Author: Breezy_Ann
Posted: Thu Oct 27, 2011 11:32 am
| tsciant wrote: |
| hey sweet16. one thing I dont get is when people talk about WDs when they are tapering. i went right off of 16-24mg using a 9 day taper (8,8,8,4,4,4,2,2,2). I felt no WD until the day after I took that last little 2mg. I will say that day 1-2 off was my roughest, assumable because my WD had started to set in because of the way I tapered off quickly. I wouldnt be expecting any bowell problems until you jump off completely at whatever dose you’re on. for the most part, my withdrawal was pretty simple – insomnia, leg pain, and bowell symptoms for about 15-20 days. And I did have that wierd emotional period where for a few days everything made me cry, seemingly for no reason. In a way that felt good. Crying feels good for some reason in some odd way, perhaps because I’m mourning the recent passing of my father. But it was all manageable and tolerable. hot bath at midday, hot bath at bedtime, ambien helped some by at least getting me to sleep after the hot baths. i’m at day 27ish and now sleeping normally and taking no meds whatsoever. i feel like i’m free, and now it’s just up to me to work a program of recovery so that I don’t succumb to that "insidious addict thought."
Bottom line, the WD from going from 16-24mg, straight to a fast 9 day taper off completely, was not bad, for me. It was not fun. But even during the worst of it I was attending 8 hours of group per day, eating well, and participating, and smoking lots of cigs and drinking lots of coffee. Yeah there was some Kaopectin in there for a number of days. Ha. Yes, I’m having cravings for some things, but I am picking up the phone when I have them (not to the dopeman). Also, my apologies for offering opinions as facts. Just my opinion. I guess sub can save lives, just as methodone can, and other maintanance therapies. Heck, if I had a steady prescription of any opiate from a doctor, I suppose it would do some good too. I’m just really in favor of abstinence. Yes I say this not even 30 days off sub yet. Before I went on sub I was clean for a couple years, and I severely regret ever going on sub. It only delayed the inevitable, for me. I know not everyone has the luxury of going to treatment, but if at all possible, that’s my encouragement. My doctor told me "you CAN’T do it that way. you’ll have to do a very slow taper." she couldnt have been any more incorrect. these doctors, oh these doctors. i guess lexus payments arent cheap. that or they just don’t know the ‘medicine’ they prescribe. i hope anyone and everyone gets the same opportunity i had, to be free from this awful awful medicine, IMO. |
The reason you did not experience withdrawl during your taper is because it was so rapid. Prior to your rapid taper you were on 16mg and because of the long half life of sub you had a ton of sub built up in your system. A proper taper is done over a long time and reduce to very low doses into mcg’s, so they have expelled all of the built up sub causing them to feel mild withdrawl symptoms. In reality the very rapid taper you did probably didn’t change anything compared to jumping off your maintenance dose.
I am glad you are doing so well and for people who can not do a long, slow taper your experience will be appreciated. Keep up the good work and please keep us updated.
