Help! Vike withdrawl and detox-Xanax

[Hopenow]

Hello everyone!
I have not been posting but I have been reading a lot. Wow I am on day 16 of no opiates. I am still not quite up to par and was wondering in any body out there has had such a long go of it. I feel good when I wake up then not so good. Low energy crashes,mood swings. Simular to the earlyer days, I think but not as severe. But the plot thickens...I have/had been taking Xanax at nite so I could sleep when I was using the Vikes and I still have been but I dont want to, I been taking .5 on the evening then 1mg at bed time. Been doin the Zan for about a year,I hope that im not addicted to that too. Coming off the op's was baaaddddd, for me, pretty much C/T. I hope someone can lend some expirenced insight, It is almost impossable to work for more than a few hours.

Hopenow

[Sugah]

Hi, Hopenow. It would be best to talk to your doctor and work out a taper plan. Xanax is not something you want to quit cold turkey, and if you aren't sure you have the self-control to do a taper, it might be best to get someone to hold them for you in order to be accountable. I quit Valium (and opiates) cold turkey, but I was in medical detox when I did it. You can have seizures when they're withdrawn suddenly.

As for the prolonged withdrawal from the opiates, I had symptoms for weeks, though the acute phase wasn't nearly that long. There's a sticky around here somewhere (probably at the top of the forum) on PAWS--"Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome." For me, it was low energy, chills that happened randomly, unpredictable bowel habits, and disrupted sleep. It took me months to get into a regular sleep pattern, but then, I was always prone to insomnia.

Hang in there. Have you sought any support?

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[madriley]

How long after you quit opiates did your mood and energy return to somewhat normal? I am alright with the rest of the lingering w/d symptoms now but I can't stand having no energy and being so blah all the time. Was there anything, other than exercise and writing (I've been doing these the last 2 weeks) that helped you? Thanks!

[michael35209]

Hello Hopenow. Hang in there. I was in the same place you are a few weeks ago. I quit pretty much cold turkey off 50 mg's a day opiates and alcohol. It was the worst chit Ive ever been through. However, now, at approx 40 days, things are getting much better. I think your problem is mainly due to the Benzos. I was on .50 klonopin a night for sleep and when I quit opiates and alcohol all hell broke loose. I had extreme panic and anxiety, so I went up to 1.5 mg a day klonopin. What I'm trying to say is, the opiate WD is coming to an end for you. Things are going to get beter. You need to work on the benzos. Get stabilized on your benzos were you dont feel like your losing your mind, as I had those sypmtoms. Then, start tapering off them asap. You must get stabilized and then taper really slow. Google Ashton taper method. Before I quit opiates, I was on .50 a night, however, Im at .75 now. The anixiety from the WD of opiates were herendous. Just hang in there and it will get better. I was at 30 days and thought, man, this isnt going to end. But, it will. And, I bet your main problem is getting stabilized on your benzos. Then, get off them. I thought about using opitaes in my WD just to feel normal for a few hours, but, I didnt. And, please dont either. It will get better. I promise. DONT USE! Hang in there. God Bless You. I will pray for you. Love, Michael

[Sugah]

Originally Posted by madriley

How long after you quit opiates did your mood and energy return to somewhat normal? I am alright with the rest of the lingering w/d symptoms now but I can't stand having no energy and being so blah all the time. Was there anything, other than exercise and writing (I've been doing these the last 2 weeks) that helped you? Thanks!

madriley, I have some exacerbating conditions that cause fatigue, so my experience is probably not a good one to use as a guide. I still get worn out, though not so that I can't (if I need to) keep going.

Having said that, I'd say about two months in, I could look back and see a significant improvement in my motivation. Endurance took longer, but like I said, there were other things working against me. Bottom line is that it's hard to gauge improvement day to day in anything but acute symptoms. Believe that it's getting better, and with a little time under your belt, you'll be able to look back and see the improvement.

Hang in there!

Peace & Love,
Sugah

[ccgirl2]

As long as the w/ds from the opiates is better than it was; heading in the right direction, you should be OK. Some symptoms linger longer, mostly bad sleep, energy and for me, the poops.

