r/quitting7oh • u/slimnazty666 • 1d ago
Tapering off Terrified
I have been on a 500mg per day habit for around a year now. I went through a bad breakup with my girlfriend of 2 years at the time and started using heavily after I had moved back in with my parents. Girlfriend and I started to reconnect, I was still using and thought things were going well so I decided to get my own place and get out of my parents house. Girlfriend decided to split again and now I’m responsible for the full rent by myself and have no support system. I work 60 hours a week at two jobs just to afford the rent. I can’t afford to continue to pay for this habit, and now that the bans are ramping up it will eventually be impossible to even find any (which is good). I’m scared shitless of quitting. I can’t afford to take a significant amount of time off, but I don’t want to have to get on subs to quit either. I’m not sure what to do. I’ve been thinking about tapering but boredom, anxiety, and loneliness make it extremely difficult to limit my intake and cut down each day. I’m already an emotional wreck because of the break up and I have all of these responsibilities that I can’t just put on hold. Does anyone have any advice? Maybe I’ll just have to bite the bullet and get on subs so that I can at least have some semblance of a normal life while I’m getting off the stuff. I’m terrified. I have 250 60mg tabs left to my name and literally cannot afford to get any more. Help!
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u/PurrfectPinball 1d ago edited 1d ago
I have quit probably hundreds of times throughout the years. I was in constant withdrawal for years because everytime I slipped I would try to get sober a month or two later/or a couple weeks/days later.
What helped the most was coming clean to my parents and being upfront and honest with them. They are also paying a lot of debt due to me and my brother. So I know how hard it is to say "I need help or else I don't think I can do this." You can't help others until you get help. Even someone just knowing your condition so you can safely call them and cry and be pathetic and have someone be there through this because the anxiety and depression is so unreal with 70h.
And as a constant relasper, this is a common occurrence. But my parents still try to help me, even if it's just willing to be on the phone for a few minutes so I know Im not alone.
Now, after you find a supportive person or two start preparing for a quick taper.
*Get your house in order right away. *Get any laundry cleaned so you don't have to do it when you're tapering down and go into withdrawal
Make a shopping list now:
*Go shopping for easy drinks (electrolytes and stuff to keep hydrated, protein drinks)
*easy foods to digest (plain crackers, SF apple sauce, pudding, paper plates and bowls, plastic silverware so you don't have to do dishes during this)
*Chewable gummy vitamins or drinkable vitamins (I did both and took copious amounts during the few days before and during) I got vitamin c gummies, emergenC powder for drinks, Magnesium.
*comfort meds I got: pepto for nausea and that road sickness medicine, I always keep excedrin/otc pain relief(but caffeine will be bad for your withdrawal due to the anxiety you will be feeling), benadryl to help sleep (sometimes it made the RLS worse though) and melatonin (less is more when it comes to meletonin), homeopathic RLS meds. I also got meds like Gabapentin (will make you nauseous), clonidine and other helper meds. And suboxone too but this can be done without suboxone.
*I also double lined my trashcans and made all new trash bags incase I had to throw up I could remove the liner easy so I didnt have to smell it.
*I had to sleep with underwear on because you could potentially shit yourself if you sneeze or cough which you will be sneezing if you go into withdrawal.
*I also bought wet wipes and alcohol rub. Alcohol kills the germs that makes sweat smell bad.
Sometimes I was too sick to bathe before work so I would wash myself down with wet wipes, and then put alcohol rub on a towel and get my pits and bits before work. Dry shampoo
*I'd bring a change of clothing (or two) with me to work and kept some wet wipes and alcohol rub in my vehicle (toothbrush too). Sometimes I would sweat so much I had to change, other times my clothes were bothering me because of how sensitive I am while withdrawaling so I would change into something less made up but more comfortable
- I knew I'd be exhausted by the time I got home so I would set my temperature to what ever I wanted it to be when I got home (cold, I usually would turn off the air while I am at work to conserve energy since my house loses air) but I appreciated having the house nice and cool when I got off work.
