In this article, I’m going to teach you how to use Xanax for opiate withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal wouldn’t be all that bad if you only experienced the physical symptoms. Unfortunately, the anxiety, psychological terror, and insomnia can make withdrawal a living hell. Several years ago I was addicted to opiates. Every few weeks or months I would not be able to get any more opiates. Sometimes my dealer was out, but usually, it was because I was out of money.
Whenever this happened, I knew that I had about twelve hours after my last dose before the withdrawal symptoms would start coming on. During this time, I would text everyone I knew to see if I could score some Xanax for opiate withdrawal symptoms. Actually, I didn’t even care if it was Xanax. Other pills such as Valium, Klonopin or Ativan would work well too.
These medications are in a class of drugs called benzodiazepines. Commonly referred to as “benzos”, these pills are very effective at reducing anxiety and easing nervous tension. They also relax muscles and help you fall and stay asleep.
Xanax for Opiate Withdrawal
Xanax is a brand name for the anxiolytic (anti-anxiety) medication known as alprazolam. Xanax is commonly prescribed for anxiety and panic disorder, though many opiate abusers have used Xanax for opiate withdrawal. Xanax is a short-acting benzo, so the effects come on hard and fast. The downside of this is that the effects also go away quickly, requiring you to take it more often during opiate withdrawal. Klonopin is the benzo with the longest duration, though the effects come on more slowly than Xanax. Valium falls in the middle of these two.
Using Xanax for opiate withdrawal has become popular due to its remarkable ability at treating the following symptoms:
- Anxiety
- Restless Leg Syndrome (RLS)
- Muscle tension and soreness
- Psychological terror
- Insomnia
- Poor appetite
When determining whether or not you should use Xanax for opiate withdrawal, please consider the following key points:
- Everyone is biochemically unique; so while Xanax worked well for me and countless others, it won’t help everyone ease their symptoms.
- For some individuals, Xanax will work well, though Ativan, Klonopin, Librium or Valium might work better.
- Many individuals say Xanax helps them calm anxiety and fall asleep, though a small minority complain that it makes them too much like a zombie.
- Xanax and other benzos can be habit-forming.
- Taking too much Xanax can lead to an overdose.
How to Use Xanax for Opiate Withdrawal
Taking Xanax for opiate withdrawal can be a lifesaver if done properly.
The following key points illustrate a very safe way to use Xanax for opiate withdrawal symptoms relief:
- Always take Xanax under the supervision of a physician.
- Xanax comes in tablets that are circular which are 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg, football-shaped tablets that are 1.0 mg, and rectangular bars that are 2.0 mg.
- Due to differences in severity of addiction and biochemical uniqueness, there is no set Xanax for opiate withdrawal dosage.
- Take the least amount of Xanax necessary to achieve opiate withdrawal symptoms relief.
- Discontinue Xanax after 3-4 days; the worst of the withdrawals should be over by day 5, and this way you won’t develop a physical dependence on Xanax.
- Most individuals will benefit from as little as 0.5 mg per dose, though some will need up to 2.0 mg, especially at night before bed.
What if you Can’t Get Xanax for Opiate Withdrawal?
If you’re going through opiate withdrawal right now and can’t get Xanax from a doctor or drug dealer, I feel your pain. Fortunately, there are two herbs that work in very similar ways to Xanax. Xanax benefits for opiate withdrawal are due to it binding to GABAA receptors in the brain. GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter that acts as a mental relaxant. GABA is basically our natural Xanax, though our bodies produce it in the precise amounts we were designed to handle.
Valerian root and passion flower are herbs that activate your GABA receptors like Xanax does. They both have been shown to naturally reduce anxiety and insomnia. In one study, 75 participants with nonorganic insomnia were put into two different groups. One group received 600 mg of standardized valerian extract, while the other group received 10 mg of oxazepam (a benzodiazepine medication) for 28 days. Assessment tools used to evaluate the effectiveness and tolerance of the interventions included validated sleep, mood scale, and anxiety questionnaires as well as sleep rating by a physician.
Results: Both groups had the same improvement in sleep quality but the valerian group reported fewer side effects than did the oxazepam group.
I used valerian root and passion flower many times for opiate withdrawal anxiety and insomnia. Passion flower is also very beneficial for relieving gastrointestinal upset due to narcotic drug withdrawal. These two herbs are not as strong as Xanax for opiate withdrawal, but they still work very well, especially when combined with other herbs, vitamins, minerals and amino acids used in the treatment of withdrawal.
If you can’t get Xanax for opiate withdrawal, I HIGHLY RECOMMEND taking passion flower and valerian root as a natural and safe alternative. These will help with anxiety, insomnia, and muscle relaxation, but they will not treat other symptoms. They do nothing for fatigue, hot and cold flashes, diarrhea or sweating. Furthermore, they don’t help replenish your brain with dopamine. I always encourage people going through opiate withdrawal to take a formula specifically designed to treat all of these symptoms in a holistic and synergistic way.
This Opiate Withdrawal Formula is a product that contains valerian root and passion flower, among other beneficial nutrients for easing symptoms.
If you can afford it, I also highly recommend taking this awesome supplement, because the benefits are just too good to pass up.
Click here now to view my best home detox program.
If you have any questions on using Xanax for opiate withdrawal, please post them in the comment box below.
Iv been thinking I should take Xanax and sleep though the worst of the withdrawls.I don’t know how healthy this is but im willing to try anything at this point! I want to be done with this sickness! Help any advice?
