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bupenorphine withdrawal
How long do these symptoms last? It's been nearly three months now and I have no energy. I sneeze regularly, still have stomach problems and can't sleep. Does anyone else have a constant strange taste too? It makes me find it difficult to smoke. I wanted to give that up too, but it worries me that I cannot even enjoy it! I'm beginning to think I have an underlying condition that the subs were masking. I stopped after many years of 2 mg a day which had started to increase over the previous months.
Any ideas?
Any ideas?
Best Answer
It was at about 3 months that I started feeling better. Then I had to take the above advice and get to the WHY I really used. 120 days clean was my biggest challenge over the last year. The emotions of events I had forgotten about hit me. Dreams brought back feelings from early childhood. I've seen some bad stuff. Therapy, specifically for addiction, really has helped. I didn't think it would, honestly, but I was not going back to that life again. I was willing to at least try anything. You are doing awesome, but never stop growing into your highest potential. Addicts either improve everyday, or self-destruct. It's an easy choice if you think about it. Never stop thinking about it. Keep up the good fight, you are worth it.
Hello and congrats on the 3 months! That's amazing!!! Good for you.
I'm sorry for the loss of your husband. I'm SURE that makes this tougher, although, in a sense it can be a source of motivation too.
You have to make SURE you're working on your recovery, in the form of meetings, private counseling, whatever it takes. Therapy will help two-fold, as you're still in the grieving process. I think it would help you tremendously to have some extra support with that, and someone to talk to to sort those feelings out with. Do you have friends and family who you are close with? Grief support groups are nice too.
PLEASE really consider confiding in at least one person. There are a few reasons...one, you obviously could really benefit from the support. People post here all the time that this isn't a battle meant to fight alone. SO true. The people who have support do much better in the long run. Also, telling a person (or a few) adds accountability. That's HUGE. If you have to answer to people, and have people keeping an eye on you, it's a lot less easy to resume using. You have to set up as many roadblocks as you can. Do you still have the morphine or any other drugs in your home? If so, you need to get rid of them asap!
You need to learn the stages of relapse, how to identify it, and what to do when you are at risk. Relapse happens LONG before you put a pill in your mouth. An addict has to be on guard for life. Even after years (even decades) of clean time, cravings will come from time to time, and people can relapse. You've already identified some weak points for yourself (which is great)...boredom, and still having thoughts about and missing the "process", the habits associated with your addiction. While taking your thyroid meds are helping, that needs addressed. Everyone has different triggers, you need to identify yours and avoid them and/or deal with them.
Recovery is always a work in progress. It's not like once a person is clean, they're all better and there's no need to keep working on it. You will always learn new things about your addiction, and have to find ways to cope.
"Ive always seen mind altering drugs like crack etc. as more dangerous than anything else."
Make no mistake about it, they're all bad and all mind altering. Addiction is addiction. It's THIS kind of tiny little thought that can be dangerous. It can spiral out of control fast, because that thought can lead to, "well I wasn't using anything nearly that bad"...to "if I take the morphine, that's not a STREET drug". See what I mean? That's your addict brain talking, which is why it's SO important to get a solid recovery plan in place, get engaged with life, find new hobbies, new clean friends. You can do this!
I wish you the best! You've already come so far....keep on truckin'!
I'm sorry for the loss of your husband. I'm SURE that makes this tougher, although, in a sense it can be a source of motivation too.
You have to make SURE you're working on your recovery, in the form of meetings, private counseling, whatever it takes. Therapy will help two-fold, as you're still in the grieving process. I think it would help you tremendously to have some extra support with that, and someone to talk to to sort those feelings out with. Do you have friends and family who you are close with? Grief support groups are nice too.
PLEASE really consider confiding in at least one person. There are a few reasons...one, you obviously could really benefit from the support. People post here all the time that this isn't a battle meant to fight alone. SO true. The people who have support do much better in the long run. Also, telling a person (or a few) adds accountability. That's HUGE. If you have to answer to people, and have people keeping an eye on you, it's a lot less easy to resume using. You have to set up as many roadblocks as you can. Do you still have the morphine or any other drugs in your home? If so, you need to get rid of them asap!
You need to learn the stages of relapse, how to identify it, and what to do when you are at risk. Relapse happens LONG before you put a pill in your mouth. An addict has to be on guard for life. Even after years (even decades) of clean time, cravings will come from time to time, and people can relapse. You've already identified some weak points for yourself (which is great)...boredom, and still having thoughts about and missing the "process", the habits associated with your addiction. While taking your thyroid meds are helping, that needs addressed. Everyone has different triggers, you need to identify yours and avoid them and/or deal with them.
