Asparagus_Prince
Bluelighter
This post became too all-over-the-place so maybe, at the least, see the questions in red if you don't want to read my blabbings. I'd love to get some hunches and thoughts on any or all of them.
The one question I have that best summarizes this post would be: If someone has never had an opioid problem but they have recently become physically addicted to Kratom, would it be a reasonable plan to use Vicodins to help with the Kratom withdrawals?
And I'm assuming that would be a BAD idea for anyone that's had an opioid problem with painkillers/heroin at their DOC, right? Or in your opinion is it an equally bad idea either way?
Here's the backstory and more details...
I've used Kratom for the last 3 years or so and during that entire time my usage has been modest and responsible, I think. Around 35 grams per week. But in recent months my usage went up dramatically. From May through July I was averaging 110 grams per week.
I have never had an opioid problem nor do I know what it's like to have an opioid withdrawal. But... a few weeks ago I realized I had probably crossed the threshold when it comes to Kratom. And that stopping on a dime would be real difficult. Right? Would you assume it's a definite that anyone who'd used Kratom 87 out of 90 days for an average of about 15 grams per day would be facing withdrawals if they stopped?
For a couple weeks in early August I tried to cut down but I only did slightly and didn't really stick to my reduction plan. But then a couple weeks ago I had my first notable taper period. I averaged 8 grams Kratom over a 5 day span (compared to about a 15g daily average before that). But I was tired of tapering and really curious if cold-turkey withdrawals were looming. So I planned to stop Kratom altogether the next day.
And I did have 3 straight no-Kratom days. It's been a long time since I've gone 3 straight days without it. However, I used 1500 mg of Gapabentin during these 3 days and that's 3x my norm. I also used about 60mg of Delta THC during these 3 days which is a lot by my standards. So I was kinda like: "Does that really count?"
So now we're up to late last week. I went 4 additional days without Kratom (or gabapentin or THC) for a total of 7 days. But on the first of those 4 days I got COVID. And the worst symptom of all has been body aches and headache. Awful, terrible aches. I've taken Vicodin 3 of the last 4 days to deal with these aches.
And I've been feeling pretty good. But I've wondered if the Vicodin usage is blocking the would-be Kratom withdrawal.
It probably sounds like I've exchanged one addiction for the other (Vicodin instead of Kratom) but I really am taking it because of the terrible COVID symptoms. Plus I caught COVID from someone I live with and she was experiencing the same exact body/head aches. So I don't think I'm mistaking COVID symptoms for W/D symptoms.
So, in total I had my 5-day taper period where I cut down my Kratom usage by half*. Then I had a 3-day period with no Kratom whatsoever but there was an increase in gala/THC use. Followed by 4 additional days of no Kratom but with Vicodin usage 3 of those 4 days. I've taken 55mg of Vicodin over these 4 days, by the way. So what's your hunch? If I stop the Vicodins tomorrow do you think I might be ok-ish? And/or that the withdrawals are behind me by now?
I'm about to find out.
*Also, my 5-day Kratom taper period wouldn't be enough in itself to thwart would-be withdrawals would it? To recap: I averaged 8g of Kratom daily during that 5 day span, which followed a nearly 3 month span where I'd averaged more like 16g daily.
The one question I have that best summarizes this post would be: If someone has never had an opioid problem but they have recently become physically addicted to Kratom, would it be a reasonable plan to use Vicodins to help with the Kratom withdrawals?
And I'm assuming that would be a BAD idea for anyone that's had an opioid problem with painkillers/heroin at their DOC, right? Or in your opinion is it an equally bad idea either way?
Here's the backstory and more details...
I've used Kratom for the last 3 years or so and during that entire time my usage has been modest and responsible, I think. Around 35 grams per week. But in recent months my usage went up dramatically. From May through July I was averaging 110 grams per week.
I have never had an opioid problem nor do I know what it's like to have an opioid withdrawal. But... a few weeks ago I realized I had probably crossed the threshold when it comes to Kratom. And that stopping on a dime would be real difficult. Right? Would you assume it's a definite that anyone who'd used Kratom 87 out of 90 days for an average of about 15 grams per day would be facing withdrawals if they stopped?
For a couple weeks in early August I tried to cut down but I only did slightly and didn't really stick to my reduction plan. But then a couple weeks ago I had my first notable taper period. I averaged 8 grams Kratom over a 5 day span (compared to about a 15g daily average before that). But I was tired of tapering and really curious if cold-turkey withdrawals were looming. So I planned to stop Kratom altogether the next day.
And I did have 3 straight no-Kratom days. It's been a long time since I've gone 3 straight days without it. However, I used 1500 mg of Gapabentin during these 3 days and that's 3x my norm. I also used about 60mg of Delta THC during these 3 days which is a lot by my standards. So I was kinda like: "Does that really count?"
So now we're up to late last week. I went 4 additional days without Kratom (or gabapentin or THC) for a total of 7 days. But on the first of those 4 days I got COVID. And the worst symptom of all has been body aches and headache. Awful, terrible aches. I've taken Vicodin 3 of the last 4 days to deal with these aches.
And I've been feeling pretty good. But I've wondered if the Vicodin usage is blocking the would-be Kratom withdrawal.
It probably sounds like I've exchanged one addiction for the other (Vicodin instead of Kratom) but I really am taking it because of the terrible COVID symptoms. Plus I caught COVID from someone I live with and she was experiencing the same exact body/head aches. So I don't think I'm mistaking COVID symptoms for W/D symptoms.
So, in total I had my 5-day taper period where I cut down my Kratom usage by half*. Then I had a 3-day period with no Kratom whatsoever but there was an increase in gala/THC use. Followed by 4 additional days of no Kratom but with Vicodin usage 3 of those 4 days. I've taken 55mg of Vicodin over these 4 days, by the way. So what's your hunch? If I stop the Vicodins tomorrow do you think I might be ok-ish? And/or that the withdrawals are behind me by now?
I'm about to find out.
*Also, my 5-day Kratom taper period wouldn't be enough in itself to thwart would-be withdrawals would it? To recap: I averaged 8g of Kratom daily during that 5 day span, which followed a nearly 3 month span where I'd averaged more like 16g daily.
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