Wow, some of you guys are way to cautious on your xanax intake. I mean 3-4 days at 2mg a day? Am I getting that right? Well I suppose depends what opiate your on and how much….
I hate withdrawals, I want no part, so wake me up after please lol.
I withdrew of methadone 50mg in jail and they gave me valium for first 2 days, 2 a day I think… what a joke. I didn’t even feel sick until the 4th or 5th day… they have no idea, meanwhile so called alchos where getting like 4 a day for a week or more…. plus in this country most methadone addicts are on benxos on outside too. So no logic, lost all faith.
What are they scared of? Even home withdrawals, why take same quantities you would to beat insomnia or anxiety? And 4 days? Sounds like your scared to take for longer as they “highly addictive”, I guarantee taking for 10Days or 2wks or 7 days even will not make you an addict on xanax… beat the sickness first as best you can. Then stop when you we’ll in a week or so…. you cannot get physically dependant in that time, it’s b.S used by probably health care professionals to scare you. I use 3-5 2mg on 1st day coming off 100mg morphine plus maybe 5 valium or similar in 24hrs. Then next day I need 10 valium or more on 24hrs plus 5-6 xanax (8 to feel good enough to sleep a bit)…. Then 4-6 2mg Xanax for rest of week plus up to 5-10 valium a day. I’m still sick as, so I use tramadol 100mg at night maybe every 2nd night to sleep…. Then I stop everything after 7-10 days. No addiction to benxos. How? So miniscule usage.. I don’t believe it.
Maybe after 2mg daily for 6wks-3mths depending on person.
Don’t let DOCTORS fool you, get better the easiest way for you.
I use opioid so I don’t really notice benxo withdrawals…, I think I get restless a week.or so, nothing that screams withdrawals, until years later I thought this anxiety must be lack of benzodiazepines, but it’s not physically sore etc. I run out probably 1mth-6wks EACH 4mths and fine till my next xanax script, I feel better on them, but of course I do, they calm me.
Anyway, my 2 cents. Benzos take months to get addicted even mildly, but everyone different.
Good morning Sir,
Went from 300mg+ PO morphine to 15mg twice daily. None x 4 days. Read about the three day methadone deal, still an opiate, took 10mg 2 days ago, 2 mg yesterday. ,25Xanax last night. I hesitate to take last dose but here I am sweating and anxious. Really not terrible but nervous? Saw psych yesterday, started antidepressant (lost partner a year ago from cancer, how I got started and why I have so much MS and xanax left).
Will down load your guide but any thoughts appreciated. I feel like I’m close. Hate AA/NA but looked for a meeting, 8PM tonight. Thank you/jc
I’m trying xanax as well after discontinuing my buprenorphine pretty much cold-turkey. I don’t know if it’s helping yet… still rather dubious I suppose after withdrawaling from a drug for the first time in my life.
I just wanted to add– if you do relapse, and take an opiate– please do not take your xanax with it. The two together are very dangerous.
Maybe that was written here already… anyway, thank you for the advice.
I’m wishing you the best of luck Carey, and I pray that your buprenorphine withdrawal is not too painful. Congrats on getting off the medicine, and thanks for taking the time to leave a comment. And that’s a great caution about taking benzos and opiates together. I actually overdosed and almost died from a combination of the two. I’m lucky to be alive, but sadly many were not as fortunate as me.
I’m old school first 100 hundred BB validate that tapering never works. I’m sorry I’m just not a supporter of Pharma- Drugs like subs. Anyone ever been through real sub withdrawal?
It’s simply a prime example why these MAT drugs are more about money than getting people past “THE SYMPTOMS” .
I understand we all hate withdrawals but at some point we have to pay the piper. I’ve not understood why when I’m trying to kick heroin I have doctors and institutions telling me ..”Hey I’ve got a drug here 1000+ times more potent than heroin that’s gonna do magic. My bud went 10 days before his intense withdrawals ever kicked in coming off subs…INSANE.
Xanax work fine with clonidine…AND SOBER PEOPLE AROUND YOU FOR SUPPORT! I want people to understand.. pay the piper..use the anxiety meds 3 to 5 days…..reducing each dose in the last 2 to 4 days.
Anxiety will be off the chart if you just stop and not reduce dose. A reminder clonidine stopped cold turkey INCREASES ANXIETY!!
Finally keep in mind it isn’t the chemicals…ITS OUR THINKING.. so getting on through withdrawals are just the start. After 7 to 10 days AND PLENTY OF FLUIDS AND FOOD…MEETINGS AND WORKING THE 12 STEPS IN 90 TO 120 DAYS!! Taking a daily inventory (10)..seeking power through prayer and meditation (11).. Help others diligently…(12)…Man see how beautiful life is beautiful without some chemical to alter any and all my moods. I got sober in Florida with guidance of ALL LEVELS OF SOBRIETY 1- 40 years ..really made a huge difference. When there are groups that work in cadence with others…REAL EMOTIONAL SOBRIETY BECOMES A REALITY!!
I close saying this..i was a drunk first then I progressed to “The Blood Dripping out my Arm” condition…i looked for similarities not differences… I DID WORK AND CONT TO THE STEPS…I HONESTLY WANT SOBRIETY AND I AM WILLING TO MAKE THE EFFORT! I didn’t dabble in shit and complicate getting detoxed.. ..Hence AA works .. I didn’t try to find uniqueness because I was a junkie and a alcoholic…I IDENTIFY WITH THE SOLUTION… AGAIN SYMPTOMS AREN’T IMPORTANT. TOO MANY LOVE TO STIR THE POT AS TO WHAT QUALIFIES SOMEONE WHO NEEDS THE STEPS.. JUST SHUT UP…LISTEN ..HAVE PLENTY OF TIME TO READ AND WRITE.. AND MOST DEFINITELY BE WILLING TO MAKE THOSE AMMENDS… I failed after more than 14 in house treatments…includjng Hazelden….THANK GOD FOR AA AND THOSE BEFORE ME WILLING TO TELL ME THE TRUTH!
