Subutex withdrawal timescale

[Jonandrew1504]

I am now at day 19 from coming off 0.4mg per day of Subutex.  I was, without realising it addicted to Dihydrocodeine (150mg day). Was given it as a repeat prescription monthly for 27 years!!  When I realised I went in the Priory for 2 weeks to kick start detox and have reduced down slowly to 0.4mg Subutex over the last 8 months and am now in final stage of detox.
However I am really struggling with RLS and no sleep (am getting approx 1 hours total sleep a night in 6 doses)  I am beginning to really struggle emotionally as I was led to believe this last stage would be quite short and relatively easy!!  I cannot grasp any positives nor can I see any improvements so am at my wits end.  All the standard withdrawals don't bother me but no sleep is killing me.  I have read about support group meetings but cannot find any local to me.
Can anybody give me something to grasp onto not just "it will take time and be better in the end"

[Oxy480Jim]

Smoking pot can trigger bad episodes of depression, and that's something nobody needs when they are already depressed from the wd symptoms. It could be that extra little bit that is all some need to do something nasty to themselves, or go back to using.

Pot can also trigger dangerous depression even if the person isn't trying to quit opiates. Pot is a depressant to begin with, and many users especially when they start smoking pot when they are in their early teens  when the brain is still developing, go on to develop permanent manic depressive behavior.  No recreational drug does anyone any good.  

[mom2spence]

Hi there. I'm so sorry to hear what your going through. I'm on day 36 off of methadone so I truly understand what your going through. I remember feeling the same way. No being able to sleep made me feel insane and so angry. I would take two shots of nyquil, two Xanax, a few benadryl and 1-2 ambien. I'd wake up two hours later wide awake and angry.  My doc tried increasing my Xanax and gave me ambien. Which worked like aspirin. My body wouldn't let anything work. I had heard people recomend seraquil so my doc gave me that to try. Well I had to buy 3 while they dealt with my insurance. I personally didn't like the way it made me feel but have heard some great story's from others who felt it really helped.
This may be a little inapropriate but sex helped me relax and gave me a break from thinking and feeling bad. I'm also not a pot smoker but have a little through this. Not too much because that sucked for me. But 2 hits and I'd relax some and be able to eat a little.  But what has ended up helping me the most is the routine I created. I wanted to journal but couldn't focus so I started by reading this site.  Now I have a routine every night. I make sure the night stand has everything I'll need, turn off the lights and journal and/or post here.( I do both on my phone so it's possible in the dark laying down)  it's partly the routine but journaling helps so much. To purge all the thoughts and feelings even if.it doesn't make sense in the beginning really helps. I also stay up later than normal before I start and don't think about a time limit. I've written for hours a few times but I've also fell asleep mid post a few times. But I always get some sleep now.
I just learned today that having a visit with a friend will make your brain drop seratonin or epinephrine (there's like 4 or 5 chemicals/hormones are bodies are still Learning to make and regulate again)  so even if your feeling down right now just know you'll start having ups too. That's a fun part.  The ups and Downs.  Lol.
I let a friend stop by finally and felt like I was on Meth after talking for awhile. It was great,  especially when by my therapist explained it's normal and how it worked.  Well I hope this is helpful or at least something to keep your mind busy for awhile.  Feel free if you have any questions Ilong do my best to answer them.
P.s. my doc gave me promethazine plain for my nausea( it's actually cough syrup) and it did nothing for my stomach but made me more sleepy than anything else.
J

[Oxy480Jim]

Your brain and body aren't producing much endorphins yet. Your body stops producing endorphins when you take opiates. Endorphins are the body's natural pain killers, and they control  depression, anxiety, restlessness as well.  It takes a long time for your body to begin producing the endorphins it used to before the drugs.

Exercise, moderate enough to get your heart off idle, will help your body to start producing more endorphins faster. You can also snack on foods before bed that help relax you, like banana's,  Some herbal teas are helpful as well.

You are almost there!  So  when you get  this RLS settled down, you are going to be ready to jump!  

Also try a nice long hot relaxing bath with all the salts and suds before you turn in.  That will help as well, and between the exercise, snack and suds, you should be relaxed enough to get some shut eye.