I just summarized my contest feedback for my online critique group, and realized my low-scoring judge was actually the one who had the nicest things to say about my work. She loved my voice, thought I was brilliant at characterization, praised my ability to weave in historical detail and backstory without slowing the story, etc. She said the story didn't "grab" her, but she apologized for it!

Oy vey.

Of course, I'm probably the exact opposite as a judge. Since I know for a fact I'm more persnickety than most, especially WRT grammar/usage and historical accuracy, I often give a higher score than I think is absolutely warranted because I don't want to be the Hardass Judge from Hell. But then I go ahead and comment on whatever I think needs work, because I figure that's helping them get their book into publishable condition.

Quiet in here.

A question/scenario:

Say you're not a doctor, and someone in their third or fourth day of cold turkey heroin withdrawal begs you for help. What is there, among either OTC or commonly prescribed prescription drugs, to at least ease the horrors? I found one site that actually said neurontin helped with easing the skin-crawly stuff junkies get during withdrawal, and I can see that making sense, since it's one in the seemingly endless array of epilepsy anti-seizure drugs. But googling gets me into a depressing tangle of info I can't sort out.

Say you're not a doctor, and someone in their third or fourth day of cold turkey heroin withdrawal begs you for help.

If the person isn't a doctor, though, where would he/she get any prescription drug to help?

I can't imagine what I would do in that situation, aside from googling and maybe calling a pharmacist, if I didn't want to call a doctor. And the usual sit-by-the-bed vigil, with blankets or water or a warm cloth or whatever I thought would ease the suffering just a little bit.

Amy, I did it myself, and what I chiefly remember from 30 plus years ago was precisely that: holding on to him, and talking - a low soothing voice, despite wanting to scream and sob and smash things.

I'm not looking for a heroin substitute; I want something that might be readily available in a medicine cabinet to ease some of the worst symptoms. And these days, it seems as if the class of anti-spasmodic drugs out there to control epileptic seizures are very widely prescribed for other things. Hell, I have two full bottles of Neurontin in my own medicine cabinet, for the MS pain control.

Just wondered if there were any other drugs out there. Also, what about traditional pain killers? Would something like percocet be useful for a junkie deep into withdrawal? At least to calm them?

Also, what about traditional pain killers? Would something like percocet be useful for a junkie deep into withdrawal? At least to calm them?

Well, it is an opiate, so I'd think it could help. Given that my withdrawal problems were *from* percocet and not heroin, I can't be sure, but that's my best guess. Let me get some coffee in me and I'll google.

Well, it is an opiate, so I'd think it could help.

Yes, this. I just don't know if, personally, I'd be afraid to give it to him since the opiate is what he's withdrawing from.

Any other stuff...I don't know. Maybe an anti-nausea? It's hard for me to know what's going to be in someone's medicine cabinet, because at my house my mom had all kinds of weird stuff for the lupus. Not anything anti-spasmodic, though.

Teppy! You have music! I resent the file you couldn't convert, and the last one from that show is en route. Also I sent you a set list in email.

Opiates, anti-spasmodics...

Making notes. I'm not in a huge rush for this, since I don't need the info quite yet, but upcoming. And considering the speed at which R&RNF is moving, I may need it sooner than I think.

Okay, from perusing some web sites, other opiates (percocet, vicodin) can ameliorate withdrawal, BUT, like AmyLiz said, it's risky b/c it's an opiate.

Less risky, but still helpful, is anything with codeine, or the drug Darvon (propoxyphene).

And, oddly, a blood pressure drug, clonidine, has been used effectively in withdrawal cases since 1978-ish, though I don't know if your character(s) would know that. Its potential side effects are (obviously) hypotension and its accompanying symptoms (dizziness, cold extremities), as well as sedation.

And I will go check my e-mail right now....

Oh, PERFECT!

(smooching Teppy like a mad thing)