Ok ,my friend has kindof a problem. Se is anorexic, and is constantly taking diet pills[stackers, mini thin, etc], energy pills[no doze etc], tylenol, and vicodin (without eatin of course. this is obviouslt terriblr on the digestive system, liver, hell the whole fucking body and the mind with depression/weight obsession]. i am wondering if anybody has any advice on how to help my friend out of this habbit /mindset. i also want to note two things #1: im not bein a preachin biths, my friend wants to get out ov the habit but cant just stop cold turkey. #2: this was not meant to be posted in the better living through chemistry section because it is about BREAKING a chamical habit, and i want to reach a broad spectrum of people. i know there is somebody that will probly asy why i posted here anyway. Feel free to ask any questions since i might not have included all of the details as it is a complicated topic.

The kind of help your friend needs you can't give her. She needs doctor type help, both mentally and physically. Do her a favor and get her to one, otherwise get her measurements for a pine box.

Sorry, she's going to die. Eventually, I mean. The best thing you can do is get her to eat a multivitamin. And if she does eat, give her some soy nuts or tofu, for protein.

take her drugs, send them to me. Seriously though, ask her if the both of you would like to see a psychiatrist. DO NOT set one up for her to go alone, then tell her to go; this will alienate her. Just talk about it, very cool and calmly, don't give her any kind of attitude that she has the problem and you don't, your not perfect yourself sweetheart. I know this cuz i was born an addict and im going to die one.

Your friend can always go to a hospital and ask to be detoxed, if she says she is poor and has no insurance they do it free no questions. It takes a few days and gets you clean... but unless she seriously wants to stop, chances are she'll just start using again.

One good way to kick the pain pills at least at home is to ATTEMPT to taper down your dosage, which most people generally can't do, then stop altogether.

Once withdrawl symptioms pop up, start taking low doses of Clonidine (Catapres) a few times a day, along with valium. Take care to drink alot and eat salty foods, because Clonidine is a blood pressure medication, and if her BP drops too low she'll get very sick feeling.

The Valium gets rid of the anxiety from withdrawl, which is probably the hardest part of kicking... and the Clonidine helps with other "general withdrawl symptoms" like cold sweats, goosebumps, chills, cramps, etc. Using this combo as opposed to cold turkey can make a hellish kick only a little uncomfortable.

Also, she can take Pepto-Bismol or Imodium for diarrhea, and small amounts of cough syrup with dextromethorphan (cough suppressant) help with the narc kick slightly.

This combination is safe and used in many traditional detoxes, but you need to be careful to take the proper amounts of everything, according to her own tolerance for it. You or her should go crazy on Google looking for suggested dosages before she does this, then go lower than suggested on the clonidine, seeing as how she doesn't eat and is female her b/p may be low as it is.

I am not a doctor, I won't suggest dosages or anything... but I know this does help alot. It isn't hard to find these meds online if you have a little money and a debit card or credit card.

The thing is though, even if she does do this and kicks pills, chances are she is going to just start up again. If she has insurance, it would definitely be best for her to tell her doctor about her problem and get counceling, or check out some NA meetings (www.na.org).

Good luck man. Good job watching out for a friend. I doubt her liver is in any danger unless she is taking 10+ Vicodins a day, so don't worry too much about permanent damage... but she does need help regardless.