# Help With Opiate Withdrawl Please **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [October 3, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501 "2005-10-03T00:26:44Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 8\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:26am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/1 "2005-10-03T00:26:44Z")
I recently discovered poppy tea and have consumed a cup of it each evening for the past ten days. Initially it made me nauseous but after a few days I found I really enjoyed the dreams I would have during the night. Although the sleep wasn’t very restful I have been on holidays so it hasn’t really mattered. I was well aware of the consequences of opiate addiction but somehow a cup of tea (no more) every night for no more than a week (which became ten days) seemed ok. Since I go back to work tomorrow, last night I didn’t have my cup of tea. I was physically awakened by cold shivering at about 2 am and having seen “Trainspotting” I immediately recognized what was going on. I am a physically tough guy who has been through food poisoning before so the physical aspects are something that I was prepared to suffer through. What I hadn’t antcipated were the emotional aspects which are affecting me like I have never known. When I woke last night, the chills, shits were nothing next to the fear. I have never experienced it before and I don’t even know what I am afraid of. I went back to bed with all of the lights and television on and woke up feeling physically ok but determined to “get over it” I spent the day with my girlfriend and managed to keep the emotions at bay but now she has gone home and I feel emptier and more afraid than I ever have felt in my life. I realise this is all symptomatic of withdrawl but I have never been so fucked up emotionally in my 44 years (and my body is no stranger to adulterants). I have to wake up in 7 hours and go to work, yet as I type this there are tears in my eyes and I am afraid to go to bed. Again, I recognize this as entirely symptomatic yet it’s much more difficult to grin and bear this the way I could with physical discomfort. So finally the question- how much longer will I feel fucked up, afraid, and generally just not right? I’ve taken 3 shots of Ny-Quil which I hope will knock me out, it’s been 48 hours since tea time and I just want to wake up feeling like me. Thanks. ---
**Author:** ![Shagnasty](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/9dc877/32.png) [@Shagnasty](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Shagnasty)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/2 "2005-10-03T00:31:00Z")
I have never taken opiates myself but I have seen several people withdraw from them. It took 3 - 5 days and was pretty bad in the way you describe. Websites I looked at supported that time-frame. Hang in there. It will eventually get better. You aren’t the first person to go through this. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/3 "2005-10-03T00:31:38Z")
First, you should see your doctor. There are non-narcotic medications that can ease withdrawal. Secondly, the worst withdrawal symptoms for most opiates, including opium, are generally past in 72 hours. And they won’t kill a person. Now call your doc! QtM, MD ---
**Author:** ![AuntiePam](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/f19dbf/32.png) [@AuntiePam](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/AuntiePam)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:31am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/4 "2005-10-03T00:31:43Z")
Wow. Have you considered calling your doctor, or the emergency room of the closest hospital? Maybe they could prescribe something that would help ease the withdrawal effects. ---
**Author:** ![Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/qadgop_the_mercotan/32/83_2.png) [@Qadgop\_the\_Mercotan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Qadgop_the_Mercotan)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:36am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/5 "2005-10-03T00:36:13Z")
Oh, and call Narcotics Anonymous. They can talk to you about it. Talking to someone else who’s been thru it before is a helpful thing. ---
**Author:** ![deevee](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/57b2e6/32.png) [@deevee](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/deevee)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:47am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/6 "2005-10-03T00:47:25Z")
Thanks. After I finished typing this I just kind of cried for a bit and that seems to have provided some release. I can’t see my doc till the morning and emerg is certainly not where I should be now. The withdrawl is not physical anyway, I have just never felt this huge emptiness before. I’m just going to try to crash now, thanks again. Just typing this out has helped. ---
**Author:** ![Muffin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/muffin/32/4341_2.png) [@Muffin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Muffin)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 12:59am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/7 "2005-10-03T00:59:46Z")
> [@deevee](#): > > Thanks. After I finished typing this I just kind of cried for a bit and that seems to have provided some release. I can’t see my doc till the morning and emerg is certainly not where I should be now. The withdrawl is not physical anyway, I have just never felt this huge emptiness before. I’m just going to try to crash now, thanks again. Just typing this out has helped. 24/7 Telehealth Ontario: 1-866-797-0000 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [October 3, 2005, 1:15am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/help-with-opiate-withdrawl-please/324501/8 "2005-10-03T01:15:38Z")
!. Do not ask for medical advice on this message board, please. 2. _Do_ ask for medical advice from your personal physician, please. Locking thread.