In a strange way I care for all of you…NEVER QUIT AA!!!
I could not have said it better myself! Kicking a Tramadol habit I got talked into taking SUBS! Should have done my research. It was great I thought! I felt completely normal and I didn’t need to do the narcotic shuffle every 2-3 weeks because I over took my meds! It made life easy because I had no withdrawal at all getting off the narcotics. So I took SUBOXONE for 3 years and I told the doctor for at least the 10th time taper me! Well he still didn’t so I did it myself. I was on max dosage from a Tramadol addiction! 8/2 3 times a day! People getting off herion don’t need this much in some cases. So I tapered myself over the next several months every Saturday I cut my dose by .50. I felt nothing different at all durning the taper it was 9 days after I took nothing it hit me! Anxiety I thought I was going crazy this can’t be from SUBS right? YES IT WAS! It went on for 3 months! Dibilating! Each day seemed worse than the day before for the first month after the first month slowly every day was a bit easier. It took every ounce of energy to drag myself to NA/AA everyday but I did it. I had already been going for three years but I had to be there. I could sleep all I could do is lay and feel awful. If I would have quit the Tramadol cold turkey because taper wasn’t an option for me every time I got my hands on narcotics I planned to taper but 10-12 days later my supply was gone. Cold turkey would have been SO much easer than ever touching suboxone! It would have been 10 days of hell and then slowly feel normal not 3 months! Doctors do not give out all the info on the meds and it’s shameful.
Dear Matt, should a twenty five year methadone patient switch to suboxone at thirty MGs. and should withdrawal be an issue with such saturation. Bone marrow that is ???
Hi Paul,
There are many factors to consider. I’m going to add a link to an article I wrote that will shed more light on this subject for you:
How To Switch From Methadone To Suboxone>>
I have been off subutex for 4 months. Still feeling that heaviness in my head. Makes it hard to concentrate on anything. I did get some benzos. They help. Also I been taking lyrica. How long will this last?
Hi Kelly,
Congrats on getting off Subutex and happy to hear the benzos are helping. Lyrica is also a very helpful medicine for withdrawal. As for your question, I’m going to post a link to an article I wrote that will shed light on the post-acute withdrawal phase you’re now going through, and how to feel better fast.
How To Stop Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome From Opiates>>
Okay so I have been off and on opiates since 1999 after broken nose and bad teeth and fibralmyalgia. I have also been on xanax since 1999 for anxiety. I have been on the xanax 2mg pretty steady every night at bed. The vicodin/oxycodone off and on since 1999 but I would go months without it (still taking xanax) until TWO YEARS AGO I got 3 back to back concussions and have been on 2 5mg oxys a days all this except the last three weeks to which I was taking 3 a day at one time. I decide hell with this and wanna stop. Not even 24 hours and I have the bad diarrhea. I cannot take immodium as last time I tried to withdrawal from opiates and used immodium I got a deadly superbug called cdiff. The doctor said you want the stuff not to be slowed down and come out. Thing is I cannot take this diarrhea it is severe and the cramps are killing me.
I also want OFF the doggone xanax after 15 years so once i get off the oxy what can I use to get of xanax. Cold turkey was a huge no no and tapering doesn’t work.
Also these 2mg xanax are not helping with the oxy w/d cuz I am used to 2mg, would I need to go slightly higher since I am 15 years on the xanax 2mg
Loperamide works wonders. Take a dose to equal your daily opi dose, so 50mg per day oxy for example, take 25 loperamide. You will experience no wd symtpoms within 2 hours. It is actually an opiate. Read the Wikipedia page. Lope doses over 100 to 200 mg daily have been causing cardiac issues, so do not take too much and not for more than a few days. Took 60mg Friday morning and nothing after till I had a xani bar tonight to ease a little anxiety about going back to work tomorrow morning. No chills, shit, or crazy thoughts. It actually fills opiate receptors but doesn’t leave you with any comparable wds compared to full agonist opes.
I started with hydros then oxy 10 until oxy 30 wouldnt do enough and becoming hard to find. The last year it has been herion. I want to stop this week. Had enough of the life style and blowing every dollar coming in. I have access to try any route pretty much. Leaning towards hotel room for 3-5 days and getting Xanax and some smoke. Smoke to help with the stomach issues and eating. Xanax to sleep and not drive straight to the dope man. I figure I tell a close friend so he can check on me and then I hit hotel so no one else can bother me or check on me. Tell family and close friends I’m going to see a college buddy and I’ll be back in a few days. Then pray to God I see it through and get back to life. This shit consumes it.
Hey Matt –
Thanks for the info. Trying to kick oxy after a rough bout with shingles and postherpatic neuralgia. Question is: can Xanax/Valium be taken with Imodium and DLPA, and valerian root? Can someone take all of these at once during acute wd stage? Thanks!
Hi Steve,
Glad the info was of value to you. As for your question, if it were me, that would be a preferable combination. However, based on many different variables, it wouldn’t be great for everyone. I actually created something called “The Finch Formula” which you have most of the ingredients in already. I’m going to post a link to it so you can see and I think it will clarify things for you regarding taking that combo.
