Positive The Tapering Support Thread v 2.0

[Squeaky]

The hot flashes are probably the worst for me. Sweating uncontrollably even though I’m already cold. Embarrassed because everyone around me can see it. Can’t even blame it on my injuries. It sort of steals my ability to ‘fake it’ through wd’s. I’m sure the restless legs and vomiting are worse but that never really happens to me. Plus I really hate turning my pillow over because it’s soaked, only to discover that the other side is still wet and cold from the last time I flipped it 5 minutes ago.

 

[papercuts]

Clonidine helps loads with sweating, not completely gone, I still soaked the bed with sweat, but really less torturous. I threw up again an hour ago, but then had a snooze and more clonidine and gabapentin. The unusual thing is I'm able to sleep and time is ticking normally, not dragging. This morning I was feeling great, singing away as I worked, then ate a banana and it came back up. This is how I get so thin in wds, but I put on extra weight specially for this kick, had 100g chocolate every evening for the last few months love chocolate, but not right now. Gained 10kg over my previous kicking weight, I got far too ill last time. I've only lost three kg of that I think this week, so plenty left.
I'm looking after my health, my health isn't fantastic at times, mostly because I get too thin.

Funny story about the clonidine, I got so thin on my last kick my periods stopped, I phoned the doctor and she said it was menopause, so I got boxes and boxes of clonidine on prescription for hot flashes I wasn't having, then my periods started back once I put on some weight! Didn't tell the doctor, she can think I'm in menopause, just incase I need clonidine again

Hydroxyzine is helping too, it's an antihistimine, I can't remember why it's good, maybe for sleep or nausea, but I believe in all the meds I'm taking and I no longer feel sick, long may it last.

I took a cyclizine 50mg, I prefer those to loperamide because they are true anti sickness tablets, lope are anti diahhrea which I don't have because nothing is going down, in five days I've kept one meal in me, last night's. I have mebeverine too, like cyclizine it is opiate derived, that relaxes the gut. Now I'm over the worst I'll be able to keep my tablets down better and they'll work.

I had none of my DOC today and practically none yesterday. I plan to stay at none now.
Time to add a 4th patch of buprenorphine, four together will give me equivalent of 112mg morphine a day which might be enough to stop me being sick and sweating, the current 84mg equivalent a day is helping, but I want to stop the physically throwing up part, it has to be more. I can work on why my brain isn't working later.
I've not even had weed since wednesday morning, that is the longest break in four years I'm sure. I've wanted to take a tolerance break for months and couldn't do it, but now I can and I'm not even struggling with that one. Weird. Maybe the bupe, I often thought that was the reason for it, long story on another thread.

Fourth patch on, will it be enough?

 

[papercuts]

The fourth patch is doing well, I slept, have zero cravings and don't feel sick, just a bit fuzzy and lightheaded, I only had another banana and some chocolate yesterday, I'm going to try eating normally again now that I don't feel like chucking it back up!
I'll gradually reduce the codeine now, I've been taking 60mg three times a day, only took 30 mg last night and 30mg this morning, I've got some with 15mg tablets for when the 30s run out.
After a few days off it, I thoroughly enjoyed getting stoned last night, then I felt completely better and very happy. I'm feeling happy anyway, it's not like withdrawal any more so I assume I'm now taking enough pharmaceuticals to cover the pods I was using or the last five days was enough to reduce me to that level. Yesterday I had 130mg morphine equivalent, today I plan to have 121mg.

One of the problems with tapering pods is that nature throws up variations in the strength of a cup, so you might feel lousy or great when you didn't realise you took less or more than the day before. Now the most important meds, the opiates I'm taking, are legal for me, although the doses I'm on are not I doubt that is going to matter, I have so much time now to taper down on the pharma products and I feel fine so I'm staying like this for a while, four patches plus codeine, gabapentin, clonidine, cyclizine, mebeverine, nefopam and high doses of vitamin C.
Three patches next week, then starting with nefopam, I'll be working through that list right to left to quit each in turn, might move codeine up the list before I get too used to it. I used to think codeine did nothing for me, now I know it does work, I'm not one of the people it doesn't work for, not unless I'm already full of morphine it seems.

