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Opiate withdrawal!... ?

Kastr0

Kastr0

Bluelighter
Joined
Jan 14, 2003
Messages
795
Location
North America
Hey guys,

Day 3 of not having any opiates and feeling pretty shitty, as you can see its almost 7 in the morning and I am still wide awake as I cannot sleep too well, body is also feeling very weak and lethargic.

Any tips for dealing with these symptoms and any idea on how much longer it will take before I start feeling normal again if I continue to not use any opiates (have done them for about 1 and a half years, never any IV use and mostly just methadone and oxy's, methadone use was about once every two - three days).

Thanks in advance!8(
 
Hey kastro,

what was the opiate you used at last? If it was oxy then I've got good news for you: You're through the worst. If it was mainly methadone - well, you've got some time to go. Did you taper or quit cold turkey?

Here you can get all the information you need. Keep going man. I find the first 1-2 days are the hardest psychologically because of all the cravings, which subside after that. You can do this and you will feel awesome when you're done with the withdrawal!
 
Last thing I used was methadone, about 20mg's on friday.. I appreciate the encouragement, I really think im gonna stick through this I might as well if I have come this far right?

Ill keep you guys posted on how it goes, and oh yah Van I did quit cold turkey, its been tough but I believe its managable.
 
Hey kastrO, welcome! I am glad that you came to TDS for support while you go through this. There is a wealth of experience here but more than that there is a collective heart the size of a continent so take advantage of all the love and empathy you'll find here, too.:) <3
 
first of all kastro you should be proud of yourself for stopping opiates. it is so difficult to quit cold turkey. typically i cant deal with the wd's from cold turkey, so i use again. the best way for me to get clean is buprenorphine.

buprenorphine has really helped me, if u can get that then do get it. if u cant get bupe, buy immodium. it has loperamide, which i believe is some sort of opiate. taper with the immodium as needed.

also i imagine u might be having problems with sleep. the way i deal with this is diphenhydramine tablets. diphenhydramine is the active ingredient in tylenol pm and unisom. shit will knock u out, even if u are sick.

also if you are feeling very cold and the chills are there and a problem, take warm/hot showers or baths. it will make u feel a lot better.

when u start to feel better you might want to go and take a walk. exercise is a good way to recover from opiate withdrawal. this is because exercise releases endorphins, a feel good chemical of the body which kills pain.


the withdrawals may last a while, possibly a couple weeks. if so, dont lose hope. stick with it and eventually the wds will subside. good luck!!!!!!!!!!!!!
 
I found soaking my feet in hot water took away any signs of cold sweats, though since it's day 3 you might not have that problem much anymore.

I quit 150mg Oxy daily cold turkey, the first 5 days are the worst. Just constantly soak you're feet in hot water. Drink plenty of water too. It feels like eternity, but it eventually subsides.
 
Thanks bro I appreciate the advice, I think im gonna make it :)

I find smoking weed helps, as previously suggested im starting to workout again (used to workout daily before using opiates), and im trying to stay on top of my diet game and make sure im getting lots of raw vegetables and fruits and a diet high in carbs, proteins, and vitamns + nutrients.

I will keep you guys posted with updates, thanks for all the suggestions and support!
 
Goodluck Kastr0, I was and still am in the same boat. It gets better daily if just by a tiny little pin hair of a difference. I can definitely identify with the "i've come this far comment". It is still hard some days. The other day I was in a store and the song "Mr Blue Sky" came on. It was a song I listened to often during that time. It nearly crippled me in the store into caving despite the fact we moved to a new town and even gave me minor body aches. So strange how psychological the drug has a hold that it can clearly bring on sickness on the drop of a dime.

I have found that after the sickness you sometimes forget how horrible it was the first few days. Try and make many mental reminders why you never want to go through this again. It is difficult while you are sick but remembering vivid points of how you feel will make it much easier to remember why you don't want to cave in the future.

