Poppy Seed Tea Withdrawal Is Hell

[Stargazer]

Hey IAG-

I too, have been wondering how you are doing. I hope your vacation was awesome.

Hope you stop in to let us know how you are

 

[stormcharger]

Hey IAG, as someone who has been using them 2-3 times a week for the last 7 years I am very invested in seeing your recovery. Please stop by for an update if you can hope you doing ok!

 

[negrogesic]

Hey IAG, as someone who has been using them 2-3 times a week for the last 7 years I am very invested in seeing your recovery. Please stop by for an update if you can hope you doing ok!

I'm curious, do you notice withdrawal symptoms at all if you stop or reduce frequency?

 

[8thday]

Hey IAG, as someone who has been using them 2-3 times a week for the last 7 years I am very invested in seeing your recovery. Please stop by for an update if you can hope you doing ok!

PST withdrawal is like no other! There are multiple addictive substances in PST and I think that must be why the withdrawals are so intense and last so long. I was taking twice a day for years so maybe yours won't be as difficult. I would definitely reduce your frequency and try to taper. I did taper once and it took a month of feeling terrible. It made the anxiety and depression pretty severe, but the withdrawals were nothing like what I went through going cold turkey. Best of luck to you. It is a pretty rough two months!

 

[8thday]

I'm curious, do you notice withdrawal symptoms at all if you stop or reduce frequency?

The withdrawal is pretty intense and lasts for two months. Reducing the frequency makes the withdrawal not as intense but you still feel horrible and all you want to do it take more to feel better. Cold turkey was unbearable. Really, I thought I was going to die for about 20 days. It takes a long time before you can sleep. I didn't take anything but I should have. I would drug myself up on Gabapentin and Xanax if you can get a prescription for them to help you get some sleep while going through the withdrawals and maybe it won't take as long for you as it did for me to feel better. It was one of the most difficult things I have ever gong through.

 

[8thday]

GOLLUM.....where are you? Please post something. Needing an update from you.

 

[cosmic charlie]

Yes the withdraw from Poppy Pods is the worse of any Opioid and I'm sure PST feels the same. The first four weeks had the intensity of heroin withdrawal and I vomited the whole time and lost so much wait. The next two weeks we're a gradual lessening of symptoms and by the 6th week they had faded away pretty much.

I've kicked Methadone, Heroin, Fentanyl, Oxy/Hydrocodone, Buprenorphine and other random Opioids and nothing compares to what those Poppy Pods did to me. It does feel like he'll on earth, i was begging for death at one point. I threw up and shit myself trying to make it to the bathroom.

I was drinking tea for 18 months, averaging with 10 to 12 Poppy Pods per day. It was also my favorite drug from its class. This is due to the wide array of compounds found within its opium latex. It creates a powerful synergy and the intense high last for 24 hours in my case.

 

[stormcharger]

PST withdrawal is like no other! There are multiple addictive substances in PST and I think that must be why the withdrawals are so intense and last so long. I was taking twice a day for years so maybe yours won't be as difficult. I would definitely reduce your frequency and try to taper. I did taper once and it took a month of feeling terrible. It made the anxiety and depression pretty severe, but the withdrawals were nothing like what I went through going cold turkey. Best of luck to you. It is a pretty rough two months!

Yea it can be pretty shit and like you said its the lack of sleep thats killer.
When I went to bali I used Kratom and that basically cheated the withdrawal. I cheated the withdrawal with tramadol as well.
I feel like its almost better to switch the physical addiction to something that is just one thing instead but don't follow that advice.

 

[stormcharger]

I'm curious, do you notice withdrawal symptoms at all if you stop or reduce frequency?

So its a fine line. I find that poppy seed tea lingers the day after but then I will get a mild cold like symptoms. I do get the painful legs and shit too and can't sleep.
However I can get to sleep eventually like maybe just one night of being awake each time.
Its still shitty but nowhere near as bad as every day users.

