The Opiate Withdrawal Survival Guide A Comprehensive Resource For: Opiate Dependancy and Withdrawal. Written and Developed By::

Transcription

1 The Opiate Withdrawal Survival Guide A Comprehensive Resource For: Opiate Dependancy and Withdrawal Written and Developed By::

2 Table of Contents 1. Introduction Page 1 2. Section 1: Every Addict Is Different Page 2 3. Section 2: Common Opiates/Opioids Page 3 4. Section 3: What is Opiate Withdrawal? Page 4 5. Section 4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? Pages Section 5: The Common Symptoms of Withdrawal Pages Section 6: Withdrawal-Ease: What Is It and How Does It Work? Pages Section 7: Tricks of The Trade: Best Ways To Alleviate Your Withdrawals Pages Section 8: Withdrawal Planner: What To Do Before, During and After Withdrawal Pages Addendum 1: The Art of Opiate Tapering Pages Addendum 2: Suboxone - Pages What is it? -Is Suboxone Right For Me? -How To Taper off of Suboxone

3 -1- Introduction Withdrawal from opiates or any derivatives of narcotic pain killers can be a terribly uncomfortable experience, and although it is not life threatening, it can be one of the most unpleasant experiences you will ever have to go through! Withdrawal-Ease has searched every corner of the addiction and clinical community to develop the definitive guide to help you go through your withdrawal with safety and comfort as the key goals. Included in this guide is information on what to expect from your withdrawals based on your prior consumption of opiates, a list of essentials that you ll need to have on hand to help with your symptoms and also perhaps most importantly- some words of encouragement for when times get tough. This guide does not include information on the use or substitution of other opiates or narcotics in order to alleviate your withdrawal symptoms as we feel that can promote cross-addiction and will only transfer your dependence from one drug to another. Ultimately, we hope that you find this survival guide a useful tool as you take your first step in getting your life (and happiness!) back from pills. Congratulations on taking the first step!

4 -2- Section #1: Every Addict Is Different! First of all, it s important to keep in mind that everyone is unique. We have tried to address the typical person s opiate addiction (If there is such a thing!) and the most common withdrawal process. However, we recognize that there is a very wide spectrum when it comes to the intensity and duration of opiate addiction. Some of you may have been on opiates for years and some of you only for weeks or months. Some of you may take up to 80 pills a day and some may just take 5 a day (whether it be Vicodin, Norco, Dilaudid, Oxycotin etc.). We have done our best to take these varying factors into account, but please be aware that not everybody will react the same way to the withdrawal process. Please take into account all aspects of your medical history, current medical conditions, and medications as you review our recommendations. Also, please use common sense at all times and if you have any medical conditions or if you feel as though you are in physical or psychological danger please seek out a licensed physician or psychiatrist immediately. Ultimately, all that we ask as you read this guide is that you use your best judgment and seek help if you think you may be a harm to yourself or others.

5 -3- Section #2: Some Commonly Used Natural and Synthetic Opiates with Brand Name Equivalents Buprenorphine Buprenex, Subutex, and Suboxone Butorphanol Stadol Codeine Fentanyl Actiq and Duragesic Heroin Hydrocodone Anexia, Lorcet, Lortab, Norco, Vicodin, Vicoprofen, and Zydone Hydromorphone Dilaudid Meperidine Demerol Methadone Dolophine and Methadose Morphine Kadian, MS Contin, and Oramorph Opium Oxycodone Combunox, Oxyfast, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, Roxicodone, and Tylox Pentazocine Talwin Propoxyphene Darvocet and Darvon Time-Release Oxycodone OxyContin