Goodluck <3
 
For me, the insomnia (along with sneezing) was the last symptom to fade. Methadone's known to have one of the harshest/longest withdrawals, but you don't seem to be on too big of doses, and it might not be as bad if you were cycling it with the Oxycodone. I don't think it's going to get any worse for you, aside from the insomnia making you feel even more drained.

If you're able to eat, sleep at all, workout and appear to be in good spirits online, then you've for sure got this. It's a tough journey but it DOES have a happy ending. There is a light at the end of the tunnel to freedom.

What the above poster said is very valuable. Try and remember this time as best as you can, so that you lower your chances of ever having to end up here again. When I detoxed off of alcohol, I wrote myself a letter, and then when I quit heroin I took a video of myself. Scary stuff, but ultimately something that can work, if not to keep you off completely, but to nip any relapse in the bud should it occur.

Good luck! Again, you're doing well well having made it to day 3. Let us know if you've got any more questions about this!
 
I recently found a video of me getting high, must have turned on the webcam accidentally. I was shocked how pale and ill I looked, so humiliating. That strongly reminded me of where I come from and where I never wanna be again.
 
Well done on getting this far Kastr0,I know its not easy but you are heading in the right direction.
I wish I had your strength to stop using after a year or so but it's been over 10 years now and I still use heroin most days.
You don't want to end up like me mate, quit now and your life will be 100 times better I promise you.
Keep using and its a long and lonely road downwards losing family and friends on the way.
Keep up with staying clean cos its the best thing you will ever do.
I wish you all the best mate, you can do this. Keep us updated on how you are getting on.
 
VanWeyden said:
I recently found a video of me getting high, must have turned on the webcam accidentally. I was shocked how pale and ill I looked, so humiliating. That strongly reminded me of where I come from and where I never wanna be again.
Click to expand...

That is amazing, VanWeyden. What a powerful tool to have.

To all of you going through this, kastro, stardust, VanWeyden, maxalfie, remember to give yourselves all the respect you give each other wherever you are in this process. Each of deserves the deepest respect.<3
 
Doxylamine Succinate worked wonders for my insomnia during methadone WDs (and I was on 120 mgs for 5 years!). You can get it over the counter in sleep medicines. Diphenhydramine did nothing for me but it might work for you. Just read the back of the box so you know which one you're getting. Maybe buy a box of both and see which one works better?
 
keep it up OP! I'm on day 5. i last used friday night. unfortunately i am only doing this so i can pass a drug test on friday. I'm just not ready to stop yet :(. i wish i could make myself say hey! enough is enough, but i can't. what can i do?
 
VanWeyden said:
I recently found a video of me getting high, must have turned on the webcam accidentally. I was shocked how pale and ill I looked, so humiliating. That strongly reminded me of where I come from and where I never wanna be again.
Click to expand...

I remember a while back looking through some pictures I had taken when I was real fucked up one night and had been using a lot. I was really thin, pale, skin looked terrible, lips were all chapped, eyes looked all fucked up....definitely was kind of scary to look at. Didn't realize how bad I had looked then.

I actually just saw a video the other night that sounds like yours. Must have turned on my webcam when I was fucked up one night. I was sort of just mumbling a bit and then I would nod out for a moment. I've seen myself nod out and I've seen others nod out. It's not very attractive when you're watching it.
 
Exercise, electrolytes, heating pads, warm showers, stay busy. Don't rot.

There are megathreads in OD on this btw.

I just prefered not to use more synthetics to combat a synthetic addiction when I was deep in it.

-Diphenhydramine (for the runny nose and to help sleep, as well as dextromethorphan for sleep and to relax the muscles some), lorperamide for the intestinal cramping, magnesium might help some of you out on the stiffness too, B-complex always helps to reduce the stress -- including for alcohol hangovers -- and up to 800mg of ibprofen every 6-8 hours for general pain.

The first things I mentioned are the most important though, well and the loperamide. <This stuff is an OTC opiod that does not cross the blood brain barrier. You can't get high off it, but it will stop the runs and cramping. It's a life saver, and helps so you can physically go to work. Don't overdue it though, because then you'll end up blocked up for days on end.
 