 

[Iceman1216]

GOLLUM.....where are you?

 

[Stargazer]

He must be ok. It would be great to hear from him though.

 

[Iceman1216]

I am a Half Full with the Glass type of Guy!!!
I always hope for the Best...............But I prepare for the worst

 

[Libertas0512]

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well! This is my first time posting, I literally just registered because I was so moved by gollum’s dedication to journal his experiences with this insidious brew, PST. My heart was warmed by all the fantastic responses of encouragement, support and knowledge for someone who struggles with overcoming the clutches of this seductive tea.

If I may, I’d like to share some of my experiences and realizations associated with this substance as well as the awful WD that followed.

It all began about 7 years ago- I was at the peak of my career. As a young, wide eyed, energetic and relatively happy engineer (in Biotech/Pharmaceuticals) I NEVER foresaw the dark turn my life was about to take. Other than consuming alcohol whilst out and about with friends and colleagues, I did not consume nor had any interest in taking any type of “mind altering” substances. Hell, working in the industry that I do taught me to steer clear of even prescription drugs (if I could help it)! After all, I know what they put in these drugs!

I traveled all over the country for my job (I was a consultant) and I worked on remediation projects for companies who were in dire need of help. In 2012 I was in Atlanta, Ga and I got sick with the flu. Weirdly enough, I never got better. Reluctantly, I began a very long, difficult and expensive journey of seeing over 35 specialists to help determine what was wrong with me. I should also mention that during my first appointment to a general practitioner, her solution was to immediately prescribe 10/325 Vicodin 3X per day for minor abdominal pain. And so, began my path to PST.

After over a year of taking Rx pain killers (as well as several other medications thrown at me from the various specialists I had), I decided that I HAD to get off these narcotics. At this point, not only were the drugs quickly becoming in affective, I found myself craving more. My pain specialist wanted to increase the strength of my meds- he and other doctors refused to hear my pleas for help to get OFF this drug. And so, I decided that I would cleverly find a way to get off of the Vicodin by finding a more “safe and natural” substance that I could use, all in my own.

I should note that after two years of tests/procedures, I finally received a diagnosis of Lymes disease and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It’s believed to be an autoimmune/neurodegenerative disorder that has a long laundry list of symptoms, chronic pain and chronic fatigue with bad insomnia being the worst of it.

So, I quit my prescription Vicodin and unknowingly replaced it with something worse- poppy seed tea. At first, I was able to get by, PST seemed like it was sent to me by God!

As time went on, years going by, I found myself increasing the dose. Unbeknownst to me at the time, all I was doing was making my “condition” worse. I got to the point where I could no longer work, I wouldn’t show up to family functions, I bailed on my friends.... if it weren’t for my amazing boyfriend, I honestly believe I’d be on the streets! All along I believed this to be the result of my disability and not PST/opiates.

I am happy to announce that for the first in years, I am clean! I quit consuming the PST (cold turkey) 4 weeks ago!! BUT- after a few failed attempts in the past- I decided that first I wanted to try medical marijuana to help take the edge off the WD. This was not decided whimsically, I thoroughly researched the benefits of medical marijuana and CBD- and not just for WD, but also for my condition. During the peak of my WD I vaped, at this point, I take low THC capsules. My goodness the WD were awful. From what I can remember (thank you Mary Jane lol), feeling like I had “the flu” was the best set of symptoms compared to all the others. My heart beat out of my chest, I was in constant panic mode (I seriously felt a constant sense of impending doom and danger), I couldn’t breathe, my vision was blurry, I couldn’t stop moving my legs, my back/sciatica killed me, headaches and face aches <- (yes- like a head ache but in your face), severe weakness, nausea, diarrhea, lack of appetite, NO sleep, feeling cold and depressed. The medical marijuana helped take the edge off tremendously so! However it would also exacerbate a few symptoms like my heart beat and anxiety.

