sudden withdrawl of two meds

[frootbar]

HI Dr. Junig,

For a variety of reasons, over the last mostly 12 years, I have been off and on tylenol 3's, and tylenol 1's,
and clonazepam and xanax.
It began with migraine problems, and then other things came into play.
I'm not a drinker, and I do not smoke, and have a fairly healthy diet.

I was recently taking about 10 tylenol 3's a day.  That was too much.  For a totally unrelated issue, of which
we had no real dialogue to discuss the matter, my GP dismissed me from the practise.  I had to immediately
detox from those two meds, cold.  I was planning on detoxing, but not like that.  To say I feel horrible is a massive
understatement, but, some things are better...it is day 8.
I should have bought stocks in Immodium.  Holy.  
Anyway, my question is this.  (And I AM going to persist in staying off these meds).
My liver tests have always been normal, but, I have a theory that the tylenol was damaging some things
other than my liver, as I would had high blood levels.  I won't go into it all, but it's just my idea.  Regardless
off all that, in your opinion, if I stay free and clear should I at some point begin to regain some health and
lose the fatigue?  Thank you very much Dr.

FB.

[frootbar]

Thank you, and no problem for the wait, it's worth it to hear your thoughts.
I feel better and better it seems, everyday.  I take absolutely no pain
meds, not even regular ones, and I've had things even this early on
clear up that I would not have thought.  So thanks and I look forward
to being on a long run and I want it to continue on.  I realize from your
words and my own thoughts, if I were to ever get back on the runaway
train again, I'm doomed.
Thanks again.

[J T Junig, MD PhD]

I am sorry it has taken this long to answer you;  I hope you are feeling some of your energy back again.  If you are still off the pills it is day 13;  it is really hard to put an exact length of time on the withdrawal because for some people, the fatigue will drag on for months.  I'm not sure if that is from the direct chemical effects of withdrawal, or from depression that persists afterward, or from some sort of 'spiritual emptiness' that comes from addiction.  In general, opiate withdrawal should be over by about two months at the outside.  The worst of it peaks at about day 4-5, and then things slowly improve... but things move more slowly with methadone, and probably with Suboxone as well, as both have long half-lives in the body.

I will tell you one thing for sure-- if you stay off the drugs, at some point you will feel better than you have felt in years.  I remember that point in treatment 8 years ago--  nothing like a long run of opiate withdrawal to make one appreciate the little things in life again!