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what was duration of your withdrawal symtoms?

Last year at this time I was cold turkeyed off of methadone, mscontin, oxycontin and Valium. It was in a hospital and later learned that it was not the right way to do it. Especially with the Valium which is a benzodiazapene I had been using for about 15 years. All my drugs were prescribed and I took them to the best of my knowledge as prescribed. When I chose to stop using these drugs my doctors abandoned me they did not want me to stop the drugs. I had to go to a hosp outside my insurance for help. My question is , is there anyone else out there who got off similar drugs and how was it for you? Most people do not believe me when I tell them how long and how horribly intense these withdrawal symtoms lasted. Would like to find others who experienced this.
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Avatar universal
Hey Lilly welcome back and congratulations on one year clean. The benzo withdrawal is so aweful. Glad you made it through!
Helpful - 0
11318065 tn?1462984479
Yes!  I read Recovery and Renewal and it sure is an awesome book!!! It is so good to know we are not alone and she gave wonderful tips on dealing with the WDs!  
We are all awesome and all miracles everyday!!!  :)
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Avatar universal
Hi Lilly...well my last 2 detoxes where both brutal I was on 150mg of methadone for almost 7yrs  I never thought it would end  I was dope sick for around 90 days and it took the better part of a year to recovery  the second one was off clonipine  I was on 4 mg for around 3yrs that was not as intense but it was 8 to 10 weeks of no sleep anxiety threw the roof and a ear piercing buzzing/ringing in my ears that almost drove me mad.....today I live in recovery  but I will never forget just how bad these drugs are to come off of I thank God daily for delivering me from this blight.........Gnarly
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Avatar universal
The book Recovery and Renewal by Baylissa Fredrick helped me or I would not have survived . She also has a website recovery-road.org/ that is amazing . This was the hardest thing I have ever done. Most people don't believe how long theses withdrawals last and it makes it harder when you feel so all alone. This site has been helpful. Ty for the kind words and support.
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Avatar universal
Thank you. Good luck to you
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11318065 tn?1462984479
Hi Lily
When I got off the opiates it was about 5 days of feeling pretty sick and then a month or two for the energy to come back.
Then I tackled effexor....tapered for 7 months which was hell pretty much all the way through....and now Im tapering the Ativan which is hell also!  I've got about another month of taper of that.... I always took the Ativan and effexor as prescribed too....but that didnt make any difference when it came to getting off of them!!!
I have tried to explain to a few people what it is like coming off of these but they really don't understand... reading something and experiencing it for yourself are two whole different things!!!
I'm hoping the effects from the benzo don't last as long as they do for some people!!!
I will say that being involved in AA has helped me tremendously while coming off the AD and benzo!  
Congrats on your year!!  That is so awesome!!!  Sounds like you are feeling pretty good now and I am so happy to hear that!!!  It is so good to hear someone coming out the other side!!!  :)
Helpful - 0
3197167 tn?1348968606
It's SO good to hear from you again, Lilly!!  I remember your early struggles and what a "drug cocktail" you have successfully gotten off of!!!

CONGRATULATIONS ON ONE YEAR!!!!!

My drug cocktail was a bit different than yours...3 drugs at once, but I found that every month I was clean brought new clarity.  You will find where you belong again.....and the aftermath of your war will continue to heal.  You're an amazingly, strong woman!  Happy birthday girl☺
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Avatar universal
You will get there
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Avatar universal
Happy to hear you made it. What a rough ride it was.
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Avatar universal
Thank you. I feel like I have been through a war and now it's just the aftermath. Have to find where I belong again. Glad to hear you made it.
Helpful - 0
4522800 tn?1470325834
Hi Lilly.
I remember when you first got on here. Also gave you a High Five on your 1 yr.
I too came off the Dones, Benzo and I bought street Adderral. I started to mix the Add with my Dones and Snort it. Of coarse, I thought nothing at the time.  I came from the times & environment when we tried differnt kinds of Substances here & there and it just seemed the thing to do!  (Not Good)!!  So being that WE are around the same age, age does make it a bit harder to bounce back. Plus the Benzo was a big part on why it took so long to.

My Anxiety was in orbit for months and then you know the other things that come & go in Stages as we process day by day and month by month. NOW I was told that it would take at least 2 yrs for my Brain Chemistry to find it natural balance. It took me over a yr (and I am not going to go any further because I do not want to freak people out that are newer) to finally start to feel more balanced Physically, Mentally and Spiritually. As you know from day one it gets better and better but it is that Mental Part that takes some time and working on. Just know YOU are NOT alone out here. I have talked to many who have come off a Cocktail of pills and they too say the same thing. I am very Proud of YOU! Just keep doing whatever you have been, because it seems to be working. Hugs!

Congrats on that Yr & Plus now! Keep it UP!
Bless
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Avatar universal
Hi Lily:

We got clean about the same time.    I took oxycodone for over 8 years, daily, with no breaks, ever.    

Overall, looking back a year, I can say this:

*The acute physical withdrawals lasted about 10 days..most of them, at least.

*At one year out, I still do not sleep well AT ALL.

*The mental stuff still with me; depression, loneliness, and a lack of emotional strength I thought I had come father along with.   When I took a new job, and it proved to be extremely stressful, I crumpled like a house of cards.  

The years of oxycodone use stunted me emotionally; I didn't learn or grow from any life experiences I was going through; as a result, I feel like I "lost" a decade of living.

I am SO glad to be off these drugs!!!
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Avatar universal
I wasn't on as many drugs as you,but I did take the oxycodone like clockwork daily for 11 years. The w/d's were hell but they were nothing compared to the feel of emptiness and loneliness the mental part brought on for months afterwards. I'd go through the w/d's hundred times over to feel like a whole person again. I'm 10 months clean and don't get me wrong I have good days,but I'm also good at hiding my emotions and pushing forward. It's a long long road,and I've seen the light at the end for a long time,but I'm still not quite able to touch it.
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