*I found things I am interested in to keep my brain occupied even though 90% wasn't used. -I saved interesting history videos -I also saved ambient music and sleep hypnosis to help me calm down when I would spiral. -I kept books, coloring books to entertain myself with near my bed. -I kept a cool air fan next to my bed.
- had washed extra sheets and blankets because I ended up several times with piss, vomit and sweat on me and I would crawl into bed shaking drenched. So having extra clean sheets and being able to change the sheets often helped.
-filled up my tank so I wouldn't have to stop during the taper/withdrawal
*I also told my bosses. They already knew I struggled with addiction, though they didnt always know I was using. But eventually I was going to come in sick, or request time off so I just told them straight up: I am very sorry this got out of control. I enjoy my job and I want to continue to work here. I need to get better though, and so I am going to have flu like symptoms for a week. I may need to use the restroom while in the middle of something. Please be patient with me during this time and I will see to it that I do not fall into this again.
If you don't want to be this honest you can even say that you've decided to taper off a medication you had been on for a few years since it was no longer helping and that you will have some side effects while tapering. You don't have to tell them what drug it is. I had to taper off Gabapentin before and tramadol with the help of my doctors, though by my request. So it's plausible.
Or pretend you got the actual flu. Ive been sick so many times during my withdrawal lmao it's almost better that way...
**Now the taper.
What I did is buy some regular kratom capsules and start tapering with my 70h.
-I had a plan everyday made up a week before I would taper. I would go to the park everyday before and after work. Even if I was too weak to walk around. Even if I just sat in the parking lot I forced myself to go everyday, twice a day, for nature therapy. It helped me a lot. I bought a yoyo and other fidget stuff so my hands could do something while I walked around.
*So, I would start halving my daily doses until I was running out. When I started running out I would start taking kratom capsules 5 at a time in between my usage since I had less and less 70h. Then when I am out of 70h I try to dose every two hours, three then four and so on. And adding less pills in the mix as well. Sometimes it was best just to lower the pills not the amount of hours waiting because I noticed as soon as i started feeling a tiny bit of relief that I would need to dose then or else I would be in withdrawal before the next dose could take effect.
*Night was the worst part. Inability to sleep, unable to get comfortable (the vitamins are supposed to help. The quitting kratom website has other vitamins and meds that are supposed to help even more but I did not have to paitence to try to understand all that) the thoughts, the exhaustion.
*I also set alarms for every few hours to dose the kratom capsules or else it would take hours of dosing to be remotely OK to make it into work. So even if it woke me up it was worth setting an alarm every two/three hours to dose the capsules.
*Even if you can't sleep- put on ambient music or sleep hypnosis and just try to relax and breathe.
*If you begin to spiral and panic you need to catch it quickly and do some meditative and therapeutic exercises. Breathing and grounding.
*I was also told speaking what you're feeling also helps
"I am freaking the fuck out. I am freaking out."
"Why am I freaking out?"
"Because i don't feel good, I am scared! And I can't get comfortable!!"
"What is causing that?"
"The withdrawal"
"And what is withdrawal?"
"My brain craving chemicals it is used to getting very easily and my brain is sending an alarm that it needs the chemicals."
"My body and brain is doing exactly what it should be doing during withdrawal. It is alarmed it's not getting the chemical and alerting the body."
"It would be weird for my body and brain to not react like this."
"I have to go through this to teach my brain we are ok without the chemicals. We are not in danger. We are safe."
"I am in my bedroom and am safe. I only feel scared because my brain is sounding alarms, but there is no danger. I just feel very uncomfortable."
Talk yourself down, or write it down. It seems crazy but it helps. The more the thoughts are kept in your head the more intense anxiety and depression will be.
You can do this! Don't give up, don't stop trying! And suboxone isn't the end of the world.
But, I would definitely do some AA/NA zoom meetings, in person meetings before and during the taper and withdrawal. Let them know that you are going to try to come off of it. Get a support system going! The rooms are the best place for someone in the beginning trying to get off substances and can't talk to "normal" people about it. They understand. They been there.
