Can't get off Suboxone

Getting off suboxone is not as difficult or as painful as some people maintain - here is a system that worked for me and subsequently many of my friends. The first rule is that you do it very very slowly - suboxone can linger in your system for months - yes months - so when you reduce dosages stay on that dosage for at least 1-2 months to allow you system to adjust. You have to fully adjust to each new dose before you reduce to the next lower dose e.g. Start at 8 mg ad go to 7.5mg stay there for 2 months and then go down to 7mg. It is going to take along time but this gradual adjustment will allow you to function and will reduce the temptation of a relapse - in my case to Heroin for 10 yrs so I did not want to go back. Once you get to 2mg reduce by .25 mg. From 1mg down you will then have to reduce by .125mg. To do this you will have to split the 2 mg tablets into 8 pieces (crumbs basically) and follow the 1-2 month adjustment plan. Finally when you have been on your last dosage (.125mg) for 1-2 months you can stop taking subs completely. If you follow this system the jump off is not that bad - I promise. I recommend then that you take a combination of advil, multi vitamins as well as milk thistle and st johns wort if you have budget for it. If you need help or have questions please post a response and I will notified by email that your question is waiting. Good luck good people and God be with you. The Subhelper 326

I work in a suboxone program and have a few suggestions. Have you tired to take the reduced dosage every other day, then every 3 days. I have heard that if you make it ok through 3 days, the reduced dose will work fine for you.
Good luck to you.

Iv been on suboxon for about a year and a month now and im trying to get away from them. it is really 50/50 for me on the negative/positive scale. for the positives i never took an opiate again since i started suboxon a year or so back. but the negatives on the other hand are that its very challenging to get away from subs. i use to take 3 8mg pills a day. stupid me that was my choice in the begining of the program. im now down to about 1 pill a day(8mg). i really want to get away from it but #1 my doctor is a money grubbing scumbag and #2 my anxiety is at an all time high and i am trying so hard to keep my self from any type of narc besides subs. i dnt wna take any benzos. i just want my old life back where i woke up being happy without any type of narcotic reliefe. ie weed/pills. i guess im just venting because i already know the path im headed for when trying to get away from subs and having a dr who doesnt give a sh*t about me or any of his patients. i just want me back

I'm really sorry that you have a bad doctor. Switch doctors, please! It would be a good idea and you can get help. A lot of patients do that. Have you got someone else in mind you could go to?

I have been on suboxone on and off mostly on for over 4 years now. I had used it to get off heroin and it was a miracle drug for me at first, then in the first year i abused it and used along with it... its been almost 2 years since i have relapsed and being n suboxone as allowed me or helped me i guess to not struggle with the horrible consequences of abusing heroin, other opiates, meth all that c**p but even though it has aided in making my quality of life better its also keeping me from feeling at my best.. i hav physical & emotional side effects that are driving me nuts inside... I just do not think the positive outweighs the bad anymore. I feel like my depression is not caused by the subs but is increased by there side effects, stomach pain, constipation, feeling like c**p until i take it, and it no longer makes me feel "good" like it did when i first took it it just makes me feel better than if i do not take it but at the same time makes me feel fat and tired all the time. I have bad anxiety always have, social and general and symptoms of depression, and insomnia so those underlying problems are really making it hard to get off suboxone, i have got down to taking just half a 2mg once or twice a day but once i wake up and dont take one i get horrible anxiety and theres no way im sleeping even with ambien and ativan. my doctor even gave me temazapam to help me sleep lst time i tried stopping subs and i still could not sleep. i have a great psychiatrist but cant afford a therapist to actually talk to. meetings are a scary and negative place for me, and i really only benefit from one on ones where i can have less anxiety and be honest to the person im talking to. i know theres not a med on this planet besides dope that can help me sleep like a normal person or make my anxiety and irrational fears go away but i am looking for low cost one on on therapy so i can work on my confidence and strength so i can stop taking stupid suboxone, im sick of hiding from the world and not feeling like i deserve to feel, i just want to wake up and feel normal just normal me. i want to be at my best at work and be a better friend, girlfriend and daughter & sister. Some might say suboxone doesnt have withdrawals and makes u feel normal but after taking it for so long my mind and body makes the withdraw unbearable. so i got dstracted but thats my story, if someone feels like they need to vent, talk, whine or just relate feel free to reply with an e-mail, aim whatever u feel comfortable posting, i could definitely use sum conversation with anyone who feels the same i do : ) im just a normal person trying to stay on the right track and am struggling with stopping subs. everyone stay stong and try to be as happy as u can be everyday cause being unhappy just sucks and we dont need to waste anymore of our lives feeling crappy! ~ Sarah

