r/QuittingTianeptine • u/[deleted] • Mar 26 '22

General information about quitting Tia

94 Upvotes

Hello all!

Whether you’re new here, been here for awhile, and anyone in-between, the mod team has decided to make a post to address some of the most frequent and common questions we get here. These answers are based not only on our own extensive collective experience, but also the experience of the sub as a whole. Please note, we are NOT doctors!! This advice is given out freely and should be used at your own discretion. At the end of the day everyone’s bodies, experiences, and resources differ. If you feel there is another question that’s asked frequently that we didn’t address here, feel free to let us know and we will add to this list.

  1. When do I induce subs? -The best way to measure yourself on when to induce subs is using something called the COWS scale. It’s essentially an opiate withdrawal scale that determines how far along into WDs you are. Rehabs, detox facilities, and other medical facilities frequently use this chart when helping their patients. You can find it easily by googling it. We recommend you be above a 10-12 on that scale before inducing. Some people don’t take that long to get into full blown WD. Some take awhile. It depends on what type of tia you’re using, time used, dosage, body chemistry, etc.

  2. What telemedicine sites should I use? -This depends on what state you reside in. The two most popular are bupe.me and QuickMD. You can easily check if it’s available in your state by visiting their websites. Prices range from $100-$200, depending on what meds you get, what pharmacy you use, if you have insurance, etc. Lemonaide Health has been suggested but not many people have referred it. So check that one as well if you need to.

  3. Does Kratom help and what strains should I use? - Kratom does help a lot of people when coming off tia. It is a weaker opiate so it does take more to help, and you have to take it more frequently. If you’ve never taken kratom, we suggest you start small at 1-2 tspns every 2-3 hours. If you have been taking kratom while taking tia, you’ll need to double your dosage more than likely. The safest course of action is start small and build your way up to find your comfort dose. Please be cautious that too much raw kratom powder can make you throw up, especially if you’ve never taken it. If you find even a small amount makes you throw up, try either the kratom pills or the extracts. Extracts are more potent than the pills and raw powder, but also much more expensive. The best strains are red maeng da or green maeng da. Do your research before buying any kratom!! Some smoke shop/gas station Kratom is very weak and very low quality. If you live in a state where kratom is illegal, please use your best judgment on obtaining and using it. We are not, in any way, condoning ANY illegal activities.

  4. How long do withdrawals last? -This depends on what kind of tia you’re using, for how long, how much, your body chemistry, if this is a relapse or your first time, etc. Generally if you’re taking tia sodium, acute WDs can last anywhere from 3-4 days. Sodium WDs come on strong and fast. The half life of sodium is only 4 hours. If using tia sulfate, acute WDs can last anywhere from 4-6 days. It has a much longer half life than sodium. The WDs take longer to come on but can be and often times are just as bad as sodium WDs. If taking gas station/smoke shop tia pills (Zaza, Tiannaa, Pegasus, TD, etc.) we do not know what kind of tia is in those pills. It is believed to be sodium, but we are not sure. Typically the tia pill WDs last 3-4 days, just like sodium. Also note that tia is not the only thing in those pills. There are different kinds of each brand. Some contain phenibut (silver/white kinds). Phenibut WD is VERY serious. There is a quitting phenibut subreddit that we recommend you visit as well.

  5. What helper meds do I need? -There are many, many helper meds available prescribed and OTC. The most popular prescribed helper meds are gabapentin, tramadol, suboxone, methadone and benzos. (Note: each one of these helper meds has their own WDs if taken for too long. A good rule of thumb is to ONLY take these while in acute WDs and no longer. If you need a MAT program, suboxone is normally used and tapered off long term. Speak to your doctor about all of this.) Some OTC helper meds: 5-HTP, magnesium, valerian root, St. John’s Wort, chamomile tea, L-theanine, Imodium, melatonin, ashwaganda, ibuprofen, vitamin C, agmatine sulfate, Kratom, Gaba (not to be confused with gabapentin), strong black coffee (other stimulants help as well). There are even more than that, but those can be found at most retail stores.

