Opiate Withdrawals

[hatownley83]

I have been taking oxy 10's for four years, only abusing for the last.  My exhusband is really bad and drained us way past our means and making this change for my family meant removing him as well.   I have always been a strong person and know I can quit. Its been two weeks so far. However this past week has definitely been the hardest of my life.  I have four children and a really good job so I don't have the luxury of time alone.   Rest is virtually impossible. I am definitely not looking at a swap of one drug for another or I wouldn't be quitting in the first place.  To what extent will Suboxen help on bad days these next two weeks?  How long do the stomach and lack of energy last normally from opiate withdrawals?

[msdelight]

Honey I agree subs are not for you. Not casually or daily. You have 2 weeks behind you and yes you are carrying a heavy load. If you take a sub to get through a day here and there, you may as well just go head and pop a perc. Its the same thing mentally, a crutch, an escape. And as pillguy said its a much stronger opiate.  You have 2 weeks behind you and you are still adjusting. Give it time, I promise it will get easier and easier. In two short weeks you will have 30 days and you will be glad you didn't give in. Stay on the bus!

[pillguy]

You asked a couple more questions I didn't address.  Stomach; I'm assuming you mean intestinal issues.  Imodium works very well for this.  It happens that our GI tract has opiate receptors just like our brain.  Imodium was created by taking a well known opiate (fentanyl) and modifying the molecular structure in a way that prevents it from crossing the blood-brain barrier.  It slows down the GI tract just like an opiate but doesn't mess with our brain.  

Rest:  that's the big one.  it's difficult to deal with opiate withdrawal on no sleep.  Short term benzodiazepine use (Valium, Xanax, and others) can provide relief.  These are very serious medicines.  Benzodiazepines, if used at high dosages for long periods can have devastating consequences.  Know yourself well before asking your doctor for these types of meds.  Many people here will feel that abuse of one drug, like opiates, puts us at risk for other drugs and the risk of benzodiazepines is just too great.  YMMV.  Another, safer option I've used in the past is lunesta.  It's hard to abuse and it's the only prescription med the FDA has approved for long term use.  You don't need it long term and it's much safer than benzos.  After our experiences with opiates, I think it goes without saying that you should only use what is absolutely necessary to get by, with nothing used being the best case scenario.

[pillguy]

I think you are a poor candidate for suboxone.  Suboxone is an extremely strong partial agonist opiate.  That's the reason it takes away withdrawals.  It's roughly 50 - 100 more powerful than morphine.  Being a partial agonist opiate means it doesn't have all the characteristics of a full agonist.  Characteristics like respiratory depression and euphoria.  It does have the characteristic of dependence.  It's considered one one the most difficult opiates to stop using.  There is a compelling reason to use suboxone for harm reduction.  If a person is facing death due to addiction issues life long suboxone therapy is inarguably a better option.  It can also be used for 6 month to 2 years to help addicts eliminate drug seeking behavior and allow the desire for the opiate euphoria to lessen over that time.  They detox off the drug by tapering over long periods.  My taper was 6 months.  I quit after tapering to .25 mg.  I still had a week of withdrawals and 2 months of lethargy and depression.  More therapists are trying to use suboxone in a short detox mode, 2 - 6 weeks.

Oxy 10s are a very strong drug and 2 weeks is not very long.  My experience and many others here that I've read about include a period after the acute withdrawals that includes a period of lethargy and depression like symptoms that I find particularly distasteful.  You need to get through this.  You didn't mention how much you've been taking but I think 2 more weeks will find you feeling much better.  It continues to feel better every day.

There are a few regular contributors here that have great advice about suboxone.  I'd be very surprised if any of them recommend that you use it.  Let me know if you have any questions or concerns.  I'm happy to help.