At this point, being my fourth week clean, the body aches/pain linger, insomnia still sucks, and restlessness remains but are all manageable.

Gollum’s well written account of his WD’s were spot on (except I really struggled with the anxiety/adrenaline response). I don’t know HOW he even managed to post anything while going through that hell! But I am so glad he did! His words, as well as ALL of the support he received, helped me dig deep and stick with my decision to remain clean. So thank you, ALL of you!

I am an empathetic person but I NEVER imagined just how awful this experience has been and very much still is! I remember reading an earlier comment about how “no one knows what this is like unless they’ve been though it”, my Lord that’s so true! But, if I am to take with me some positives out of this entire experience, it’s that I have learned a new way to empathize and love those who struggle with substances (like PST) directly because of my experiences.

To ALL of those out there working hard, fighting tooth and nail to get clean, I applaud you and fully support you! It WILL get better and you will feel MUCH better than you did when using. Keep up the good work, there are a lot of good people here that are able to empathize and encourage you so if you need the extra support OR want to share your story for inspiration, please don’t hesitate!

 

[negrogesic]

Hello everyone,

I hope all is well! This is my first time posting, I literally just registered because I was so moved by gollum’s dedication to journal his experiences with this insidious brew, PST. My heart was warmed by all the fantastic responses of encouragement, support and knowledge for someone who struggles with overcoming the clutches of this seductive tea.

If I may, I’d like to share some of my experiences and realizations associated with this substance as well as the awful WD that followed.

It all began about 7 years ago- I was at the peak of my career. As a young, wide eyed, energetic and relatively happy engineer (in Biotech/Pharmaceuticals) I NEVER foresaw the dark turn my life was about to take. Other than consuming alcohol whilst out and about with friends and colleagues, I did not consume nor had any interest in taking any type of “mind altering” substances. Hell, working in the industry that I do taught me to steer clear of even prescription drugs (if I could help it)! After all, I know what they put in these drugs!

I traveled all over the country for my job (I was a consultant) and I worked on remediation projects for companies who were in dire need of help. In 2012 I was in Atlanta, Ga and I got sick with the flu. Weirdly enough, I never got better. Reluctantly, I began a very long, difficult and expensive journey of seeing over 35 specialists to help determine what was wrong with me. I should also mention that during my first appointment to a general practitioner, her solution was to immediately prescribe 10/325 Vicodin 3X per day for minor abdominal pain. And so, began my path to PST.

After over a year of taking Rx pain killers (as well as several other medications thrown at me from the various specialists I had), I decided that I HAD to get off these narcotics. At this point, not only were the drugs quickly becoming in affective, I found myself craving more. My pain specialist wanted to increase the strength of my meds- he and other doctors refused to hear my pleas for help to get OFF this drug. And so, I decided that I would cleverly find a way to get off of the Vicodin by finding a more “safe and natural” substance that I could use, all in my own.

I should note that after two years of tests/procedures, I finally received a diagnosis of Lymes disease and ME/CFS (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis Chronic Fatigue Syndrome). It’s believed to be an autoimmune/neurodegenerative disorder that has a long laundry list of symptoms, chronic pain and chronic fatigue with bad insomnia being the worst of it.

So, I quit my prescription Vicodin and unknowingly replaced it with something worse- poppy seed tea. At first, I was able to get by, PST seemed like it was sent to me by God!

As time went on, years going by, I found myself increasing the dose. Unbeknownst to me at the time, all I was doing was making my “condition” worse. I got to the point where I could no longer work, I wouldn’t show up to family functions, I bailed on my friends.... if it weren’t for my amazing boyfriend, I honestly believe I’d be on the streets! All along I believed this to be the result of my disability and not PST/opiates.

