Talk:Cold turkey

What about Caffeine?
It would help if someone would add what caffeine withdrawal is like, I don't seem to even notice anything, but I've heard it is addictive. 96.233.107.168 (talk) 21:16, 30 July 2015 (UTC)

fatigue, irritability, and headache, mostly Firejuggler86 (talk) 21:40, 6 February 2021 (UTC)

Clean Up The Mess
Someone should clean up this mess, personally I give up! This is the reason why Wikipedia doesn't work and never will, and I feel a little bit like Sisyphus. I don't even know why I bother editing this talk page anymore as if anyone is ever going to read it.

First of all: if you are addicted to medication, drugs, alcohol etc, you should see a doctor and go to rehab and/or get treatment instead of turkey yourselves cold.

Nevertheless, here it goes:

"In the case of dependence upon certain drugs, including opiates such as heroin, going cold turkey may be extremely unpleasant, but less dangerous.[2] Life-threatening issues are unlikely without a pre-existing medical condition."

The last remark is a myth and a potentially deadly one. One may wonder what reason a person might have for spreading that kind of desinformation.

I think this is the best phrasing yet:

''"Sudden withdrawal from drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines and barbiturates can be extremely dangerous, leading to potentially fatal seizures." (the phrase "opiates such as heroin" should be added to this list. My remark)''

Please note that the key word is potentially. Not unlikeley, not at high risk, but POTENTIALLY, with or without a pre-existing medical condition. If you do have a pre-existing medical condition of a certain type the risk of course increases, you don't have to be a Nobel Prize candidate to figure that one out.

With the suggested change, the latter part of this qoute becomes obsolete:

The supposed disadvantages related to the abuse of drugs such as alcohol, benzodiazepines, and heroin are unbearable withdrawal symptoms from the total absence, which may cause tremendous stress on the heart and blood vessels (and, in a worst case scenario, possible stroke or heart failure). — Preceding unsigned comment added by Erazerhead (talk • contribs) 05:51, 22 July 2012 (UTC)

But I really don't care anymore. Hopfully some will read this instead of the article.

Best regards everyone, and keep your noses clean

Erazerhead — Preceding unsigned comment added by Erazerhead (talk • contribs) 05:42, 22 July 2012 (UTC)

All The Things We Do Wrong...
"This implies that legally obtainable drugs cause less withdrawal then presciption medication. This claim is false. Alcohol withdrawal can be deadlier than most prescription medication. Also, aren't "probably" and "may be" weasle worlds? These sentences should be deleted or modified with facts explaining why withdrawal can in some cases be unpleasant and in other cases life-threatening.

''Hello - I have removed "and legally obtainable" from the paragraph in question. Various legal drugs have dangerous withdrawals, various illegal drugs are suitable for cold turkey cessation - legality is irrelevant.''"

Quite right, good job! A bad choice of words on my behalf I guess, sorry about that. This is a little bit of a vage subject though, and I was trying to say that most socialy accepted "drugs" like cofffe and tobacco are legal and will "most likely and in most cases probably" not kill you or cause you any serious damage going cold turkey on them. If you get morphine on prescription it is a legally obtained drug/medication, but most certainly a dangerous and addictive one. And yes, I quite agree: Sudden withdrawal from alcohol addiction can be dangerous and deadly, and alcohol is a socialy accepted and legaly obtainable drug in most countries.

"most likely and in most cases probably", weasle words as it might be and whatever they are, but in this particular case meaning during normal circumstances. Words like these are freqently used by doctors I have worked with as a sort of disclamier, a kind of better-safe-than-sorry attitude. There could be some little detail they overlooked, something that could cause seriuos complications and even death from medical conditions that normally are completely harmless.

So there really is a remote seven billion to one freak chance of some rare medical disorder or condition that will kill you if you try kicking your long time tea and buttered scones addiction cold turkey style, but probably not. Nevertheless, again a bad choice of words on my behalf tending to add to the confusion rather than clearing things up, so, as the writer sugested, they might not be suitable for an encyclopedia article.

I think it is of vital importance to clear this up, it could be lethaly dangerous to submit confusing, decieving or false information on these matters. In my defense I would like to say that I didn't do it on purpose, and english is not my first languege (wich I presume is quite obvious by now), so please be paitent with me. And, most important of all: If anyone finds something ANYTHING like the above, please go ahed and improve. It's the only way to get to the very quintessence of the truth. If there really is one, that is.....

--Erazerhead (talk) 10:44, 2 July 2009 (UTC)

"Still not true, still not right, still not a shread of proof!
"In the case of dependence upon certain drugs, including opiates such as heroin, going cold turkey may be extremely unpleasant, but is not dangerous[citation needed]."

This is still completly inaccurate! There is no medical evidence what so ever to back up this statement!

I have some five years of personal experience of using a slow release classic morphine medication as an analgetic, and once in a while I go off the medication because of the side effects and overall danger of addiction.

I know for sure that my bloodpressure and heart beating rates are skyrocketing when I cut off my medication cold turkey style. I have tried it, didn't like it! I know I can do it if I really have no other choice and really put my mind to it, but believe you me I rather not. The same goes for everyone else I know using this very same medical drug (for medical reasons and clearly as an analgetic) who tried this questionable and highly dangerous method.

Another fact is that in most cases that I know of, about 9 out of 10, using the cold turkey method fails. The unbareble pain usally overwelms the patient and they have to start the all over again to get off the medication.

It is a fact that youre body takes a hard beating going cold turkey on these kind of medications, and the above quoted statement are just simply wrong.

If someone wants to play a game of semantics over this and start splitting hairs, go right ahead. I have challanged this statement as false, and so far no one has presented any sources, quotations, research or a single shread of eveidence to back it up. Seems that someone really badly want this statement to be in the article, no mather if it's true or not.

