Opioids Replacing alcohol with Fentanyl

[Synaps3]

I am currently debating if I should try fentanyl as a replacement for alcohol. I know this may sound stupid at first, but please read on. For the last 6 months or so I've been drinking alcohol nightly (I calculated ~100g per day, sometimes 150). I have pretty good self control in that I only use it a couple hours before bed and never during the day. I am worried about the health risk of this and I am starting to feel lethargic all the time during the day and just generally not very healthy. There is no way for me to stop all together; I am going through a very serious depression and there are simply no other options for me right now.

So my questions are: If I take fentanyl once or twice before bed (depending on duration) (I hear it lasts only like an hour and a half)...

Would I get addicted and begin taking all the time or can I control it like the alcohol?
Will I develop a tolerance?
Would I get withdrawal if I stop?
Is it a good replacement?

Oh yeah, and the reason I choose fentanyl despite it being the most potent is because it's apparently less euphoric and doesn't last all day. I currently have no opiate experience aside from a little poppy tea years ago, so I think I'd probably start really low like 25mcg sublingual and see what happens. I might get 100mg and dissolve it 1L water or ethanol (what is better?) and then start with 1/4ml. What do you think?

Also, I have a felling some people are going to suggest benzos or a sleep aid instead. I've tried those and they make me feel shitty and much more depressed. I need something that makes me not care like the alcohol, and not really euphoric.

 

[alfredosauce]

100 mg alcohol? idk what that is but fent will probably kill you or make your life suck

 

[Synaps3]

No, 100mg of fentanyl dissolved in 1L water.

 

[HeadHigh]

You may have an "addictive personality" as many like to say, so i would highly advise against this. If youre going to use anything, start with something non-opioid, and IF youre going to do opioids, start with something much more benign than fentanyl. Fentanyl is topdog when it comes to opioids, start with something lower if youre deadset on trying this.

To answer your questions:
Yes, you will most likely become addicted within approximately 12 days of use. You will also be dependent on it for sleep.
Yes you will develop a tolerance
Yes you will get withdrawals if you stop after a long period of daily use
No it is not at all a good replacement.

Also, if you are addicted to alcohol, you will still fell the withdrawal from alcohol if you use fentanyl. ALSO, if you end up mixing alcohol and fentanyl, this could be incredibly dangerous especially when trying to sleep.

Please do not do this. Ween yourself off of the alcohol first, and then try something that is somewhat benign like kratom or kava to help sleep.

 

[Erikmen]

Fentanyl is a very strong opiate, more than 50-80 x stronger than morphine and very addictive. Stronger than heroin. Definitely not something worth using, not at all appropriate for your condition. It doesn't even make you euphoric. For some people under severe post surgery pains it may serve as a relief under medical supervision.

Please understand that this is a serious and dangerous medicine for you to consider no matter how much alcohol you are using. And the fact that you don't know this makes it even worse.

There're are many other ways to deal with it. Search for medical help/assistance so that you can have something more appropriate prescribed to you. Some patients use benzos during the treatment. There are different meds and you can do this right under orientation.

A lot of people die using fentanyl. There's nothing good that could come out of this situation as you'll put your life and health in danger besides getting hands to something way worse than alcohol.

Most of us have gone through very serious addiction problems reason for which I'd strongly advise you to search for something more suitable to this situation. Besides I doubt that fentanyl would make you euphoric.

You'll just add something that will be much more difficult to deal with. There are different types of meds that can help you to go through this.

Good luck and keep and touch!
Erik

 

[morphine-dreams]

Yes, you will get addicted, and fent withdrawals are supposed to be some of the most brutal. Also, you'll be redosing every hour or so. If you're going to go the opiate route, try and see if you can sleep on kratom, and if you can't but are dead set on opiates, at least go with something with a long half life like morphine, but you will still get addicted. And like others have said, you'll have to go through alcohol wd and mixing opiates and alcohol at night, specifically to sleep, is extremely dangerous, especially fent to an opiate naive person. Sorry, this just sounds like a total disaster to me, and in my experience, the shorter acting the opioid the more addictive it is, regardless of how much euphoria there is.

 

[muie]

This is the reason I started methadone again 180/day for the 3rd time. This time, is the second time when I went on MMT without being in need of opioids.

The second time I didn't respond well to Zoloft, an SSRI (had an erection that lasted 3-4days short of 4-5hrs rest and whatever happened during sleep). I than decided that better than any anti depressant and time tested to withstand even the most extreme cases I went with the more affordable and reliable methadone. The plan was to use it for 5-6 months and it worked but the highest I went was 65mg, but when I started on the program I got so high from a starter dose that I couldn't believe it and that effect lasted the entire 5-6 months by gradually increasing. I got off the dose without any difficulty though I had an arsenal of benzos and downers.

