WadeWilson
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Jun 15, 2025
- Messages
- 2
Been lurking here for a while, but posting now because there don’t seem to be solid answers out there for what this person is facing—and it’s worth documenting for others who might be in the same position. This is someone’s real situation. And they’re done with the bullshit.
IV fentanyl use daily for about four months—peaking at 4 to 5 grams a day. The product wasn’t clean and quality crap, making each dose even more dangerous but may help in that potency wasn't on par. Worried about xyalzine, because rise in BP and RLS and the anxiety is huge trigger. The tragic part? There was access to tested, pure heroin. Yet despite switching to it, during the fent run, symptoms like restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sharp-edged withdrawal persisted. Fentanyl changes the game completely. It's not just more potent—it hijacks the brain. It wrecks receptors. It destroys the baseline, this crap is not meant for human consumption.
Prior to this run,(4 months) there had been a full month clean. Before that, it was on-and-off heroin use (3 years with months off in between) —not fentanyl. But now, the decision has been made: it’s over. Multiple Years off prior, more than 1/2 decade.
Physically, this person’s in relatively good shape considering the circumstances. Clean bill of health, low body fat, and a consistent routine of eating well, training hard, and staying hydrated whenever off the junk. That lean body composition might help reduce some of the prolonged withdrawal effects due to fentanyl’s fat solubility.
A detox stay was attempted, with insurance coverage and access to care. But within 24 hours, Suboxone was pushed. Given a previous experience with precipitated withdrawal (a very real risk with fent), the offer was declined. That refusal meant being cut off from access to the subs (not treatment) unless reevaluated a week later. Still, by Day 2, symptoms were rough but manageable—handled with Zofran, clonidine, and some Valium (offered but declined right at end). In hindsight, staying might’ve helped, should have gave the valium a chance, but the decision had already been made. Fent WDs are woah, H seems like a walk in the park in comparison.
Here’s what’s next:
A regular doctor is supporting the plan and will provide clonidine, Zofran, and additional medications as needed. Supplements and hydration are also part of the prep: vitamin C, multivitamins, cranberry extract, orange juice, and water—lots of it.
If absolutely necessary, a short-acting bridge might be considered in the early stages, don't know if regular MD will go with it, can always chip a small amount from street, but the fact is: 38 hours have already been endured with no substances. During that time, there was nausea, weakness, severe anxiety, and inability to eat—but movement was still possible (it was just experienced hours ago). The hope is that methadone will allow for some caloric intake to return. Food is essentail, have people on methadone been able to hold down food in the early stages ?
There’s a lot of material online about transitioning from heroin to methadone. Almost none of it addresses the fentanyl-specific withdrawal or fast tapering using methadone as a tool. Fentanyl lingers. It binds harder. I think methadone needs to be destigmatized and more research needs to come to light, also the doses and laws need to change, methadone is not keeping pacing with the fentanyl.
This person is committed now. Detox and leaving was a mistake, maybe, in hindsight, but staying in a bed wasn’t working. What’s needed is motion, music, air, and a sense of purpose—something to fight through it with. That’s how this gets done. And regardlkess, commitment is key.
Updates will follow. Questions will be answered if others are watching. If any part of this helps even one person find the strength or strategy to get out—then it was worth sharing.
PLEASE — if you have any input that might help, especially if you’ve been through this or have experience with it, it would be greatly appreciated.
Let’s go to war againist this crap.
Background
IV fentanyl use daily for about four months—peaking at 4 to 5 grams a day. The product wasn’t clean and quality crap, making each dose even more dangerous but may help in that potency wasn't on par. Worried about xyalzine, because rise in BP and RLS and the anxiety is huge trigger. The tragic part? There was access to tested, pure heroin. Yet despite switching to it, during the fent run, symptoms like restless leg syndrome, anxiety, and sharp-edged withdrawal persisted. Fentanyl changes the game completely. It's not just more potent—it hijacks the brain. It wrecks receptors. It destroys the baseline, this crap is not meant for human consumption.
Prior to this run,(4 months) there had been a full month clean. Before that, it was on-and-off heroin use (3 years with months off in between) —not fentanyl. But now, the decision has been made: it’s over. Multiple Years off prior, more than 1/2 decade.
Physically, this person’s in relatively good shape considering the circumstances. Clean bill of health, low body fat, and a consistent routine of eating well, training hard, and staying hydrated whenever off the junk. That lean body composition might help reduce some of the prolonged withdrawal effects due to fentanyl’s fat solubility.
A detox stay was attempted, with insurance coverage and access to care. But within 24 hours, Suboxone was pushed. Given a previous experience with precipitated withdrawal (a very real risk with fent), the offer was declined. That refusal meant being cut off from access to the subs (not treatment) unless reevaluated a week later. Still, by Day 2, symptoms were rough but manageable—handled with Zofran, clonidine, and some Valium (offered but declined right at end). In hindsight, staying might’ve helped, should have gave the valium a chance, but the decision had already been made. Fent WDs are woah, H seems like a walk in the park in comparison.
The Plan
Here’s what’s next:
- Methadone fast taper, beginning 48-72 hours from now, with 24-30 hours clean beforehand.
- No prior methadone use—not for maintenance, not recreationally. Previous detoxes were cold turkey or short Sub tapers, which are now off the table because of fent. New to this but have seen a resurgnece becuase of the precip problem with subs, and that I know seeing first hand is HELL.
- Starting at 40mg, possibly stabilizing around 80mg short-term if needed but I don't know if I will get up to 80mg within 7 days, not sure they can go that high in that time. But the intent is clear: stabilize just enough to taper fast and get off everything.
A regular doctor is supporting the plan and will provide clonidine, Zofran, and additional medications as needed. Supplements and hydration are also part of the prep: vitamin C, multivitamins, cranberry extract, orange juice, and water—lots of it.
If absolutely necessary, a short-acting bridge might be considered in the early stages, don't know if regular MD will go with it, can always chip a small amount from street, but the fact is: 38 hours have already been endured with no substances. During that time, there was nausea, weakness, severe anxiety, and inability to eat—but movement was still possible (it was just experienced hours ago). The hope is that methadone will allow for some caloric intake to return. Food is essentail, have people on methadone been able to hold down food in the early stages ?
Why This Matters & Please any advice or additioanl information would be great !
There’s a lot of material online about transitioning from heroin to methadone. Almost none of it addresses the fentanyl-specific withdrawal or fast tapering using methadone as a tool. Fentanyl lingers. It binds harder. I think methadone needs to be destigmatized and more research needs to come to light, also the doses and laws need to change, methadone is not keeping pacing with the fentanyl.
This person is committed now. Detox and leaving was a mistake, maybe, in hindsight, but staying in a bed wasn’t working. What’s needed is motion, music, air, and a sense of purpose—something to fight through it with. That’s how this gets done. And regardlkess, commitment is key.
Updates will follow. Questions will be answered if others are watching. If any part of this helps even one person find the strength or strategy to get out—then it was worth sharing.
PLEASE — if you have any input that might help, especially if you’ve been through this or have experience with it, it would be greatly appreciated.
Let’s go to war againist this crap.