Edit P.S. I'm back at work and feeling 75% well, which is plenty considering.

 

[smokeymcpot42088]

3.25 mg clonezapam. Beggining to experience lack of sleep. Still get 3-4 hours a night. Sweaty palms between doses. Time to stable out. talk to yas than.

 

[smokeymcpot42088]

@Fungus_Am0nguz how much clonidine did you need before it helped? I've been taking 0.2mg a day, saving most of them for later when it gets harder, I'd read that 0.8mg has been used in supervised settings, for cold turkey I guess, I don't remember the details, just the numbers!

@Squeaky I love your encouragement, thank you. I'm very scared of going down another step, I know I fall flat if it gets too difficult. We both have got to zero on this thread and then decided not to stay there.
I feel like I'm hanging on by my fingernails. I can't reduce more atm.
Whatever I get down to in March, that is where I'm jumping from.
Jumping onto a safety net of buprenorphine, I'll need 2 or 3 months off pods and on bupe before I'll feel human again, Spring is a happy time, I can do it then. Then the challenge is to taper down bupe to my prescribed level before I run out of extras and I'm there.
Wherever there is.

I like the idea of a timed safe, but I'd cheat it unless my husband took control of it. He won't, says he's wise enough not to come between a woman and her opioids, lol.
Maybe I could get one for after I've done all this, so I can have weekend treats without too much stress. Maybe even try having a break from weed by locking it away Scary thought, only joking, not had any since 4am, guess who wasn't sleeping.

BE CAREFUL with the timed safe idea. Been there, but so immature and cheap I bought a safe that operated on DOUBLE A batteries to hide multiple grams of RC's. Most importantly it contained my xx gram bag of clonazolam....one day I couldn't muscle the turn....than the battery light started going out. I got the largest dude i know asap on some ill pay you basically w/e shit and it was managable. To this day that memory freaks me out.

I can't remember if it was squeaky or papercuts, but if you are a daily mj consumer I would up the amount during times of taper. TO ME (subjective) I dont feel like any of my meds are working till I get my smoke in.

 

[papercuts]

BE CAREFUL with the timed safe idea. Been there, but so immature and cheap I bought a safe that operated on DOUBLE A batteries to hide multiple grams of RC's. Most importantly it contained my xx gram bag of clonazolam....one day I couldn't muscle the turn....than the battery light started going out. I got the largest dude i know asap on some ill pay you basically w/e shit and it was managable. To this day that memory freaks me out.

I can't remember if it was squeaky or papercuts, but if you are a daily mj consumer I would up the amount during times of taper. TO ME (subjective) I dont feel like any of my meds are working till I get my smoke in.

I went a few days without my daily mj, now I'm back to it, not all day again yet, just evenings, which is useful for getting things done. I feel ok, it's weird, I was in hell then was much quicker coming back than I expected now I'm on buprenorphine, codeine and clonidine for a kind of maintenance I guess. I keep feeling a bit sick and my pupils are twice their normal size, but I can work and function as a normal person, not a grumpy one
I don't think I need a safe now. I've two jars of pod powder here for making tea and not thought of touching them. I'm not getting cravings for pods. I get cravings for weed, cigs and for opiates in general, I'll not think too much and just be glad it's manageable.
How you feeling now Smokey?

 

[Squeaky]

BE CAREFUL with the timed safe idea. Been there, but so immature and cheap I bought a safe that operated on DOUBLE A batteries to hide multiple grams of RC's. Most importantly it contained my xx gram bag of clonazolam....one day I couldn't muscle the turn....than the battery light started going out. I got the largest dude i know asap on some ill pay you basically w/e shit and it was managable. To this day that memory freaks me out.

