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I was bitten by Black Widow my understanding is that it effects the nervous system going cold turkey from vicodin also deals with nerves and receptors and such' Do you think that is making my detox last longer 14 days sofar. still have RLS

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

I do not know of any interaction between black widow spider venom and opioid withdrawal, but it is not uncommon for opioid withdrawal to go on for a month or two.  I suppose that theoretically, the bite could contribute to the RLS;  the venom, called latrotoxin, causes the release of several neurotransmitters including acetylcholine, which can cause muscle spasms, and maybe that could contribute to the excitability that makes legs jump involuntarily.

The effects of a bite can linger for weeks without treatment;  I'm not sure if the bite was recent or sometime in the remote past....

Bottom line-- perhaps there is an interaction that could make some of the symptoms last a bit longer-- or perhaps there are symptoms from the spider bite that are adding to the symptoms of withdrawal.  But opioid withdrawal alone usually lingers for more than a couple weeks;  more like 4-8 weeks before people feel close to normal again.