my recommendation- if you're committed to hanging tough and whatnot to get clean and know you'll get off the subs ASAP then use the sub when the opiate withdrawls begin (my personal experience being h), take tiny doses after your initial dose to get some rest, less than a mg if possible, after 4/5 days of taking less than 10mg total drop off, you'll feel like you are under the weather for maybe a week. but you're going to have to experience that whether it is tomorrow or in a month, and it's true, let that sub build up in your system and the w/ds can last weeks.

and about dropping off on your dosing only after acclimating your body for a month is b/s. people tend to favor on the heavy side when it comes to dosing, i know a lot of sober individuals still on 8mg/daily years later its not pretty. i took 8mg daily for a month, 2mg daily for maybe 2 months then did the drop off aforementioned. hang in there and use the suffering to remind you why this is a closed chapter in your life.

I just happen to come across your post when doing more research on suboxone withdrawls. Although this post is old, maybe you will see my reply. I come from a very small town, that once was a nice place to grow up. Then (to make a long story short) prescription pain killers came to town. Not only were ppl my age doing them but, our moms and dads, and even grand-parents were doing em. Our whole town turned into a ghetto-drug town. Ppl tricken, stealin, pawnin, and whatever else you can think of for OC's. Then over time everyone got on methadome. ANd now sub's. During my battle with oxy's, I too sold street drugs to support my habbit. Or I would sell oxy's for a higher amount and then buy them for a much lower amount. You know what I'm saying. We addicts learn how to hustle and fend for our addicitons. 10 yrs later I'm still hooked on pills. I thought sub's would be the best way to go but now I'm having second thoughts. They cause me to be in the ER every other day due to anxiety. On the outside, you would pas me on the street and think I was a pretty preppy girl with lots of friends and a great life. But looks can be decieving. I feel lost. I don't hang around anyone no more bc they're all bad off. My life has to change. Idk why I related to your story but I did and I too guess I wanted to talk to someone. If you get this, let me know how you are doing. I hope you were able to get off. Maybe you can give me some tips.lol I just called a place that does rapid detox for only $6700. which is way cheaper then most places at 15,000. I know there is no magic wand though. PRAY! We will see a better 2mrw one day:)

I am a 30yr old women and I have been on Suboxone for a year now after a long addiction to all opiates... I have been taking it on my own without a docs script for about 11months of the year because my doc did'nt want to keep me on it, so behind everyones backs I have been secretly dosing myself and staying off of everything.. I have'nt touched a single opiate or drug for that matter, well now I need to get off of it because I can no longer get it through a friend and it's just time I suppose... I have never felt so much pain and discomfort before, I am down to breaking a single 8mg into 10 little pieces for 2 weeks now.. Its HELL.. I had no idea that coming off of a drug that has been so good to me could cause me so much physical and mental pain... When I first started this low dose, I started with a sore throat, a stiff neck, and so much pressure in my neck and head, I felt like I was being choked and my head going to explode.. I had a itchy burning sensation begin in my chest and quickly moved through out my entire body, If I am going to hell, I think that is what is was going to feel like, I felt like I had bugs pinching every part of my body, I was confused, and crying and screaming, soaking wet from sweat, vomiting up nothing cause I could'nt eat, no sleep, and I could'nt stop kicking my legs for 3 days straight, and did'nt let up and finally I went to the ER cause I was panicking and could'nt breath and just tired. I could'nt handle it another day... They said that I should'nt be detoxing that bad off of suboxone, it was all in my head and gave me a sheet on how to handle anxiety and 8 xanax.. Should'nt they know the symptoms.. Maybe its karma cause I did'nt have a script?!? Well I am still on that low dose and am spacing it out until I start to feel the burn... I have constant pain throughout my body and have flare-ups as I call them of pressure, stiff neck and the itchy burn almost everyday... I am scared that when my last 10 little pieces are gone I will freak.. I have 2 kids and have to drive them around, its so hard to do that when Im violently sick.. I feel hopeless alot, I am angry at myself and have so much guilt.. I just wish there was an easier way for myself and for my family... I've been so good for a year and Now I am craving other opiates to help with this withdrawl.. Should I have listened to the doc who would'nt keep me on it? But then I know I would'nt have stayed clean... Dont know what to do... Much love, hopeless in Maine