Recovery is always a work in progress. It's not like once a person is clean, they're all better and there's no need to keep working on it. You will always learn new things about your addiction, and have to find ways to cope.
"Ive always seen mind altering drugs like crack etc. as more dangerous than anything else."
Make no mistake about it, they're all bad and all mind altering. Addiction is addiction. It's THIS kind of tiny little thought that can be dangerous. It can spiral out of control fast, because that thought can lead to, "well I wasn't using anything nearly that bad"...to "if I take the morphine, that's not a STREET drug". See what I mean? That's your addict brain talking, which is why it's SO important to get a solid recovery plan in place, get engaged with life, find new hobbies, new clean friends. You can do this!
I wish you the best! You've already come so far....keep on truckin'!
Hya,
Thanks for reply. I got symptoms the first day, so you're really lucky. That's happened to me before with methadone though and I ended up not getting any serious symptoms at all. I had some good people around me though. They encouraged me to exercise a lot, which I did. Just had a bit of sleeplessness for a while, which didn't bother me. I just read books.
It's good that you have painting to help - focuses the mind well. I hope I can remember how, but it's been a while.
Keep it up and stay strong.
Thanks for reply. I got symptoms the first day, so you're really lucky. That's happened to me before with methadone though and I ended up not getting any serious symptoms at all. I had some good people around me though. They encouraged me to exercise a lot, which I did. Just had a bit of sleeplessness for a while, which didn't bother me. I just read books.
It's good that you have painting to help - focuses the mind well. I hope I can remember how, but it's been a while.
Keep it up and stay strong.
Hi again,
Just back on after a very busy weekend. I had to go out and find my 14 year old granddaughter and spent three hours walking around a very large park/woodland. This did me the world of good. I've been a bit better every day since. Starting to get a bit of energy back. Still sneezing a bit, but I'm taking it as a sign that there's better yet to come.
I've always found there's been a bit of a ritual associated with any drug taking. You tend to miss that. With subs it just gets down to a cup of tea and then putting one under your tongue - then you know your ready for the day. Fortunately I have other tabs to take for thyroid and blood pressure, which I often used to forget to take, which wasn't good. Now I just have that same tea and the two tablets and it's not a bad substitute. It stops that awful feeling of something being missing.
I'm planning a holiday now with my granddaughter so with a definite project I should go from strength to strength.
Many thanks for all your support. It really is much appreciated.
I've always seen mind altering drugs like crack etc. as more dangerous than anything else. I haven't taken anything like that for many years. I used to get coke and heroine amps on script back in the day! Used the latter to come down from the coke. I can see how you can easily get sucked in to a smack habit like that. It just sneaks up on you, doesn't it? In those days though you could actually get a bed in a hospital - I was in three months, slowly cutting down and loads of support drugs etc. I actually felt better on the fourth day after coming off, and was home a few weeks later totally back to normal. If they did that for everyone now I guess the health service would collapse under the weight. I reckon though that if they put more money in for rehabs and such, they would save a fortune on policing.
Maybe they just see it as a way of cutting down the population, Hitler style. (Can't remember the correct term but there is one!) Just a thought..
Keep strong, you're clearly one of the good guys.
Just back on after a very busy weekend. I had to go out and find my 14 year old granddaughter and spent three hours walking around a very large park/woodland. This did me the world of good. I've been a bit better every day since. Starting to get a bit of energy back. Still sneezing a bit, but I'm taking it as a sign that there's better yet to come.
I've always found there's been a bit of a ritual associated with any drug taking. You tend to miss that. With subs it just gets down to a cup of tea and then putting one under your tongue - then you know your ready for the day. Fortunately I have other tabs to take for thyroid and blood pressure, which I often used to forget to take, which wasn't good. Now I just have that same tea and the two tablets and it's not a bad substitute. It stops that awful feeling of something being missing.
I'm planning a holiday now with my granddaughter so with a definite project I should go from strength to strength.
Many thanks for all your support. It really is much appreciated.
I've always seen mind altering drugs like crack etc. as more dangerous than anything else. I haven't taken anything like that for many years. I used to get coke and heroine amps on script back in the day! Used the latter to come down from the coke. I can see how you can easily get sucked in to a smack habit like that. It just sneaks up on you, doesn't it? In those days though you could actually get a bed in a hospital - I was in three months, slowly cutting down and loads of support drugs etc. I actually felt better on the fourth day after coming off, and was home a few weeks later totally back to normal. If they did that for everyone now I guess the health service would collapse under the weight. I reckon though that if they put more money in for rehabs and such, they would save a fortune on policing.