6 -4- Section #3: What Is Opiate Withdrawal? Opiates in very general terms stimulate the reward/pleasure centers (nucleus accumbens) of our brains and release a neurotransmitter called Dopamine which can create analgesia (resistance to pain) and feelings of euphoria or a sense of well-being. Nearly every drug either stimulates dopamine release or enhances its activity, directly or indirectly. In the graphic below you can see a representation of an opiate (in this case heroin) stimulating the opiate receptors in the brain which in-turn releases dopamine. When you take opiates for an extended period of time (10 days or longer), your brain begins to build a tolerance to the drug and subsequently alters the pleasure pathways which become more accustomed to higher levels of dopamine. What does all of this mean? There are many theories about addiction still being debated, but for our purposes lets just say that your brain becomes used to being stimulated by the opiates and steadily needs more drugs for you to feel that sense of well-being. When you take away the substance that produces these euphoric feelings, your brain begins to rebel and that rebellion is the beginning of the withdrawal process. It s obvious to you by now that the withdrawal process in your brain is a complicated series of events, but ultimately it just makes you very ill. Your body is craving more of the medicine that you were feeding it and now that it doesn t have it, you have (or will) become sick.

7 -5- Section #4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? The intensity and duration of your withdrawal depends on a number of factors. Many people have a poly-pharmacy addiction which means that they do not take one particular type of drug but will take many different kinds depending on availability or personal preference. Due to this wide spectrum of use patterns and the factors that we discuss below, it s extremely difficult to make a generality about the exact duration of withdrawal. What we can do, is discuss what will contribute to your personal withdrawal experience and then give you some common statistics based on what we know. If you re not interested in the hows and whys of how long it takes for your body to begin to feel the effects of withdrawal, feel free to skip the next few pages and you will see our summary page which will give you the average time it takes for a person addicted to pain killers to begin feeling the effects of withdrawal. The Five T s that contribute to the intensity and duration of opiate withdrawals: 1. Type: The brand and strength of the particular drug that you were addicted to. 2. Tenure: The amount of time that you were taking the drug. 3. Total Daily Intake: The amount of the particular drug that you were taking most consistently. Some people may take whatever comes their way. If you were taking many different kinds of opiates, take the strongest drug from the list on the next page that you were taking and use that as the reference. 4. Tolerance: The extent to which your body and brain become used to opiates and develop the ability to process higher doses of the drug. People have to take more and more as time goes by to get the same effect. It s similar to alcohol tolerance but much more profound and shorter acting. i.e. It takes years and years for an alcoholic to develop higher tolerances for booze...it only takes weeks for an opiate addict to develop tolerance for a certain amount of the drug. 5. Time of Half-Life: The amount of time it takes for 50% of a particular type of opiate to leave your body (From 3 hours in some cases to 3 days or longer in other cases). This is a complicated process and we will spare you the technical details.

8 -6- Section #4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? (Contd.) The Five T s Defined: #1 - TYPE The following is a partial list of some of the most popular opiates (With their brand names) and their relative strength from most potent to least potent per dose. **** = Extremely Potent - * = Mildly Potent **** Heroin (IV, snorted, smoked) **** Hydromorphone Dilaudid *** Fentanyl Actiq and Duragesic *** Morphine Kadian, MS Contin, and Oramorph *** Methadone Dolophine and Methadose *** Meperedine (Demerol) *** Oxycodone Combunox, Oxyfast, Percocet, Percodan, Roxicet, Roxicodone, and Tylox *** Time-Release Oxycodone OxyContin (When crushed and taken intra-nasaly) *** Hydrocodone - 10mg (Lortab, Norco, Vicodin ES) ** Hydrocodone - 5mg (Lorcet, Vicodin) * Propoxypene Darvocet and Darvon * Tylenol 3

