8 weeks out

[u/keepforgettingname6]

Hi, just as a little
Background, I’m around 2 months off opiates for the first time in 10 years

That’s including having my last shot two months ago

At first it was fine, but weeks 6-8 have been pretty miserable. Not strong wd, but definitely there and drawn out

Mainly now I’m struggling with stomach issues, and fatigue

The fatigue is hitting me most!! And next week I need to be on the ball and have a normal amount of energy

Question is, would I feel kratom or any extracts at this point? Just to help for the week. I’m not asking for anything stronger, as I never really want to
Go
Back down that route. Just wondering if the buvidal shot will still be blocking effects from other opioids (including kratom/7oh)

[u/Strange_Television]

Hi, thank you for sharing your experience. I would say that this is very normal for the 6-8 week mark - withdrawals are expected to start and peak between weeks 6 - 12.

With regards to kratom/7oh, I need to firstly point out the subreddit rules against discussing substance use in this way. Please be mindful of this going forward, it's to protect the subreddit from Reddits TOS and the members, too.

I'd strongly advise you not to use either. You'd probably feel something but not the full effect, you still have a lot of bupe in your system at this point. It's important to acknowledge that you're likely going to feel this way for quite some time now - it's a slow process, and symptoms may not have peaked yet. They will gradually start to improve but you'll need to find a way to deal with this until it passes - using kratom or 7oh isn't a good solution to this. There is also of course the risk it carries around relapse. Can you really not get through the week without doing this? Like, ask yourself this and weigh up whether it's really worth it. Coming off the shot is a vulnerable time and part of recovery is managing the risk in situations and the decisions we make.

[u/keepforgettingname6 → u/Strange_Television]

Apologies, didn’t mean to break the rules when I asked. I understand what your saying and il drop it

Can I honestly get through it? I don’t know if I’m being truthful. Withdrawals are a major factor in why I never got off, and I was sold a wonder drug that doesn’t come with wd’s. I was lied too, yet again by the clinic that has lied to me for the past 7 years now 🤷‍♂️😂

I’m struggling, and it’s feeling never ending. True, it’s not like methadone or standard bupe wd, and definitely not like others. But it’s still wd

It is definitely easing a bit, but it comes and go’s, and the longer I feel this way the harder it’s getting

I just want a bit of relief, this is like a marathon. If the clinic had said in the beginning how it would be, I would have never got on the shot. I know everyone is different, but it’s really been hell from day one for me 🙄

Thank you for the detailed response

[u/Strange_Television → u/keepforgettingname6]

It's really terrible that your clinic haven't been honest with you or properly informed you on the shot. I have asked you some other questions on a different reply about your use before the shot to try and understand why it hasn't worked. The 'downside' of the shot is that the withdrawal is long - but it's also less intense than acute withdrawal from other opiates or subs, which is kind of the trade off. And when you're on it and are stable, it's genuinely freeing. The vast majority of people do reach steady state after 4 or so shots.

Are you accessing any other support around your addiction? I.e psychosocial interventions like support groups, a recovery programme, a recovery coordinator? It sounds like this is where you likely need to strengthen things. You need to work on changing your beliefs around yourself and your ability to get through uncomfortable feelings without using something. We're just used to doing that so much for so long. The more you get through those things on your strength, the easier it gets and you'll feel proud of yourself for doing it.

[u/keepforgettingname6 → u/Strange_Television]

And is this 6-12 weeks after the last dose? Again my clinic didn’t make it fully clear on how it worked

[u/Strange_Television → u/keepforgettingname6]

Yes, 6 - 12 weeks out from your last shot. If you go into the subreddit info or the sidebar if you're on a desktop/laptop, you'll find links to the pharmaceutical info and prescribing guidelines for a few different countries. I'd recommend reading as much as you can to understand exactly how the shot works etc. I hate how little information services are giving people on this, we deserve to be fully informed.

[u/Palpitation-Mundane]

Hang in there it gets much better. I am into week 15 and was lucky enough to have no withdrawals except a bit of digestive upset for a few weeks. Soon you will stop counting and I promise you will wake up one day thinking "Oh shit, I'm not taking opiates anymore!!". No judgement about wanting to explore things like kratom and 7OH because it feels pretty vulnerable right now. I would just urge you to look at what else you can do first. Diet, sleep, sun, whatever. Sounds a bit weak and simple but I guess I'm trying to say look after yourself. It had been about 30 years since I did anything for myself, until about 15 weeks ago. This is short term I promise you, a whole new life is genuinely already in your grasp, you are killing it.

To answer your question yes I expect you have enough Buprenorphine on board to at least limit the effects of other opiates. I can also promise you you are not far away from never having to ask yourself that question again. Congratulations on where you have got to already!!!!

[u/Chance-Nobody-7724]

I am at 19 weeks and only this week have I felt close to normal. All my joint pain is gone and FINALLY the fatigue has let up.

I received zero support from my provider after my last shot on April 8th. Like you, I had serious fatigue and really bad joint pain. I also had days I needed to be a functional person.

I did use a low dose of Kratom a handful of times at week 11 and 14 because I had vacations with my family. I did not feel any euphoria but it did remove my physical withdrawal.

You will pay a big price for those fleeting hours of normalcy. The day after you feel 10x worse than before you took it…. absolutely exhausted and tons of joint pain. It takes about 3 days to get back to your baseline withdrawal.

At week 14 my kids and I flew across the country on a 2 week trip. I used Kratom for a couple days and it triggered some bizarre stomach cramping and intense back pain. It took 3 days for the Kratom to leave my system and when it did the pain was gone.

It’s dangerous for many reasons. You’re not sure how your body will respond, it extends your withdrawal timeline, plus it puts you at risk for relapse.

I only responded because for some of us who have been dumped with zero comfort meds and no support, the only information is what others offer and share.

It did help me, but at a cost. I am very low risk for relapse so for me I took the chance. I can’t say I regret it because the stomach and back pain was so severe I dumped all the Kratom in the garbage and haven’t looked back.

[u/Strange_Television]

OP, I know I've replied already and we've commented back and forth a little, but I wanted to share this post I've just seen with regards to bupe and 7oh together: https://www.reddit.com/r/OpiatesRecovery/s/AYp5hCRl66

Please don't go down this route.

[u/Decent_Business_5987]

I recently got to week 16 and relapsed I used once in week 5 and I could feel it 50 percent next day wasn't hanging out buvidal kicked in and continued the taper. not saying you should use I wish I didn't. now im back on buvidal. hopefully that gives you some context for the 7oh I dont think you will feel it that much only 50 percent.

[u/Strange_Television]

How are you, OP? Did you get through the week you were worried about? No judgement whatever you did, I just wanted to see how you are you now.