Acute 7-OH withdrawal usually lasts 5–7 days. Symptoms start 6–12 hours after the last dose, peak at hours 12–36, and the physical worst is over by day 3–4. Milder post-acute waves (PAWS) can come and go for several weeks, each weaker than the last.
For most people the acute phase runs 5–7 days. Onset is within 6–12 hours of your last dose, the peak hits around hours 12–36, and the heaviest physical symptoms ease by day 3–4. After that, post-acute withdrawal (PAWS) shows up as shrinking waves over a few weeks.
Higher daily doses, longer use, and tapering vs. cold-turkey all change the curve. A long high-dose history tends to stretch the timeline and deepen PAWS; a shorter or lower-dose history is usually quicker. Sleep, hydration, and whether you have support also shift how the days feel.
Around day 3–5 the body quiets but an emotional crash arrives — heavy sadness and low motivation as your brain chemistry rebuilds. It's predictable and temporary, and it's the moment support matters most.
The peak is roughly hours 12–36 — restless legs, chills and sweats, nausea, and insomnia. It does not get worse than the peak.
Acute symptoms resolve in about a week. Post-acute waves (low mood, energy dips, cravings) can recur for weeks to a couple of months, but each wave is shorter and weaker.
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