Expert: Caroline West - 2/8/2009

Question
My 60 year old husband has used Oxycodone for 2 years. He admitted himself to a detox facility this past Tuesday night.  The doctor released him on Friday night and sent us home with 3 subutex (2mg).  My husband took the last subutex this morning and is in a state of EXTREME agitation about what withdrawal symptoms he may experience tonight.  Neither of us has any prior experience with addiction/recovery.  He wants to go straight to the ER at the first sign of discomfort because he wants them to give him another pill.  I don't want to be callous but at some point you have to take the LAST pill.  What side effects should I monitor and escalate to medical attention?  Are there any foods, herbs etc.. that might help lessen the cramps he experiences?  We have a BP monitor, check his BP and he takes Vasotec to keep it down.  I know to watch the BP.  I love him and don't want him to suffer but it is hard for me to believe that he won't have to go through some withdrawal at some point.

Answer
Hello Elizabeth. First of all apologies for the lateness in this response.

I am really feeling for your husband and I will tell you why. He/they have done the Detox WAY too quickly. 3 days in detox after a 2 year addiction is not right. Also 3 Subutex tablets is not long enough either and it is no wonder how much he is suffering. I know you said he will have to take the last pill eventually-not in this case,hes been detoxed too fast and thats why he is suffering so much. If it was a steady withdrawal he would have felt only minor discomfort and not to the extreme what he is feeling now.

I don't know what country you are writing from and what services are available but these suggestions will get him on the right road. Contact your local Drug and Alcohol Team or a Doctor that specializes in Addiction.He needs to go back into Detox and this time for 2-3 weeks and be on a reduction of Subutex over a month or so that will be the right way to do it. He is not exaggerating his suffering at all and if in the mean time he needs some relief then yes tell him to get to ER.

There is a drug that is commonly used for people who experiences cramps from withdrawals and its called 'Quinine',so ask about that too.

Again I am sorry for the lateness in replying. Do the above and he will be alright and what I have outlined is the correct way to do this and if a Dr with no experience with addiction tries to tell you otherwise ignore him/her-find a specialist.

I wish him all the best and be sympathetic as what he is experiencing is awful-I know. All the best and feel free to write in again if you need to. Caroline.