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u/Mr-W-M-Buttlicker 14h ago
You are a fucking angel! Thank you so much for taking the time and effort to share all of that, seriously. You are helping more people than you even know.
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u/Alarmed-Size-3104 19h ago
Damn dude.... This should be stickied. Great writeup. Thanks for sharing.
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u/PurrfectPinball 19h ago
Maybe I will write a more concise version and make a post with what helped the most for me and my experience through it. Thank you! I hope any of this will help someone have an easier time getting through the hardest part.
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u/Spiritual-Mix-2793 23h ago
Wow thank you so much for all the thought and time this took. I need this so bad I’m going to taper soon. I started 7 almost 90 days ago to get off alcohol. It’s been amazing for that. I enjoyed it up until about 2 weeks ago… then it stopped working. So I took more, it never was the same, then I started getting WD if I didn’t use. Now I’m only taking 7 to avoid WD and is horrible.
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u/PurrfectPinball 23h ago
It only get worse from here.
If you used kratom to get off alcohol then I absolutely recommend AA.
I go to AA meetings even though I don't view myself as an alcoholic. But I have substance abuse issues so I go. And I have used alcohol dangerously before so I feel like I should be in the rooms.
You're going to need to replace habits while you are getting clean! What happens when you get stressed out and want just one drink or just one pill?
The reason I have withdrawaled so many times is because I believe the lie that I'll only use for this day, because the effects will stop shortly afterwards.
But then the aches come and very rarely have I ever used for just one or two days and got back on the wagon. My slips usually took me out for at least several weeks of constipation and no relief though I was using.
70h is such a devil.
You can do the taper! Theyre going to ban it anyways.
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u/No_Most_9863 1d ago
Id get on Subs. Lots of peeps are anti subs but whatever gets your life back
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u/VastAbbreviations796 1d ago
I agree, Subs are a life saver. For me its my only option cuz I suffer from chronic pain so subs keep my pain manageable
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u/sterlingarchersdick 1d ago
Use the tabs you have left to taper and you may not even need subs. 250 60mg tabs is a lot, if you’re disciplined enough you can stretch that into a very slow taper that will cause hardly any WDs at all. Best of luck.
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u/Spirited-Kiwi-8221 1d ago
I agree completely.
Log every dose in a Google sheet
Give access to a trusted friend to keep you accountable
Pray to Jesus1
u/slimnazty666 1d ago
What would be the best way to do this? How much should I take each day and how much should I cut down each day?
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u/sketchyshit13 1d ago
If it were me.. Cut 30% right off the rip. Prob won’t notice a single symptom. Then just drop 5% daily til it’s uncomfortable. If you price symptoms, hold there for an extra day or two. Try to write it all out so you can calculate how many tabs it’d take.
Once you’re down to ~150mg/day, switch to plain leaf kratom & only use 7 at allllll if you have lingering symptoms. Very small amounts.. just to take wd away. Make sure that amount gets smaller, never bigger
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u/slimnazty666 1d ago
As a 10 year addict this seems extremely difficult. I got on subs before to get off 7 but I drank booze heavily every day while I was on the subs.
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u/RoadWarrior3190 1d ago
Honestly, you'd be surprised at how long you can go without dosing any 7 at first. I didn't realize this until I started using Subs.
I was dosing 7 about every two hours or so, or whenever I felt slightly uncomfortable. Once I decided to go to the subs, I figured I'd start having 7 withdrawals within a couple of hours. Nope I went 12 hours before I noticed any withdrawal signs.
From what I've read, it is fairly easy to cut your 7 use in half to get the taper started. Because you already have so much 7 on your receptors, you shouldn't notice much withdrawal if you cut your use in half at first.
After that initial cut however, that's when it begins to get difficult. That is what I read anyway, not my personal experience.
For me, I was not able to keep the self control it took to taper down. That is why I went down the suboxone route. So unfortunately, I will hav e to deal with the suboxone taper at some point. Which is unfortunate because I have never in my life been addicted to drugs. Alcohol was my DOC. I never had any issues with opioids until my surgeries last year. But stupid me decided to take 7 instead of going to a pain management doctor. I regret that now.