The Finch Formula is a Super Potent Opiate Withdrawal Remedy>>
Can i use Xanax to get through 2 and half without methadone?If so how much and how often?
I have been on opiates for two years recreationally. I’d take about 60mg oxy in morning and about 60mg hydrocodone in the evening. Sometimes I would just do the morning dose. I have tried to stop a few times and never lasted more than two days. Right now I have stopped and on day 4 I got a script for xanax 0.5mg. It has been a huge help. After two days I’m sleeping better though not perfect. Plan is 1mg xanax in morning and 1mg at bedtime. Doc said if I need one in the middle of the day to take 1 0.5mg. It has been wonderful. I still get hot flashes a few times a day but that’s it. Hope this helps. By the way this was all in secret. Told my doc I needed something to calm me down with stress and help sleep and suggested xanax and it’s been great. I have 0 urge to get back on pain meds.
I just wanted to say thank you and congratulations to all of you. I’m so glad that you are all working on and finding ways to battle your disease. Keep up the good work. ? Blessings
I am on day 3 of not doing heroin. I have been taking only 1 mg of suboxone a day, because i dont have alot and i am trying to stretch it out. But i got a xanax bar and have been taking a quarter of it a day and it is helping tremendously.
I would stay away from subs and methadone. The withdrawals will last much longer then opiates such as oxy and hydros. Xanz might help you sleep but will make you feel loopy the next day( they did for me) and it made me crave a pain pill to actually feel awake. I would use melatonin or Benadryl to help you sleep. It’s honestly a mental game. You have to learn to shut out all distractions and keep your mind strong. Its really all about mental strength and self control which go together. Good luck
Hi I’m David bin I’ve bin there as u are n might need some type of help by asking me anything about (withdraw feel free to ask !!! I know doctors give u stuff n there’s ur hook u stuck with a habit )
im coming off 8mg dilaudid. can anyone give any advice on how to deal with this? will zanax help?
i need some advice please. im coming off d’s.. intravenously. … im on my 3Rd day. feel like crap. i need some advice on what to take for withdrawal? ?
I see this Comment was a long time ago. Id like to know what u did & how long did it take..?
Im scared shitless of whats coming for me in about 6 days. HEROIN AND METHADONE WITHDRAWALS.!!
Im stoking up on xanax and ativan but am also afraid when i get of of those ill have suicidal thoughts or more withdrawals. I was clean from heroin for 17 years and started meth. Well when i needed sleep i would smoke heroin. Knowing i would become addicted because i love the heroin high.well here i am after almost a year 6 days from hell. Ive been reading about xanax and i hope you are right! BUT IM SCARED OF OD ing also. Should i be scared??
Im 48 and out of shape so how much should i take? Wish me luck people
As i say goodbye to heroin for good.
HOPEFULLY FOR EVER!!!
Thank you all in advance for your well wishes. Mario
Mario my prayers are with you. I’d like to hear how things go for you… don’t give in… don’t look back….easier said than done I know…. but YOUR WORTH IT having a life FREE of that is WORTH IT.
Xanax xanax xanax. Get 25-50 bars. Once your out of everything-EVERYTHING- wait til you start to feel the detox. Take a bar. You’ll feel better. Do this for a couple weeks taper off and you’re good. Try to get you opiate tolerance as low as possible before doing this.
Thanks David for all this advice , it’s nice to know we have someone out here that care’s enough with out passing judgement . I’ve been struggling for yrs. now and would like to find a way off my pain meds. I get 90 a month and use all of them with in 2 wks. I’ve had 13 knee Surgeries to repair a crushed knee which has left me in chronic pain and no relief at this point I just want to get off the pain meds but never take the step to do so. addiction sucks.
Idk if people still read these. Anyhow I’ve been addicted to oxycodens 80mg 2 a day for 3 years then went on methadone for about a year and tapered off. During my time tapering I used marijuana to get help when I would lower the dose. I then completely stopped for over 4 years until recently when I was given a few narcos from a friend which I stupidly started taking. … 2 a day to 10 10mg narcos a day in over a course of a month. I kept taking them thinking “I’ll stop after I take the last of these and the withdrawals won’t be too bad bc I haven’t taken them that long ” (3 months). Instead I would want more and more bc I was scared of the withdrawals and loss of fun. Well this past Sunday I’ve taken the last of what I had. And been off narcos for 2 almost 3 days and the FIRST morning that I woke up I felt horrible, I think knowing I didn’t have any and from telling myself that I shouldn’t get anymore made my withdrawals worse. So I decided to get two xanax bars 2mg and sleep the whole day, using a sick day from work. The SECOND day (today ) was by far the worse, I felt horrible. Very depressed and physically weak and my back and legs were killing me. I decided to try to go to work and get my mind off of everything. It’s wasn’t the best day I’ve had …… I kept thinking of leaving on lunch and meeting with my dealer but kept telling myself that when I got home I’d be able to sleep and use xanax . Time was in slow mo. When I got home I Google some things and ended up here where I’ve read something about “KRATOM ” after some research and calling around to my local smoke shops I was able to track some down. I got some pill formed ones which I can’t remember the name of at the moment but it has worked really really well . I feel very relaxed and almost normal.
In short: I am not the type of person to really take the time and write about myself on one of these but in hopes of helping someone out I want people to at least look into KRATOM. Call around, read up and see if it helps as much as it has for me . I know since I’ve only recently been using for only 3 months might not seem too long but I’ve been through a horrible addiction prior and I wish everyone trying to kick the best of luck. During my previous 4 years of sobriety I was so much happier. … yes I will miss that high and the feeling of being early social but after awhile you kinda find that naturally and spending money on pills are not what life’s about. God bless you all and good luck.