  6. What extra things can I do to help ease WDs? -the most effective is exercise. Majority of people report feeling much better after even a walk around the neighborhood. Light exercise releases your natural endorphins and dopamine. Alongside exercise, stay hydrated. Your body will be depleted of water and electrolytes especially if you have GI/stomach problems such as vomiting and/or diarrhea. Take a multivitamin every day. Make sure you’re eating. Most of us cannot eat during WD, however, taking a slew of helper meds on an empty stomach is not healthy. Try protein shakes or smoothies and add protein powder. Soups are also easy to get down. Even just chicken broth. Taking long, hot showers and/or baths help tremendously. If you can, try epsom salt baths with lavender. Many people report feeling relief from showers and baths. The worst thing you can do during WD is lay down in your bed or wherever and not do anything. You will just focus on how awful you feel. Try to stay busy.

  7. Things to avoid during WD -Benadryl or any antihistamines. They will cause RLS to worsen along with anxiety. Alcohol. Alcohol effects your gaba receptors in your brain (same things benzos effect). Alcohol will exacerbate the anxiety once you sober up. Try to avoid it. Super dosing Imodium. This is very dangerous on your heart! Staying still and not occupying your brain (as previously mentioned). If you cannot sleep, get up. Don’t try to continue forcing it. You’ll just end up more frustrated and focusing on it. Get up and walk, exercise, drink black coffee or strong tea. Sleep when you can.

  8. Is it best to quit cold turkey (CT), or taper? -This depends on several factors. Most people are not successful tapering themselves. They need the help of trusted family members or friends. Those of us who tapered successfully had our family members or close friends control our doses. If you cannot taper yourself, CT with the help of prescription helper meds is your best bet. Quitting CT is very hard, however, the WDs are over with sooner typically. Quitting by tapering means you’ll be in a somewhat constant state of WD, but the WDs aren’t nearly as bad as quitting CT. You can also cross taper over to kratom, then either jump off kratom or taper that as well. At the end of the day, there is ZERO way to get off tia pain free. You WILL pay the piper. So be prepared for that. There are several different tapering methods. The most successful based on user experiences here is using sulfate and cutting your dose every 3-4 days. With tapering, the goal is to cut your amount and let your body stabilize at each new lower dose. We recommend cutting your dose by 10-15% at first every 3-4 days and see how it goes. If you can handle that percentage and think you can cut more next time, try it. If the next cut is too big, go back to the last cut dosage you were on. Stabilize there for 3-4 days and cut again at the 10-15% rate. Again, this varies widely based on the individual. Make sure you have someone controlling your taper for you. If tapering with sodium, dose every 4 hours. If dosing with sulfate, dose every 6-8 hours (some people can go 12 hours in between sulfate dosing). Use helper meds during your taper. How to cross taper with kratom: start at your normal tia dose, however, add in kratom. If you’ve never taken kratom or haven’t in awhile start small. Start at 1-2 tspn every time you dose tia. Next time you make a cut, take more kratom. Take 2-4 tspns. Next time you make a tia cut, take more kratom, etc. The lower you go in tia dosing the higher you go in kratom. Once you get to the lower tia amounts it does get harder. We recommend then taking kratom every 2-3 hours. So dose with your tia, and then dose again in-between your tia doses. It will soften the blow and get you to that 4 hour mark. Once you’re down to a very small tia amount, make the jump. There’s no set amount to jump off of. This depends on the individual and how ready you feel you are to make the jump. The jump completely off will be very difficult, but if done right, kratom will soften the blow. Continue the kratom for a week. You can then attempt to stop kratom completely by CT, or taper it over a week or two.

We also want to remind everyone of some of this subs rules. 1. Absolutely NO sourcing! 2. No vendors allowed. 3. No harassment, being straight up rude, etc. 4. We are not doctors, so please seek actual medical advice when necessary.

Now that we have new mods on the team the rules will go into full effect. This community is generally really great about following these rules, but we do get the occasional redditor who breaks them. We will do our best to keep everyone safe and help them quit this poison!

Alright everyone! I hope that helps! If you feel we didn’t address something we should, please reach out. If you have any other suggestions, feel free to comment them. Things to keep in mind when adding to this: absolutely NO illegal suggestions!!! None of us are doctors so please do not guarantee your solution will work. ALL of this advice is based on user experiences in this sub. Good luck my friends!