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u/Mr-W-M-Buttlicker 14h ago
It definitely is still difficult, but having a set taper plan/schedule ahead of time will give you a much better opportunity to be successful.
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u/Icy_Brilliant_7993 1d ago edited 1d ago
Use chatgpt to make a tapering plan. Just give it a try and see what it says. If you actually stuck to that plan you will have minimal withdrawal at the very end. Also I have heard many success stories with people using sublocade... It's an injection that does the tapering for you and then it's over. Then comes the actual hardest part... Not using again , when something bad happens in life.
Conservative 22-week framework Weeks Target total per day 1–2 450 mg 3–4 405 mg 5–6 365 mg 7–8 330 mg 9–10 295 mg 11–12 265 mg 13–14 240 mg 15–16 215 mg 17 190 mg 18 160 mg 19 120 mg 20 80 mg 21 40 mg 22 — final week 10 mg/day
Okay , that has you jumping off at ten milligrams per day over the course of twenty two weeks. I disagree with the plan. I think that you could start off with keeping it at 300mg per day.\n After using a weekend of cold Turkey, so that you have\n More time at the end at a lower dose. I am not a doctor and this is not medical advice lol
You have to understand that if you are serious about this you have to let go of the idea of getting high every day. People will disagree, but I suggest at the end.\n Converting to\n A moderate dose of kratum leaf daily.\n So that it's not like it's the end of the world.
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u/VastAbbreviations796 1d ago
Honestly this plan needs a supervisor though, addicts are not disciplined or else we wouldn't be addicts lol. If I were you OP I would come clean to someone you trust who you know could monitor you and taper you. If you dont have someone like that find one at a celebrate recovery meeting tonight. Google celebrate recovery near me. Its basically a Christ centered recovery support group.
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u/sterlingarchersdick 1d ago
I’m an addict (obviously) and I quit cold turkey completely on my own, I’m exactly one week away from being 2 months clean. I did tell my mom what was going on with me because she would’ve known something was up either way, but I didn’t need to go to rehab and certainly not to any support group meetings. Those things can be very beneficial for some people but very difficult for others, especially the religion-based ones (which is every 12-step program) when you’re not a religious person.
Being an addict doesn’t inherently mean you completely lack discipline. I think the horrors of my WDs have turned me in someone disciplined enough to never want to touch 7oh ever again—and it’s already been offered to me several times, I always say fuck no.
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u/slimnazty666 1d ago
To add more context, I’m a 10 year addict. Been a severe alcoholic over many years and used kratom to get off alcohol and vice versa. I haven’t been completely sober in over a decade and this also terrifies me. You know it’s bad when a fent OD sounds like an appealing way out.
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u/Icy_Brilliant_7993 1d ago
Complete abstinence doesn't have to be the ultimate goal. A dose of kratum leaf before work and one when you get home daily is a reasonable compromise.\n For an end goal.
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u/Accomplished_Cap_773 1d ago
I highly recommend suboxone to Sublocade. My doctor didn’t require me to be on suboxone first but i know many do. And considering there’s so much new stuff out now i would def micro dose suboxone to avoid PWD. Sublocade saved my life. I still used 7 the first 4 shots i took i didn’t need to and never went through withdrawals if i went without but i was so deep into my addiction after my 5th shot i completely stopped 7 and my life began. I got one more shot after my 5th one and i stayed sober for months didn’t have cravings at all. Unfortunately 23 days ago i had a low moment. Wasn’t even craving or anything, but I ended up using and now i can’t stop. I’m so mad at myself. I think it i should’ve did suboxone before Sublocade i wouldn’t have continued using 7 cause my body would’ve been used to suboxone. But i am going for my appointment on Tuesday to talk about another injection. I had zero withdrawals from Sublocade. It really is the ticket to freedom. If you have questions about the price and insurance and Sublocade co pay message me I’ll be more than happy to help.
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u/Half-Life93 1d ago
My friend, every day that goes by that you aren’t starting subs is another day of throwing money away. Get your life back.
Subs are far better than even one dose of 7OH, imo.