I’d like to hear anyone else’s experiences With Kratom.
I too was addicted only I was on heroin… I started with pain pills when I was 23 and by 25 I was on dope. I’ve been in and out of rehabs and finally had enough. I was introduced to Kratom from a long time friend who himself isn’t an addict but was thinking of anyway and anything to help me. I moved from New Jersey to Wyoming came here sick as a dog. He ordered Kratom and I have to agree my life is so much better. I’m off all drugs and thanks to Kratom the detox was a breeze.
That’s crazy I have the same exact story… From the using then coming from jersey to Wyoming and now take kratom
I’m 100% with you Kratom was a blessing
I’m going through similar thing basiclly on point with the hydros consistently for over a year consistently. It doesn’t help that I’m already a very depressed person..when I can’t get suboxone it helps with the depression that I desperately cant handle and the restless legs.. I have taken a few xanexs but it doesn’t really help xause I over think so much about anything cause scared to feel bad.. my question is will it do basiclly the same sort of affects of suboxone. :/
Kratom worked wonders for me as well!
I would like to know how to get ahold of this kratom,cause it’s my understanding is its illegal here in the USA.so how do I go about getting this product?
It’s still legal in the US, though it might be illegal soon. And currently, it’s illegal in several states and cities. Here is how to get it and learn how to use it:
How To Purchase and Use Kratom Legally>>
I know this is a little late on the reply. But…. yes kratom was easy to switch to. Here’s my experience. I went for the krarom extract. 50x grean meang da. It’s exactly the same as any hard opiate. Meaning. Coming off krarom extract is as hard as any other opiate. My advice stay away from the extracts if you can. Use just crushed leaf if you can. Extract tolerance builds really fast. Plus you have to take more every 4 hrs. It got more expensive then pills……
I went on a 3 week bender that started off with around 30mg hydro at the begining to up to 120mg of oxy at the end. Why am I having such severe withdrawals? I only took them for three weeks, albeit heavily.
Please read my comment about using Kratom and see if anything helps
I get the same exact symptoms actually only after about 4 days of heavy use. I have a permanent tolerance. I generally start with taking 60mg oxycodone minimum even if I have been clean for years. This is strange and I never really understood this. Anyhow I will go up to about 240 mg by day 4, realize I screwed up, and abrubtly stop. I will get sick as a dog. I haven’t done h or d’s in a while, but it felt like coming off of that (which I have done before it does suck a little worse I will admit).
Hi there. I’m a recovering Alcoholic and Addict that got sober in May 2002. For the past four years, I’ve taken a low dose of norco daily (2 a day that I break in half) for a chronic stomach condition. I still go to meetings, and keep in touch with my closest sober friends. I don’t feel like I’m using most of the time – no desire to drink or get high, and overall I live a pretty happy and honest life. But, this is the third time in the last two years when I got stomach flu or food poisoning and took more than I’m supposed to. My Doctor is (rightfully) strict and there’s just no way to refill early. So, here I am feeling all the symptoms of withdrawal. It’s easy to admit I have a physical addition at this point, although I don’t actually feel like I’m “using”. Any advice? I’ve got the hot/cold thing going on, I’m jittery and uneasy. I’m from the SF Bay Area by the way, East Bay Area.
Anyone still here
i am on the 3rd night of opiate wd….I started taking Xanax on day 2….I got a 60 pill prescription from my dr on day 2….I started day 2 with 3 doses of 1 mg spaced out about 7 hours apart…..the Xanax has helped tremendously for the anxiety, nausea, and ability to fall asleep as on day 2 I slept all night through from 11pm to 10 am….. It’s now day 3 and I tapered my doses to 3 .5 mg doses 7 hours apart…..it has still been a huge help but I woke up in the middle of the night with crazy RLS…..did I cut my doses too short too soon? I still feel ok for the most part except for the fact that I woke up and have RLS…..I don’t want to overdue it with the Xanax….. Please advise
Please read the following article:
How To Stop Restless Legs From Opiate Withdrawal
Hi richard. I’m on day four I’ve been taking kpins for days now. I did the same thing slept for a day. I’ve had an appetite. But today I don’t feel that good. Last night I had the jumps real bad and kept thinking to myself wtf is this ever going to end? I’m worried that I’ve been taking so many benzos that I’m blocking the withdrawals and they are just going to come back. But I am an addict and you’ll tell yourself anything to go get high. Any advice?
Is anyone still on this forum
Hi I’m here.
Me, too. I was on heroin 28 yrs. Only stopped once in 97′ for 6months. Both me n hubby, dbl trouble. I went to a prayer deliverance group, just chkin it out, but was delivered of heroin that night & all swelling of my hands! They were so swollen for yrs. Was also taking 90mgs of methodone(yeah, what a pig!) After the meeting I felt didn’t want nothing anymore! Then I listened to someone tell me, “u gotta b wise, your body will evenutally go thru withdrawels” so 6 days later without withdrawels I started taking methadon(so regret it) again! And detoxed down to about 7mgs. Kicking now, first wk was pretty bad. Woke up every hr n a half with anxiety. RlegS, a friend who went thru it gave me 3 lorazepam & 3 xanax. bc of my addictive behaivior I didn’t want to take xanax. My aunts say its mostly my mind that’s messed up. Then. Why do I go to bed fine and wake up doing the croc deathroll! Sneezing 7 times in a row!?
