How To Sleep During Opiate Withdrawal

One of the biggest problems with Opiate withdrawal is the lack of sleep that happens when a person addicted to opiates starts to withdraw. One of the biggest things that drives people BACK to using is the lack of sleep, it drives them crazy and all they want to do is get some sleep. There’s no wonder that they use sleep deprivation for torture, it makes people give into just about anything just to get some sleep. I’ve put together a small list of Sleep aids to help you sleep while going through Opiate Withdrawal. They are natural based, non-addictive, and non-prescribed.

Melissa Supreme – by GAIA Herbs

My first and foremost on the list is what I used for my agitation while withdrawing and helped me to sleep too, Melissa Supreme by Gaia Herbs. It’s a proprietary blend of herb including:
Lemon Balm(Melissa Officialis), German Chamomile, Passion Flower, Fresh Skullcap Herb, Fresh Wild Oat Milky Seed, Gotu Kola and Mineral salts extracted from Kelp.

Melissa Supreme for Opiate Addiction and Withdrawal

Somnapure – by GNC

I’ve not taken this but a fellow addict in recovery from this site has, and he said he was finally able to sleep thanks to this product called Somnapure by Peak Life. From the website:

“a sleep aid that is safe and effective, Somnapure’s naturally occurring ingredients are non-habit forming and won’t leave you feeling groggy the next day.”

Somnapure® contains premium, natural ingredients that you are already familiar with:

• Melatonin – A naturally occurring compound that helps regulate sleep patterns.
• Valerian – A perennial herb used for centuries to promote relaxation and reduce the time it takes to fall asleep.
• L-Theanine – An amino acid commonly found in green tea that exhibits a relaxing effect.
• Lemon Balm – An herb in the mint family used to promote sleep through relaxation.
• Hops – A flower cluster used to increase alpha-waves, decreasing the time it takes to fall asleep.
• Chamomile Flower – A daisy-like flower known for its calming effects and use in herbal teas.
• Passion Flower – A beautiful flower used to promote sleep.

Somnapure by GNC for Sleep

Sleep Wave Rest and Relax – NutriHealth Supplements

This product I have not taken either, however I have taken some of the ingredients. GABA for one will help stop that mental mind chatter that happens with withdrawal. The constant chatter of noise that goes on in the head. It’s also great for sleep as it does quiet the mind. That and the Melissa Officialis(Lemon Balm) are great for soothing the mind and body. This product has just about the same ingredients as the Somnapure, above, but in a different mixture of quantity.

• Synergistic blends of valerian, lemon balm and other herbs, as well as essential melatonin, work to promote sleep and improve sleep quality.
• GABA, L-theanine, chamomile and passionflower promote relaxation and help calm that “brain-spinning” mind chatter that keeps you from falling asleep.

Sleep Wave Rest and Relax - Nutrihealth Supplements

If you are trying to get some sleep while going through opiate withdrawal. these sleep aids can help to promote a good nights sleep, or at least maybe a few hours during the first parts of opiate withdrawal. This is critical for many as the lack of sleep can push an addict in withdrawal back to the drugs they are trying to get off of.

Getting off painkillers naturally is an option many people turn to instead of having to get on one another medication to get off of another and with our newsletter we tell you how to get off painkillers naturally. Many people prefer to go cold turkey with the help of natural supplements to help them through the rough times, and the time after the physical withdrawal is over. The physical part of the opiate withdrawal is usually the toughest part and that’s where people need the most help to get through. With the help of natural sleep aids and muscle relaxers a person can successfully get off of painkillers without having to take more prescription drugs.

How To Get Off Painkillers Naturally

Figuring out how to get off painkillers naturally is something that most people want to know how to do, on this website we have a recipe for getting off painkillers naturally with the use of herbs and vitamins that you can buy at the local health food store or through Amazon.Com. If you subscribe to the newsletter you will get the Thomas Recipe Alternative, or Larry’s Recipe for Opiate Withdrawal. This is the recipe I put together to help myself get off of painkillers naturally instead of taking more drugs and that’s how to get off painkillers naturally.

The time after the physical withdrawal is considered the emotional and mental withdrawal period. Also known as PAWS (Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome). Opiates are such a powerful chemical that changes the brain and body chemistry so radically, it will take some time for the brain to get back to making the proper endorphins and such. After the body is physically rid of the opiate, comes this part where the brain can take some time to normalize itself and it’s chemistry. Sometimes a few days, weeks, months and even years for some, depending on the amount of abuse the body has been through. With the recipe I put together on how to get off painkillers naturally there are supplements that help the body and brain to return to normal function with the use of natural supplements and vitamins.

