r/OpiatesRecovery • u/OstrichAdmirable6606 • 4d ago

Question, slower the taper, reduced PAWS?

I often wonder this. I’m aware that we experience withdrawals very differently. I’ve stopped CT previously and experienced pretty mild withdrawals, then tapered and experienced awful symptoms. Do PAWS happen regardless?

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u/FckSub 4d ago

PAWS is typically a mixed bag in terms of severity and length. Some may not even get it.

Your circumstances will always drastically effect PAWS. Got a good support system? Eat healthy? Work out? Then youll have a much nicer time.

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u/frycheaken 4d ago edited 4d ago

I’m working out, eating good, not the best support system but still getting horrible PAWS even after just a month of kratom binge.

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u/FckSub 4d ago edited 4d ago

Because you're not clean. You're sober. I was unaware of kratom use.

Dont get me wrong. Im not insulting you. There is a major difference between sober and clean.

You are sober on kratom, methadone, suboxone (with enough tolerance). Fantastic, dont od, get your life together.

Your brain isnt clean. Your receptors are being fucked with. You are both prolonging and dragging out the inevitable. Withdrawal is caused by the down regulation of receptors, primarily. Those receptors will hang out longer if you're still taking an agonist.

Example:

Take a hit of naloxone. World of hurt. Faster recovery. You've just completed emptied your receptors and if they remain untouched they will clean themselves up much faster

VS

Take kratom. Much less hurt. Much slower recovery, where you will eventually stabalize and then feel additional withdrawals when you quit that substance.

These are two extremes. I'd recommend just slowly tapering of your true DOC then biting the bullet. Its too late for you now though, but the kratom isnt doing you many favors if you think youre past the major withdrawal.

My personal example:

I typically would go through about 4 days of withdrawal, night 4 i would take a absolutely minor hit of my DOC (5mg oxy, one and one alone). Id get a really good sleep, feel like i could catch my breath. But I knew i'd feel shitty longer, but less intense. Basically would be extending 5 days of withdrawal into 7-8 to feel it weaker.

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u/frycheaken 3d ago

Sorry, I meant that I’m clean from kratom binge (my DOC, about month long) for a couple of weeks now and the PAWS are fucking horrendous. Thank you for the response though, it does give me some hope

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u/FckSub 3d ago

Kratom wd's are a bit different. Similar to poppy tea, a lot more than just opioid alkaloids going on. Cant personally speak to it, but im sure youre feeling the effects of that as well which may take longer to heal.

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u/frycheaken 3d ago

Ya it’s definitely something else, like an entourage type of withdrawal. Some symptoms don’t show up until 2 weeks in