How do I know if im going through PAWS?

[the_ketaman]

How do I know if im going through opioid related PAWS and not just depressed or anxious?

What are some common symptoms and how long does a bout of PAWS last on average? I got off bupe a few months ago but am still using heroin, so im guessing the heroin would be masking any PAWS I would be experiencing otherwise. Before I started using a lot of H again I was quite depressed which is not normal for me, I havent been properly depressed in a few years, sure I get sad every now and then like all people do but lately ive been depressed for no real reason at all which im guessing is PAWS. Ive just never really stayed off opioids long enough to know what PAWS is. I also quit using xanax a few monhs ago, maybe 2 months and I was using a high dose(up to 16mg a day sometimes) for about 6 months so im guessing I would get PAWS from that too. Are the PAWS from ope's and benzo's all that different? I was on bupe for about 2 years and methadone for 2 before that.

May I ask, what are common symptoms of benzo PAWS and opioid PAWS?

Just curious thx

 

[Tommyboy]

If you are still using heroin the I doubt you are experiencing opioid / opiate related PAWS. I think that your discontinuation of benzos may be the culprit, but even so I don't think you can differentiate between PAWS and regular depression going by symptoms alone.

I think that the only reason to want to figure out if its PAWS related depression or not is because there is a lot of debate on whether or not you should treat PAWS related depression with meds [antidepressants] instead of allowing more time to heal naturally, as opposed to clinical depression which is more commonly treated with meds.

 

[weekend addiction]

Maybe talking to a knowledgeable doctor. Not necessarily an addiction specialist. Those guys see everything as a fucking crisis.

 

[bukweat]

Well if your still slammin dope bets are damn good your "symptoms" aren't POST anything.