How to Get Off Painkillers Naturally with Natural Supplements, Vitamins and Minerals

For these times many have turned to supplementation with vitamins and minerals as well as natural anti-depressants, mood lifters and anti-anxiety herbs. There are a number of herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids that can help a person to get through EVERY part of their withdrawal and will greatly increase their chances of staying clean and not relapsing. Sign up for the newsletter or read the post listed below to find out how to get off painkillers naturally.

For a list of these please see my post here called The Thomas Recipe Alternative – Larry’s Recipe for Opiate Withdrawal for how to get off painkillers naturally.

I am detailing what I call the “Larry Recipe”, an alternative to the Thomas Recipe for opiate withdrawal. I used this for withdrawing off Suboxone and what anyone can use for Withdrawing off Opiates. This is the alternative to the Thomas Recipe, because I cannot advocate the use of the Thomas Recipe because it is using other drugs and sometimes self medication can lead to death by overdose. The only time to use the Thomas Recipe is ONLY if it is supervised by a Medical Professional.

I will not include the original Thomas Recipe because it uses benzodiazepines(Valium type drugs), which can lead to overdose and death if not taken correctly. But I will explain the difference between the Thomas Recipe and My Alternative, as well as explaining how mine works as well. It does basically the same thing as the Thomas Recipe except it comes in the natural form of the same type of drugs.

The Larry Recipe is the best, natural way to withdraw off of opiates I know of. I will also include links to places to purchase the ingredients for when you are ready to withdraw.

Disclaimer: I am not a doctor, nor do I prescribe anything for anyone. Use at your own risk and discretion. This is what I used when I was coming off the Suboxone. It REALLY helped a lot, and didn’t include having to use other drugs, especially if I couldn’t get any from a doctor. Which means I wasn’t out hustling for more drugs illegally.

First the ingredients, then the formula:

• Gaia Melissa Supreme Herbal Tincture – A Lemon Balm tincture used for “Nervousness and to Soothe Excitability, Promotes Calmness During Times of Excess Energy, Promotes Healthy Focus and Attention”. This tincture is so good it really mellows a person out and really calms the nerves and mind. So well in fact I feel like I was on an actual drug. If I could recommend only one thing for withdrawal, it would be this! You can get Gaia Melissa HERE.

• • Melissa  Supreme Supports a healthy nervous system and nerve tissue
  • Gentle Calming Action -calms occasional nervous irritability, sensitivity, and excitement; relaxing muscle and nerve agitation; and calms the mind
  • Supports normal mental functions such as concentration, memory and alertness, along with having a relaxing affect
  • You can get Gaia Melissa HERE.

• Valerian Root Tincture – Positive results to support a healthy nervous system,  a normal restful nights sleep, and reduce stress. An alternative for benzodiazepines, Valerian is used for sleeping disorders, restlessness and anxiety, and as a muscle relaxant. Get Valerian HERE.
• Glutamine – An amino Acid used for for intestine disorders and diarrhea, helps brain function, and muscle functions. I used the powder, it is tasteless, and is cheaper than getting capsules. Get Glutamine HERE.
• 5-HTP – An amino acid used for depression, anxiety, insomnia sleep aid. Get 5-HTP HERE
• Vitamin B Complex(Especially B6) – Supplementation often helps depressed people feel better, and their mood improves significantly. Get b-Complex HERE
• Vitamin and Mineral Complex – Vitamins and minerals help the body to let go of toxins held by fat, and help to flush the system, get one with potassium and magnesium if you can. If you can’t find one with potassium and magnesium, get them separately. Magnesium is a natural muscle relaxer. Potassium is an electrolyte needed to help with body hydration. The body needs both vitamins and minerals. It may be better to get a vitamin complex and then a mineral complex separately. Complete Vitamin and Mineral Complex HERE
  
• Postassium – Being an electrolyte, this will help with restless leg syndrome, which is a type of muscle spasm and is usually a deficiency of potassium and hydration. Get Potassium HERE
• Coconut Water – The clear liquid inside young coconuts. A natural sports drink because of its high potassium and mineral content, a natural refreshing drink full of electrolytes. (available at Henry’s and other health food stores) Get Coconut Water HERE
• Immodium – for diarrhea, if needed, I stay away from this but many will find it helpful. It’s a mild, partial opioid from what I understand, but you can’t get high from it, it works on the receptors that stop diarrhea. Get Immodium HERE

Start taking the vitamins right away, even before you start your detox. Especially the potassium. make sure to drink plenty of water, good water if you can afford it and/or coconut water.

Also start your detox with 10-20 drops of Melissa in a 1/2 cup of water, several times a day as needed, helps with anxiety, jitters and depression, may also help with sleep.

Valerian Root will help some with anxiety and sleep, suggest this at bedtime, also through out the day as needed but not when you intend to drive or use machinery.

Glutamine powder or capsules to help with diarrhea and to help with achy muscles and foggy brain. Great muscle food and brain food. Take this daily, several times a day.

5-HTP in the morning and late afternoon, helps the depression and sleep.

