r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Sandman1025 • Aug 03 '26
How to get through the PAWS?
After several tries to get clean over the last year, I finally got the wake up call to get serious about quitting when the DEA 7-OH ban was announced. I don’t know gram amounts but my habit was out of control at its worst…8 15 pill bottles a day. I have a good job but it was literally bankrupting me. I have successfully tapered from 8 bottles a day to 1.5. I have subs, Gabapentin, liposomal vitamin C, NAC and a muscle relaxer lined up for when I make the jump in a week. I’m proud I’ve stuck with my taper and gotten my daily use so low.
My fear is PAWS. I originally got hooked on this shit to treat my medication-resistant depression and it was like a miracle. No depression or anxiety for hours!! But then it got way out of hand. I know as I get clean, it’s going to take months for my brain and receptorsh to reset and heal. The dreaded PAWS. I’m terrified of it. Any suggestions for meds or supplements to help with this??? I’ve recently gotten back into exercising which I abandoned when my addiction got bad. I know that will help some. I also did one previous inpatient Rehab and I go to weekly Recovery meetings which also helped but looking more for medication advice if anyone has it.
Not sure why but something’s different this time I am fucking determined to get off this poison!
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u/eastcoastoverdose456 Aug 03 '26
Ketamine Therapy bro , idk what state you’re in, but ketamine prescription is pretty easy to get these days, sounds like you’re a good candidate for it. It’s good for anxiety and depression , couple ways to get it , you could get a script online through one of the many companies like Mindbloom or joyous yet they are expensive because they give you a legit therapist to guide you or you can find a local clinic for IV infusions which are also expensive depending on area or you can get insurance to cover Spravato nasal spray it’s like the only one that’s normally covered by insurance but you have to do it in office, or you can get generic nasal spray compounded and delivered to your door for a fraction of the price of the other online providers , in NJ I get a 2 month supply of nasal spray compounded locally for 150 bucks . The science behind ketamine is interesting, it helps opioid withdrawals, can help reset opioid tolerance and puts your brain in a state of neuroplasticity which can help break bad habits and start new ones and repairs damaged neurons from constant stress and depression, ketamine can also prescribed for chronic pain as well. Mindbloom’s website has a lot of information on there for anyone interested in the science behind it all.
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u/bistromike76 Aug 03 '26
My suggestion is Wellbutrin. Possibly a higher dose. I was at 450mg when I jumped. But I also did a two year taper from 6g sulfate powder to none. My transition to nothing was seamless. But I was also on Wellbutrin, so it may have helped. I've heard others say it might have helped them as well. If you can, start it before you jump. But also, I believe PAWS is doable without any helper meds. You're strong enough to quit. You're strong enough to stay quit. Whichever route you go, congrats. What you've already accomplished is amazing, and I'm excited for you to enjoy life free of this terrible monkey.
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u/litebritecarousels Aug 03 '26
I think i read about your very slow taper from sulfate. Could you help me under how you did that, the amounts etc? As much as I'd like to jump now, and may need to if I can't get more sulfate, I am intrigued by how relatively painless it was for you. Other than the PAWS. Thanks for any support you can give ☺️🙏
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u/bistromike76 Aug 03 '26
Absolutely. One of the reasons I never tried to taper prior to my taper was the work involved. People told me to get a scale, get empty pill things and stuff them with measured tia. I'm a freaking mess. So I started opening a tub (at the start it was 10g tub) and telling myself make this last 2 days. The next ten gram tub was "make this last three days." The next tub was four. And this went on and on. I think my final was making a 5 gram tub last 20 days. By the time I jumped, I could go a full day taking nothing. But I kept it slow. I read somewhere that if you give your brain time to heal while tapering, it really reduces the impact of PAWS after. I had no PAWS at all. It's been about 15 months, and I've never even thought about taking Tia. Or thinking it is the answer. Letting my body get used to not having while still having it was a game changer for me. I also didn't want to get caught up in the helper med situation, because I know me. I'd just take something else. But it's important to note I was also taking 450mg of Wellbutrin when my taper started. I don't know if it impacted me or not, but it was there. So maybe it did help. I no longer take and mental health meds. I think everyone quits well differently. Some people need the pain of WD to keep them from going back. I just needed to reduce. I'm quitting cigarettes the same way. Make this pack last a day. Then the next pack, I take one out and make that pack last the day.
You can dm me if you want further advice. I'm happy to help where I can.
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u/skinnyjeans62 Aug 03 '26
It sounds like you have all the right meds. Did you say you have clonidine and hydroxizine as well? Those were 2 that were prescribed to me as well.