Maybe they just see it as a way of cutting down the population, Hitler style. (Can't remember the correct term but there is one!) Just a thought..
Keep strong, you're clearly one of the good guys.
I started taking heroin at about 18, on and off without it becoming a real problem. Just took it every other week to come down from crack, coke or speed. It wasn't until a had a big problem with all white powders that I switched to heroin for real, aged 22. It was the biggest mistake of my life, before this I obviously knew what Heroin was just didn't know enough about it to make the correct judgment. I thought it was cheaper and I never thought it would become a problem, couldn't see what all the fuss was about, I am not going to get hooked I'm to strong minded for that, how wrong we were my friend!!! If it wasn't for subutex I don't think I would have ever have got clean, I know many don't like them, hell I don't LIKE them but they helped me get away from the bad users and injecting. I was never any good at the crazy high you get after a Heroin detox, the hellamania funk where you think anything is possible, I'm going to rush out and fix the world type of feeling. So scary and I always failed, I mean with one brush and pan, I didn't stand a chance, have you seen how big the world is, lol.
A subutex/suboxone detox is a lot more slow and long, you have your ups and downs but it make's you go through a more thought provoking experience and the longer you have to sit and contemplate what brought you here in the first the better in my eyes, I know you already know this as your still in detox after 3 months and obviously have been through a lot in your life through Heroin. Just thought I would give you an insight into my thought on subs, hopefully helping you in some way.
Finding a hobby is a great idea, Anything to take your mind of going back to drugs. Hope your having a good day today, remember this won't last for ever and you will get better, guard up Suemer..
A subutex/suboxone detox is a lot more slow and long, you have your ups and downs but it make's you go through a more thought provoking experience and the longer you have to sit and contemplate what brought you here in the first the better in my eyes, I know you already know this as your still in detox after 3 months and obviously have been through a lot in your life through Heroin. Just thought I would give you an insight into my thought on subs, hopefully helping you in some way.
Finding a hobby is a great idea, Anything to take your mind of going back to drugs. Hope your having a good day today, remember this won't last for ever and you will get better, guard up Suemer..
Do you have no symptoms at all, if so the w/d won't come or you would most definitely be in a world of hurt by now. If you have no w/d symptoms don't sit about waiting for them or your brain will quickly give you some, placebo style! Just start to make plans for your future clean and be thankful for the gift. I was ill by day 5 and so many people will tell you the same thing. Enjoy feeling clean and wait for nothing, If it does come so be it, but don't worry about something that might not even arrive!!! I hope it doesn't, :D
Hope this helps you and enjoy your painting my friend, ;))
Hope this helps you and enjoy your painting my friend, ;))
Hey, congrats on the 3 months! I'm onto day 5 without having a sub, after being on opiates for 8 years, since I was 14. Still haven't started to get the real detox symptoms yet, but I've been clean before, and man, painting is an awesome thing to do! I actually teach art lessons at my local recovery group. I'd totally suggest going out and buying some cheap craft paint, paintbrushes and some canvas panels, and starting with some abstract stuff. Don't try to paint anything at first, just have fun with the colors! It's very relaxing. Or buy a cheap set of watercolors, some natural hair brushes and some watercolor paper. The cool thing about watercolors is that no matter what, it always looks pretty, even if you just put water and paint on the paper in no real order. Please message me if you want anymore tips on painting, art, etc. I'm sure I'll need the distraction when I start feeling bad later..
If ya'll don't mind me asking, do you remember how long it took to start feeling bad after your last sub? I'm getting myself all riled up waiting for the w/d symptoms to start..
If ya'll don't mind me asking, do you remember how long it took to start feeling bad after your last sub? I'm getting myself all riled up waiting for the w/d symptoms to start..
Thanks. I do feel that this should be a sort of renaissance period. I need to start putting my life back together now. Being retired doesn't help - the boredom etc. I'm trying to find ways to relieve it, but they need more energy. Maybe I'll take up painting or something.
Did you start when you were quite young? Stats do show that if you started later, after 20 ish, you have a much better chance of staying clean. I was 24 when I first started. - bad company! It will do it every time. It's great having support from family. You just don't realise at the time what misery you bring to others. That's why I kept this last time a secret. That's the beauty/tragedy of subs. They just make you seem so normal.
It's just good to have someone to talk to. Will check in soon. God bless and sleep well tonight. xx
Did you start when you were quite young? Stats do show that if you started later, after 20 ish, you have a much better chance of staying clean. I was 24 when I first started. - bad company! It will do it every time. It's great having support from family. You just don't realise at the time what misery you bring to others. That's why I kept this last time a secret. That's the beauty/tragedy of subs. They just make you seem so normal.