As far as the xanax, I wouldn't fool around with that on your own. Cold turkeying from that could be dangerous. I highly recommend you see a doctor.

[bvaljalo]

I would give yourself a good month, or maybe two, off of opioids before I'd begin to be concerned about the symptoms you're talking about. At 16 days ... these symptoms are completely normal, to be expected, etc. Insomnia, fatigue, mood swings, unhappy bowels ... these symptoms DEFINITELY stick around for a bit, well past the acute withdrawal phase. Remember, you didn't get hooked in 16 days, did you?

And +1 on what everyone else says about the benzos. THose things are bad news, and you'll likely want to seek medical advice from actual professionals about getting off of them. In the meantime, try to do as little of them as possible. You'll thank yourself later ...

Welcome to SR.com, btw

BTW, in the early going, especially, I found attending meetings of AA and NA to be highly beneficial to my overall outlook on life, and I now consider my regular attendance at such meetings to be an extremely key part of my recovery. If you hadn't already considered some kind of recovery program ... I highly recommend you give it some serious thought.

[Hopenow]

Originally Posted by michael35209

Hello Hopenow. Hang in there. I was in the same place you are a few weeks ago. I quit pretty much cold turkey off 50 mg's a day opiates and alcohol. It was the worst chit Ive ever been through. However, now, at approx 40 days, things are getting much better. I think your problem is mainly due to the Benzos. I was on .50 klonopin a night for sleep and when I quit opiates and alcohol all hell broke loose. I had extreme panic and anxiety, so I went up to 1.5 mg a day klonopin. What I'm trying to say is, the opiate WD is coming to an end for you. Things are going to get beter. You need to work on the benzos. Get stabilized on your benzos were you dont feel like your losing your mind, as I had those sypmtoms. Then, start tapering off them asap. You must get stabilized and then taper really slow. Google Ashton taper method. Before I quit opiates, I was on .50 a night, however, Im at .75 now. The anixiety from the WD of opiates were herendous. Just hang in there and it will get better. I was at 30 days and thought, man, this isnt going to end. But, it will. And, I bet your main problem is getting stabilized on your benzos. Then, get off them. I thought about using opitaes in my WD just to feel normal for a few hours, but, I didnt. And, please dont either. It will get better. I promise. DONT USE! Hang in there. God Bless You. I will pray for you. Love, Michael

Michale,
Thanks for the mesage I will re read it. It is helpful. Its day 18 with no opiates, im still a bit draggy and bowell problems, not like before tho. Man it was hell. I was hopeing that I did not form a habbit wit the Benzps, I dont know? Your suggestion about stabelizing makes sense tho. Thank you for the prayers, I will do the same.

[michael35209]

Originally Posted by Hopenow

Michale,
Thanks for the mesage I will re read it. It is helpful. Its day 18 with no opiates, im still a bit draggy and bowell problems, not like before tho. Man it was hell. I was hopeing that I did not form a habbit wit the Benzps, I dont know? Your suggestion about stabelizing makes sense tho. Thank you for the prayers, I will do the same.

Just keep praying and meditating. it will get better. Try to get a little excersise. Take a 5 minute walk. Just get the blood moving a little. And, I also found that when you wake in the morning, get out of bed and take a shower, even if you go straight back to bed. It helps the mind getting up and moving around a little.
I know what your going though and it will get better. Just try to get stabilized on your benzos even if you have to up them a little for a week or so. I was on .50 before I quit opitaes and went up to 1.5 a day and now Im back down to .75 a day. Dont take any caffiene. I drink lots of juice. try not to smoke either, thought that has been hard for me.

God Bless you, Hang in there and dont use. This to shall pass,
Michael

email me anytime if you want to chat.

[michael35209]

Originally Posted by Hopenow

Hello everyone!
I have not been posting but I have been reading a lot. Wow I am on day 16 of no opiates. I am still not quite up to par and was wondering in any body out there has had such a long go of it. I feel good when I wake up then not so good. Low energy crashes,mood swings. Simular to the earlyer days, I think but not as severe. But the plot thickens...I have/had been taking Xanax at nite so I could sleep when I was using the Vikes and I still have been but I dont want to, I been taking .5 on the evening then 1mg at bed time. Been doin the Zan for about a year,I hope that im not addicted to that too. Coming off the op's was baaaddddd, for me, pretty much C/T. I hope someone can lend some expirenced insight, It is almost impossable to work for more than a few hours.

