Recovery How long until I feel normal after Heroin/Fentanyl detox?

[JacobbThomas98]

Let me first say that I realize and understand there's all types of "normal" and that everyone's body is different. But other than that, I'm a 22 year old male and have used heroin for the past 1 and a half years roughly (Mainly my R.O.A was snorting). About 6-7 months ago I started using daily. Then after about 2 months of snorting all day everyday, I began injecting and never looked back. Of course my tolerance went sky high and I was soon shooting almost gram shots multiple times a day. (Most of the Heroin where I'm from has fentanyl in it.)

But anyways, one night I just randomly told myself i was done living that lifestyle. I drove from N.C. to Florida that night. I had never withdrawaled before that so I didn't know what to expect. I always had money for more dope. I just knew my Dad lived in Florida and would help me. I drove through the night and did my last dose that morning when I crossed the Florida line. I got to my Dads about 2 hours later and spent the day fishing. I slept good that night from pure exhaustion but the next morning was hell for me. Extreme chills, fever, absolutely no appetite or energy. I was so sleepy but my body and muscles refused to let me sleep. Day 2 was even worse. I ended up going to the local E.R. Just to get a suboxone. That helped a little bit but not much. I smoked some Marijuana and that helped also. Each day got a bit easier after that.

It's now been 2 weeks and 3 days since I've last used Heroin \ Fentanyl. My appetite and sex drive has started coming back. I'm starting to sleep better at night now without as much restlessness. But I still have hardly no energy during the day and my muscles randomly get restlessness to the point where I'll daydream about shooting up. I feel like my brain isn't producing any dopamine at all either. I'm just miserable still.

I took half a suboxone 2 days ago and felt amazing the entire day. I want to feel like that while sober. My dad has agreed to let me live here with him so I can get on my feet and stay clean. I still smoke Marijuana daily to help me. But can anyone help me by telling me how long it's going to take to get back feeling good and healthy? Should I go to a Suboxone clinic to help with the cravings? Or should I keep taking it day by day and just ride it out sober? Maybe I can keep a few suboxones just for the really rough days? I just want my life back and will do anything it takes to feel normal again. I want to get in my car and drive back to N.C. So bad but I know I'll just end up where I started or even dead. Please don't tell me what I want to here. Tell me what I NEED to hear. I don't know any connects here in Florida which is good. My dad is the one giving marijuana to me to help me cope. I just REALLY NEED advice from an experienced addict. Thanks

 

[Rio Fantastic]

It's PAWs you're going through now, man. The good news is that it's intermittent. It will fade out at times, and you will have periods where you feel totally great and fine with absolutely none of these symptoms. The bad news is that it can come back, and it may take a few months before it goes away completely. If you don't physically need the subutex then I'd suggest not using it as an emotional crutch. It will be too tempting to fall back into the rabbit hole of opioid addiction, and it will be counter-productive as getting your opioid receptors artificially stimulated will just delay them recovering naturally, and your brain regaining homeostasis is the cause of your depression/boredom etc in the first place!

 

[JacobbThomas98]

It's PAWs you're going through now, man. The good news is that it's intermittent. It will fade out at times, and you will have periods where you feel totally great and fine with absolutely none of these symptoms. The bad news is that it can come back, and it may take a few months before it goes away completely. If you don't physically need the subutex then I'd suggest not using it as an emotional crutch. It will be too tempting to fall back into the rabbit hole of opioid addiction, and it will be counter-productive as getting your opioid receptors artificially stimulated will just delay them recovering naturally, and your brain regaining homeostasis is the cause of your depression/boredom etc in the first place!

hey man! thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. I was thinking about trying to get into a methadone clinic tbh. I realize I don't really need to by this point..... but I have a love for opiates and always will. I know for certain it'll take most of the cravings and the lingering WD away. Suboxone or Subutex just don't quite get it for me. I mean yea it works....but only for a week. You build a tolerance to bupe wayyyy to quick. If I do get into a methadone clinic,it will definitely be just a short term thing and then I'll taper down and off of it. But after considering what you advised me, I'm not gonna join a clinic now. I'm just gonna man up and ride it out. One day at a time.

 

[Jabberwocky]

well done for taking such decisive action and getting this far. in your favour you are very young and you weren't using too long, so all else being equal you shouldn't be suffering too long. you need to tackle the underlying psychological issues that lead you to use in the first place? nip this in the bud before you've lost your 20s to a drug fueled haze (i barely remember mine). if you can't stay clean without maintenence then go for it, it will help with cravings, but it is still a crutch, so it depends how you feel right now. there is no shame in not wanting to jump straight off. i never went on a script so can't really comment on practicalities i'm afraid.

 

[Rio Fantastic]

hey man! thanks for the advice. I really appreciate it. I was thinking about trying to get into a methadone clinic tbh. I realize I don't really need to by this point..... but I have a love for opiates and always will. I know for certain it'll take most of the cravings and the lingering WD away. Suboxone or Subutex just don't quite get it for me. I mean yea it works....but only for a week. You build a tolerance to bupe wayyyy to quick. If I do get into a methadone clinic,it will definitely be just a short term thing and then I'll taper down and off of it. But after considering what you advised me, I'm not gonna join a clinic now. I'm just gonna man up and ride it out. One day at a time.

Don't get me wrong, if you're literally white-knuckling it and on the verge of relapse then methadone is definitely the lesser of two evils and I'd recommend that over relapse any day. I've never been on methadone, but I find subutex doesn't get me high or give me any kind of buzz, and I start to forget it's even doing anything until I try and come off it, and then real heroin cravings come flooding back, and I'm reminded that when I'm on subutex I have urges, but not the kind of heart-wrenching gut-punch fucking intense car crash of an opioid craving that you can have when you have 0 opioids in you at all, so if you're really struggling then there's no shame in it.