How much longer can this withdrawal last?

[voxxx]

So ive been addicted to opiates, namely OxyContin, for the past 1.5 years or so. I do admit regretfully that my opiate use (as well as just about every other drug that will get you high) has been purely recreational and I do not have any chronic pain or anything like that. Ive tried numerous times to quit using Suboxone, but have always relapsed. Well im taking another shot at quitting (I do have the desire to quit) at the moment. I had been taking about 80mg of OxyContin a day lately (at my peak I was at 2-3 oc80s a day), then waited 17hrs with no opiates and thats when I started my Suboxone.  I did the Suboxone for 4 days (3 full days+1 dose at the end of the 1st day after the 17hrs). And now im on day 3 after stopping Suboxone.

I have not slept or eaten anything these past 3 days (I would if I could) and I feel really restless, anxious, always have the urge to move/twitch my arms, combined with a constant tired feeling and slight achey feeling all over my body. How much longer is this going to last? The worst part is trying to sleep. Ive been trying to ease the withdrawal symptoms as much as possible using Klonopin or Alprazolam, and Ketamine (which works WONDERS for easing opiate w/d, albiet only for 1 hour though unless you re dose). I just want to not be dependant on opiates anymore, but I dont know how much more of these restless days and nights I can take. That was always the #1 reason why I would relapse was because of the restlessness and urge to move that I always get in my upper arms. But I have gone through 2 nights of it already and about half of day 3. Somebody please tell me this is going to end soon!

[scaredmom330]

Congrats. I am, very proud of you. Sounds like you have a good plan in place, just stick to it. Try taking as long and hot a shower as you can stand. That will help with the RLS and the hot/cold flashes. try to eat and force liquids. Get as much exercise as you can. trust me all of this will  help you feel better...Be strong, know we are all here for you and pulling. I know you can do this.

[voxxx]

Yea thats exactly what I had intended to do, use the sub for a week or so (in my case, 4 days) so I wouldnt become addicted to the sub and would still (hopefully) only go through a lessened version of oxy withdrawal due to the 4 days of sub.

As far as a long term plan, to be honest I dont really have one. I am only 18 years old. I hope to find some kind of outdoor activity or something (im not much of a sports/exercise person) that can help me keep my time occupied, rather than sitting around at home on the computer thinking about getting high like I do at the moment all day every day.

But I absolutely have to quit. I simply cannot afford to buy oc80's anymore they are extremely expensive to buy off the street (along with pretty much any other opiate). My drug use has drained my bank account, I literally cannot afford to live with this addiction. I need to get a job so I can help out with the finances, but I feel like I cant get a job while addicted to opiates. I cant bear the thought of going to work while withdrawing. So I absolutely have to get off opiates, so I can get a job and hopefully have enough money to pay for my next college semester tuition..

I dont doubt that I will use opiates again in my life. But I am just so sick of being completely dependant on these pills. I will admit at first it was fun (being the [illegal/illicit] drug user that I am) at first. But once I got to the point of having to take the pills to feel normal and not be sick, thats when you know its become a problem. I never want to be like that again. I cant afford to either.

[worried878]

all of this will pass with or without sub...many use sub in a effort to avoid wds..and some can..use it for a week or so and do not become addicted to sub//or methadone as to me the 2 r almost equal and both r maintenence narcotics..sub is a partial agonist but is so much stronger than methadone..just heat sub right now is the "hip: thing to do and the other is old news..both will cause wd in the end if u r on it too long....if u do ur work the sub can give u a "chasing narcotic break" while u work the program to stay clean...otherwise u will flip flop from ur doc to sub if u get them easiley..."Outta pills, bumb a sub"  guilty as charged..but this is not recovery and when i threw in the towel sub was not invoved as i leaned to much and i am a awful taperer so i knowe when my sub taper ran around i would suk at it..or maybe not..just was not my choice..u have made ur choice....be sure u have a long term plan..keep posting

[voxxx]

Oh and I also feel more like a human being today, rather than skin and bones.

[voxxx]

Another thing ive noticed is that the hot/cold flashes have pretty much gone away. Also I seem to be less depressed and in an overall better mood today. I actually caught myself laughing a few times today. Maybe this could be a sign that tommorow will be not as bad as today?

[IBKleen]

I am glad that you are staying positive. Please choose an aftercare program to stay clean.

Best of luck!!!!