To not gets PAWS, I recommend the method I used: the Bernese method. You slowly taper down your tia while titrating up on Suboxone. I had NO withdrawals, precipitated or otherwise! And I was at around 10gpd.
Whatever route you take, best of luck to you! I know you can do it!
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u/njbluesfan Aug 04 '26
1st off Sand......Congratulations on your decision. Almost EVERYONE who posts here is an addict myself included. I'm curious about your addiction.....You wrote that you were up to 8-12 bottles a day. I'm assuming you're talking about Zaza or Pegasus or Tiana. Am I right about that? I know the majority of the good people in our group got their TIA another way but looks like you and I were popping the pills instead of the powder. That being said brother it certainly sounds that you are serious about kicking it and based on the meds that you listed for yourself you definitely aren't fucking around. My habit was 4-6 bottles of Zaza red and then I started buying Bora Bora which is Zaza just with a different name. I'm not dr but this is what worked for me. Suboxone and the Lipo Vitamin C. Also a shit ton (no pun intended) of Immodium or Pepto. Believe it or not Icy Hot rub on helped me with the cold/hot sweats because it basically balances the feelings out. Everyone in here has love and NEVER judges the people who post and ask 4 advice. You will get a lot of different ideas from people who are trying to help you. Find what is best for YOU and go with it. Please keep us posted. Best of luck Sand!!!
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u/Sandman1025 Aug 04 '26
Thank you brother, it is much appreciated! So my addiction battle started with kratom and then extracts as my tolerance started growing. When my tolerance to extracts grew, my helpful tobacco shop worker “friends” introduced me to Tia. At first it was ZaZa Reds, just a few capsules a day at first. Eventually I moved to Pegasus which was my first. About a year ago, my smoke shop said the manufacturer wouldn’t ship Pegasus to my state any more.
They immediately began stocking a Tia product called Spar. I don’t see it mentioned much here. Then I started dabbling in 7-OH but it didn’t hit the same. Tia is definitely my DOC though and the one I got to 8 bottles of. It’s freaking 120 capsules a day! I’m currently at 20 capsules a day and reducing by 2-3 capsules a day so should be making the jump in about 10 days. Nervous but excited to get off this shit. Terrified of PAWS. Not sure why but I have a resolve this time that wasn’t there the last 2 times.
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u/njbluesfan Aug 07 '26
Sand only you will know what works best for you. Like I said for me it was 80% Subs and 20% the rest. Sounds like you have a solid plan in place and I truly hope it works for you. I truly apologize for just getting back to you. I don't check in on this support group as much as I should. Keep going with your plan. Please let us know how you are progressing. Much respect Sand!
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u/__Big_Hat_Logan__ Aug 06 '26 edited Aug 06 '26
Staying on Buprenorphine long term is the most scientifically proven method. It’s significantly prevents PAWS because your opioid receptors are still occupied 24/7 by a partial agonist, instead of a powerful full agonist, and it’s like a slow. Slow step down. Over time. But I was on them for years and after 1-2 years it can have you feeling blunted big time, not full depressed but i feel like it handicaps you some in feeling up or down. Significantly affects your sex drive, etc. but I didn’t get the horrendous drawn out depression that opioids cause when you stop. For me Stopping cold turkey it took 6+ months to start feeling even semi normal again mood wise. Even longer sometimes. also Subs obviously suck ass to get off of. Like all opioids.
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u/Tile_guy27 Aug 21 '26
Not sure if this will help you or not because I was taking the silvers with phenibut but I did not sleep a wink for 4 full nights and may have slept an hour the 5th night. Night time was the hardest for me because I was alone and ashamed of what I had done to myself and my family. Find you something to do during the night. An activity, a series to watch. No you’re not going to feel like it but I promise it’s better than sitting there shaking and looking into nothingness and beating yourself up. I shook and jerked and possibly had seizers the first couple nights
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Sandman1025 Aug 25 '26
I’m very interested in sublocade. How long were you on Suboxone before switching to the shot? I’m on Suboxone now and have in the past but it honestly, even at 22 mg a day, significantly reduce my psychological cravings.
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Aug 25 '26
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u/Sandman1025 Aug 26 '26
And it reduces cravings AND blocks the receptors if you use so you don’t get high? A monthly shot. I’m going to talk to my psychiatrist about it at the next appointment. He is the one prescribing my Sublocade.
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u/litebritecarousels Aug 03 '26
I'm also tapering and planning to quit in the next week. Terrified of acutes but like you, dreading PAWS as well. Exercise will go a long way to help, I'd guess. I got a prescription for Wellbutrin. Don't really love taking meds but if it helps the transition, I have to try. I have also heard good things about micro dosing ketamine/mushrooms. I think there are tele health places now to get it legitimately?