KrissWest

I was treated for alcohol addiction starting in May 2010. After 8 months of sobriety, I became restless and started taking opiates. I've struggled with opiate addiction for a little over 2 years now. The first time I tried to quit was a year ago and while I went to meetings, I failed a few days in.

I went to an addiction specialist at the end of October 2012 and went through medical detox. They wanted to put me into some sort of rehab, but my insurance wouldn't cover more than $1000 and so they agreed to forego that step after I told them that I couldn't afford it with nearly $300,000 in student loans and a new job where I have a lot of patients scheduled every day. I lasted 9 days and then started using again bc of the restless legs and insomnia. I was miserable.

Now it is the end of January and I had made it 8 days again fighting the insomnia and horrible restless legs (RLS). I go to meetings regularly. We want to try to start a family so I'm doing this for the right reasons... but after 8 days it was too much for me to take and I gave in the day before yesterday and yesterday.

Can someone tell me how long the insomnia and RLS last? I have gotten about 16 hrs of sleep in those 8 days. I feel like if I knew this I could probably get through it... I've been taking a LOT for the past 2 yrs!

Thank you.
Kriss

First, I wasn't sure which place to post this, so it is double posted: I really need suggestions though so if it moves from here, it is in the substance abuse forum.

Windancer

Have you seen a doctor? I was scared to talk honestly with mine but when I did I was glad and relieved.
You CAN get through this...many have

KrissWest

Yes... In my post I said I went through medical detox with an addiction specialist. The meds I was given are out and I still was having RLS so I went back to using when I couldn't stand it anymore.

All of my MDs know.

artsoul

Welcome Kriss -

I think everyone's experience with withdrawal is going to be a little different (and giving medical advice is something we're not supposed to do), but it might help to check out our substance abuse part of the forum (link below) just to see what others have gone through:
Substance Abuse - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

I hope the support here can help you and much as it's helped me.:ghug3 Glad you're here!

KrissWest

I'm not asking for medical advice. I have a medical degree. I just want to know how long the insomnia and restless legs have lasted for anyone who had an opiate addiction.

Thank you Good to be here too.

least

to the family from a fellow Buckeye! :ghug3

Coldfusion

Hi Kriss with a K,

Welcome to Sober Recovery!

You're doing great to make it eight days. You can find help and support here but for an answer to a specific question sometimes it takes a while to really get an answer. Others have been where you are, and some have told their stories here at SR.

http://www.soberrecovery.com/forums/search.php

Bubovski

After prolonged, decades of benzodiazepine (useage rather than abuse) I copped a few weeks of violent and frightening jerking, prior to falling off; I forget the medical term.

Fast w/drawal can be very dangerous and sadly even tapering can produce a huge variety of horrible side effects. Time however does heal.

Maylie

When I went cold turkey from heroin I was unable to sleep and had restless legs for prob. a week and a half and then it got better each day after that.

You should contact your doctor and explain he didn't give you enough medicine and that this time around you will need a longer supply.

You can do this, we all can. A light sleep aid really made the difference for me when I was w/ding

Dee74

I have no experience with opiate withdrawal myself, but I wanted to welcome you anyway

D

mfanch

I kicked from IV fentanyl (1mg/day habit) and insomnia lasted about 2weeks. RLS lasted longer but got much better as time went by. I don't remember exactly. It DID PASS. Sorry I can't be more specific, but I'm in medicine too and wanted to give you some hope.

Mf

TrixMixer

Hi Kriss,

Since you are in the medical profession you know there are medications you can take for Restless Leg Syndrome. I was on Seroquil and Dia zapam 10 mg broken in 1/4 I think amytriptiline is another choice. Check with your Doctor as to what might be best for you.

RLS is the worst--no matter how tired you are your not going to get good sleep constantly having movement in your legs.

Good luck,
TrixMixer

2granddaughters

All my problems began to abate when I committed to AA.

All the best.

Bob R

TrixMixer

See Bob This is what I meant with the one line answer that AA solves all problems--that may be true for you , but if you had RLS AA could not help with that. Please stop suggesting to newcommers AA will solve , RLS, Dementia, Mental Illness , etc. It will not , it is simple a wonderful support program for alcoholics in need of support in their jouney to sobriety. I hope many try it.

I respect what you have to say, so please do not take offens tomy post, I just feel you are dismissive of those with problems bigger than AA.

Forgive me, no offense meant.

Anna

Welcome, I'm glad you found us.

vegibean

As the OP stated, he/she is a MD, and all of his/her doctors know, so I do wish that on their behalf someone can at least say how long it took to get through those symptoms.

If it's opiates, I think it can take up to 30 days, I know it's a long time, but if you can get through that, hopefully you'll never go through it again.

I know you mentioned drinking, that can take up to two weeks.

Hang in there, you can do it, and hopefully won't touch that stuff again. Withdrawal is the pits, I do feel for you. Welcome to SR too by the way.

vegibean

And PS - I work in a treatment center, and regarding the opiates, it's 30 days to get over it, or to at least feel better. Good luck!

Windancer

I took melatonin and exercised and it helped me a lot. Took a couple weeks before I improved much....I think it varies a lot from person to person though.
Hope you sleep tonight

KrissWest

Thank you all for the welcome and advice. The reason I don't want to medicate myself anymore is that I promised my husband long ago that we would start trying for a baby this coming weekend. He has waited through school, residency and getting a job... I don't want to take any meds that cross the BBB... I'm hoping the Imodium helps for RLS and thank you all who answered how long it took you to shake the insomnia and restlessness. As long as I have an idea how long it will last, I think it will make things easier.

I think it's something you truly don't understand how uncomfortable it is unless you go through it. Thanks so much for the responses!

2granddaughters

No offense taken.

I was treated in the 1970's with Lithium for symptoms of Manic depression and spent years in group therapy, psyche wards and psychiatrists... along with my constant drinking and 15 yrs of Valium.

I surrendered to the program of Alcoholics Anonymous and trusted a Higher Power and HOW IT WORKS where it states "There are those too who suffer from grave emotional and mental disorders but many of them do recover if they have the capacity to be honest".

For you to state that one's God is powerless over personality problems and insomnia is early sobriety is rather shortsighted. No offense intended.

I know scores of oldtimers who were saved from hopeless mental and emotional conditions ... conditions where all else had failed.

i wish you all the best.

Bob R