Opioids How bad should I expect my withdrawals to be?

[melletiichips]

I have been using half a g of some very nice china white heroin. I’m in Australia so I’m somewhat blessed that it’s so expensive I can only manage to score half a g a week. I’ve been doing this for about two months now. Two weeks ago I took a week off and had noticeable withdrawal symptoms for about 4 days, really bad diarrhoea, chills, aches and pains, insomnia, watery eyes etc.

I very stupidly chose to score another half gram about 6 days ago. I’ve been using about a point a day and every few days I take a day off. I’m worried that if I stop now I will get sick? Do you think ill be able to avoid too much discomfort this time?

I also wanted to ask since I am really not going to do IV, can boof to save heroin/decrease the amount used? I currently take it intranasally and it would take a good 0.15 - 2 to get me nodding.

 

[Halif2]

From one Aussie to another: Maaaaaaate.... what are you doing? You are right at the very edge of a cliff, where a slip up could create life-changing consequences, and you're not focused.

If I understand your situation correctly, you've been snorting heroin on most days for a couple of months. It sounds like you want to avoid addiction, because you describe your decision to get more heroin as 'very stupid' and say you're worried about 'getting sick'. But you also ask about using different routes of administration so you can save heroin.

Obviously I don't know anything about your circumstances, but I want you to seriously think about where you are headed in life and where you want to be in the next 5 to 10 years. You are flirting with addiction and it seems to me like you're scared of withdrawals but don't really want to stop using heroin. I don't mean this to come off as judgemental or condescending, but I think you need to think about your life's trajectory because I have been using opiates daily for around 15 years and know the stress of being completely dependent on this chemical. I have lost count of the number of times I have tried to get clean, given it my all, been through horrific withdrawals, and completed the detox process, only to relapse within a couple of weeks or months.

It's impossible to answer the question "How bad will my withdrawals be?" because there are endless variables (age, drug purity, ROA, length of use, etc) and it's all very subjective anyway. But I can tell you that the withdrawals will get worse, and worse, and worse over time. It's impossible to describe how bad opiate withdrawals can get, but there are a surprising number of layers to the depths of pain and torment which come from them.

You are currently in a position where you'd feel shitty and uncomfortable for a few days if you stopped using. Definitely not pleasant, but not a big deal in the scheme of things. THIS here right now is the time to walk away from the edge of that cliff if that's what you want to do.

 

[melletiichips]

Update, back in withdrawal, I think I am finally done this time.

I only used about 1.5g over a few days and I was back in withdrawal. It's the end of day 4 again and I finally have the dopamine to sit at my computer and do something besides rip my weed vape and doomscroll youtube shorts.

I spent the last three days shitting every 30 minutes. I have ulcerative colitis so that probably makes it worse. I would alternate between ripping my pen hard enough to get stoned and reduce some pain/restless legs for an hour and sleeping for 90 minutes at a time before walking up covered in sweat and smelling like piss (I think I have gotten some urinary incontinence this time?). Unfortunately every time I hit my pen I threw up because I felt so sick and if I threw up too hard I run the risk of pooping my pants (even after taking loperamide).

I finally got offered a job. It's quite high paying and a great start for my career. I start in about 10 days so I just want to be well and truly out of being dopesick by then. It sucked having to loan money off my mum so I could get some more heroin and be functioning for my job interview.

I'm in my mid 20's, just graduated from uni, about to start a promising career, live with a loving partner (who has grown quite tired of me being completely unavailable because Im always high or sick).

I'm very scared I've gotten in too deep man, I don't know what the fuck I was thinking. I used to be addicted to meth and xanax in my early 20s and I just thought I would never fall into such a chaotic cycle again. Although I will admit I think being dopesick is not as bad as the horror of experiencing meth induced psychosis from lack of sleep/drugs.

I know no one is forcing me to score more heroin, but as soon as I feel a bit better I start thinking wow, I bet some heroin would be great right now. Than a week later I've spent all my money and I am sick again.

Don't do heroin kids, it's not even worth trying. I've tried every drug under the sun from pharmaceuticals to psychedelic RC's. Cocaine was easy to quit, Xanax a bit harder but relatively fine, even meth got tiring after a while. But heroin? Heroin will give you Covid-19 + explosive shits every week when you run out for a few days and have you dreaming about getting more the second you can walk again, knowing full well you are cursing yourself to an awful sickness. Last night I was just crying in bed silently next to my partner thinking how can I let everyone down like this, how can I let myself down? I've been an addict my entire life and I always feel drawn back to it. I think drugs will probably kill me no matter what I do. I just hope I can pull myself together to be a functioning partner, employee, friend and just live a normal life for a bit, I really miss it.