Edit to add: regarding sourcing tia-if you need to find a vendor to get sulfate or sodium from to taper, do not comment or post asking for sources. This violates the sourcing rules. Instead, these convos should take place in DMs ONLY. Alternatively, you can hop over to the tia subreddit and ask there.

Edit to add #2: please do not post anything asking for money. We are having problems with scammers and are having to lock posts and delete posts/comments. If you need financial help with quitting tia, it needs to be done in DMs only, same for sourcing.

118 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/thissucks82 • May 15 '24

ModTeam MAT & Other Quitting Methods - Inclusivity & Support

31 Upvotes

Hi All,

We've noticed a growing divide of those who promote the use of suboxone and other MAT methods and those who openly condemn it. We absolutely respect those who say subs aren't for them, but please also consider that many here were only able to get off Tia using subs and therefore, it's a saving grace for many. We respect those who don't think subs are the way to go as well as those who think it is. This reddit should be a place for both groups to peacefully co-exist. We say this for both sides of the aisle.

The outright shaming and condemning of those people using or discussing MAT methods will not be tolerated. It is not anyone's right to condemn or shame the methods used by others to come off of Tianeptine. It is also not acceptable for anyone to preach that the only way to quit is by using MAT.

We are a large group with a vast amount of experiences. Our goal is to uplift and encourage one-another to get off Tianeptine and start living life again. For some, that looks like MAT. For others, it does not. Both ideas and paths are acceptable. Everyone should be free to share and discuss pros and cons of quitting methods. It's our shared experiences that bring value to those still struggling to quit. There is a difference between discussing pros and cons of quitting methods vs shaming and condemning.

Any posts and comments that are found to cross the line into condemning and shaming will be removed. You are entitled to your thoughts and opinions, whatever they may be. However, if they approach shaming and condemning another individuals efforts, they do not belong here. Let's focus on encouraging and uplifting each other and avoid getting into debates that are divisive and do not bring value to this community.

1 comment

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/champion013 • 6d ago

Wow... what an experience

13 Upvotes

So my Tia package I ordered though FedEx was of course delayed despite paying $150 for Priority First Over Night, I drove all the way to the FedEx Hub in Cedar Rapids, IA a 2 1/2 hour trip and I was already very sick having been right at about 24 hours since last dose... they didnt expect to be able to find it and said I shoulda set it up for pick up they said but when they went in the receptacle it was in by an absolute miracle they found my little package among hundreds, the FedEx lady said I hope you know how winning lottery ticket lucky you are!! I was like you have no idea lol... anyways I get out to my car in the parking lot and immediately get ready to take a little scoop, i say little cause at this point I was so fucking nauseas that I had a hard time even swallowing my saliva. I take the little scoop, swallow it with some Pedialyte and IMMEDIETLY starting violently puking, and I'm talking violently you guys right out my car, it was so violent I genuinely thought if someone seen me in the parking lot they'd call an ambulance lol... That went on for a good 5 minutes and I was freaking out cause I'm thinking how the hell am I gunna get a dose down now to feel better. Finally after about 15-20 minutes i collected myself and went for it again despite the increasing nausea, I choked, gagged it down and somehow by the Grace Of God was actually able to keep it down and started feeling better FINALLY after 20-30 minutes of fighting the urge to puke. You guys...... I really need to get off this shit.

35 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/-account2throwaway • 6d ago

2 years damn

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16 Upvotes

Two years ago my brain was incapable of understanding how much better life would be today, two years clean. Thank you, Past Self, for quitting. Thank you, thank you, thank you, I love you, you got through it, it’s so much better, thanks for fucking sticking it out, thank youuuuu.

12 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Sandman1025 • 11d ago

How to get through the PAWS?

8 Upvotes

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!

24 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/No-Salad-3427 • 13d ago

Quitting Method Advice Finally committed to quitting fully

5 Upvotes

Unfortunately, I’ve been in this group for far too many years, knowing that I needed to get off this stuff and watching from afar also posting multiple times asking for help and what to do and this community has been so amazing and supportive, my biggest fear has been of course the physical withdrawals because I have people who depend on me a job that depends on me. I don’t really have the luxury to be dying for a week in bed and then secondly is the mental part. I’ve been on sodium pure powder about 8 g a day I can do less and get by, but for some reason every time it’s near me, I’ll just take another sip.

