at least seven to ten days of detox. When you choose the detox facility, an addiction specialist will give you a thorough exam. She will check your vital signs and get an idea of how long your body will need to rid itself of the drugs.

• 4

  Communicate with your counselors and doctors. Keep a log of all symptoms. It's normal to feel anxious, moody, sad, tired and achy. If your symptoms become dangerous---if you have seizures, blackouts or hallucinations---tell your doctors immediately.

• 5

  Join Narcotics Anonymous (see Resources) or another drug treatment program. Recovering from drug abuse is a life-long journey. A rehabilitation program will give you the tools and support you need to help you stay off drugs.

• 6

  Get help for your pain. A pain management doctor can prescribe nonnarcotic pain medication; suggest alternative therapies like acupuncture, acupressure, hydrotherapy and occupational therapy. See Resources to find a pain management clinic near you.