 

[Halif2]

I can relate to a lot of what you wrote.

've been an addict my entire life and I always feel drawn back to it. I think drugs will probably kill me no matter what I do.

I get it.

I'm a good couple of decades older than you are and still struggling to manage the damage caused by addiction. Sometimes I am more on top of it, and other times it gets the better of me. But I am very grateful for all the times that I've actively worked against allowing addiction to destroy me and those around me. Be wary of that voice which says "I'll never overcome this and fighting it is futile". You might not overcome it, but it's absolutely worth trying. Giving in to it will throw your life down the drain in no time.

I finally got offered a job. It's quite high paying and a great start for my career. I start in about 10 days so I just want to be well and truly out of being dopesick by then. It sucked having to loan money off my mum so I could get some more heroin and be functioning for my job interview.

This sounds like a perfect time to make a new start of it. Ditch the H. Do your best at the new job. Take it one step at a time.

I'm very scared I've gotten in too deep man, I don't know what the fuck I was thinking.

No. You're still in an excellent position overall. It might be tough relative to what you've experienced in your own lifetime, but you are far away from being "in too deep".

You'll be OK. I hope you make some good changes and things work out for you.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

china white = H or fent in aus?

before I weigh in lol

 

[melletiichips]

china white = H or fent in aus?

before I weigh in lol

Very little fent in Aus. Even less common in my particular area which is known to have a rather fiercely protective SEA population that doesn’t allow fent into the cuts. Most H you get around my part is pure H maybe cut with caffeine to make it smokeable

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

If it is H at least it is survivable and you could taper down in theory -- if you are using IV quit using IV and start snorting the same dosage (or go down dosage IV -- but taper is possible)

Ohh ok so that is the kind you need to add some citric to shoot correct? That is bad for the veins and I would highly suggest to smoke it or make sure to use a dilute as possible solution. (Very little truth in that "Less water better rush" mythos)

I hate to say I am jealous of a man in withdrawals but damn I wish they still had real H here -- sorry -- Is codeine legal in Aus? Perhaps you could jump to that at the end of your taper as it does metabolize into morphine same as H

If not don't kick yourself too hard 1 gram use to last me about 3 days and that was when Detroit was hitting around 80% purity on the corners. You CAN get by on like 2 - shots a day, 3 max. (You only get a rush on the first one anyways)

If you are smoking it the duration will be shorter which I could see leading to problems --- it isn't snortable is it?

 

[aim900]

Why not go on Suboxone to avoid withdrawal completely? It's kind of a lifesaver in that respect. Plus, it's covered by insurance.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

^Agreed $ per day it is surely the cheapest way. Perhaps the month long w/d -- some ppl rather cram it into 5 days

 

[asmiller0]

Why not go on Suboxone to avoid withdrawal completely? It's kind of a lifesaver in that respect. Plus, it's covered by insurance.

Well, you don't avoid withdrawal unless you never stop taking Subs. I wouldn't recommend this for someone only using for a few weeks or months. At most, a Suboxone detox with very low doses. Like 4mg, 2mg, 1mg, 1mg, 0.5 mg etc... Could be done in a week or two with less intense pain or suicidal thoughts.

 

[Stassi202]

“I am good couple of decades older than you are and still struggling to manage the damage caused by addiction. Sometimes I am more on top of it, and other times it gets the better of me. “

POSSIBLY WE ARE ABLE TO RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER and I’m pretty certain I am able to offer suggestions…especially to prevent precipitated withdrawal

 

[melletiichips]

Update: I started my new job, it pays about 100k AUD a year and I busted before I got my first paycheck so I had to make a difficult decision and decided to get on buvidal. I spoke to an opioid treatment doctor about it and I just sorta said to them I know I’m a hopeless addict, I know now that I have almost 2k a week coming in my habit is going to fucking explode. So I get the depot shot about 45 minutes ago. I don’t think I feel much of anything yet. Perhaps a slight reduction in withdrawal symptoms? I suppose more than anything it’s reassuring to know I can score heroin right now and I’ll have to do a fuck load more than usual to reach where I want to be (possibly out of my tax bracket lmao)

 

[Eden85]