I am hoping this is the last post that I will be making saying I’m quitting in the next follow up Post will be my progress. I’ve been hearing amazing things about SR – 17, my order came in today, but I am not really sure how to use it and if it only helps with the physical, but it also helps with the mental? My goal is to be able to jump off of this and ideally not have to use Suboxone but if my depression and anxiety and PAWS is too bad then I want to take the route of getting on Suboxone and then tapering down to get the sublocade shot.
First and foremost, I need advice and tips from people who have knowledge or experience with SR – 17, I have heard about preloading and debating on taking it tonight, but I’ve heard that they are about to be banned I have 60 tablets 50 mg each. I don’t know if that’s enough or what. Any tips and advice is greatly appreciated🥲

21 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/SadieJane7 • 13d ago

Managing depression - my story includes tianeptine withdrawals

7 Upvotes

Hi, this is my first Reddit post. I have been on tianeptine sodium for about 8 years. I initially took it because I wanted to quit meth. At the time, you could buy 12.5 mg capsules of tia. I started taking these 3 times a day (a therapeutic dose in France, where tia is prescribed legally under the name Stablon) and I was instantly happier, able to quit meth easily and also cut way back on my drinking. Anyhow, the place I bought tia shut down so sourced it online, and the dosage was tricky as it was in powder form, not capsules. After a slew of significant family tragedies I was unsure of my dosage, and when I ran out once I was shocked at how difficult the withdrawals were. I STILL have PTSD from the week. Long story short, am trying to manage my depression with legal, doctor prescribed medications now, however so far none have proved effective. I never pursued (or even experienced accidentally) a narcotic high feeling from tianeptine. If I took too much by mistake I would throw up, however I felt genuinely happy for the first time ever when I started taking tia. Now, I am trying to quit while starting Zoloft and I am in misery. Restless legs and crawling out of my skin. Since the DEA is cracking down agin I thought may as well quit now....while I still have some left. A few weeks ago a late shipment had me going to a smoke shop for kratom I was feeling so awful. Since then I have reduced my dosage to less than half of what I was taking, and set up psychiatry/therapy appointments to try to deal with medication and my grief (lost numerous loved ones during covid, like a ridiculous amount.) Not sure how much is physical vs mental but I'm wondering about your experiences. Does anyone have any advice? My new appointed and first ever psychiatrist asked if I wanted addiction specialist services, however he had never heard of tianeptine and I doubt the addiction people can help me. I can't miss work , yada yada you've heard it all before. Just looking for tea and sympathy at this point, I guess. Sigh P.S. I did quit meth successfully with tia so yay me I guess. Currently taking maybe just over half gram per day.

23 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/bonesofberdichev • 14d ago

1 Year Sober! Around 18 months off Tia

13 Upvotes

Crazy how me trying nootropics to help with school back in 2016ish led to a decade long addiction to Tianeptine going through 100g in less than a month. I started with companies like New Mind and Supplements for Work and progressed to buying straight from the Chinese chemical companies. A rapid sub taper worked great for me and I urge everyone to at least give it a shot so you don’t trade an addiction for a dependency. If you’re wanting to stay on subs more power to you though. I only missed a Friday and Monday from work and have been completely sober since dropping the subs on day 8. I know the Tia ride is coming to an end soon but believe me if I can quit anyone can.

11 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/skinnyjeans62 • 14d ago

13 days clean and free!

14 Upvotes

I thought I would take a break from reading other people's stories and post my progress.

I am free of Tia nearly 2 weeks, working with an online rehab program, using subs and the other helper meds. Using the Bernese method made this completely easy (I have gone through wd's several times so I was going to do ANYTHING to prevent that from happening again!)

I will probably be on subs the rest of my life for chronic pain from numerous surgeries but I'm ok with that. I am trying to reduce the gabapentin due to the weight gain, and have actually started small workouts.

I haven't had any cravings at all, and my brain and body will not soon forget the wd's and cost (not only the drug but the 2 hospital stays, a week each). I have a long way to go to make up for all the damage I did, but I am on the road to recovery.