This April will be my 2nd year on the program the 3rd time around, and I went on it because I decided that if I kept drinking at the rate I was, long term there would be extremely negative effects on my health as well as social life (possible imprisonment, risk of being beaten up, destroying my family relationship). I was drinking 3-4L of red wine a day, why red wine you might ask it was because I could get 60L at $1L and so could afford to drink as much as I desired, I also began developing a horrible cough and was taking daily codeine doses for my cough, and methadone was a big band aid/is. The plan was that within a year I would be off but there will be 2yrs that I'm on 180mg/day, the first time I was on 205mg (heavily addicted to duragesic fentanyl patches smoked).

The main side effects are constipation and addiction. ECGs are taken once a patient exceeds 120mg due to methadone's cardio toxic nature. You sexual drive will go down but its normal and only when the dose is at its maximum, you can still get a boner in the morning before your dose or at night considering you take it in the morning.

By comparison the withdrawl is flu vs delirium tremors and whatever else comes with alcohol.

I HIGHLY SUPPORT YOUR DECIDSION IN EVERY ASPECT!

However please don't drink while on MMT, either one or the other!

 

[cygnusx]

The second time I didn't respond well to Zoloft, an SSRI (had an erection that lasted 3-4days short of 4-5hrs rest and whatever happened during sleep). I than decided that better than any anti depressant and time tested to withstand even the most extreme cases I went with the more affordable and reliable methadone. The plan was to use it for 5-6 months and it worked but the highest I went was 65mg, but when I started on the program I got so high from a starter dose that I couldn't believe it and that effect lasted the entire 5-6 months by gradually increasing. I got off the dose without any difficulty though I had an arsenal of benzos and downers. b[/I]

You had an erection that lasted 4 days!? Is the penis still attached to your body? I know that Viagra suggests visiting a doctor if an erection lasts more than 4 hours. Was that not extremely painful?

 

[tacodude]

So many people die from fent.... With no tolerance you're asking to die and the last thing you want is to increase your tolerance to the point when you need pain meds in the hospital they can't give you a dose that brings you relief.

Have you thought of asking your doctor for something to help you sleep like ambian? That sounds like your goal..... Honestly even better give up the liqour and start ingesting cannibis at bed time. Something like a 15, 30, or 60 mg edible dose depending on your tolerance for bed or just keep a bowl packed and take a puff before bed and through the night. Is cannibis legal for recreation or medicinal where you live?

I honestly think your best choice would be the cannibis as even though it can lead to dependency it is nothing like a fentanyl dependancy requiring redose every hour to half. One user here was literally injecting every 30-60 minutes where in between the dose they usually spent it nodding out where they injected..... So spending life passed out in a toilet needing to redose less than an hour or else falling into tremors, hot n' cold feeling, heart palpitations, extreme sweating, breathing begins to take effort and becomes tiring through w/d, feeling dizzy, and even throwing up being unable to stop the nausea even with powerful anti nausea meds like zofran making it impossible to eat. Seriously opiate dependancy is not a joke just avoid them unless you're in serious pain. Trust me when I say cannibis is a better choice. Also try chamomile tea or some nighttime sleep labled tea.

 

[OneEyedRonnie]

^^^ I second the cannabis recommendation.

Good idea on trying to get off the alcohol for a bit. Depression is a bitch, and I hope you're feeling better soon. I've been there man. Whatever decision you make I hope it works out for you, but, yeah, fentanyl is extremely potent and a nasty, nasty addiction.

 

[Gabrillo]

Why not try U-47700 if you want a short acting opioid? Not saying this is a good idea, but it's sure as hell safer than fucking fent lol.

 

[Kahuna]

Have you ever tried kava? Try to get some infos about kava. Maybe it sounds good for you. In some countries it is a substitute for alcohol. There are kava bars and so on. Cannabis is also a choice.. I would not recommend to use opiates instead of alcohol. Maybe it leads you to take both substances at one time. Then you have a much much bigger problem then just feeling unhealthy and lethargic.
A few years ago i also stopped drinking on weekends and took tramadol instead of drinking. Worked a few months.. Then i tried to combine it.. bad mistake.

 

[xivixive]

fent is really not a good choice for you OP. try a vicodin if you're considering opiates. you may find that they do the opposite of what you're intending and you end up being unable to sleep. happens to a lot of people. i would listen to other suggestions and try other substances before jumping to a substance that has killed many opiate naive folks.

other choices for sleep:

*marijuana (the safest, healthiest, least addictive option)
*zolpidem (ambien) or eszopiclone (lunesta) - traditional hypnotics most commonly RX'd for sleep. i prefer ambien.
*melatonin - natural, works to "promote sleep" & available over the counter. i would choose the highest dose of 20mg as i don't think there is any overdose risk and it is quite mild
*tizanidine (zanaflex) 4mg-8mg zonks most people out
*hydroxyzine (vistoril) 75mg should work like a few beers
*carisoprodol (soma) muscle relaxer.. yeah it does that pretty good
*trazodone or seroquel (anti-psychotics, i don't like them but they will sure as hell put you out for the night)
*diphenhydramine (unisom) anti-histamines aggravate my restless leg syndrome so i stay away but are the primary OTC sleep aides aside from melatonin.