I can't remember if it was squeaky or papercuts, but if you are a daily mj consumer I would up the amount during times of taper. TO ME (subjective) I dont feel like any of my meds are working till I get my smoke in.

 

[Squeaky]

BE CAREFUL with the timed safe idea. Been there, but so immature and cheap I bought a safe that operated on DOUBLE A batteries to hide multiple grams of RC's. Most importantly it contained my xx gram bag of clonazolam....one day I couldn't muscle the turn....than the battery light started going out. I got the largest dude i know asap on some ill pay you basically w/e shit and it was managable. To this day that memory freaks me out.

I can't remember if it was squeaky or papercuts, but if you are a daily mj consumer I would up the amount during times of taper. TO ME (subjective) I dont feel like any of my meds are working till I get my smoke in.

I use mj for stress and sleep. Two things that go completely haywire in wd. Use it daily now for just stress, but it’s a lifesaver in wd because I can’t stop thinking about how stupid I am for doing it all AGAIN.

The first days of wd feel like they’re never going to end. Mainly because I keep counting how many hours since my last pill. There’s nothing that compares to checking the clock, hoping it’s been 3 hours, and finding out it’s been only 15 minutes. And it’s sooooo much worse at night. MJ at least makes me forget to think about time.

 

[papercuts]

This is going well for me now. No more sickness, I can eat normally again. Not sad, not badly irritable, can be around others and it's fine, I don't hate them all.
Yes, buprenorphine is good, except for one thing, I have absolutely zero energy to do anything at all. Yesterday after one hour of work I had a lie down and woke up four hours later, despite sleeping normally. That's the biggest shock, I'm not lying awake at night!

I feel like I'm recovering from way more than a couple of days of sickness, but at the same time I'm not suffering so long as I can take things slowly and not do too much.

I'm fortunate to be able to take it reasonably easy for the next three months, then we got things to do and I'm planning and booking and I'm so excited to be free from the bloody slavery of opiates at long last and I can go visit people I love who live in other countries. Not all countries, I realise that I'm still very dependant on buprenorphine and not all countries allow it, but I'm legal at last for most of the world, yay.

I don't think there is any chance I'm going to muck this up before going away in the summer, I was craving some this morning, had a coffee instead and was ok. FFS We were planning to go away before the pandemic came along, just as soon as I got off pods... Ah well at least I got the chance to blame the pandemic for it all

 

[Squeaky]

This is going well for me now. No more sickness, I can eat normally again. Not sad, not badly irritable, can be around others and it's fine, I don't hate them all.
Yes, buprenorphine is good, except for one thing, I have absolutely zero energy to do anything at all. Yesterday after one hour of work I had a lie down and woke up four hours later, despite sleeping normally. That's the biggest shock, I'm not lying awake at night!

I feel like I'm recovering from way more than a couple of days of sickness, but at the same time I'm not suffering so long as I can take things slowly and not do too much.

I'm fortunate to be able to take it reasonably easy for the next three months, then we got things to do and I'm planning and booking and I'm so excited to be free from the bloody slavery of opiates at long last and I can go visit people I love who live in other countries. Not all countries, I realise that I'm still very dependant on buprenorphine and not all countries allow it, but I'm legal at last for most of the world, yay.

I don't think there is any chance I'm going to muck this up before going away in the summer, I was craving some this morning, had a coffee instead and was ok. FFS We were planning to go away before the pandemic came along, just as soon as I got off pods... Ah well at least I got the chance to blame the pandemic for it all

For me, the general lethargy and mild depression after opiates lasts for months. I think the bupe will become your lifeline to a ‘normal’ life because in a week or two you’ll get to feel more like your old self. Hopefully you can focus on that and NOT allow yourself to fall into old habits.

Sunshine and fresh air. Seriously. The UV on your skin creates a little dopamine production that you desperately need right now. Just try to not let yourself get sucked into some stressful situations or you’ll be longing for relief.