I am happy to announce that for the first in years, I am clean! I quit consuming the PST (cold turkey) 4 weeks ago!! BUT- after a few failed attempts in the past- I decided that first I wanted to try medical marijuana to help take the edge off the WD. This was not decided whimsically, I thoroughly researched the benefits of medical marijuana and CBD- and not just for WD, but also for my condition. During the peak of my WD I vaped, at this point, I take low THC capsules. My goodness the WD were awful. From what I can remember (thank you Mary Jane lol), feeling like I had “the flu” was the best set of symptoms compared to all the others. My heart beat out of my chest, I was in constant panic mode (I seriously felt a constant sense of impending doom and danger), I couldn’t breathe, my vision was blurry, I couldn’t stop moving my legs, my back/sciatica killed me, headaches and face aches <- (yes- like a head ache but in your face), severe weakness, nausea, diarrhea, lack of appetite, NO sleep, feeling cold and depressed. The medical marijuana helped take the edge off tremendously so! However it would also exacerbate a few symptoms like my heart beat and anxiety.

At this point, being my fourth week clean, the body aches/pain linger, insomnia still sucks, and restlessness remains but are all manageable.

Gollum’s well written account of his WD’s were spot on (except I really struggled with the anxiety/adrenaline response). I don’t know HOW he even managed to post anything while going through that hell! But I am so glad he did! His words, as well as ALL of the support he received, helped me dig deep and stick with my decision to remain clean. So thank you, ALL of you!

I am an empathetic person but I NEVER imagined just how awful this experience has been and very much still is! I remember reading an earlier comment about how “no one knows what this is like unless they’ve been though it”, my Lord that’s so true! But, if I am to take with me some positives out of this entire experience, it’s that I have learned a new way to empathize and love those who struggle with substances (like PST) directly because of my experiences.

To ALL of those out there working hard, fighting tooth and nail to get clean, I applaud you and fully support you! It WILL get better and you will feel MUCH better than you did when using. Keep up the good work, there are a lot of good people here that are able to empathize and encourage you so if you need the extra support OR want to share your story for inspiration, please don’t hesitate!

Thank you for this interesting account. Out of curiosity's sake, could you give an insight as to your dosing regime?

Its great the marijuana worked for you. Wish i found it less anxiogenic.

For those going through this I would strongly recommend using black seed oil (nigella sativa) during the withdrawal process.

 

[Jabberwocky]

hey libertas!! thanks for sharing your story. it sort of hit a nerve with me. i had already got a long term hard drug problem by the time this happened, but i got a horrible virus and didn't get better (pretty sure drugs didn't help me) as well. it also catapulted me into completely unmanageable drug use. i stupidly started smoking crack every day to deal with the tiredness so i could work. it swiftly took over so i couldn't work, then i lost my job within 6 months.

well done on getting into your 4th week!! these drawn out withdrawals sound awful i couldn't even get through a smack rattle so i truly can't imagine.

 

[Libertas0512]

Thank you for this interesting account. Out of curiosity's sake, could you give an insight as to your dosing regime?

Its great the marijuana worked for you. Wish i found it less anxiogenic.

For those going through this I would strongly recommend using black seed oil (nigella sativa) during the withdrawal process.

@ negrogesic: thank you for your support and yes I can certainly share my dosing regimen! In the beginning stages of withdrawal, I had three different vape pens two try. One was a 1:1 ratio of CBD and THC (aka: Harlequin), the second one was a stronger sativa (Aka: Jack Herrer) the third was a strong indica (Brownie Scouts). I wanted to see how each type affected me and I maintained a journal of my reactions to each type and the amount I would smoke. Ultimately, I stuck with Brownie Scouts and Catsu Bubba Kush (both strong Indicas). I would take a small hit every 1.5-2 hours. I didn’t like the feeling of being super high but I hated the WD more lol. By week three I felt that I wanted to try the capsules as the effect lasts longer. I purchased capsules called “iCan” which contained approximately 5.3 mg of THC. So far, I take one capsule every 4 hours. I’ll take one more if the pain becomes too much to handle. I’ll still use my Harlequin vape once a day to get a dose of CBD however I do not use it throughout the day as CBD can block the effects of THC (at least I believe the psychotropic/analgesic effects).