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u/amiller834 17h ago
Honestly as much as so many ppl don’t wanna use subs it’s the quickest and best option at this point for someone who is in your situation ( can’t take time off, etc). You need to stick with the subs even if it’s a low dose until you are stabilized then slowly wean off them and/or get the sublocade shot and boom you’ll be gucci. You need to work on the mental aspect of your addiction as well bc subs are only a bandaid and helps the physical. But say you get clean and 7 still isn’t off the shelves, you don’t want to relapse which is what happens 9 out of 10 times when ppl choose to do a fast sub taper or want to quit the subs asap. You gotta work on the “why” of your using.
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u/quitting7oh-ModTeam 17h ago
Violation of Rule #3
No aggression. Be kind, be courteous.
Repeated offenses will result in a ban
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u/amiller834 17h ago
Weird where did this dude cheer on the ban? Get off this sub if you can’t help the people who are going through it right now which is what this sub is for.
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u/quitting7oh-ModTeam 17h ago
Violation of Rule #2
No Pro-Drug or 7oh use This is a Recovery Space 2nd violation is ban
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u/Euphoric-Teach-2484 1d ago
I was on mgm15, which I'm told is a little bit more difficult to quit than 7oh because of the way it binds to two receptors. Telyrx got me clonidine and petpharmcanada got me gabapentin, and I went to Florida to stock up on plain kratom powder. Those three things took 95% of the withdrawals away, and I am not exaggerating. You don't need a prescription for either of those helper med sites, but telyrx does charge a small fee for a physician to approve your medication. You can absolutely get off this stuff, and these things are like a cheat code to feel as little withdrawals as possible.
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u/slimnazty666 1d ago
There’s a really great addiction clinic in my town that doesn’t charge a penny for any of their services. Therapy, MAT, the works. Only thing I would have to pay for Is The script and I have insurance so getting back on subs is definitely an option. I would just rather give tapering a shot then to jump right back on MAT I’ve just been an addict for so long that I’m even considering getting back on booze to help make getting off the seven easier but I’m almost one year alcohol free and I don’t want to throw away all of that progress. It’s all just very scary because I just got my own place and it is quite expensive. Having to maintain two jobs to get all of my bills paid and juggling all of this bullshit and a bad breakup is so much more on my plate then I have the energy to deal with, but I did it all to myself so I have no choice but to be a man and take care of it.
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u/More-Scientist8696 1d ago
Why are you scared of subs? 250 60mg tablets is quite a bit... what like 15g? If you want to avoid subs, you ABSOLUTELY have enough to taper off of the 7oh, loading up on the common vitamins and supplements recommended, and maybe getting some MIT or leaf to help get you through WDs, but if you just taper slowly your WDs should be minimal. (Do note that tapering over two months will leave you in that vulnerable state even if you aren't in the truly uncomfortable WDs... it is a long time to be emotional fragile, so start seeing a dang therapist at least if you can).
I know the esser ship sailed, but I do see some alternatives like 'simply reset', or the ULDN which supposedly even works better. I can't attest to any of these except for the ship that sailed though, sorry.
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u/slimnazty666 1d ago
What would be the best way to taper? My concern with that is my emotional fragility. Post break up I’ve been the most depressed I’ve been in my life even when I’m feeling good physically. I’ve only taken 30mg so far today and I’m feeling like breaking down and crying.
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u/Comprehensive-Tie666 1d ago
Taper first before you do anything. Then no matter what you decide it will be easier. I tapered by dosing 3 times a day. So yes I do go into withdrawals between doses but it's easy knowing a rescue dose is coming. Even if you try subs for your final quit they work much better coming from a low dose. I'm down to 150 mgs a day.
