Insomnia - how long?

[Oxymoron35]

So I'm going on day 8 since my last pill.  I used on/off - mostly oxycodone 15's an perc 10s - for about 10 or 11 mos.  I was prob 40 - 80 mg per day for the first  9 mos - 2 weeks on then two weeks off with very minor if any wd's..  So, like a dumb dumb it escalated to every day use for the last 2 months and shot the dose up significantly - avg 150 mgs to 250 mgs in the final two weeks.  I'm a relatively healthy 42 yo male.  I had the physical wd's when I quit last week and feel very lucky everything is gone EXCEPT this debilitating insomnia!!!!  I'm going crazy!  I never expected this so I'm curious of the communities experience with sleep during wd?  When did you start getting your sleep back?  I know everyone is different so knowing a few things might be helpful lik - How much were you on, what was your DOC and how long did you use?  Age? Etc..

Oh and I'm curious about one other thing...  I went from the standard swallowing of the pills to snorting them 90% of the time over the final two months.  Will appreciate any and all responses?  Thanks!

[Oxymoron35]

Thanks Gnarly!  I went to bed at 9pm last night and woke up a few times until I got out of bed at 4:30 so 7 1/2 hours (though about 6 1/2 sleeping) feels like a turned corner.  I can already feel my head clearing a bit this morning which makes me happy since I'm on my way back to work today!  I'm hopeful to build on last night throughout the week and then by week two (Saturday) be at the point of getting 6-8 hours solid.  That would be fantastic!  Thanks for the support!

[gnarly_1]

Hi  I have been folowing your story as for the lack of sleep it is usually the last thing to return it can last 2 weeks to a month try not to get discouraged it does get better slowly keep posting for support you will get threw this......Gnarly

[Oxymoron35]

Ha!  That's funny!  I would kill to be snoring right now!!!!!!  

[motye51]

Whoops...i read snoring not snorting...sorry! Lol, admitted that i snored like a train... ugghh!

[Oxymoron35]

Thanks for the encouragement!  Yeah, I'm the type of guy that wants an instant fix or at the very least know it will last X more days.  It's the not knowing and the ambiguity that is really killing...  Oh and the fatigue...

[Oxymoron35]

Thanks for the kind response!  I was a pretty good sleeper prior so all this is new to me.  I'm trying to do it unaided and naturally and TRYING not to obsess about it.  Will try to spend more time exercising today.  Thanks again!  

[msdelight]

So sorry oxy but it's just one of the longer lasting symptoms, like sneezing. It will take a while. Don't battle it, just let it be. No one ever died from post w/d lack of sleep but snorting 250 mg of oxy a day certainly will. Hang in there and stay busy. And thankful, and humble. It will pass.

[motye51]

I dont think its the snoring, cause i snore like a freight train! Its totally normal, lol. My sleep started coming back somewhat normal around 3/4 weeks....yours could be sooner though, b/c of it being a different drug? It comes back when it needs to....

[EvolverU]

Hi there -- Good morning :)

Yup! The Sandman can be mighty stingy when we come off! Our Circadian rhythms & neural chemistry are in chaos & need time to rebalance.

I don't think that the snorting will make a significant difference in the amount of time that it will take to for your sleep to come back.

Unfortunately, sleep is one of the last things to return when we quit opiates, benzos or barbituates. How was your sleep before opiates? You weren't on all that long though you escalated your dose @ the end there :)

To tell you the truth, it's still early days for you. I know that it's hard & that not sleeping can be pretty 'crazy-making'. Hang in there though, b/c it will get better.

Some things that will help are exercise (as hard as it may be @ your stage, even mild exertion will help), proper hydration, a powdered or liquid cal/mag/zinc supplement, hot baths w/ salt, massage, deep breathing/meditation.

Like you said, everyone is different. I hesitate to tell you how long it took me to start sleeping. (In fact it's still nowhere near what it was on opiates) but my case was quite different from yours -- stronger opiates for a very long time & stressful life circumstances that coincided my detox. Most folks with the sort of habit that you describe start to get their sleep back anywhere between 3 weeks & a couple of mos. It tends to be a gradual process. The best thing that I can suggest is to try not to obsess over it. When you can't sleep, don't struggle with it, just do something to distract yourself instead. Listen to rain or ocean sounds on yt, watch movies, read, journal, whatever! The more you toss & turn or obsess the more elusive sleep becomes.

I hope that your other symptoms are abating. How are you feeling?

Hold Fast -- Your doing Great & Congrats on your 8 Huge Days. That's Awesome!

[Oxymoron35]

I meant to add..  Would the snorting be the cause of the long lasting insomnia?