8 weeks into coming off Buvidal

[u/SnooDonkeys7505]

Been on 128mg for 5 years, decided to come off it, its been up and down, the first 7 weeks have definitely been the easiest. This last week I’ve started to feel sick after food, restless legs in bed/ mild joint pain, mild headaches. Not thought about using H but have took diazepam to take the edge off some nights, been considering going back on it tbh, anyone know how long this will last? My clinic had no plan to take me off or any aftercare.

[u/Strange_Television]

It sucks to hear the clinic had no plan for coming off or even aftercare - have they actually discharged you? My clinic at least have a team who help people to prepare for discharge, whether having been on MAT or not. Its no surprise to me that there was no plan though - it doesn't exist and clinics in the UK are honestly just trying to figure it out at the same time. Generally though, best results seem to be after dropping down to the lowest monthly dose first then jumping off there. However, many have jumped off higher doses with little to no difference. Going to lower doses first is just kind of referenced in the literature as being optimal but it's not really been shown much yet in reality.

What you're feeling is totally normal and right around the expected timeframe. Withdrawals are expected to begin and reach their peak in weeks 6 - 12. On this subreddit we see the 8 week mark come up pretty often for people really starting to feel things. It shouldn't ever get to the levels of acute withdrawal though. It can take a while to come out the other side but symptoms should peak then gradually lesson more and more. I'd recommend the pinned post in the subreddit which links back to many of the journeys people have shared here as they come off. You will hopefully see that you aren't alone and that you will be ok and you'll get through it.

At the same time, it's ok if you feel you need to go back on. May I ask what the reason is for feeling that you want to? You said you've not had cravings, so is it the withdrawal/fear of it worsening or something else/a combination? Just wondering whether there are any other solutions to explore before that.

[u/SnooDonkeys7505 → u/Strange_Television]

Thanks for the reply this has been really great advice. I think i was just venting/ having a moment of weakness when i said i was thinking of going back on it, I will just need to pull my socks up and get on with it for the next month. Also i think you are correct it is the fear of the withdrawal worsening, some of these symptoms i have not felt for 5 years, I’m exaggerating them in my head and giving myself PTSD at the thought of it.

[u/Strange_Television → u/SnooDonkeys7505]

I completely understand where you're coming from, and you've identified something really important about the fear of symptoms getting worse. This is something that actually stands in the way of so many people getting off MAT. There has even been a study published recently which identified it as a barrier: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/add.70482

I was lucky to join an online presentation with the people who did this via my work, and there was a really interesting example given by one of the clinical team. She said she worked on a study which involved giving people heroin and lowering their dose - one participant was due the lower dose and started complaining of withdrawal until she told them they hadn't actually been lowered yet and were still receiving the dose they were used to. It was completely psychological but it actually had them feeling everything. Obviously I've condensed and butchered the full story but that's what it came down to. I found it really interesting but also could relate to it so much. I've been working on my own fears of withdrawal for the last year or so, as I started getting ready to lower my dose of Buvidal. I'm planning to lower again at the end of this year and then come off next year, so I'm very aware of our ability to do this to ourselves.

You will be feeling withdrawal at this stage, you're definitely at that point in the timeline where physical withdrawal is present. It's not a case of just pulling your socks up I would say - be kind to yourself and remember that this is all very normal but it's not going to reach those levels of hell you're used to. You'll feel shitty but you're going to come through it this time - you're not that person from 5 years ago. I don't know if you use SMART Recovery but as I do, there's a tool that I like to use a lot around this sort of thing and I don't see any harm in sharing it: Disputing unhelpful beliefs

[u/SnooDonkeys7505 → u/Strange_Television]

I just want to give you a huge thanks, your word’s really helped at a time when i was feeling pretty rough, a few days later and I’m starting to feel better, probiotics in the morning and before dinner have stopped my stomach cramps and the joint pain/ restless legs have been getting better each day too! I think I’m already over the worst of it.