Hopenow

When you get stabilized on the benzos, I will help you with a taper plan. However, dont worry about the benzo addiction right now. I worried so much about it, it seemed to make things worse. Just take what you need right now and then we will get off them together. Im making my first cut tomorrow. hang in there my friend. Dont Use Opiates. It will get better. I promise you this. I had a hard WD and I know what your going through. Time heals.
Love,
Michael

[sunflower1776]

Michael and Hopenow,
I've used xanax for years now, even before my opiate addiction started. I've had anxiety issues for years. Because of tolerance, I'm up to 1mg 3x/day. I do not take it that way though--I take 2-3mg to go to sleep at night. I might break one up into quarters during the day if I need to get through an anxiety attack--.25-.50 takes the edge off enough for me. But I still can't get to sleep at night without help. OTC sleeping meds don't work for me, and I don't want a prescription sleeping med. I know how I'll feel on xanax, I know I won't feel hungover in the morning. My doctor is aware of my intake. I talked to him about it since I didn't realize that coming off of xanax was so dangerous. I learned that in detox, but that information was coming from people who were abusing it and taking 8, 10, even 12+ mg a day--obvious abuse. However, when I talked ot my doc about this, he did say that even on a lower dose that I'd have to taper. He assured me that when I was ready, after being able to stay clean for a long period of time from opiates, that is when we will start with the xanax taper. I'm not even worrying about it. I'm taking it now because I know it helps me. I don't get high off it or anything like that--it just helps me sleep-at least to get to sleep. So, don't stress right now about trying to get off the xanax just yet--battle one thing at a time. I don't consider myself addicted to xanax--I'm dependent on it. If I could fall asleep without it, I would gladly give it up except for keeping a small amt on hand for true anxiety issues. But the tapering can be done without any withdrawals at all. So please, do not stress about that right now. Focus on getting yourself off your doc first, then let the xanax taper happen later. It is so kind of Michael to help with that--I may come to you as well!

A do have a question since the issue of anxiety has been brought up several times in this thread. What is it that really makes the anxiety kick into high gear to the point of panic attacks after wd? What causes all this high anxiety? I thgouht it was just me. I could become agoraphobic if I allowed myself to. If I'm out in public shopping or whatever, I can only handle it for a few hours before I start feeling anxious. I cannot drive in the dark anymore because I feel really anxious (yet I could drive high with no problem). It's like I'm becoming paranoid and my existing anxiety disorder is multiplied. Anyone have any ideas on why this is or what the cause of it is? Is it just a normal part of drug withdrawal--not immediate withdrawal symptoms, but ongoing symptoms?

[michael35209]

From what Ive learned. It's the adrenaline in our bodies that give us panic and anxiety. When we take opiates for a good period of time, the adrenaline builds up in are bodies and when we quit, they come rushing out and freak us out, "aniexty, panic".

My extreme anixiety and panic went away approx 3-4 weeks after quitting opiates.


Hey Sunflower, I had become agoraphobic and paranoid for approx 2 weeks after quiting opiates. Then, It just went away. I still have a little paranoia now and then though. When you wake up in the morning, get right up and start moving to burn off the adrenaline. Dont lay in bed. makes things worse from what I discovered.

As for you xanax usage, I personally think you are going into withdrawal during the day since you take most of your dose in the evening. xanax is short lived. you might want to cross over to klonopin which last alot longer then xanax. Then you could take your doses three times a day. morning, afternoon and evening. get stabilized and then we can get you to start taper off the poison. very slowly. we can start with dry cutting your doses and then when you get lower we can use water titration. I really think you problem is this, you xanax is leaving your body in the morning and by the afternoon you start having panic and aniexty

email me any time, jshomewood@aol.com

Hope y'all are doing well. I pray for all of you.

Love,
Michael