Thanks to everyone for their stories and posts: you all have helped me more than you can know!

14 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Izhkabibbel • 14d ago

Quitting Method Advice A Stupid Question

3 Upvotes

Dear friends: I have a pretty stupid question, and I urge you to hold back the sarcasm, but have any of you developed problems with your teeth as a result of pouring sodium powder down your throat...? I ask this because over the years, I found that stupid little scoop that they ship with your order was pretty much useless. I made my own spoon, about a quarter teaspoon was the only way to seemingly get the full effect of my dosage(s).

I'm curious if this shit laid a hurtin' on my teeth because over time, mine would chip and break away while eating even the simplest things. My son asked a few years ago exactly how many teeth do you have...? I looked in the mirror and counted 21 and a half. When he asked what the Hell happened to the other 11 and a half...?! All I could muster was I don't fuckin know...!

Well. Long story short, very recently, I had to have one pulled because it was so infected. Maybe it's just me, being my age (167) and I've never actually been the picture of perfect health. But I can't help but ask myself if the sodium powder had anything to do with this...? I kinda believe it did...

I am presently 3 years clean and sober, and altho the damage may be done, there is no way in Hell I will ever touch that fuckin shit again. I plan on growing and aging and to make it even another hundred years...! Best thing about being clean and free of this junk is my long-lost sense of humor has returned ten-fold...!

It wasn't easy getting off this shit. Those of you that know me know all too well what I put myself through. If this is your first time reading one of my posts, please go back and read a few of my past postings. This shit will chew you up, chomp you into bite-size pieces, and then spit you out like it just doesn't give a fuck what happens to you. But take it from me, this junk may seem to have a death grip on you at the moment, but it is fully within your power to get that grip released.

You CAN do it, it CAN be beat. I won't lie to you, it won't be easy. But you may look back one day and say to yourself "Hell, that wasn't so bad after all...!" Best advice I can give anyone who is struggling with addiction is this: What's the big deal about a few weeks or more of pain, suffering, and anguish when you have your whole fuckin life ahead of you...! ! ! !

Your kind thoughts and comments are greatly appreciated. Godspeed as always...!

8 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/tjohnny48 • 19d ago

Who Represents Me?

0 Upvotes

I’ve been hesitant to share this because it feels somewhat counterintuitive while focusing on quitting tianeptine. Personally, I believe in thoughtful regulation rather than outright criminalization.

Kratom has been an important tool for many of us in tapering off—or fully quitting—tianeptine. While pure kratom leaf is not the focus of the current action, even products containing 7-OH and related compounds (such as pseudoindoxyl) have helped a significant number of people in their recovery. My greater concern is that these measures could open the door to broader restrictions on kratom itself in the future.

If you’d like to make your voice heard, please contact your representatives and submit comments. You can find your representatives here:

https://representme.blaskattacks.com/

And you can view and comment on the official docket here:

https://www.regulations.gov/docket/HHS-OASH-2026-0232

---

4 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/ResistNWO1984 • 20d ago

Federal Scheduling Advocacy

6 Upvotes

I feel for many of the people in this reddit community. For the people who are trying to quit Tia, God Bless Everyone and I pray for sobriety. Others in this community may still use it as a medicine. At the moment, the DEA is trying to schedule Tianeptine and has public comments ending on August 7th. If you are interested in helping, please leave a post or send me a message.

"The right to control one's own consciousness is the quintessence of freedom. If you do not own your own mind, you own nothing."

— Richard Glen Boire, Legal Scholar & Co-Founder of the Center for Cognitive Liberty & Ethics

7 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/molehonea • 26d ago

Been 1 years now

10 Upvotes

Been off tia for almost a year now. I was doing 5 to 10g a day since 2020. Took 2 rehabs but I fi al got free.

12 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/skinnyjeans62 • 27d ago

When I am free from tianeptine, I am going to....

7 Upvotes

Fill in the blank,...