And hopefully you can start enjoying your favorite foods again - your stomach is one if the biggest dopamine producers in your whole body. That’s why people in recovery gain so much weight. You’ll know when that one comes back because your clothes stop fitting so well.

 

[papercuts]

For me, the general lethargy and mild depression after opiates lasts for months. I think the bupe will become your lifeline to a ‘normal’ life because in a week or two you’ll get to feel more like your old self. Hopefully you can focus on that and NOT allow yourself to fall into old habits.

Sunshine and fresh air. Seriously. The UV on your skin creates a little dopamine production that you desperately need right now. Just try to not let yourself get sucked into some stressful situations or you’ll be longing for relief.

And hopefully you can start enjoying your favorite foods again - your stomach is one if the biggest dopamine producers in your whole body. That’s why people in recovery gain so much weight. You’ll know when that one comes back because your clothes stop fitting so well.

Haha, I've already put on so much weight, if I put on more I won't recognise myself. I'm 10kg=22lbs heavier than this time last year. Last year I looked like a junkie, now I look healthy.
I can barely believe it's over a week since I started all this, it's so fuzzy in my head, I'm not sure if I spoke to people or just texted them in the last week or if they called here even, I've pretty much lost the last week from my memory and I wasn't even stoned for most of it.

 

[Squeaky]

Haha, I've already put on so much weight, if I put on more I won't recognise myself. I'm 10kg=22lbs heavier than this time last year. Last year I looked like a junkie, now I look healthy, BMI in normal range etc. I think that last year I couldn't do it because of my physical health being poor and certain people were bombing my mental health with their crap, it was too much.
Also I have my car back, I had loaned it out while getting smashed every day, now got it back and insured and ready to go, so if I want to go out I can, I just need to be sober, I don't drive smashed, never had to.
I'll have to see how I feel as I taper down the buprenorphine, I'm on four times my prescribed amount of bupe, plus codeine and a couple of lesser opiates, mebeverine and cyclizine which seem to cover most of what I'm missing.
I can barely believe it's over a week since I started all this, it's so fuzzy in my head, I'm not sure if I spoke to people or just texted them in the last week or if they called here even, I've pretty much lost the last week from my memory and I wasn't even stoned for most of it.

I have lost so much of my life to this. Countless days up on opiates. Even more down in wd. Initially if was awesome to not remember yesterday, because yesterday was a surgery or a day of pain. But the last couple of years have been a blur and it is hard not to feel like a loser for doing so much stupid.

Time flys when you’re having fun, but it evaporates when you’re in wd.

 

[Painful One]

The hot flashes are probably the worst for me. Sweating uncontrollably even though I’m already cold. Embarrassed because everyone around me can see it. Can’t even blame it on my injuries. It sort of steals my ability to ‘fake it’ through wd’s. I’m sure the restless legs and vomiting are worse but that never really happens to me. Plus I really hate turning my pillow over because it’s soaked, only to discover that the other side is still wet and cold from the last time I flipped it 5 minutes ago.

I feel your pain my friend.
I am going through the same thing with the “hot flashes” and “Night Sweats”.
I was just getting through the hot flashes caused by menopause and was so glad and stable.
Then...doctor retired. Had to change from morphine to suboxone.

I did have pneumonia. Real bad case. I was hoping the sweats would clear up after I got rid of the pneumonia....they didn’t.
Suboxone (Buprenorphine) must cause massive sweating?
I don’t know if it is increased pain, illness, or medication change that has caused such horrific sweating.
The nurse practitioner who runs the suboxone clinic wanted to give me some heavy duty antidepressant for the sweating.
I declined. I don’t want to get stuck on more medication and then more to treat the side effects from that medication...
It is a never ending cycle.

I am just trying to get through it. Hoping and praying to God that there is an end!
I can’t live with this infernal hot flash/ sweating/soaking wet/ changing clothes and bed multiple times a day-night/
Ice cold feet and legs.