I started smoking 30mg Oxycodone recreationally a few months ago (2, 3 max). I noticed that after a heavy day (4-5 pills smoked) I started having chills for the day but I did not attribute it to early withdrawals. It was only after 3-4 weeks of continued use that I realized that I was experiencing withdrawals within 6-8 hours of stopping.
Last Thursday I scraped up the last of my money and got 5 pills, of which i smoked 3 that night. Friday afternoon I smoked the last 2, and by midnight I was already experiencing sleeplessness. The next two days were arguably the most painful of my 25 years being alive — lost 10 pounds overnight, aches, cravings, depression, insomnia, etc. But I saw it as a chance to get clean and kept going, until Sunday afternoon my friend who knew what I was going through (in an attempt to taper?) gave me one 30mg pill, which i smoked half in the afternoon and then the rest gradually over the day. I didn’t feel that it “reset” the withdrawals but Monday i was still unable to sleep more than an hour at a time, even with 10mg capsules of melatonin and maxed out on the daily limit of Tylenol and Tylenol PM.
It is now Tuesday afternoon (almost 96 hours since the Friday dose, 48 hours since the “taper” one pill dose) and I didn’t get much sleep last night but came to work to distract myself (which has helped on and off). I got some crazy cravings at one point last night, and even today had emotional mood swings that come & go. I have two 2mg Xanax bars that I got from a friend and after reading this am considering taking a quarter at a time to help relax and sleep. Do you have any suggestions?
Xanax sure saved me a lot of times when I couldn’t sleep or relax during opiate withdrawal. I would just take a fourth of bar at a time as needed, like whenever I felt very anxious, and before bed so I sleep a few hours.
As for your question asking for suggestions, please re-read the following tips from the article:
1) Always take Xanax under the supervision of a physician.
2) Xanax comes in tablets that are circular which are 0.25 mg or 0.5 mg, football shaped tablets that are 1.0 mg, and rectangular bars that are 2.0 mg.
3) Due to differences in severity of addiction and biochemical uniqueness, there is no set Xanax for opiate withdrawal dosage.
4) Take the least amount of Xanax necessary to achieve opiate withdrawal symptoms relief.
5) Discontinue Xanax after 3-4 days; the worst of the withdrawals should be over by day 5, and this way you won’t develop a physical dependence to Xanax.
6) Most individuals will benefit from as little as 0.5 mg per dose, though some will need up to 2.0 mg, especially at night before bed.
Disclaimer: I am a Strategic Intervention Coach, not a doctor, so I can’t give professional advice regarding aspects of the body, only the mind. This comment is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or opiate tapering programs.
I think this is great it eases my mind about taking the xanax. I thought my 2nd wk of kicking methadone would. Be easier then the 1st, idk how long it takes but I hear like a month or so. I felt better taking lorazepam to sleep w instead of xanax, bc the xanax makes me feel woosy the nxt day. Lorazepams didn’t. I really dnt want to have a xanax addiction. Drs appt isn’t til the 27th. A wk away..
I’ve been on heroin for 8 years I do like 3 grams a day I’ve bewn taking Xanax for a cool days no bs it’s been helping alot
Chris it worked very well for me too. Glad it’s helping out, and thanks for posting a comment about your positive experience. I wish you the absolute best of luck.
Hi I had been taking oxycodone for 8 months following a botched back surgery. Xanax help a great deal, also my Dr. Prescribed neurontin guys nerve pain in my back. I read that neurontin works on the gaba in the brain as well. I took I pill over my normal dose and it completely relieved my withdrawal symptoms. Everything but the cravings. I even slept like 5 hours that afternoon. The only problem I noticed dad I hag to double the dose everyday to achieve the Same relief. I had no negative side effects. N just thought I would throw that out there any one suffering thru withdrawal and may have neurontin or access to them, it saved my butt when I ran out of Xanax..
Thanks for sharing your amazing experience. I have heard from many others that gabapentin (Neurontin) totally relieved their symptoms and made the withdrawal very bearable. Check out this article if you like:
How To Use Gabapentin For Opiate Withdrawal
Please be careful with neurontin. It can be addictive. I had to stop using it because I became dependent on it and was abusing it. I now tell any new doctor I go to that they can never prescribe it to me. I wish you well and good luck.
I have been addicted to opiates for about 5 years now. The first 3 were oxy and then 30 mg percocet when oxy’s became scarce i moved onto heroin. I have about a gram a day addiction. One day clean i am unfunctional. Shaking, sweating, runny nose, constant yawning, stomach cramping, diahreah, feeling of being weighed down, terrible anxiety, and insomnia. I could go on. Today i am starting on 2 mg of xanax a day and i eat Imodium like pez. I want so badlyto be free from this prison iI’ve put myself in and im going to give it everything i have. I love to see the positive support on this forum and i hope someone just starting out with opiates will read this and stop now. It is in no way worth it. It will ruin your life if you let it. Good luck to everyone who is making the right choice.
I have been through hell the past few days, now im on day 5, ive decided to try zanbars and benadryl on day 4 to help me sleep and it worked, still havin mood swings doe
Glad you were able to get some sleep. You’re doing amazing if you made it this far. That’s a lifetime off opiates after using them daily. I’m so proud of you!!! Keep going and never look back.
Hello,
I’ve been on norco for a year for back pain. Will I still have horrible withdrawal and paws symptoms? Will they still last long? I have taken 6 pills 5/325.