 

[Erikmen]

So many people die from fent.... With no tolerance you're asking to die and the last thing you want is to increase your tolerance to the point when you need pain meds in the hospital they can't give you a dose that brings you relief.

Have you thought of asking your doctor for something to help you sleep like ambian? That sounds like your goal..... Honestly even better give up the liqour and start ingesting cannibis at bed time. Something like a 15, 30, or 60 mg edible dose depending on your tolerance for bed or just keep a bowl packed and take a puff before bed and through the night. Is cannibis legal for recreation or medicinal where you live?

I honestly think your best choice would be the cannibis as even though it can lead to dependency it is nothing like a fentanyl dependancy requiring redose every hour to half. One user here was literally injecting every 30-60 minutes where in between the dose they usually spent it nodding out where they injected..... So spending life passed out in a toilet needing to redose less than an hour or else falling into tremors, hot n' cold feeling, heart palpitations, extreme sweating, breathing begins to take effort and becomes tiring through w/d, feeling dizzy, and even throwing up being unable to stop the nausea even with powerful anti nausea meds like zofran making it impossible to eat. Seriously opiate dependancy is not a joke just avoid them unless you're in serious pain. Trust me when I say cannibis is a better choice. Also try chamomile tea or some nighttime sleep labled tea.

Good options. I'd still suggest you to find a good doctor and get a treatment that will make you feel better.
I have a lot of friends who quit drinking with a 1-3 months benzo treatment.

Some anxiety meds may make you feel better about yourself. This can be a good thing for you.
You could also look up on our TDS threads. We can help you go through this.

 

[Jabberwocky]

normally wouldn't suggest something like this but since the alternative is fentanyl, perhaps you'd be better served by using some ketamine instead. Helps with depression and alcohol abuse and won't interfere with your sleep schedule too bad. Addictive yes, but you can get over it easily unlike alcohol or fent. Just a thought

 

[tacodude]

Ketamine is a horrible recommendation as it is only available on the street and is not commonly scripted usually rarely scripted. Honestly recommended DXM (cough syrup) is a way better suggestion and still horrid as the OP is obviously looking for sleep aid.

It's the same as recommending heroin instead of fentanyl as it is only availible on the street heavily cut most likely and impossible to find a stable dose as 100 mg of one batch may be 100 mg heroin while the next could be 10 mg heroin and 90 mg cut possibly other active stuff.

At least fentanyl is prescribed in standardized patches so even if bought off the street you know how much there is although using fent patches any other way then recommended is the most dangerous and irresponsible thing one could do.

Please OP find something safer to switch to. Again cannibis is my best recommendation.

 

[BlazeyUK]

I tried to switch from alcohol to opiates now im addicted to both n i've gotta taper it all now, the alcohol is hard but you can just reduce it man honestly, i drink twice a month from a daily 3 litre cider (23.5 units) n extra cans (8 units), i still binge, hard, but i've improved a lot.

Horrible disgusting substance is alcohol i know how you feel, bare in mind, you're talking fent, i'm addicted to codeine, a piss weak opiate n it's horrible mate, i'm going through both withdrawals now instead of just one, the reason you get addicted to alcohol is personality, imagine fent? feels shed loads better than alcohol, it'll be worse trust me i wish i'd never touched opiates i was very close to searching for stronger stuff, nearly bought oxy, n this is just tramadol n codeine, if it was fent i'd be on gear now

 

[Jabberwocky]

I don't think it is a horrible recommendation, but one that needs to be carefully evaluated

Check out this study: https://clinicaltrials.gov/ct2/show/NCT01551329

As a short term to medium term fix the stuff works quite well. Still gotta take a long term view to make lasting changes (therapy, diet, exercise, positive relationships, etc). I used dissociatives to treat depression and alcohol dependence back in the day (MXE specifically). There may be clinical trials in your area but some elect to study the hell out of the problem and self administer using disciplined dosing. I'd recommend the former. My brief encounter with ketamine was a bit different from a street drug; it was sold as medical grade vials albeit on the black market. Anyways, it works miracles for some people, but as we know has a dark side if abused. Potentially a lifetime of withdrawal management seems like a step in the wrong direction and cannabis might provide a welcome distraction but its not gonna cut it for severe depression (speaking from my own experience).

 

[oxyfen]

Replacing alcohol with Fentanyl

I think anything to get off alcohol is good but I think using another narcotic would be easier to kick in the future than Fentanyl.


GL to you Synaps3

 

[Erikmen]

I don't really think alcohol should be replaced with any sort of narcotic. But it can be dealt with medication and treatment.

I still think that in the urge of getting off alcohol OP mentioned Fentanyl among other things but I believe this is off the table now. I hope it is.