It's just good to have someone to talk to. Will check in soon. God bless and sleep well tonight. xx
Honesty and forgiveness are key to a successful detox, I'm not saying you have to tell your friends/family but it can make life so much easier..Hope you can be. I had to admit I had a problem with Heroin at 24/25, I totally destroyed my immediate family, but as they began to realise what it all meant, they were so supportive. It took me another 10 years roughly to come to point I am at now, so much happier and my family are still in my corner. You will feel a big relief once you admit it to someone, even of they don't understand at first, just the fact you got it off your chest and are open and honest, you will feel a lot of stress fall away. Hope this helps you in some way. You are not alone anyway you have us to talk to now, ;)
So how much exactly, subs wise were you taking when you stopped. I am assuming you will have at least doubled it to 4 mgs a day. Its just if that's close to how much you stopped from you will be feeling rough a lot longer than most.
The fact that you have reached out and your 3 month in shows how much of a back bone you've got, you obviously want your life back so much, so well done on everything you've achieved so far. I'm so sorry you lost your husband 4 months ago, that must make things hurt a whole lot more, truly sorry for your loss. Loosing him must have made you sit up and start to make plans for yourself, I'm so happy you found the strength to do that. You have come so far haven't you, carrying a lot of stress. Don't beat yourself up for relapsing you were going though a lot, you just have to remember that this is a big trigger for you in the future, stress and boredom are my 2 biggest triggers and I have to be on my guard at all times. Keep away from the Morphine or you will end up addicted and then its back to square one. I'm assuming you don't need it and only took it as it was there. Just be patient with yourself and remember things can only get better from here. I hope you have some form of support in place for the future, Wishing you all the luck in the world...Digger.
The fact that you have reached out and your 3 month in shows how much of a back bone you've got, you obviously want your life back so much, so well done on everything you've achieved so far. I'm so sorry you lost your husband 4 months ago, that must make things hurt a whole lot more, truly sorry for your loss. Loosing him must have made you sit up and start to make plans for yourself, I'm so happy you found the strength to do that. You have come so far haven't you, carrying a lot of stress. Don't beat yourself up for relapsing you were going though a lot, you just have to remember that this is a big trigger for you in the future, stress and boredom are my 2 biggest triggers and I have to be on my guard at all times. Keep away from the Morphine or you will end up addicted and then its back to square one. I'm assuming you don't need it and only took it as it was there. Just be patient with yourself and remember things can only get better from here. I hope you have some form of support in place for the future, Wishing you all the luck in the world...Digger.
You're right, I should try the water. I think that's why the taste is persisting. I would normally drink lots of tea, but it's too much hassle getting up and making it. This heat hasn't helped. I do have poor circulation too - veins done in when I was younger. I've always been so active though. My brain seems to have deteriorated too. Believe it or not I do have 2 degrees - a first in chemistry and an MPhil. Now I have trouble remembering stuff. I can remember feeling like that before though after detox. so hopefully it will come back.
Well done for making 7 weeks. (I love the sneezing too - clears the brain!)
The problem with support is having to admit the problem first.
Well done for making 7 weeks. (I love the sneezing too - clears the brain!)
The problem with support is having to admit the problem first.
Thanks so much! Your right, I am old, and that doesn't help. I have been addicted to heroine/methadone for a total of 6 years when I was younger. Came off relatively easily a couple of times. Clean for years, then started again about ten years ago. stupid stupid stupid !!!! I was depressed at the time, obviously. My husband died four months ago, and a month later, after the the funeral, I just stopped. I had often had to stay up all night looking after him, and the two mgs subs were not enough to give me the energy I needed. I upped it and had a bit of his morphine too. (He had cancer).
I've never had any problem staying away from it when on my own, so I'll stick with it. It's just taking sooo long.
I've never had any problem staying away from it when on my own, so I'll stick with it. It's just taking sooo long.
Sorry I forget to say the strange taste thing went away for me pretty early, about 2 weeks I think, I would say it has a lot to do with being dehydrated, try drinking plenty of really cold water, that helped me so much. You can buy all kinds of good supplement from the health shops for dehydration, just tell them what your struggling with and they will help you. I smoke like a trooper still and I too want to stop. keep up the good work..
Hi and welcome...i don't have experience with subs but many people here do...just hang tight and they will come along and give you some help...sometimes it's slow on the weekends....congrats on getting off them tho! way to get your life back!
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Have you got a plan in place or support from friends and family? to help you manage your recovery, Hoping your feeling better soon my friend and remember to keep posting and letting us know how your doing, there is a lot of help on this site for you, just reach out Suemer, Praying for you my friend..