Does anyone know if Suboxone (Buprenorphine) causes this ^ and if it goes away after you adjust to it?
I am now almost 4 months on suboxone instead of morphine.

The sweating is crippling my life severely. I used to be able to appear normal for a short period of time. Not anymore.
I am having more trouble using my hands. I used to be able to do haircuts and Coloring, now, I cannot use my hands well enough.
My muscles are way more tense. I am having much more difficulty bathing, cooking, etc...
I have lost a lot of weight. I never want to eat. I have to force feed myself.

But...I am starting to feel more clear mentally. I want to do things more.
If the hot flashes/ sweating/ night sweats would just clear up...I would say, I am doing better.

Hopeful.

 

[papercuts]

I feel your pain my friend.
I am going through the same thing with the “hot flashes” and “Night Sweats”.
I was just getting through the hot flashes caused by menopause and was so glad and stable.
Then...doctor retired. Had to change from morphine to suboxone.

I did have pneumonia. Real bad case. I was hoping the sweats would clear up after I got rid of the pneumonia....they didn’t.
Suboxone (Buprenorphine) must cause massive sweating?
I don’t know if it is increased pain, illness, or medication change that has caused such horrific sweating.
The nurse practitioner who runs the suboxone clinic wanted to give me some heavy duty antidepressant for the sweating.
I declined. I don’t want to get stuck on more medication and then more to treat the side effects from that medication...
It is a never ending cycle.

I am just trying to get through it. Hoping and praying to God that there is an end!
I can’t live with this infernal hot flash/ sweating/soaking wet/ changing clothes and bed multiple times a day-night/
Ice cold feet and legs.

Does anyone know if Suboxone (Buprenorphine) causes this ^ and if it goes away after you adjust to it?
I am now almost 4 months on suboxone instead of morphine.

The sweating is crippling my life severely. I used to be able to appear normal for a short period of time. Not anymore.
I am having more trouble using my hands. I used to be able to do haircuts and Coloring, now, I cannot use my hands well enough.
My muscles are way more tense. I am having much more difficulty bathing, cooking, etc...
I have lost a lot of weight. I never want to eat. I have to force feed myself.

But...I am starting to feel more clear mentally. I want to do things more.
If the hot flashes/ sweating/ night sweats would just clear up...I would say, I am doing better.

Hopeful.

Ask your doctor for clonidine. It's used for sweating, hot flushes, high blood pressure and for opioid withdrawal.
If you're at menopause, that can come and go for years and years, an estrogen treatment might help as well.
I'm trying to get that last one myself. I'm on buprenorphine and in my fifties and last night I lay in bed with sweat dripping from my raised knees onto the bed both running down my thighs and down my calves to reach the soaked sheet that I'd better go change.

 

[Painful One]

Ask your doctor for clonidine. It's used for sweating, hot flushes, high blood pressure and for opioid withdrawal.
If you're at menopause, that can come and go for years and years, an estrogen treatment might help as well.
I'm trying to get that last one myself. I'm on buprenorphine and in my fifties and last night I lay in bed with sweat dripping from my raised knees onto the bed both running down my thighs and down my calves to reach the soaked sheet that I'd better go change.

Ugh! I am so sorry that you are going through this also. It is absolutely horrible!

Thank you for the recommendation. I will ask about the clonidine. Thank you so much!
I was reading that these “hot flashes “ can last for 10 years! I won’t make it that long. No way!
I also read that men can get them too. They also go through a change.

damn! It is no fair that after everything else, we have to go through something that feels like heroin withdrawal for years!
It makes me very anxious and is going to drive me over the edge if I cannot get some help for them soon!
I went to the gynecologist and begged him to do hysterectomy to stop the hot flashes and he said it wouldn’t stop them.
I said “OH MY GOD!” He said “I know. You just have to get through it.”
I was willing to have surgery to make it stop!