That is a very small amount of Norco, however, a year is a long time, so your body is now dependent to certain degree. I don’t know how bad or how long they will last, as each case is different, but the following article may help you determine this:
Opiate Withdrawal Timeline: How To Stop Withdrawal
I have weened myself down to 2mg of Suboxone daily for the past year or so and ran out yesterday and decided I was gonna just try and not take it anymore. I am starting to feel the withdrawel start. I have 118 Clonidine left in my prescription and I read that can help but will Xanax help with a WD from Suboxone? I have to work all weekend and I wanna be able to the best I can without feeling like I’m dying.
Hi Joe,
Most people get a reduction of anxiety and insomnia if they take Xanax during Suboxone withdrawal. I used to take it when I could find it for withdrawal, and it worked very well. Coming off Suboxone after being on it that long, and at 2 mg without going lower, that might be a rough time for awhile. Most people jump off less than 1 mg or even 0.1 mg after long and slow taper. Best of luck to you Joe. Medications and natural remedies can help a lot.
Hey everyone.. great comment sototallysober. I’ve got myself about 30 1mg footballs and I’m gonna lock myself in and prepare for the nightmare, I hope my journey will be easy as well. I’ve been addicted to dope for about 5 months and have an atleast 1 g habit. I want so badly to be free and true to myself. Pray for me guys!
Hang in there! You have plenty of Xanax and I’ll pray for you!!!! You can do this!
I’m a little further along Percs and Vic’s everyday for 9yrs now I do 10t a day
I work normal but can’t function without I avoid whomever possible now if I take zanax should I take them only at night or in the day I can take 1 and feel diff and talk slower but the 10 or so pets I’m normal at least I think I am
Help
Everyone is unique, and some people take them throughout the day then at night, while others just take them at night.
Disclaimer: I am a Strategic Intervention Coach, not a doctor, so I can’t give professional advice regarding aspects of the body, only the mind. This comment is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or opiate tapering programs.
Good luck lots of prayers I know what your going through.
Did it work
Prayers and blessings. 🙂
Trust me, I’m praying now
hello people…lets just say ive been addicted to heroin/pills slash you name the opiate ive done abused it.Finally I said this is enough.so I got me about 15 bars (2mg) and prepared for the nightmare!..little to my surprise it was a cake walk granted I don’t remember the first 4 days but when I awoke on day 5 I didn’t have a SINGLE W/D symptom.so my advice is forget the bullshit get some Xanax lock yourself away for a week and turn ur phone off<no need to make Xanax drunk calls..after that days 5-10 are a piece of cake.youll have NO energy on day 5 but shit who cARES…youll be freee fro m chasin that dragon…good luck..god bless
Thanks so much for your comment. I feel the same way as you do about using Xanax for opiate withdrawal. If I could only use one item for withdrawal, it would be Xanax. If I could have three, however, I would choose Xanax, loperamide HCL (Imodium AD), and clonidine.
As far as the no energy thing goes, my favorite supplement for that is DLPA
. It’s an amino acid supplement that increases dopamine, adrenaline and enorphins (natural painkillers). It uplifts mood, diminishes withdrawal symptoms, and counteracts the opiate withdrawal fatigue and depression quickly and powerfully.
DLPA is my favorite natural supplement for opiate addiction recovery, and the following article will benefit EVERYONE who is addicted or recently clean off opiates:
DLPA: A Miracle Supplement For Opiate Addiction Recovery
Again, thanks for leaving a wonderful comment that will help other readers learn some great opiate withdrawal tips. I appreciate your input very much!
Attention: I am a Strategic Intervention Coach, not a doctor, so I can’t give professional advice regarding aspects of the body, only the mind. What I write is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or opiate tapering programs.
Hi! I have been a recreational opiate user for about two years. Sometimes I take breaks but recently it had been more frequent. I have to work from home but wanted to know your opinion. I stopped two weeks ago for four days, then used Vicodin and Percocet two at a time.i am on day 5 of nothing except using .5 Xanax at night. I have been sleeping good but am wondering if my withdrawals will be behind me.
Beck congrats on your amazing accomplishment!!!! It sounds like the acute withdrawal phase is over or coming to an end. But that’s where the real fun begins (insert evil laugh here).
Now is when Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome will begin. Not to worry, I’ve created an epic article on steps you can take to eliminate or minimize this from happening:
How To Stop Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome From Opiates
Hello everyone…i ran out of percocets yesterday. I was taking them for severe back pain (2 herniated disks in my lower back)….luckily I have some xanax…Ive take 2 .5’s today….the diahrea is awful, the cravings are even worse with the xanax, Im taking vitamins and drinking lots of water which unfortunately is sending me to the bathroom…my question is how long does the cravings last?…the pain in my back is horrible and the cravings to get relief is undescribable…someone answer me, I need help ….Judy
Depending on your unique biochemistry, what supplements you are taking, and other factors, your cravings could last days, weeks, or months. Regular exercise is one of the best things you can do, but you’re probably not in good enough shape to do this yet. Please refer to the following article for things that can help you reduce reduce symptoms and cravings:
Opiate Withdrawal Remedies
Disclaimer: I am a Strategic Intervention Coach, not a doctor, so I can’t give professional advice regarding aspects of the body, only the mind. This comment is for informational use only. It’s not intended to treat, diagnose or prevent any disease. Always check with your doctor before changing your diet, trying any new supplements, medications, exercise or opiate tapering programs.
can i take my xanax to help me get thru my oxycodone withdrawals for 4 days? Caron
Caron,
There are many Drs who do prescribe xanax to use to help with anxiety during opiate withdrawal. Many say that xanax does help them. Of course it is always worrisome when someone with the disease of addiction already, chooses to use something else that can become an addiction. Be very careful.
