suboxone withdrawal after 12 months

zipit · Newbie Joined: 23 Sep 2007 Posts: 1

I took Vicadin and Percocete for about 5 months and then was subscribed Suboxone. I've been taking Suboxone for about 12 months now. I've been slowly weaning myself. This past week, I took a quarter of a pill everyday and then I stopped--mainly b/c I'm now pregnant.

I can't sleep. I feel irritable, restless, cranky, etc.

Any advice? How long will this last?

Guest · Guest

If you are indeed pregnant get an abortion as your fetus is screwed up by your subpoxone use. Give the kid a chance another time and get on the pill. Exercise for the withdrawel.

lala1234 · Newbie Joined: 22 Jul 2008 Posts: 9

all i can say is... tell a doctor that you are pregnant and had been using suboxone!!!!! your baby may be fine... but it may not be. ab the suboxone... yeah your screwed basically im in the same position and all i can find out is to take immodium beacuse its structurally similar to an opiod but it cant get you high... however... you can become addicted hah who knew you could become addicted to immodium! so be careful. also apparently it will pass but i cant find anyone who has had it pass! please if anyone has been through this please tell me it ends

Nikhoma26 · Newbie Joined: 18 Aug 2008 Posts: 4

I will first by saying, there isn't enough research completed on using suboxone during pregnancy to say if there will or will not be complications with your fetus. That being said, you are able to take subutex but again, not much research done on that. If you're in withdrawal your unborn child is feeling the same that you are times 10. I don't know your personally experience but you may look into switching to a low dose of methadone until you have delivered. It sounds like most of your symptoms aren't severe, mostly the mental side of the withdrawals ie. anxiety, irritability, restlessness so speaking from experience, you've been through the hardest part, it only gets better from here on out. For me the first 5 days were the worst and after that I felt better every day.
I am replying with more than a little bit of experience (5+ yrs in treatment) and with some education as well.
First of all, these forums offer some assistance but we are all individuals. Although our stories are more than likely quite similar, nobody's body works the same way. You are the only person that knows what you're body is telling you. If you're in withdrawals you're trying to rush things. The key to tapering is giving your brain time to repair the damage that has been done with illicit use. If you're in withdrawals all the repair has come to a stand still. The purpose of narcotic treatment is to keep your brain at a point where it is no longer releasing endorphins so that your body can build these back up. Endorphins are released when you're abusing drugs and they are your body's natural pain reliever. So, everyone's body will take a different amount of time to repair this damage.
I, personally, was in a methadone treatment program for 4.5 yrs at which time I continued going to counseling but switched to suboxone. For me, it was a long transition. It was about 6 wks before I felt normal. Now mind you, this is my body. I kept thinking that I was withdrawing but in fact my body just hadn't fully adapted so by the time I figured this out I was on 18mg a day and very lethargic. I quickly began going down 2mg per week and never felt any withdrawals until I reached 4mg at which time I started going down 2mg every other week depending on what my body was telling me. I stayed on 2mg for about a month and then went down to 1mg for 2 weeks. I have now been off suboxone for 9 days. It has been a walk in the park, a rainy walk, but it was worth it. I think that a lot of what I felt was being normal. I had been in a narcotic haze for the last 8+ yrs so that's the only normal I remember. A lot of it has been mind over matter. If I can keep myself busy I'm great. As soon as I sit down I start feeling blah, because I'm thinking about it. Just remember that the half life for suboxone is much longer than other narcotics so you may feel a little yuck for a week or maybe longer. The worst withdrawal symptoms that I've had from suboxone has been yawning, (tired people do that too! lol), loose stools (nothing like it is with methadone or heroin), I had some sweats and chills on the 2nd and 3rd day that subsided on the 4th, and just feeling different. Nothing was painful, no muscle cramping, I slept fine, no tremors and what little symptoms I have are subsiding every day. I'm very glad that I stuck it out and hope that everyone else can too. The only other thing that I suggest is make sure that you have a support system, sponsor, something, and get the counseling that is offered. Addiction is just as much a mental addiction as it is a physical one. You have to be ready to be clean. You need to want it and work for it. The prescription is a very small part of treatment! Just remember, it's your body and nobody knows your body better than you do! Stay strong and believe in yourself. If I can do, anyone can!!!!
I hope that this post has been helpful. Good Luck! You are all in my thoughts and prayers!!!

Nicole

LONG TIMER · Newbie Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

suboxone withdrawal after 12 months

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