9 -7- Section #4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? (Contd.) The Five T s Defined: #2 - TENURE Your withdrawal will also depend on how long you have been addicted to opiates. The length of time that you have been addicted is a major factor not only in the determination of your withdrawal symptoms but also in gauging your psychological dependence. If addiction to pills has been a major part of your life for a long period of time, the ritual of maintaining your drug habit will be much more ingrained in your mind than it would be for someone taking opiates for just a few months. This is why a distinction is made between Physical Dependency and Psychological Dependency Different Classifications For Tenure: Using for 5 Years or longer - Chronic Dependency Using for 1-5 years - Long-Term Dependency Using for 6-12 Months: Prolonged Dependency Using for 2 weeks to 6 months: Short-Term Dependency The Five T s Defined: #3 - Total Daily Intake This factor is very difficult to classify due to the wide spectrum of use patterns and different drugs that fall within the classification of opiates. The most consistent and linear classification structure for daily intake is a multiplier of common dosages as prescribed by a physician. Using a common prescription for Vicodin as an example: 1-2 pills every 4-6 hours (Max 8 pills per day) = As Prescribed/Normal Intake 2-3 pills every 4-6 hours (Max 12 pills per day) = Slightly Above Normal Intake 3-4 pills every 4 hours (Max 15 pills per day) = Above Normal Intake 4+ pills every 4 hours (Max 15+ pills per day) = High Intake

10 -8- Section #4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? (Contd.) The Five T s Defined: #4 - Tolerance There is no generalized tolerance scale since everybody has their own unique level of tolerance. What is important to remember is that your tolerance is an indication of how accustomed your body is to the presence of any given opiate substance. Therefore, someone with a higher tolerance to a specific drug can usually expect a more acute withdrawal than someone who does not have as high of a tolerance. The Five T s Defined: #5 - Time of Half-Life The half-life of a particular drug is a widely used method of determining how long a particular drug will stay in your system after you have stopped taking it. When a drug reaches its half-life in your body, withdrawal is not far behind. So a prescription pain killer s half-life is a pretty good indication of when you will start to feel the effects of withdrawal from a particular drug. Half Life of Some Popular Opiate Pain Killer s Oxycontin = 4-6 hours (If crushed before ingesting) Percocet = 4-10 hours Heroin = 3-10 hours Hydrocodone = 9-16 hours Suboxone = hours

11 -9- Section #4: When Will My Withdrawals Begin and How Long Will They Last? (Contd.) OK, so you have gone through all of the 5T s of your particular addiction - what do you do now? Well, even though there are all of those factors involved, most people who are addicted to pain killers tend to begin feeling the effects of withdrawal within Hours. Most People Will Start To Feel The Effects of Withdrawal Between hours after they have taken their last dose People who use heroin may start feeling sick within 2 hours while other people may not start feeling sick for hours. However, regardless of your drug of preference, the average person will start to experience withdrawals within 24 hours after taking the last dose. Most of your physical and psychological symptoms of withdrawal will last 5-7 days You will not feel 100% after 5-7 days but you should probably be able to go back to work. We ve provided an intensity scale by day that will give you a good idea of how bad the withdrawals will be on specific days in a typical withdrawal Day 1 Day 2 Day 3 Day 4 Day 5 Day 6 Day 7 Instensity of Symptoms Duration of Symptoms

