Suboxone Withdrawal - Opiate Withdrawal

Throughout my years, I have read many people explain their experiences with prescription pain killer withdrawals (hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, etc.) as well as the partial agonist opioid buprenorphine. Everyone will experience the opiate chemical levels being depleted from their body differently, but their are some symptoms that seem to be a sure thing.

Withdrawal syndrome from short acting opiates such as hydrocodone, oxycodone, morphine, and most prescription pain meds usually will take 3-5 days. The peak of agony being around days 3-5, is the truth of it.  Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS) is the stages after you have made it over the hill, so to speak.  The brunt of withdrawals from opiates are in the first 4-5 days. It is in this time that nearly all of the chemical the body is dependent to has escaped from your system. This does not apply to other long acting opiates/opioids such as buprenorphine (suboxone) or methadone. These drugs can take weeks to leave your body.

Learn how drugs make there way through the body Pharmacokinetics 101 (LADME)

Acute withdrawals can begin within hours of your last dose, depending on how heavy a habit, and what type of substance is being used.  Your body just begins to feel unwell. No words truly can describe any aspect of withdrawals. That said, the first night of sleep after a day without chemicals will be tough.  The next 2 nights, sleep will be nearly impossible. Being smack in the middle of full on withdrawals from opiates feels as if there is a constant strain on your body physically and mentally, no position which you sit/lay in is comforting for more than literally 3 seconds. Your emotions will be out of control, in comparison to your normal emotions while using opiates.  Though you cannot sleep, you lack any form of motivation or energy.

This is literally the worst form of torture, and if you've been through it, you likely would never wish it upon your worst enemy.

If you believe in the possibility of Hell, the experience will serve as a taste of it.

Acute withdrawals from buprenorphine are better in that they are not so potent, yet worse in that they span over weeks instead of days.

There are many ways to help this experience be much easier on you and your body.  This is something that I will elaborate on more in future posts.

This just serves as an idea for those who have never experienced it.  Also, as a reference for those going through it, that you are not alone in this.