How long does the pain exist and the strange olfactory senses exist?

[breilly53]

I used alcohol as a tool to quit heroin. How long does the pain thatI AM FEELING EXIST? I hurt so bad. I don't want to hear about psycological response. I am manifesting physical pain. Please respond quickly. Thank you.

[Natasha1]

I just wanted you to know that we are all here for you. Are you dealing with the opiate and alcoholism w/d's at the same time? Or did you kick one and are trying to kick the other? No matter which one it is, you are a bigger stronger person than I. It takes guts to get off of our demons.

Like I said, I just wanted you to know that we are all here for you.

[NotDarkYet]

If your kicking opiates like heroin, the w/d's last between 48 to 72 hrs. but it takes about 7-10 days before you start feeling somewhat normal and I don't really know how long the insomnia lasts (I've been up for about 2 weeks, just gettin' "power naps"- I'm wired/tired).  Kicking also depends on how long you've been using and how much you've been using, but generally opiates don't take too long physically it's just all the mental bullshit that comes afterwards that's the total pain... Funny you mentioned the olfactory smell, I thought I was the only one that got that :-).  Anyway, hang in there and if you've gone 3 days or so you're through the worst of it physically.

[Bondy]

I'll never forget the smell.
I (stupidly) used naltrexone (1 50 mg pill) as soon my wife left town 3months ago. She was due to be gone 5 weeks. I was on a 120mg hydrocodone habit and was determined to find out how
how badly I was addicted and try to detox. in one fell swoop.
(Naltrexone is an opiate antagonist guaranteed to put you in w/d in 40 mins.  It is the basis of ultra-rapid detox. offered by some clinics..they give it IV under general anaesthetic and keep you under for about 4 hours.  When you wake up the craving is gone (mainly because you know that the opiate wont do anything)but you are still left with the 'depression', for want of a better word.)
Since I had an unlimited valium and clonidine available I figured I could hold myself over and complete a 'poor' mans detox. or just maybe, not have as bad a w/d as I expected.
I had a gruesome 48 hrs ..the smell being a prominent part.
I was then so drained i couldnt go to work for 5 days. I kept popping the Vikes starting day 3 trying to get rid of the horrible feeling but the naltrexone hung on for a full week.

Today is the first day of my taper.
I have a trusted companion (not my wife..she has no idea) doling out 75 mgs a day.  That's 15mgs every 4 hours during the day and I get thru the night with clonidine 0.3mgs to cover that awful first-thing-in-the morning feeling.

All-in-all I committed!  
I know exactly what the people are talking about when they allude to life being better on opiates, but when i walk down the street and see all the people NOT held captive, I become determined to join them.

BTW, the job you all are doing here is great...i hope i can avail myself of your support,
  Serge.