Like you, I found that smoking marijuana caused anxiety however the capsules do NOT at all. It’s a completely different feeling/sensation!

I’m also going to look into the black seed oil, thank you for the recommendation!

 

[Libertas0512]

hey libertas!! thanks for sharing your story. it sort of hit a nerve with me. i had already got a long term hard drug problem by the time this happened, but i got a horrible virus and didn't get better (pretty sure drugs didn't help me) as well. it also catapulted me into completely unmanageable drug use. i stupidly started smoking crack every day to deal with the tiredness so i could work. it swiftly took over so i couldn't work, then i lost my job within 6 months.

well done on getting into your 4th week!! these drawn out withdrawals sound awful i couldn't even get through a smack rattle so i truly can't imagine.

@ chinup: thank you for responding and sharing some of your story. I am so sorry that this happened to you and I can fully empathize with you. Trying to manage life while dealing with an addiction all the while you’re sick/disabled is AWFUL.

I understand why you tried to find something to assuage your fatigue/exhaustion just so you can keep up with the joneses. Sadly, it catches up with you and may cause you to dig a deeper hole of which feels impossible to climb out of. My thoughts and support are with you and I hope with all my heart that your situation gets better- I know it can!

Thank you for the grats! I can’t imagine what withdrawals could feel like coming off of an upper like crack/cocaine but I will research it and do my best to give you support/encouragement!

 

[Libertas0512]

@ chinup: you may have MECFS as the most common way this autoimmune is activated is by an influenza virus/viruses. Please look into MECFS as well as adrenal fatigue, hypothyroidism, diabetes, and Lymes.

 

[Nicomorphinist]

There are 50+ alkaloids and other items in Papaver Somniferum Linnaeus 1753 and other inert components present in the plant and some of them intensify one another, change their metabolic fate and so on and, lead to other metabolic and other effects which extend the duration of effects on the Liberation, Absorption, Distribution, Metabolism & Elimination profile of the poppy seed extract. The difference betwixt Ladme effects of seed and poppy capsule extracts are even more marked. My experience with poppy pod tea and other similar decoctions to the extent that the effects have been up to 36 hours. Strongly carbonated lemon-lime-ade mixed into another beverage always really does it for me and the effects will peak as late as hour 19. I have been able to make it to hour 41 before it was obvious that it was dose time again; and also some tolerance had washed out as the effect about the same dose really did it for me in the same dose and setting as well. This is the way that I get a certain amount of whole opium each week and I was quite surprised

 

[Libertas0512]

Hello again everyone!
I don’t mean to hijack Gollum’s thread however it’s the perfect forum to ask a few questions! I wish he would come back!

I’m in the middle of my 6th week being completely and totally off of PST. For the most part, I feel great! I notice many aspects of my life (prior to opiate use) falling back into place. My desire to go out, see family and friends, go for a hike or hell even throw on some tunes and dance a bit around my house! I’m feeling more motivated and driven to get back to my healthy lifestyle as it was prior to use!

........

However- there are two withdrawal symptoms that are still hitting me hard. The sudden feeling of horrible anxiety/panic and muscle spasms in my calves/legs.

Now I fully expected that I would have to endure several months of withdrawal symptoms- but what I didn’t realize was that, as a woman, my hormone fluctuations (as it relates to ovulation and menstrual cycles) heightens these symptoms drastically so.

How opiates affect men and women are even different- let alone withdrawals.

So, my questions are- to both men and women- how long did you experience symptoms of anxiety/adrenaline, and, did you notice any changes of your symptoms based off hormones, activity level, diet etc? So far, my hormones seem to be my main enemy as I have maintained a routine lifestyle throughout the last two months.