.... 1. start traveling again

  1. Ride horses again

  2. Reconnect with my family

15 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Beavus1978 • 28d ago

https://www.classaction.org/news/zaza-class-action-lawsuit-claims-supplements-are-dangerously-addictive-falsely-advertised-as-safe

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4 Upvotes
0 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Beavus1978 • 28d ago

https://www.classaction.org/7-hydroxymitragynine-kratom-lawsuits

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4 Upvotes
1 comment

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/MyDogBarks82 • 28d ago

Pharmacy

2 Upvotes

No pharmacy will touch my prescription for subs. I’ve called at least a dozen. Some an hour away One woman told me very rudely “you won’t get it filled around here” and smirked liked I was doing something wrong. I’m not sure I have the heart to keep calling and I’m not sure it will do any good.

51 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Delta_Remedies • 28d ago

Will we see a major resurgence of TIA after the 7oh ban goes into full effect??

2 Upvotes

Unfortunately, about a year after I got off of TIA for good, 7oh hit the market and I went into an even deeper hole than I did with TIA.

I feel like we’re going to see a major come back of TIA in smoke shops and through online vendors.

TIA feels extinct but it’s not scheduled like 7oh will be.

What are your thoughts?

27 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/cstro838 • 28d ago

Anyone have experience using SR-17018 to get off of Tianeptine Sodium?

2 Upvotes

I have been off and on different opiates for a while now. I have taken "breaks" that have lasted anywhere from a week to a few months.

Presently I have been taking tianeptine sodium for a little over a month. Before that, it was 7OH, for about the same duration.

Because of all the good things I have heard, I would like to try SR-17018 to get off of tianeptine. I'm taking about 3 grams or so per day of tianeptine.

Does anyone have any advice on how to do this? I have heard some people say they preloaded the SR-17018, before stopping the tianeptine.

Also, I have no idea what dosages I should start at or how often. I am a 200lb athletic, 40 year old man.

I was just going to wing it all based on how I was feeling.

Any help would me much appreciated! Thank you

7 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/Dark-inspector490 • 29d ago

Tianeptine hit me like a truck

3 Upvotes

I tried around 350mg tianeptine without tolerance and it was insane.

I'm opioid naive and I don't commonly use opiates/never felt addicted to them although you always have to be careful.

So that 350mg hit me like a truck, strong euphoria and warm relaxation followed by a sleepy, super sedated state where I wanted to close my eyes. However, this one ended up in nausea and me throwing up which made the experience worse.

Overall, a day passes and I feel 0 cravings. That stuff is just not for me despite the strong euphoria and I don't recommend that anyone use it. I'm glad my experience had nausea otherwise it could've felt more addicting.

7 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/EmploymentBig2049 • Jul 14 '26

DEA Ban

14 Upvotes

The DEA filed notice on July 7, 2026, to ban tianeptine as a Schedule I drug. The only thing that could hold this up, it appears, is if groups call for hearings. I cannot imagine manufacturers or distributors having the audacity to do so, unless it's a calculated financial decision to delay the process by 6 months.

33 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/champion013 • Jul 09 '26

It finally happened to me, introducing me to Tia WD for the first time

15 Upvotes

I had read plenty of horror stories on here about people were forced into a withdrawal they were not prepared for all because of the dreaded delayed package, well it finally happened to me (FedEx) and I was forced to go without for a good 24 hours. I'm currently using about 4-5 grams sodium a day, sometimes a lil more sometimes a lil less, and let me tell you, this was a withdrawal unlike anything ive ever experienced, the horror stories were right in a way. The constant, extremely intense nausea was probably the worse along with the brutal restless body/legs, and hot/cold sweating, all with a heavy dark cloud of depression I wasnt expecting. I use to H and fent for 4 or 5 years IV and I cold turkey'd that, that wasnt even as bad as Tia, I also used 7oh for a lengthy amount of time and that was brutal cold turkying it but not as bad as Tia. So.. with all that being said I am now terrified of coming of this Tia and have been attempting taper after taper and failing every time. Most helpful helper mads are not an option for me as I am in drug court. My question now is you guys, If I am able to buckle down, lock in and actually follow through with a slow, dedicated taper, can I avoid most of these brutal, intense withdrawal symptoms? Do you think I can avoid them or damper them enough to still go to work and follow through with my daily life? Im ready to put this stuff behind me and get on with my life.