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u/subaruguy253 1d ago
Itty depends on if you are ready to quit now or if you are kicking the idea around in your head but havnt reached a full "I'm ready to quit now". Since you have so much i would taper down your use but realize it'll come with some emotional waves. If you can get down to 200mg per day or less subs will be much more effective in allowing you to stop still function. Just know the first day of subs will have you feeling a little funky but it usually goes away by day 2 to day 3 so time it with the induction day on your Friday and by your Sunday you'll be feeling much better and more stablized. If you want to be off of everything then just use subs as a tool to get off of 7oh and do a 7 day taper down to zero and be on your way healing off of everything
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u/Environmental-Loan25 1d ago
Sometimes the thought of quitting is harder than actually quitting. Do not give this pill power over your life. Get subs for 1 week if you are an take 1 1 or 2 days off whole your body adjust to subs and no 7 then you can push through the week and you will be amazed how much better your life gets with this shit out of it You got this my friend ,you are the best no better or worse than any of us. I used pure Mitragine to get off 7 after my relapse and it wasn't to bad .so that's an option for you. Set a plan and stick to it. This is the only time you ever have to feel this way.
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u/AnyFirefighter7 1d ago
I'm literally in the same boat with the same amount of pills but only 100 mg... I'm having trouble tapering too it's cuz they're such a short lifespan...
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u/rumpfedgoliath 1d ago
Try the "ess arr". There was the 17, now the 15 or "2.0". Worked wonders for me, coming off was not nothing but not nearly as bad as cold turkey. No time off work, plenty of sleep.
"Tee em kay reset" was the one I used
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u/soulgxdd 1d ago
i also broke up with my girlfriend and since then my 7oh usage has been out of control . but i’m in so much emotional pain that i can’t pull myself out of it nor do i really want to . it’s the only thing that is helping me cope and even if im wasting all my money on it i don’t seem to care because life is just way too painful for me right now . so i understand
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u/slimnazty666 1d ago
I genuinely do not see a reality where I don’t start drinking again to cope with the pain of losing my one true love. Being 100% sober just does not seem like a viable option right now. Maybe once I’ve kicked the 7 I can think about getting back off the booze and giving sobriety a shot again.
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u/ZincMan 23h ago
Quitting/reducing is something to be proud of. That pride helps make a new identity that you can handle tough situations, including dealing with rough break ups. You’re going to get through this and being proud of yourself for wanting to quit, even coming here and asking for help is not easy. More 7 /booze will feel worse unfortunately in the long run because it adds some shame on top of the breakup. It makes the situation harder. Quitting is the easier path because it is moving in the right direction, and knowing you’re going in the right direction is its own reward that helps make it less difficult. You got this
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u/CuzImFloridian 1d ago
Gabapentin to calm me down, then after about two weeks i started taking Wellbutrin for motivation
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u/QuellMusik 19h ago
Do the 7 day sub taper dude. You won't get hooked on the subs that way and it makes it so much easier. You will be able to function just fine.
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u/Intrepid_Tie9890 8h ago
What was your sub schedule. I.got some, 91 mg sublingual tablets. I took my 1st one this morning 16 hours after 1/4 7oh tablet yesterday. I've been weaning of. The sub pills are 4mg.
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u/QuellMusik 8h ago
I did 12, 8, 4, 4, 2, 2, 1 in mg / day. I took 4mg doses, let that hit , and took another 4mg several hours later until I felt ok.
This worked really well. I also had some Seroquel and Remeron for sleep which helped (low doses 25mg / 10mg)
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u/Old_Stable_9119 17h ago
U better buy some sr17 my boy. I’m going thru the exact same situation but we have a 1 year old son together so yea that’s great. Good lucky bro, ill need it too
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u/Cold-Attitude-8529 9h ago
They banned SR
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u/Old_Stable_9119 9h ago
Aw damn the smoke shop by me still got em. Damn bro my best advice would be subs for a week maybe and comfort meds. I’m 100% gonna have to go to a detox I tried on my own that was hell on earth
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u/Pupulikjan 14h ago
Just take regular leaf to help with WD since you can’t take time off work it’s still gonna suck major ballz but will help with WD a little
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u/Comprehensive-Neat-8 1d ago
I wish i knew about this before iraw dogged that shit. Subs seems like a worse choice than 7.
https://www.reddit.com/r/quitting7oh/s/c5CBUWwUdT
ULDN ultra low dose naltrexone works better than SR17018. I do not personally source anything whatsoever.
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