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Hey guys,

I feel like I have let this thread drift off.. and where was I while it was drifting off?? I was getting high with my girlfriend and all my friends, using opiates to come down when its finally time to wrap things up when its 6 in the morning and I look like Christian Slater on NYE..

I found a clinic close to my home, spoke to a doctor, and got on a low dose of methadone (30mg)... It felt great to have all those terrible symptoms alleviated but in the back of my head I knew it was the wrong thing to do and would only drag me deeper into physical dependency (have never gotten to the point where I am throwing up and having diahrea).. Last thursday I was supposed to go see my doc to renew my script but I did not go, I made it to monday (two days ago) where I used a dilaudid 8 (swallowed) which barely did anything for my as far as getting buzzed but it did alleviate the feeling of oncoming WD.. Its now been 48hrs and counting since i've last let opiates enter my system..

I have been doing a lot of reading online, watching documentaries, and reading material my doc gave me at my clinic... I feel as if im in the worst part of the WD phase and according to everything you guys have said another day or so and I should be feeling a little bit better.. I got maybe 3 hours of very light sleep last night (very frustrating) and I am now realizing I am not only in the same boat I was when I started this thread I am even worse off because of me taking methadone every day for about a week...

HERES THE THING - Tomorrow I have the option of going and seeing my doctor, even though I have not contacted the clinic to explain my abrupt absence im sure with a little explaining I will be back on the program no problem! Thing is, do I really want to do that? While I was on methadone I was happier, more active, and a better person to be around.. Im sure with time I will be like that while im sober but am I really currently ready to ride this out and go through hell or should I go see my doc tomorrow and hop back on board, which will leave me in an even deeper predicament when its time to detox in a year or so - I also do not like the fact that I have to go out to the clinic every single day and see my doctor twice a week, most of the time waiting at least 30 minutes before I can see him.. What if I get a job or want to go away for a weekend? I wont be able to becuase I will need my damn drink and its gotta come first before anything else, and that thought really doesn't sit well with me!

Im literally at the fork in my road of life, do I go on the methadone highway which looks like an easy sunny drive towards an impending darkness or do I man up and take the gloomy sober lane with a sunny forecast and good chances of things clearing up next week?

Sorry if that was kinda corny, im a lyrical person, not that anyone cares..

Your advice is muchly appreciated and thank you SO MUCH for all those who took the time out of their day to read this and give advice to someone you dont even know.. keep your heads up and remember life is what you make it!

I will keep you all posted, thanks for your time guys - All the best ;)
 
And yes, DexterMeth - thank you!

While I was on my methadone induced surge of being productive and getting things done I obtained a YMCA membership (10 minute walk from my home) as well as a handful of supplements to help me get back into the heavy weights at the gym (BSN N.O. Xplode [contains B vitamins, glutamine, arginine, taurine, lysine, and a bunch of other essential and non essential amino acids which seem to help aid and speed my recovery process] MuscleTech Cell Tech [contains more glutamine, arginine, vitamin c, and a lot of creatine which will help me put on some weight and give me a good 15-30% strength increase and also requires me to drink a few GALLONS of water per day which can only (I would assume) help wash all the toxins and bullshit out of my system a lot more quickly then someone who is not as active] GNC brand Power Test [contains Tribulus which boosts sex drive and testosterone to some extent, also has rhodiala herbs and what not in it I would assume these can only be a benefit to my recovery] last but not least I am taking a very sterile and purified form of Omega 3 which has been micro filtered to eliminate all traces of mercury which are found in a lot of the fish that lurk in our earthly waters due to the pollution we emit on a daily basis).

Since I have been off the methadone though I have not worked out nor have I gone to the gym, I feel like I MAY be able to make it there tn but I will have to see how I feel.. as for now I am lounging back, eating as much as I can and drinking lots of fluids, and browsing around online trying to read as many inspiring words and success stories as possible.

Thanks again!
 
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