I will ask about the clonidine ASAP!
That might help you also @Squeaky

Thanks @papercuts

 

[papercuts]

damn! It is no fair that after everything else, we have to go through something that feels like heroin withdrawal for years!

Sometimes I think the Christians have a point about God punishing women for whatever reason, I doubt it was for liking apples, but who knows for sure?
Yes, this is how it is, estrogen withdrawal is a real withdrawal syndrome and feels a damn sight like opiate withdrawal at times. I got myself an estriol cream to use when it gets bad, not a lot of use really, but better than nothing. I've no doubt a couple points of heroin would take it away far better, lol
I commented on this elsewhere and got told some celeb was going on about it, so it must be true

 

[Squeaky]

Ugh! I am so sorry that you are going through this also. It is absolutely horrible!

Thank you for the recommendation. I will ask about the clonidine. Thank you so much!
I was reading that these “hot flashes “ can last for 10 years! I won’t make it that long. No way!
I also read that men can get them too. They also go through a change.

damn! It is no fair that after everything else, we have to go through something that feels like heroin withdrawal for years!
It makes me very anxious and is going to drive me over the edge if I cannot get some help for them soon!
I went to the gynecologist and begged him to do hysterectomy to stop the hot flashes and he said it wouldn’t stop them.
I said “OH MY GOD!” He said “I know. You just have to get through it.”
I was willing to have surgery to make it stop!

I will ask about the clonidine ASAP!
That might help you also @Squeaky

Thanks @papercuts

I wasn’t on subs, but I did make the transition from oxy to Kratom. The effects you described were basically the same for me. And I’m sorry to say that It lasted me for several months.

 

[Squeaky]

Ugh! I am so sorry that you are going through this also. It is absolutely horrible!

Thank you for the recommendation. I will ask about the clonidine. Thank you so much!
I was reading that these “hot flashes “ can last for 10 years! I won’t make it that long. No way!
I also read that men can get them too. They also go through a change.

damn! It is no fair that after everything else, we have to go through something that feels like heroin withdrawal for years!
It makes me very anxious and is going to drive me over the edge if I cannot get some help for them soon!
I went to the gynecologist and begged him to do hysterectomy to stop the hot flashes and he said it wouldn’t stop them.
I said “OH MY GOD!” He said “I know. You just have to get through it.”
I was willing to have surgery to make it stop!

I will ask about the clonidine ASAP!
That might help you also @Squeaky

Thanks @papercuts

I called it man-a-pause. I got the hot flashes when my wife started menopause.

 

[smokeymcpot42088]

I went a few days without my daily mj, now I'm back to it, not all day again yet, just evenings, which is useful for getting things done. I feel ok, it's weird, I was in hell then was much quicker coming back than I expected now I'm on buprenorphine, codeine and clonidine for a kind of maintenance I guess. I keep feeling a bit sick and my pupils are twice their normal size, but I can work and function as a normal person, not a grumpy one
I don't think I need a safe now. I've two jars of pod powder here for making tea and not thought of touching them. I'm not getting cravings for pods. I get cravings for weed, cigs and for opiates in general, I'll not think too much and just be glad it's manageable.
How you feeling now Smokey?

It is rubber to the road time FORSURE. I am down to 3.25 mg of kpin a day with a script to 3..........SO if you consider how buck wild I went I gotta say its a miracle. Also I am on sub, normally take 1/8th a day but with the bzo taper im closer to one a day. I also take about 5 benadryls a day. I am ok on everything but benzos and try to up those habits to make up for it

 

[papercuts]

I just finished work for the week, I managed to do everything I was supposed to do on time and correct, same as last week and it hasn't been easy to do at the same time as dealing with withdrawal from pods so I'm pleased with myself. I'm on 35mg weekly buprenorphine and it's enough, I'm not getting bad tempers or cravings, I've other pills but not opies or benzos, it's ok. Food, going to order something nice and relax.