What is the worst drug to have withdrawals from?

[GetMeOutOfThisCRAP]

Gaba related withdrawals are objectively the worst. Alcohol for president in that regard. But xanax/klonopin and even pregabalin are so horrible and you might even just die/if even ever recover. I'm actually unsure if pregablin withdrawal can ever be dangerous or not, and I do not want to spread misinformation.

So luckily I don't like anti-anxiety things. I'm not sure if it's just that I don't experience as much anxiety as other folks, or I'm just used to being anxious so it's baseline. Either way, depression is my specialty. It just kind of gets really hard some days to not want something like opiates or stimulants. For me though, my worst withdrawal was from fent pills. I literally just locked myself in my room and didn't really do much of anything besides try to watch the walking dead (do not watch that show while withdrawing) and at that time period I really just didn't want to live anymore lol. Things are better now though I guess. But for sure 100% from all of my experiences, fentynal without suboxone will make you want to kill yourself. I have had fent after that era here and there actually, but something about that kind of sickness just made me never want to face it again. I never have experienced the "I actually do not want to live anymore" life saga from any other withdrawal besides fent.

It's often understated but meth/molly have terrible "withdrawals." Not what we often talk about--but people have tried to quit using those potent stimulants many times and just have been faced with incredible depression/anxiety to the point that relapse seems the only relief. It goes a loooooong time too slowly draining you until you dose once again.

So to finalize this wonderful post--I'd rather be so unbelievably dopesick beyond recognition--even cold turkey methadone.. ridiculously high doses than to face a benzo withdrawal wondering if I will physically survive or not.

 

[magickmarck]

Great thread. I don’t remember ever feeling worse than dealing with a (mild-moderate!) klonopin w/d with (similarly sizable) heroin w/d simultaneous. Just could not deal.

 

[Jgovner]

In my experience and ive been hooked on just about every drug at one time or another.Benzos would be the worst.clonazepam was the worst because it lasts so long but xanax was like riding a bucking bull for 2weeks.Then i would say fentanyl and methadone.

 

[Chaoticjoy]

GHB.... it's the devil. I've been able to taper so it's bearable, but my bf just can't do it. 5 years around the clock for him. Down to 100 mils a day from 350. He ran out one day and it was like he had a stroke. I took him to ER, and they just released him hours later. He got lost, lost his phone, keys (I live 2 blocks from hospital) and cops eventually found him and dropped him off. He was crazy shaking too. So I caved and helped him get some. It breaks my heart. It consumes his entire life.

 

[Pickledlemons]

GHB.... it's the devil. I've been able to taper so it's bearable, but my bf just can't do it. 5 years around the clock for him. Down to 100 mils a day from 350. He ran out one day and it was like he had a stroke. I took him to ER, and they just released him hours later. He got lost, lost his phone, keys (I live 2 blocks from hospital) and cops eventually found him and dropped him off. He was crazy shaking too. So I caved and helped him get some. It breaks my heart. It consumes his entire life.

I'm sorry that sounds really hard. Maybe a long-acting benzo would be a healthier alternative? do you think thats an option that would work for him? Like clonazepam or diazepam or something like that. I imagine its difficult managing something as inconsistent as short acting as ghb, benzos might be the lesser of two evils.

 

[Cyanoide]

Benzos, by a long shot. I have gone through 3 miserable withdrawals (of which two as an inpatient in detox) and they are horrendeous. The list of WD symptoms is so long that won't even list them. I've had one major full blown seizure from the WD. And the thing about benzo WD is how long they last. We don't speak about days or weeks, but months. Many months. After the acute WD phase the subacute symptoms last for an eternity.

I've also gone through alcohol WD two times. It was horrible, but fortunately easy to manage in my case. In the hospital they pumped me so full with diazepam that I was almost comatose. And alcohol WD doesn't last more than a few days to maybe some weeks.

Edit. Oh I forgot, pregabalin (Lyrica) WD is also nasty. Not dangerous, but very nasty. Severe anxiety, sweating, diarrhea and total insomnia. The anxiety in pregabalin WD is actually worse than benzo WD. I've sometimes felt borderline suicidal because of the burning anxiety and depression from pregabalin WD. Fortunately, it doesn't last much longer than a week.

 

[Jabberwocky]

I am in quite the ditch here.

Cannabis and kava would be my only allies there.

Im not at that stage just yet. I need first to believe this world will actually be worth living in, to gather that drive and keep focus.

Currently it just isn't for myself. Just passing the days atm.