12 -10- Section #5: What Are The Common Symptoms of Withdrawal? Although you may feel deathly ill, opiate withdrawals are not considered life threatening. As always, use sound judgement and if you feel you need to see a doctor, please do what you feel is best for you and your body! The following list comprises some of the most common symptoms of opiate withdrawals with brief excerpts on each one. There are two lists; one for Day Time and one for Night Time. We think this makes sense due to the fact that during the day, you are trying to get things done and be a productive person and during the night, you are trying to get your rest. Therefore, different symptoms of withdrawal will affect you in different ways depending on whether it is day or night. That s why the Withdrawal-Ease Opiate Withdrawal Natural Supplement System has a Day Time Formulation and a Night Time Formulation. During your withdrawal period you may suffer from all of these symptoms or maybe just a few. We have also attached a somewhat subjective scale that rates the symptoms from simply annoying to agonizing. There are obviously overlaps when it comes to symptoms in each list, but we have adjusted the Comfort Scale depending on how the symptom might affect you as you are trying to work as opposed to if you are trying to sleep. Please remember that we are not trying to scare you with this list or with the severity ratings; we want you to be prepared. When/if you do experience these symptoms, at least you will not be surprised. It s much easier to cope with something if you know how and when it will happen. And that is the strategy for much of this guide. The following Comfort Scale is based on experiences of myself and other people who have gone through withdrawals. It is subjective and can vary from person to person. * = Annoying: One star is given to a specific symptom that you will most likely notice but will not be physically uncomfortable, it will mostly be a nuisance. ** = Uncomfortable: Two stars indicate that a particular symptom may be uncomfortable but it will usually be bearable and not likely to cause great alarm or intense cravings to relapse. *** = Very Uncomfortable: Three stars indicate that this is a symptom that may either take you by surprise, cause you significant physical discomfort or make you seriously crave your drugs. These are symptoms that can either be physical or psychological and they can cause a person to want to give up. **** = Agonizing: Four-star symptoms are the ones that break most people who try to go through withdrawals. They are ones that you will have no choice but to be very wary of since they will cause you the most discomfort either psychologically or physically. These are the symptoms that you must prepare yourself to face and also overcome if you are going to be successful in completing your withdrawal. The four-star symptoms are the hallmarks of opiate withdrawal and therefore make it one of the most challenging things a person will ever have to face.

13 -11- Section #5: What Are The Common Symptoms of Withdrawal? (Contd.) * * * * ** ** ** ** ** ** *** *** *** *** **** **** **** **** * = Annoying, ** = Uncomfortable *** = Very Uncomfortable **** = Agonizing Common Physical Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal: Day Time Pupil Dilation (Large pupils): Pretty self explanatory. When your body is in withdrawal, your pupils get pretty large and as a result, your eyes can become a bit more sensitive to sunlight. Tremors (Hands and feet): The tremors are mostly in your hands but can also be evident in other parts of the body. Just think of your body as a tree ; when the wind blows the smallest branches shake the most. The same can be said for these tremors. Watery Eyes and Nose (not related to allergies): No itchiness, just tears running down your cheeks. Racing Heart Beat - Not much to say here. Your heart will feel like you have just exercised or had an anxiety attack. Excessive Sweating: The sweating can be in sudden bursts or over an extended period of time and can include the hands and feet. Goose-Flesh (goose-bumps): Goose-bumps are the by-product of the shivering that you ll have during withdrawals. Although not terribly uncomfortable, they are prevalent throughout the withdrawal process and will probably rival any prior goose bumps you ve had, both in size and quantity. Lack of Appetite: You will not feel any urge to eat at all either due to an upset stomach or lack of appetite. However, as we discuss later in the guide, your body needs fuel to fight this withdrawal process so you need to make a conscious effort to keep yourself well-hydrated and well nourished. Bone or Joint Aches: Your knees, shoulders and hips may hurt along with other joints; especially in the extremities. Sudden Muscle Jerks : The sudden muscle jerks can be somewhat alarming to a lot of people but they are nothing to worry about. They are all part of the withdrawal process and will dissipate, then go away altogether. These muscle jerks are sudden and random and can happen anywhere in your body. Most people find that the common areas are the legs and the head; then occasionally, the whole body will suddenly just twitch. The best way to describe them is when you nod off to sleep and you suddenly wake up. It feels as if your body just involuntarily twitches or gets an electrical shock. They are very unnerving but not terribly uncomfortable. Muscle Aches: This is part of the flu-like syndrome but your muscles can ache as though you ve had a really hard work-out. Back pain: Usually lower back pain but sometimes it can also be in the thoracic region (middle back). Shivering: Throughout your withdrawal process, you ll either be shivering and cold, or hot and sweaty. It will be rare that you re ever totally comfortable from a body temperature standpoint and it will become a constant battle to keep either cool or warm enough. Hot Flashes: See above. You will get hot flashes where your body will feel as though a wave of warmth has overtaken you and may begin to sweat. Again, it s a constant battle to keep comfortable and will be one of the more consistent issues during your withdrawal process. Restlessness (Restless Leg Syndrome): One of the most frustrating symptoms along with the lethargy. You feel as though your bones itch and have the urge to constantly move your legs and sometimes your whole body. This is especially acute at night when you re trying to go to sleep. Flu-like Symptoms: This can be a combination of symptoms but flu-like symptoms feel as though your body is fighting something off...and losing. Upset Stomach (Diarrhea, cramping and nausea): This is also a very common symptom and one that can be a primary source of discomfort and inability to function. Most people going through withdrawals will have nausea, vomiting, diarrhea or all three. Thus, it is important to stay hydrated. Lethargy/Low energy: This is a major one. You will not have ANY energy. You ll feel as though even going to the bathroom is a chore both physically and psychologically. Depression: Perhaps the most insidious and cruel part of withdrawal is the depression you will most likely experience. Depression is very common for most people in withdrawal and it can be quite acute. If you are feeling so depressed that you want to harm yourself or others, please seek professional help immediately. The depression that most people feel is centered around the guilt and shame of their predicament. Many people have feelings of worthlessness and dread as well as feelings that their situation will never get better. Throughout this guide we will try to give you encouragement and other mental tips to help you keep a rational perspective and positive attitude.