Vitamins and b-complex in the morning and evening if you can stomach it, or when you can keep things down.

Potassium once or twice a day.

Coconut water throughout the day to help flush the system and stay hydrated. You will need to stay hydrated if you are puking or have bad diarrhea.

Good luck with your withdrawal and please let me know how this works for you if you use it.

How long will the withdrawal from painkillers last? Whether it’s withdrawal from Oxycontin, Vicodin, Percodan, Codiene or any other painkiller or heroin, that’s kind of a loaded question.

The main physical withdrawal effects, such as the pain, sweats, chills, vomiting, diarrhea and nausea usually last only about 5 days to a week. The other part, the longer term withdrawal or PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) can last from several weeks to several years.

This part is sometimes what keeps people going back to the drug. After the initial withdrawal or detox, then you have residual detox and the brain trying to function normally, but it just can’t. At least not yet, and it can take months or years for a persons brain chemistry to get back to normal.

It is this period of time that can be the most difficultfor many to STAY OFF of the drugs, because it is here where the nagging and gnawing little voices start talking. I am not talking hallucinations, but I am talking depression and anxiety and the want to just be happy again.

What happens when a person is addicted to pain killers is their brain stops making endorphins, the bodys natural pain killers and the thing that keeps us from getting depressed. When a person starts taking pain meds for an extended length of time, their brain stops making endorphins because opiates look just like endorphins to the brain and the brain stops making them.

After so long the brain stops making them and the pain killer is now depended upon for endorphins or the imitation endorphins. Clinically the opiate dependance is spelled out like this:

“Opiate addiction is recognized as a central nervous system disorder caused by continuous opiate use. Extended opiate abuse leads to the nerve cells in the brain to stop functioning as they normally would and stop producing natural endorphins. Because the body is receiving opiates and is no longer producing endorphins, the nerve cells start to degenerate and cause an opiate addiction.”

So what happens is the brain doesn’t make endorphins anymore, the person who was addicted may be depressed and have anxiety for a period of time after getting off the painkillers and after the physical withdrawal is over.

It is during this period of time the person occupy themselves with something constructive. The person will most likely not want to do anything much, but once they start they start to feel better. It forces the brain to start making it’s own endorphins. Physical exercise can help to jump start the endorphin making process.

It is also of great importance for the person to get SUPPORT in the form of either a 12 step program(Highly Recommended), or through some form of group counseling. There is power in numbers and being a part of a group really helps immensely.

Many people feel they don’t belong in a group with other drug addicts, but the fact is, they do, they were once addicted or are currently addicted to drugs. They may feel they are not like the other people., but they are, in that they were addicted.

I also want to make one thing VERY clear, Just because you or someone you love is addicted to painkillers, doesn’t mean they have a moral problem. Opiate addiction is NOT a moral issue, it’s a medical one, and one not to be trifled with. Give them a break and support them emotionally, and get them the help they need.

I’d also Suggest reading this post: Opiate Withdrawal Timeline

This post has been revised and updated and can be found here:

How To Get Off Painkillers Naturally

People keep asking me how to get off painkillers naturally. Well the thing is, you’re going to go through a bit of pain no matter what you do but you can do something to ease that pain.

I’ve recently updated the list of How to get off painkillers naturally, please see this post right here:

For a list of these please see my post here called The Thomas Recipe Alternative – Larry’s Recipe for Opiate Withdrawal

I’ve made an Updated Post for: The Thomas Recipe Alternative: Larry’s Recipe for Opiate Withdrawal, Please refer to this for a complete list of supplements to help you get off Painkillers.

I use a supplement that I accidentally stumbled upon when I was looking to get off of painkillers a while back. It’s not too expensive and it have several qualities about it that I really like and still take it for and it’s called 5-HTP.  5-htp, otherwise known as 5-Hydroxytryptophan, is a precursor to serotonin, and is used as an antidepressant, appetite suppressant, and sleep aid.

While researching things in regard to opiate withdrawal it is one of the things that I took to help improve my mood and relieve pain from the withdrawal of an opiate. I have since kept using it as an appetite suppressant to help me lose a little weight, as well as helping me with ongoing improved moods and lessen anxiety

The thought that 5-HTP can cause increase in serotonin levels by causing the brains serotonin making neurons to increase activity in the making of serotonin. Increased serotonin making actiovity leads to increased serotonin release levels which then causes an improved mood. It is also said to help with anxiety, tension and appetite.

Some health care professionals say that a usual dose of about 50mg is right and doesages of 100mg+ is considered high. The higher dosages have also had some side effect that should be looked at. Before taking 5-htp consult a physician about it and your health to see  if it is a supplement you should take.

5-htp can be ordered at Amazon to be delivered to your doorstep here:

Their both good, I have my bottle of the Natrol right here next to me.

Anyway, hope that helps…