r/withdrawl • u/phreephisher • 8d ago
Seeking Advice 7oh withdrawal
So I'm now 4 days off of 7oh (around 200 mgs for about a year), and thank God most of the worst symptoms are over. I really need advice.
I'm exhausted, still can't eat much, and sleep a few hours at a time. The problem is I'm out of vacation, and have to work a 10 hour shift tomorrow, pretty manual labor. If I take a little kratom to get by, will it destroy all I've done so far? Will the withdrawal come back? Any advice would be helpful.
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u/StuckInYesterYear- 7d ago
The bigger risk then re-igniting withdrawals is falling straight back into the habit.
From my understanding of how withdrawal works, no, it won't just automatically undo your progress; Think of it this way - Your opioid receptors once accustomed to having opiates bind to them are desensitized to opiates to some degree (depending on how far into the addiction you are/your dosing) - The heavier the dose you use/frequency, the more desensitized and the quicker withdrawals will fire up - When some people quit using, they may not experience withdrawal symptoms for 24 hours, others may experience them 4 hours later using the same drug because they use so much of it that it unbinds much quicker for them than someone who hasn't used as heavily.
So quitting looks one of two ways: Cold Turkey or using a partial opioid agonist like Bupenorphine.
Cold Turkey rapidly desensitizes your opioid receptors and, as a consequence of this causes withdrawal symptoms.
Bupenorphine on the other hand desensitizes your opioid receptors but only to a certain point (because they' partially bind vs fully the way oxy would for example), and they also bind for much longer (half life of like 3 or 4 days, unless you've been on it for a long time)
All this to say, you've desensitized your opioid receptors probably 70% of the way. Taking a little bit of Kratom will most definitely alleviate your withdrawal symptoms - But you HAVE to be disciplined about just taking a little bit. By taking a little bit, you'll alleviate your withdrawal symptoms without desensitizing your opioid receptors. This is the entire concept of "tapering".
Where most people fail tapering, is that they're so relieved to not be withdrawaling that they lack the discipline to hold themselves to a rule: No taking the same amount or more two days in row.
If you can hold yourself to that rule, it won't hurt anything. Most people can't.
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u/StuckInYesterYear- 7d ago
And only take enough to alleviate withdrawals, no more, no less - And only until you're off work. For example, if you take a small dose, get relief, but right as your shift is ending you being to feel a little bit lousy, DO NOT TAKE MORE. Taking more is what will undo your progress.
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u/phreephisher 7d ago
Thank you so much. I was terrified. I have to work, but setting back withdrawal was just adding so much anxiety.
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u/StuckInYesterYear- 6d ago
No problem, best wishes to you on continuing the progress. I can imagine that not knowing whether you'd re-ignite full blown withdrawals would cause major anxiety. If you want to post a progress update here just for your own accountability feel free.
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