14 -12- Section #5: What Are The Common Symptoms of Withdrawal? (Contd.) * = Annoying, ** = Uncomfortable *** = Very Uncomfortable **** = Agonizing * ** ** ** ** ** *** *** *** **** **** **** Common Physical Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawals: Night Time Watery Eyes and Nose (not related to allergies): No itchiness, just tears running down your cheeks...and onto your pillows. Goose-Flesh (goose-bumps): You ll still have the goose bumps and they will be more noticeable at night due to your sensitivity as described in the muscle jerks section below. You ll feel that tingly, goose flesh sensation and it can be more bothersome at night. Flu-like Symptoms: You ll still have flu-like symptoms at night but since your first thought when you have the flu is to lie in bed, we re only giving it 2 stars for night time. Back pain: Usually lower back pain but sometimes it can also be in the thoracic region (middle back). It can be particularly bad at night when lying down or when you wake up. Upset Stomach (Diarrhea, cramping and nausea): If you have any intestinal issues during the day, hopefully your natural slower motility will help calm things down. It s still a major issue to deal with at night since you ll be nauseous and may need to visit the bathroom several times which will further impede your ability to sleep. Shivering/Heat Flashes: The body temperature issue will continue at nights and will be more uncomfortable because you will constantly have to be throwing your sheets or blankets on and off. Excessive Sweating: The sweating can be in sudden bursts or over an extended period of time and can extend to the hands and feet. We add an extra star here for all of the sheets and pillow cases you ll need to wash. Sudden Muscle Jerks : The muscle jerks seem to be more prevalent at night but we believe that it has more to do with the fact that you re lying still and hence more aware of subtleties in muscle movement as opposed to when you are up and about. The legs seem to be particularly annoying and jerky and can keep you awake too. Combined with the restless leg syndrome, the muscle jerks make you a horrible bed partner and make this symptom worthy of 3 stars! Hypnic or Hypnagogic Jerk : One of the most surprising and dramatic symptoms of opiate withdrawal that occurs when you try and fall asleep is what some people call Hypnic Jerks. Although the origins of this syndrome are not fully known, the actual event can be terrifying if you re not expecting it. Just before you fall asleep (If you re lucky enough to get this far!) your brain s sympathetic nervous system can activate your fight-or-flight response. You will suddenly wake up and feel as though you ve had an electric shock or the sensation that you are falling and have just hit the ground. Some people even think that they ve just had a stroke. Not to worry though, it s not dangerous and it s most likely a result of sleep deprivation or due to the fact that your sleep rhythms are off a bit. We re giving it 3 stars here because they don t happen to everybody but if they do and you re not expecting it, it s a four-star symptom. Depression: Although you would hope to be asleep, depression is a significant factor at night when you are alone with your thoughts. You will have a tendency to dwell on things and obsess a lot lying in bed so we believe that this is just as much of an issue at night as it is during the day, if not more. Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS): This is especially acute at night when you re trying to go to sleep. You feel as though your bones itch and have the urge to constantly move your legs and sometimes your whole body. It will cause you to toss and turn because it will seem as though there s no comfortable position. You may even find yourself walking around the house or rubbing your thighs in order to relieve the RLS. Insomnia: Not being able to get to sleep when you are going through withdrawals is another very common and very upsetting symptom of withdrawals. The insomnia is a combination of regular sleeplessness that is only exacerbated by other common symptoms of withdrawal. Two of the main offenders that make it difficult to sleep are the muscle jerks and restless leg syndrome which both seem to be amplified when you try to sleep. The other factor of insomnia is the hypnic or hypnagogic jerks that are described above.