Read this post and decide how big the ditch is, this is the only place I would say this

It is always worth it except for those who get satisfaction from the suffering of others. I made a catastrophic mistake in 2013 by not educating myself about staying safe online and payed for it dearly. People have created memes about me and I was even made fun of on a satire show. The entire time, my own mother was on facebook posting about animal cruelty. She also got hostile when I pleaded with her to stop talking to her new "internet boyfriend" who was asking for gift cards. Called the police when I lost it because she was telling this person sensitive information about me. Get this: when I was 15, she caused me to be arrested right outside work and charged with something I didn't even do. Cops assumed I was a retard so they sent a lone lady cop oozing masculinity. She smiled and sauntered over, whipped out the cuffs, spun me around and slapped them on. Made sure to remind me I was going to jail.

So, it's been 2 years since reality hit and I'm still here. My drive and focus comes from the fact that nobody had the spine to talk shit to my face or over the phone and the number is obviously public. Maybe some can muster up the courage to call and say "fag" then hang up before I can respond. Phone is unplugged while sleeping because I know they'll try to wake me up.

I also know that everyone was mislead and assumed I deserved what I got. But it's not true, the people that posted that content are hiding something...

I have no doubts some of them are involved in the distribution of child pornography on the dark web, they'll do anything for cash, as long as they don't have to leave their house.

I have summoned emotions I never thought possible. I know what needs to be done and it's going to take time and money but the result will be totally worth it. Everyone else can eat shit and keep hiding behind their computers and cell phones.

Chin up, you have more allies than you think.

 

[Bella Figura]

Short acting benzos, fuck them and fuck their seizures.

I'll take the misery of opiate withdrawal over them any day.

 

[AutoTripper]

Read this post and decide how big the ditch is, this is the only place I would say this

It is always worth it except for those who get satisfaction from the suffering of others. I made a catastrophic mistake in 2013 by not educating myself about staying safe online and payed for it dearly. People have created memes about me and I was even made fun of on a satire show. The entire time, my own mother was on facebook posting about animal cruelty. She also got hostile when I pleaded with her to stop talking to her new "internet boyfriend" who was asking for gift cards. Called the police when I lost it because she was telling this person sensitive information about me. Get this: when I was 15, she caused me to be arrested right outside work and charged with something I didn't even do. Cops assumed I was a retard so they sent a lone lady cop oozing masculinity. She smiled and sauntered over, whipped out the cuffs, spun me around and slapped them on. Made sure to remind me I was going to jail.

So, it's been 2 years since reality hit and I'm still here. My drive and focus comes from the fact that nobody had the spine to talk shit to my face or over the phone and the number is obviously public. Maybe some can muster up the courage to call and say "fag" then hang up before I can respond. Phone is unplugged while sleeping because I know they'll try to wake me up.

I also know that everyone was mislead and assumed I deserved what I got. But it's not true, the people that posted that content are hiding something...

I have no doubts some of them are involved in the distribution of child pornography on the dark web, they'll do anything for cash, as long as they don't have to leave their house.

I have summoned emotions I never thought possible. I know what needs to be done and it's going to take time and money but the result will be totally worth it. Everyone else can eat shit and keep hiding behind their computers and cell phones.

Chin up, you have more allies than you think.

Hi. Thanks brother. First I would say to you, people only ever have the power and influence that you allow, permit them.

When silly wrong is directed our way, unless there are material or financial consequences limiting our response etc, compliance needed, then it’s so easy to take that full power back, rise above, see them as purely insignificant.

They said of witches, like white witches maybe, ignore a witch and they lose their power.

I’ve witnessed, my own eyes, definitely the case with psychopath deranged bullies.

Thanks for the words of support. We can all feel so alone in the world and I would say NOW in this Twighlight of uncertainty and IMO attack, more than ever in all of our lives possibly.

I have gotten in deep in ways. First Im Just addressing the LSD use. No other way would I get fluid calm in mind, to control and taper benzos with discipline and commitment over time.

Although I feel, once more gathered, sensible LSD use may help with the process, by sparking things in a positive and motivational/distraction way.

Right now I’m first waiting to see if I can safely predict living on say another 2 months, 6 great, a year would mean a pick up and then who knows. Some good treatments upcoming at last, just holding out.

The better I feel in general, obviously the better my chances of managing a sensible benzo taper and withdrawal.

I do think I could do it. Just....not in current health, and circumstances.

Thanks again @BenzoBrain and warmest welcome to the forum mate.

If I hadn’t picked AutoTripper for being such a massive head, I may have been KavaBrain lol. I’m really into my kava. Said to be nature’s benzo.

Except being me, it’s the two way potentiation combo I love so much. Like a doubling effect on both kind of.