Update: I started my new job, it pays about 100k AUD a year and I busted before I got my first paycheck so I had to make a difficult decision and decided to get on buvidal. I spoke to an opioid treatment doctor about it and I just sorta said to them I know I’m a hopeless addict, I know now that I have almost 2k a week coming in my habit is going to fucking explode. So I get the depot shot about 45 minutes ago. I don’t think I feel much of anything yet. Perhaps a slight reduction in withdrawal symptoms? I suppose more than anything it’s reassuring to know I can score heroin right now and I’ll have to do a fuck load more than usual to reach where I want to be (possibly out of my tax bracket lmao)

How are you going with Buvidal? I'm starting Bupe on Monday (in 2 days time) I've only used opioid pain meds, nothing IV. Because I have chronic pain and dependence, I'm going sublingual bupe for a few days, then onto weekly Buvidal the following Monday. Interested to know how the Buvidal feels for you, if it's helping you at all. Take care Here to talk if you need.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

Buvidal = once a week bupe shot or? Sorry unfamilliar --- looking for a way to step off of low dosage bupe-- currently between 1-2 mg .... 3 if things are rough lol

 

[Eden85]

Buvidal = once a week bupe shot or? Sorry unfamilliar --- looking for a way to step off of low dosage bupe-- currently between 1-2 mg .... 3 if things are rough lol

Yeah, it's available in two long-acting formulations. A weekly depot injection, or a monthly depot injection. I'm new to bupe and it sounds like you're down to a very low SL dose? I wonder if a low dose of the long acting injection could be useful to you. It could help break the 'daily dosiing' cycle...maybe?

 

[WellTram]

I advise 100mg tramadol + 60mg dihydrocoide 4 times per day, boosted by naproxen and slowly tapering off these 2 weak opioids ( together they will reduce your WD ). Use sedatives like benzos, pregabaline, or maybe even cannabis with some dextrometorfan to help u sleep and avoid any possible nausea, boredom and insomnia.
Starting one of dopaminergic antidepressants won't hurt u ( indirect dopamine and noradrenaline release caused by 5-HT2C antagonists like vortioxetine, agomelatine, mirtazapine ).
If neccesary use tizanidine and loperamide for other wd-related unpleasant states of your body.

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

Yeah, it's available in two long-acting formulations. A weekly depot injection, or a monthly depot injection. I'm new to bupe and it sounds like you're down to a very low SL dose? I wonder if a low dose of the long acting injection could be useful to you. It could help break the 'daily dosiing' cycle...maybe?

That is kind of where my problem is -- we have sublocaid but that is a month long and the list of possible side effects included precip w/d --- avoiding normal withdrawal is the whole reason I'm here!

Also sublocaid from my knowledge starts at dosages quite a bit higher than 1-2mg per day and it would be a backtrack.

Sick of breaking and counting pills though I tell ya that much --- what is the lowest weekly dose and did they explicitly warn you that it may dump all the narcan into you and send you into precip?

 

[Eden85]

That is kind of where my problem is -- we have sublocaid but that is a month long and the list of possible side effects included precip w/d --- avoiding normal withdrawal is the whole reason I'm here!

Also sublocaid from my knowledge starts at dosages quite a bit higher than 1-2mg per day and it would be a backtrack.

Sick of breaking and counting pills though I tell ya that much --- what is the lowest weekly dose and did they explicitly warn you that it may dump all the narcan into you and send you into precip?

I hear you, on breaking pills, counting pills. That's why I'm jumping on Buvidal. Trying to get some consistency in my brain.

From what the doctor gave me, it says 8mg is the lowest weekly Buvidal and it is equivalent to SL 4-6mg daily. So in one way, you'll kind of be jumping up a little, but then again, you might break the daily dosing habit? Maybe something to think about.
Yeah, I have sublocade available as an option. It seems to be more like the 'methadone' of the depot shots. Stronger and a bit of an associated high with it. But only monthly for Sublocade. No weekly option.

 

[Eden85]

Oh and my doctor said precipitated withdrawal is not a concern if I'm only using SL bupe and then jump onto Buvidal weekly, because the onset is around 10 hours. SL containing naloxone will have cleared by then

 

[notsmokeymcpot42088]

Oh and my doctor said precipitated withdrawal is not a concern if I'm only using SL bupe and then jump onto Buvidal weekly, because the onset is around 10 hours. SL containing naloxone will have cleared by then

Okay that is kind of the important part to me lol I've managed to (mostly) avoid w/ds for over decade and a half through wit and what not ---- to think of paying to be thrown into "Super w/d's" -- you see how it is not appealing option.

Shoot I feel like if I spoke with the doctor I could get half as many CC's as a normal person maybe---- not what most ppl ask for I imagine lol