I'm a little tired of trying to do the right thing, so as wrong as the statement is, I'm not going to change it this time. It is a pity though, I really thought that an "open encyclopedia" like this one would be a great idea. I guess I was wrong....

Erazerhead (talk) 09:53, 4 May 2009 (UTC)

Not only is it wrong, but very dangerous information is being given here. On top of that, it is contradictory - the paragraph before it states clearly that quitting certain things like heroin cold turkey is dangerous, and can even be fatal. 201.235.149.78 (talk) 04:54, 28 June 2009 (UTC)

"Cold turkey aint as delicous as it sounds" Homer J Simpson
Quote from the article Cold Turkey: "In the case of most other drugs and habits, going cold turkey may be unpleasant, but not life-threateningly dangerous."

I disagree! Cold Turkey from a regular use of morphine for instance can dangerously increase your bloodpressure, make your heart beat rapidly out of control and cause a few other symptoms that comes down very hard on your body and inner organs. Especally your heart. It could make your heart burst or stop or cause a blood vessel to burst in your brain, and it could in a worst case scenario kill you. I suppose that "most drugs and habits" referes to nicotine, caffein and over all socialy accepted non-prescripiton drugs or softer drugs like sleeping pills, mild tranqualizers, non-opioid analgetics and not heroin, morphine and such. That should be more precisly put. It is dangerous and irresponsible to implie that kicking a drug habbit based on the regular use of opioids, opiates and such, prescripted or non-precripted, cold turkey style is "not lifethreateningly dangerous". That is simply not true. If you are young enough, have a strong heart and body, no weak blood vessels or other similar medical conditions or weaknesses by birth, you most probably will pull it off without too much dammage done. But if not, don't fear the reaper.... (Erazerhead (talk) 15:29, 16 December 2007 (UTC))

It can be life threatening to quit drinking alcohol "cold turkey," with no medical staff at hand. This is why detoxification facilities are available.

I made a few changes according to my discussion with myself. I hope I don't mind....=) (Erazerhead (talk) 16:14, 16 December 2007 (UTC))

Why is a cold turkey carcass similar to the withdrawal effect? I don't understand the relation.
 * You're not the only one... Dismas 13:08, 29 July 2005 (UTC)
 * It is said that durin, plucked turkey. So they say ... - Pete C &#9997;  00:05, 19 August 2005 (UTC)

I always assumed that "Cold Turkey" referred to the time after Christmas, (or Thanksgiving, or whatever), when the fun/presents are over, and there is only cold turkey leftovers to eat (usually cold turkey sandwiches).--83.72.194.27 18:20, 25 March 2007 (UTC)danskal

Hey, is it really about a Turkey carcass — or may be a turkey (bird) carcass? CiaPan 15:30, 1 December 2005 (UTC)

Wasn't this phrase originally used in relation to heroin, and has now broadened out? --kingboyk 18:42, 2 March 2006 (UTC)

Should this really be a medical-treatment stub?

Number One on Google
http://www.inthesetimes.com/site/main/article/cold_turkey/ ranks number one on a Google serch for "Cold turkey"NumberOneGoogle 18:33, 25 November 2006 (UTC)

Weasel words
This article should be rewritten to avoid the use of weasel words such as "Although many people disagree" (and there's more in the paragraph before that). --IByte 10:12, 12 March 2007 (UTC)

Moved from article until it's sourced
Usage applies most appropriately to external, artificial chemical addiction, where the associated habits falling under this rubric are relatively simple chemical ones. The situation is different with any 'natural' affectional bond, such as love, where the chemistry is of evolutionary design and therefore far more complex, and which entails multiple associations of human action and feeling. Abrupt rupture of such affective bonds can lead to graver trauma. --91.148.159.4 23:18, 14 April 2007 (UTC)

incorrect link in the 'references' section
The references section has one link to the 'turkey' entry at dictionary.reference.com instead of 'cold turkey'. When I go to make the edit myself, the references section shows empty. I'm obviously missing something here, but the link is http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/turkey when it should be http://dictionary.reference.com/browse/cold%20turkey

If someone could make the change and/or explain how to make the change and why the reference isn't showing up in the edit box, I'd appreciate it. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 209.113.244.86 (talk) 17:26, 14 November 2007 (UTC)

Mild and Legally obtainable
''In the case of habits related to mild and legally obtainable drugs, going cold turkey may be unpleasant, but most probably not life-threateningly dangerous. Terminating prescribed medication, however, may be dangerous.'' This implies that legally obtainable drugs cause less withdrawal then presciption medication. This claim is false. Alcohol withdrawal can be deadlier than most prescription medication. Also, aren't "probably" and "may be" weasle worlds? These sentences should be deleted or modified with facts explaining why withdrawal can in some cases be unpleasant and in other cases life-threatening.

Hello - I have removed "and legally obtainable" from the paragraph in question. Various legal drugs have dangerous withdrawals, various illegal drugs are suitable for cold turkey cessation - legality is irrelevant.

ok good —Preceding unsigned comment added by 115.113.121.198 (talk) 13:18, 8 December 2010 (UTC)

feeling like a dork
Going by the enormous debate about the effectiveness and veracity of Going Turkey, I added the section which refers briefly to methods of quitting. But, in my focus to quote reliable references I might not have explained their methods very well, so if someone (who is good at typing) could go through the books referred and add to the methods prescribed, would definitely end up improving the section. Oh! and BTW some MD's also recommend going turkey and that includes former smokers, so maybe it is an effective method after all. Now, how do i go about kicking my habit, hmm... Wikishagnik (talk) 19:21, 13 May 2012 (UTC)

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