 

[AutoTripper]

Gaba related withdrawals are objectively the worst

This is precisely where kava can come in for many. It acts on gaba, plus all the main neurotransmitters in a non brain chemistry altering/ disruptive way.

It’s entirely non- physically addictive no withdrawals it’s known by many ex alcoholics as a Godsend and saviour, post stopping the alcohol.

 

[Pickledlemons]

I wrote several paraphs here and deleted cause I thought it sounded too drunk. ....developers , how about a ' you are to fucked up to post this' little pop up window than you can accept or decline. I cant be the only one ;p

 

[December Flower]

This is precisely where kava can come in for many. It acts on gaba, plus all the main neurotransmitters in a non brain chemistry altering/ disruptive way.

It’s entirely non- physically addictive no withdrawals it’s known by many ex alcoholics as a Godsend and saviour, post stopping the alcohol.

I always thought long-term kava use is pretty dangerous, because it damages the liver? Then again, probably not as much as alcohol does

 

[AutoTripper]

I always thought long-term kava use is pretty dangerous, because it damages the liver? Then again, probably not as much as alcohol does

No no no. This is the injustice done to kava and it’s potential beneficiaries lol!

Studies eons ago, using kava extracts, very high doses in rats, with kavalactones not present at all in noble or instant kava typically drunk worldwide.

Kava just must not be mixed with alcohol. Otherwise it isn’t just perfectly safe, but like cannabis is being studied, revealing an ever increasing multitude of powerful medicinal actions from the actives- kavalactones, instead of cannabinoids.

Especially anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory.

It’s such a shame the myth got so established. Most people have never heard of kava. A great many who have, say exactly that! I thought kava was bad for your liver!

Imagine if Cannabis had the same rap. Like above, except the few who had heard of it say....I thought it was bad for your lungs.

It would be many people’s loss, put it that way. I say in the spirit of education, and passion for the truth and hoping to help others.

I had some beautiful Kava last night from Vanuatu, chilled me out after it seemed impossible all day yesterday. It’s anxiolytic, antidepressant, euphoric, sociable, quite pain relieving and muscle relaxing. Goes brilliantly with cannabis, and LSD. And non addictive, stop anytime.

 

[December Flower]

No no no. This is the injustice done to kava and it’s potential beneficiaries lol!

Studies eons ago, using kava extracts, very high doses in rats, with kavalactones not present at all in noble or instant kava typically drunk worldwide.

Kava just must not be mixed with alcohol. Otherwise it isn’t just perfectly safe, but like cannabis is being studied, revealing an ever increasing multitude of powerful medicinal actions from the actives- kavalactones, instead of cannabinoids.

Especially anti-cancerous and anti-inflammatory.

It’s such a shame the myth got so established. Most people have never heard of kava. A great many who have, say exactly that! I thought kava was bad for your liver!

Imagine if Cannabis had the same rap. Like above, except the few who had heard of it say....I thought it was bad for your lungs.

It would be many people’s loss, put it that way. I say in the spirit of education, and passion for the truth and hoping to help others.

I had some beautiful Kava last night from Vanuatu, chilled me out after it seemed impossible all day yesterday. It’s anxiolytic, antidepressant, euphoric, sociable, quite pain relieving and muscle relaxing. Goes brilliantly with cannabis, and LSD. And non addictive, stop anytime.

Hm, yeah there's a lot of myths surrounding specific substances.
Think I've actually read it from a magazine at my doctor's office. I'll check for some more data on this later, no offense, I believe you, but I just need more data to form an opinion.

Cannabis has a few dumb myths about it, too. That it makes stupid, or lazy, etc, but I have found Cannabis to be an excellent motivator. I can reward myself after work, kinda perfect. Easy to not smoke all day(well I'll smoke 2-3 cigarettes) and then reward myself in the evening for having done my work.
The only real danger about it in my eyes is that it makes you feel content with being bored.

 

[dwnr7]

In my experience and ive been hooked on just about every drug at one time or another.Benzos would be the worst.clonazepam was the worst because it lasts so long but xanax was like riding a bucking bull for 2weeks.Then i would say fentanyl and methadone.

Agree here with cpam. Withdrawals landed me under psych watch twice last year. Another two times I just rode out the WDs at home. Yet, still my DOC smh.

 

[Jabberwocky]

This is precisely where kava can come in for many. It acts on gaba, plus all the main neurotransmitters in a non brain chemistry altering/ disruptive way.

It’s entirely non- physically addictive no withdrawals it’s known by many ex alcoholics as a Godsend and saviour, post stopping the alcohol.