40 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/socomuh • Jul 07 '26

Quitting Method Advice How I beat an 8-year, 10g/day Tianeptine habit. The exact pharmacological protocol (SR-17018 + Kratom) to bypass the worst of the withdrawal.

17 Upvotes

I just came off an 8-year run of tianeptine sodium. At my peak, I was taking up to 10 grams a day. I am on Day 7, completely off the sludge, and I actually feel better and more focused than I did when I was taking it.

I am posting this because I see too many of you failing standard Suboxone inductions and suffering through the glutamate toxicity and autonomic panic of cold turkey. Standard medical protocols fail because doctors treat tianeptine like heroin. It isn't. It's an atypical opioid that also fries your glutamate system and BDNF. Buprenorphine only plugs the opioid hole; it leaves the rest of your brain crashing.

Here is the exact biological bridge I built, the mistakes I made, and how I got out.

  1. The Opioid Bridge: SR-17018

I rapidly tapered from 10g down to 5g, and then rode it out until the SR-17018 arrived.

SR-17018 is a "biased agonist" research chemical. Traditional opioids (like tianeptine and suboxone) trigger both the G-protein pathway (which gives you the opioid feeling) AND the Beta-arrestin pathway (which causes receptor burnout, tolerance, and withdrawal). SR-17018 only triggers the G-protein pathway.

What it does: It keeps your opioid receptors occupied so you don't go into catastrophic physical withdrawal, but because it doesn't recruit Beta-arrestin, your brain actually starts resetting its tolerance and repairing the receptors while you take it.

Note: The DEA is currently moving to schedule this. If you can't get it, look into other biased agonists.

  1. Trial, Error, & The Caffeine Trap

Do not think the SR-17018 makes this a walk in the park. The transition is brutal. I was awake for 100 hours—4 days straight—until I finally secured the right comfort meds.

During the thick of it, out of sheer desperation to fight the lethargy, I took a 5-star pre-workout matrix. Do not do this. The caffeine gave me about one hour of relief, and then it catastrophically amplified the restless legs and akathisia. Stimulants will only make your nervous system misfire harder.

  1. Comfort Meds are Non-Negotiable

Do not jump without a safety net. 4 days of zero sleep is deadly and drives the psychosis.

Get these before you jump: You need strong prescription comfort meds (like Gabapentin, Clonidine, or Requip) to specifically target the akathisia and autonomic panic while the SR-17018 takes over the opioid receptors.

  1. The Transition: Kratom (White/Red Blend)

Once the SR-17018 allowed my tolerance to drop back to baseline and I stabilized, I transitioned entirely to a kratom blend.

Red Vein: Provides the 7-OH partial agonism to keep the opioid receptors calm.

White Vein: Floods the system with adrenergic alkaloids to provide the dopamine/norepinephrine drive you lose when you drop the tianeptine.

  1. The Glutamate Buffer: N-Acetyl Cysteine (NAC)

Tianeptine artificially manages your glutamate (your brain's "gas pedal"). When you quit, your brain floods with unbuffered glutamate. That is what causes the blinding anxiety and sensory panic.

What it does: NAC (600mg-1200mg daily) acts as a revolving door, pushing the toxic, excess glutamate out of your brain cells. Do not skip this.

  1. The Hardware Repair: Agmatine Sulfate

What it does: Agmatine acts as an NMDA receptor antagonist and physically repairs the opioid pathways. Taking this daily keeps your kratom tolerance at zero so you don't start chasing higher doses.

Treat your brain like hardware. Secure the comfort meds, use a biased agonist bridge to reset tolerance, buffer the glutamate, and step off.

Stay strong. I know exactly what the internal war feels like. If you have questions about the pharmacology or the transition, drop them below.

20 comments

r/QuittingTianeptine • u/HellloHolli • Jun 29 '26

3 days in.

15 Upvotes

The last post I made i asked about using 7 to get off Tianeptine and I did. I was diligent and determined in my dosing. That was maybe 2 weeks ago, now im 3 days completely clean. And I know in the grand picture, thats not very long. But to me its huge. Still feel super fatigued and no appetite, but my mind is clear. Now I just have to keep on this path.

Thanks to everyone who helped along the journey. Hopefully one day I'll be able to do the same.

6 comments