15 -13- Want To Rate The Severity of Your Withdrawals?: The Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (C.O.W.S.) This chart is used for initiating Buprenorphine therapy however it is a useful tool to also gauge the severity of your withdrawal symptoms.

16 -14- Section 6: The Tricks Of The Trade - The Best Ways To Alleviate Withdrawal Symptoms The Withdrawal-Ease Opiate Withdrawal Natural Supplement System Withdrawal-Ease Opiate Withdrawal Natural Supplement System is the only natural supplement that has been specifically formulated for opiate (pain killer) withdrawal symptoms. The complete system is a combination of 29 herbs, vitamins and essential amino acids designed to help the entire spectrum of withdrawal symptoms. Although we will suggest several other tactics to help reduce your withdrawal symptoms, The Withdrawal-Ease product contains all that you will need from a nutritional supplement standpoint for the withdrawal process. Just take two (2) Day Time Formulation capsules in the morning and two (2) Night Time Formulation Capsules in the evening! Day Time Formula Serving Size: 2 Capsules Servings Per Container: 30 Night Time Formula Serving Size: 2 Capsules Servings Per Container: 30 Passion Flower Lemon Balm Guar Gum Pomegranate Arabic gum Elm Bark Horse Radish ext 4:1 Mucuna Prureins Ext 20% Echinacea angustifolia ext 4% Peppermint Leaves Green Tea Ext 50% Panax Ginseng ext 4% Anise Seed Powder Cayenne Pepper Ginger ext 4:1 Tumeric ext 95% L-Tyrosine Zinc Copper Magnesium Gaba Melatonin Milk Thistle Ext Alpha Lipoic Acid Reduced Glutathione Valerian Root Ext 0.8% Methionine

17 -15- Withdrawal-Ease - How Does It Work? The Only Advanced Nutritional Supplement System That Specifically Targets Common Symptoms of Opiate Withdrawal. Withdrawal-Ease is specifically formulated to help relieve the common symptoms of opiate withdrawal and opiate detox. The following content describes in detail why certain ingredients were included in the Withdrawal-Ease System and the corresponding symptoms that they help relieve. It is also a powerful detox that can help restore normal organ function and cleanse the body of toxins and free-radicals. We have even provided some excerpts to relevant clinical study abstracts listed with the NIH (National Institutes of Health) when we cite the efficacy of a certain ingredient. It s our hope that you come away from this with a strong understanding of how Withdrawal-Ease does what it says it does. Withdrawal-Ease Targets Withdrawal Symptoms At Their Source: The Brain Major Internal Organs The Sympathetic Nervous System