Ask a experienced doctor about using Gabapentin for benzo withdrawals. Or you may have to go to a good detox/treatment facility and request a rapid detox. It does have some psysically addictive properties but much much less than benzos or Z drugs. And you won't be using it long enough to become dependent. It doesn't directly bind to the GABA receptor. I'm not sure exactly how but it does things to our calcium channels which inhibits the release of exhitatory neurotransmitters. There's also evidence it acts on adenosine receptors but the relevance is unknown. It also increases GABA turnover in various regions of the brain.

This medication is not for standards or long tapers. It's meant for safe rapid detoxes. Like tapering off benzos in 4 days and 5 days later the gabapentin is tapered off in 3 days. Patients who have done this reported transient insomia as the only withdrawal symptom. And these were people with severe addiction issues presently or previously. I'm talking heavy opiate abuse, heavy cocaine abuse, heavy alcohol abuse alongside heavy benzo abuse. Quit everything then went back to abusing alcohol and benzos at the same time. Alcohol detox was first then transferred to another facility for the benzos.

Internet Scientific Publications

^ I want this so bad so I can quickly move on to other priorities.

 

[Jabberwocky]

Opiates, really gives you suicidal thoughts.

Yeah but they don't cause fatal seizures and psychotic episodes

I know opiate withdrawals are awful but you can ride them out safely in your own bed while replacing water and electrolytes. I'm not sure how effective anti nausea and anti diarrhea meds would be but still good to have around with other meds/supplements to ease symptoms. None of which are life threatening unless you become severely dehydrated.

Alcohol and tranquilizer withdrawals can kill you if you aren't being medically supervised or don't live with anyone who can quickly call 911.

 

[Xorkoth]

Hm. Hm, hm, hm.
The most dangerous withdrawal I experienced was from etizolam (result: seizures, ER, 8-month diazepam taper).

But the most unpleasant withdrawal came from phenibut, of all things. Worse than opioids, worse than etizolam, worse than any meth comedown. Why?
Simply because it induced the most truly horrendous RLS I have ever experienced. W/d symptoms from other drugs are often worse in some respects, and can involve a lot of RLS (whew, alcohol detox, bad time), but nothing drove me more absolutely out of my gourd batshit fucking insane than two solid weeks of crippling RLS. No sleep apart from uncontrolled napping in 30min intervals whenever my body forced itself off; every night spent pacing or hiking, constant audio hallucinations and visual disturbances. Inexplicably (to me, at least), it was substantially worse than any of the benzos I've been dependent on. Granted, I used phenibut in horrifying doses with horrifying frequency, but... man, nothing touches it, for me.

The most difficult withdrawal was [insert benzo here]; at least with opioids I feel better at some point (methadone notwithstanding), the benzo PAWS pretty much ruined an entire year of my life. The anxiety... couldn't hold down a job, familial relationships frayed. Physique went to tarts because I felt like I couldn't leave the house, and would get resurgent RLS if I over-exerted myself or ate certain foods (sugar: bad for PAWS)

Interesting, it seems like some people get insanely bad withdrawals from phenibut. Personally I have withdrawn from phenibut a number of times after being on for years each time, the first time I was dosing 3-5 grams every day for a year, back in 2006, I had no idea it was addictive then (it was new and people were hyping it as a nonaddictive GHB replacement). I spent like 10 days with severe, crippling anxiety, really bad, but virtually no physical symptoms. In fact the one thing I have always noticed from phenibut withdrawal is that I never get much in the way of physical symptoms, it's all mental, and very bad insomnia. I am able to lay there all night comfortably, no RLS, but no sleep either. I find phenibut one of the easiest drugs to taper, it lasts so long that I can reduce my dose slowly, then skip a day, and after a few cycles of every other day, I feel comfortable at every other day. I'll start dropping a day every so often, and by the time I get to every 5 days, I only feel very light anxiety for a little bit after I totally jump off. I've done it like 5 or 6 times in my life.

Now GHB withdrawal was really bad, I never let myself get full into withdrawal but I was starting to shake and had paranoid/anxious thoughts really bad. I switched to phenibut and then did a long taper with the method I described above and got free in about 6 months.

 

[Beetle 6989]

Whether it be psychological or physical, What is the hardest drug you've ever tried to stop doing? Could be pain medications, could be DXM or anything.

I would just like to hear some stories, experiences or opinions

Alcohol is the worst and most deadliest. I was medically detoxed with librium and ativan. I tried on my own but had DTs chest pain.

 

[PtahTek]

Not suprising that benzos were in the lead.
Like the thread. Will further study as it is intersting at least.