~Mary
OAS Recovery Specialist
I have just started my withdrawal. I confessed to my doctor and of course he understood. After all, it was believe it or no, it was ultram. Doctors give this stuff out like candy. I have been under stress for a couple of months and started to take too much and ran out of my script and went into my wife’s prescription. I just had to get out of this cycle, not because of the high, it just addressed the depression and it was in my mind great. So I stopped and I started feeling like hell. Bottom line is that my doctor gave me a new prescription with no refill to taper off and Xanax . Maybe I’m on the right road. I think the main thing that helped me was that I confessed to my wife and Doctor. That really helped.
For ALL users in this forum. The absolute best thing you can do is go see a SUBOXONE doctor. It will eliminate ALL opiate withdrawal symptoms from any source and it is much easier to wean off of than full opiates. The deal is this: you are trading out hard opiates for a softer opiate (suboxone) and you can wean off of it starting from the dosage that the doc gives you to start with. It may take a year or 2 to do it, but if taken as prescribed, there will never be any withdrawals starting from day one. You will gain back your freedom to live and not worry about withdrawal symptoms EVER again.
This is NOT so… I have withdrawn off Fentanlyl, Heroin, Oxys (pill & liquid) and NOTHING comes close to withdrawling off Suboxone/Subutex it is a NIGHTMARE I have been on under 1mg (one) for 3yrs… currently on butrans transdermal patch 20mcg which is 0.48mg every 24hrs… the last half mg is harder than jumping from 16mg-8mg-4mg-2mg….
All I can say is wow, I didn’t know, thanks!!!!!
This sounds great, but I’m so sick of not having my life back, I’m going to taper off with Xanax Don’t get me wrong, what you are saying makes perfect sense. And I know it has and is working. I think confession to family and friends cannot be down played.
Thank you! Does this work for detioxing from 8 mgs a day of soboxone if I take percocet for the 5 days as well. Since being on the program for pain management I feel its done mote harm than good. I gained 60 lbs over 3 years and have a very poor quality of life. My dr also put me on Effexor for which they dont have a small enough dose to taper. They should of made me aware of what my life was going to turn into. It was easier dealing with the Fibromyalgia, etc. My Dr is attiment about giving me any kind of benzo (althougn she did before). I feel they truly do not understand what IVE BEEN DEALING WITH. MAJOR FAtigue due to lack of benzo to help. Nywuil benadryl dont do crap. Im a single mother with a mortgage. Have a support system in Aa. Have my Associates Degree in tje field. Not looking for any kind of high. I just want to be normal again. They just are not hearing me. Yry to put me on worse meds for seizure s etc. Makes no sense. All side effects worse than a simple taper dose. Oh & now I have Gall bladder and enlarged liver which was not there before. I offeted to sign a waiver of responsibility. No luck. Its all about the $$$ sub dr. Psych dr. Prim dr. All in same place 3 appts adds up
Robin,
The problems that you are describing are issues that many have while on suboxone.The following is part of a comment left by “former-bupe-patient” on an online addiction recovery magazine called THE FIX: “Then the pink cloud that I was in began to grow dark, the feel good feeling that I was going to beat this was taken over by what I know is side effects from this medication. I told my Dr. that I felt pretty lifeless, with no emotions and zero energy. “Youre depressed. It happens alot when a person stops opiates” So I believed him. HE WAS the addiction specialist. He added antideppressants. They didn’t help. So he changed them and again, they didn’t help. He let me know that it sometimes takes time to find the right combination. I knew nothing about that either, because I had never dealt with emotional issues before. This went on for about a year. I kept getting worse and worse. The “right combination” didn’t seem to exist.
This was a very dark time for me. I literally felt numb. I felt no joy, no excitement, no motivation, ….nothing. I existed. Thats it. I felt like a piece of furniture in my house, only moving from where I slept to the couch and doing only the things that I could not get out of doing. My poor kids could tell that I seemed distant and uninterested in what they were doing. I knew something was wrong and I wondered, “could it be the medicine causing this?” I reached out to the other members in the groups that I was in and the forums where I participated to see if others were going through much of the same issues. Immediately people started answering say that yes, they too felt apathetic and distant from their lives. It wasn’t just one or two here and there it was many others in every place I mentioned it. I told my Dr but he responded, “Suboxone doesn’t cause that.” But I wouldn’t take that for an answer, because since the same thing was happening to so many, it couldn’t just be a coincidence………These things are happening on a wide scale , by many but by no means all. Still these are definitely things that need looked into with buprenorphine treatment.
Lack of emotion, apathy
Severe sweating
no energy
halted menstrual period, or very erratic
loss of libido
sleep apnea
tooth erosion
lack of motivation
severe joint pain and stiffness, especially in mornings
unable to get moving in the mornings
brain fog
unable to concentrate
unable to experience joy
becoming anti social , spending most of your time alone ”
You can find this entire comment made by “former-bupe-patient” in the comment section of this article: https://www.thefix.com/towards-integrated-model-opioid-addiction-treatment
This sounds much like the depression that you are talking about. For me to overcome this, it took changing my diet and adding the right supplements and amino acids to adjust my brain chemistry, that I believe was messed up by suboxone.
~Mary
OAS RECOVERY SPECIALIST
thats awesome advice! glad ur better. chasing the dragon is the best way 2 put it!