WinterJuniper
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Sep 5, 2013
- Messages
- 1
Okay, so this is my first post. I have been on opiates on a daily basis for about seven or eight months now, primarily because I have major sleep difficulties and OPs are the only thing that will help. It also happens that I really enjoy them, but I do not take them during the day, ever. Only at night, a few hours before I want to go to sleep. It helps me unwind and then sleep soundly, which otherwise would not be possible. I have to say, even if I had been able to sleep, it became a part of my nightly routine and I would not have wanted to give it up, at least not completely.
Over the last four months I was taking dihydrocodeine sustained release tablets (Continus). I took anywhere from 60 to 120 mg per night. There were a couple of times when decided I wanted to go a few days without them, though (just to minimize dependence and tolerance issues), so every once in a while I would stop taking them and go through a minor withdrawal, which basically just consisted of anxiety, tension, irritability, and a few unbelievable headaches. I never had any muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Anyway, this last time I actually ran out of medication, but I thought maybe it was for the best, because I work at a high intellectual level and I didn't feel like I was functioning at my peak mental capacity on the drug. (Of course that was why I got on it in the first place, really, because just try to make your brain work properly no sleep!). That was two and a half weeks ago. I expected to go through a minor withdrawal and then see whether I could sleep or not, but basically have everything go back to normal. But that's not what happened.
In the beginning, my withdrawal was pretty much absent. I went through the first week feeling basically nothing at all. It was like, this is it? I thought maybe my previous minor withdrawals had somehow conditioned me against them. I know that isn't typical, but I have always had a strange physiology and react oddly to substances, so I thought maybe my brain had just learned to adapt. It is rare, but there are people out there who are completely immune to opiate dependence, and I was not taking a very large dose.
About a week ago, however (a week and a half after stopping the DHC), I started having a lot of anxiety, which is definitely chemically related, because there is no other reason for it. Then I started having bad restless leg symptoms. I can't relax at all at night now, and have to take benzos to knock me out, but I definitely don't want to get in the habit of doing that. I know RLS type symptoms are common during withdrawal, but this far into it? Is that normal? If so, how long is it supposed to last? I have never had anything like this before, so I really hope this is withdrawal related and not something permanent I have to deal with. Whatever it is, I know the DHC caused it.
I am on my way to the drugstore now to buy some potassium and Immodium, but I am hoping to hear from others about whether they have experienced anything like this. Thanks.
Over the last four months I was taking dihydrocodeine sustained release tablets (Continus). I took anywhere from 60 to 120 mg per night. There were a couple of times when decided I wanted to go a few days without them, though (just to minimize dependence and tolerance issues), so every once in a while I would stop taking them and go through a minor withdrawal, which basically just consisted of anxiety, tension, irritability, and a few unbelievable headaches. I never had any muscle aches, vomiting, or diarrhea.
Anyway, this last time I actually ran out of medication, but I thought maybe it was for the best, because I work at a high intellectual level and I didn't feel like I was functioning at my peak mental capacity on the drug. (Of course that was why I got on it in the first place, really, because just try to make your brain work properly no sleep!). That was two and a half weeks ago. I expected to go through a minor withdrawal and then see whether I could sleep or not, but basically have everything go back to normal. But that's not what happened.
In the beginning, my withdrawal was pretty much absent. I went through the first week feeling basically nothing at all. It was like, this is it? I thought maybe my previous minor withdrawals had somehow conditioned me against them. I know that isn't typical, but I have always had a strange physiology and react oddly to substances, so I thought maybe my brain had just learned to adapt. It is rare, but there are people out there who are completely immune to opiate dependence, and I was not taking a very large dose.
About a week ago, however (a week and a half after stopping the DHC), I started having a lot of anxiety, which is definitely chemically related, because there is no other reason for it. Then I started having bad restless leg symptoms. I can't relax at all at night now, and have to take benzos to knock me out, but I definitely don't want to get in the habit of doing that. I know RLS type symptoms are common during withdrawal, but this far into it? Is that normal? If so, how long is it supposed to last? I have never had anything like this before, so I really hope this is withdrawal related and not something permanent I have to deal with. Whatever it is, I know the DHC caused it.
I am on my way to the drugstore now to buy some potassium and Immodium, but I am hoping to hear from others about whether they have experienced anything like this. Thanks.