18 -16- Withdrawal-Ease - How Does It Work? (Contd.) The Brain The brain is where many of your withdrawal symptoms originate. Withdrawal-Ease targets specific brain functions in order to help reboot your brain s natural chemical balance and function. Symptoms and Solutions Symptom: Depression Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Lemon Balm, L-Tyrosine Symptom: Anxiety and Irritability Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Passionflower, Valerian, Ginseng Symptom: Lethargy or Lack of Energy Withdrawal-Ease Solution: L-Tyrosine, Magnesium, Ginseng and Zinc Symptom: Insomnia Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Melatonin, Valerian Root, Passionflower Symptom: Headache Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Peppermint, Cayenne, Alpha Lipoic Acid Symptom: Lack of Appetite Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Ginger, Ginseng *Proof of Efficacy: How Do We Know It Can Help? Clinical Study Abstracts From The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Passionflower: Can Be As Effective In The Treatment of Opiate Withdrawal As Traditional Care [Clonidine and Benzodiazepines] Melatonin: Can Be As Effective As Sleeping Pills L-Tyrosine: Helps Stimulate the Reward Centers of The Brain and Can Help Ease Depression and Increase Energy *Study Links and excerpts on Pub-Med (The Official Website For Published Clinical Data on The National Institutes of Health website) are available upon request

19 -17- Withdrawal-Ease - How Does It Work? (Contd.) The Internal Organs It s no surprise that opiate addiction and consequent withdrawal wreak havoc on many internal organs in your body. Withdrawal-Ease is engineered to provide a comprehensive detox to rid the body of toxins and free-radicals as well as help treat many of the withdrawal symptoms that originate in the Digestive System, Liver and Musculature. Symptoms and Solutions Symptom: Nausea, Diarrhea and Indigestion Withdrawal-Ease Solutions: - Nausea: Ginger, Peppermint, Lemon Balm - Diarrhea: Iron, Ginger, Cayenne - Irritable Bowel/Indigestion: Lemon Balm, Passionflower, Peppermint Symptom: Liver Toxicity/Restoring Liver Function Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Milk Thistle, Reduced Glutathione, Methionine, Tumeric Symptom: Elevated Heart Rate Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Lemon Balm, Magnesium Symptom: Muscle Aches and Pains Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Cayenne, Alpha Lipoic Acid *Proof of Efficacy: How Do We Know It Can Help? Clinical Study Abstracts From The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Milk Thistle: A Powerful Liver Detoxifier Tumeric (Curcumin): An Anti-Inflammatory Tool For The Digestive System Peppermint: An Effective Natural Aid For Abdominal Distress Ginger: Can Reduce Nausea and Help Increase Appetite *Study Links and excerpts on Pub-Med (The Official Website For Published Clinical Data on The National Institutes of Health website) are available upon request

20 -18- Withdrawal-Ease - How Does It Work? (Contd.) The Nervous System The Central Nervous System: The Central Nervous System is Ground Zero for opiate withdrawal. Although the brain is a part of the Central Nervous System, it s important to note that much of the science and formulation behind Withdrawal-Ease was dedicated to restoring normal Sympathetic Nervous System Function. Symptoms and Solutions Symptom: Restless Leg Syndrome Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Valerian, Gaba, Mucuna Prureins Symptom: Dizziness/ Fuzzy Brain Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Alpha Lipoic Acid, Pomegranate, L-Tyrosine Symptom: Muscle Twitches or Tics Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Gaba, Mucuna Prureins Symptom: Shakiness in Extremities Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Methionine, Valerian Symptom: Decreased Dopamine and Serotonin production ( Reward Center / Pleasure Pathway activity) Withdrawal-Ease Solution: Mucuna Prureins, Gaba, L-Tyrosine, Magnesium *Proof of Efficacy: How Do We Know It Can Help? Clinical Study Abstracts From The National Institutes of Health (NIH) Valerian Root: Valerian Could Be The Answer For Restless Legs Syndrome and Muscle Twitches Mucuna Prureins: Mucuna Prureins Can Help Reinvigorate Sympathetic Nervous System Gaba: Can Help Calm Irritability and Regulate Neural Excitability *Study Links and excerpts on Pub-Med (The Official Website For Published Clinical Data on The National Institutes of Health website) are available upon request