I am 6 days off subs and today is the worst...i thought yesterday was horrible. It is just like getting off heroin. I suggest people not to take them and just go through the withdrawals of opiates as soon as you can...while going to NA and counciling. It's not that easy for me because i was doing heroin for only 6 months and I have been doing subs for about 8 months..up until 6 days ago. I felt really bad if I didn't take them and I felt like an addict all over again..It didn't help me. I am so tired, I can hardly move, I can't sleep and I have no apetite at all. I try to excerise but it makes me feel so tired and as if I'm not accomplishing anything. Any suggestions on how to make these withdrawals any better?

Hey everyone just saw the forum on Google when I searched Suboxone. Lots of good info on here. But I think that everyone is different. I was on 2 8-2mg Suboxones a day and now I take a half and I have weened down in a relatively short time. A year. I could go to a quarter a day I think if I wanted to but at this point I'm doing good and if it's not broken don't fix it.

I have been on suboxone for about one month now. I have not had any cravings for opiates at all and i felt like i could finally be off suboxone, so i stopped two days ago, and wow was i wrong. the day i didn't take any i slept the whole day, had no energy, was sweating alot and didn't want to leave my bed. So i now decided to take the suboxone again. Sometimes i sit around and think if there is even life after addiction, and when will my happiness come back without pills. If anyone needs to talk, feel free to email me x0xjenna@yahoo.com

k so i just got on suboxone today.. scared? sh*tless. but im determined to stop using. i had to go through 48 hours clean before i could get my first dose and that really scares the c**p outta people, me too. it wasnt great. But i found out some useful information, who knows it may be common knowledge but i found it a lifesaver for anyone considering just detoxing yourself. I was seriuosly writhing with pain in my feet legs and hips. opiates draw alot of nutrition out of you and also the withdrawals are based on the drug leaving your body being carried out by fluids. the most common reason for these pains is seriously dehydration! so being in constant pain, trying to numb my legs by keeping them up you know all that... i started chugging down water, and kept drinking just keep on drinking water. it took about 4 hours but the pain went from severe to dull to gone. that was huge. remember your body is weak while going through this, you may not want to but you need to force yourself to eat, go for nutritious, drink tons of room temp water (it absorbs faster) and also you can take some advil or tylenol (nothing with codeine so no t3s) make sure when you feel well enough to go to na meetings. its tough but i know its worth it. im still working on it here but i have faith. i dont know why i didnt just choose to detox.. i mean 48 hours in... but i had made my decision on suboxone while still using and thought thatd be the way to go. i just get scared with all the talk about gettin off but you know, these drugs are here to help you and keep your doctor by your side, he put you on the pill to get you off. i never write on these blog things but i thought i should say something because i still have faith, and i know you all can do this too. hope to see you all on the other side, in the real world

I've been on, and detoxed every opiate I know of. I've rapid-detoxed, weaned-off, and COLD TURKEYED all of them too. The last was a 3 year maintenance of Suboxone. I Cold Turkyed it! 6 years. before that I Cold Turkyed 4-7 40mg Methadone Wafers, or 120mg-280mg of Methadone a day. Usually 120 mg! I did it COLD TURKEY! 2 weeks of a pure reminder of why I would never want to go back. The ONLY reason I wound up on Suboxone is because it was fairly new, I was hospitalized from a very bad car accident, and my Dr. told me Suboxone would be less addictive, and act longer. HA! I find it all comes down to how bad you want ti! If you want it bad enough you will stop it completely, because you are fed up. Why make it linger? Cold Turkey seems the most sincere way, quickest way, and reminding way of the hell it brings. I say get it out of your life NOW! Yes, it is shitty going through the extreme withdrawals, , but nothing worth anything comes easy. I've been clean for 11yrs. now, and work with addicts @ a 1yr. Faith Based Program Counseling addicts. Everyone who comes in addicted to opiates does it C.T. unless med. conditions will not allow it. Personally I find the extreme withdrawals of C.T. are a benefit if you choose to view your life as becoming truly free a benefit. I find C.T. over all is the best, and most desirable way to GET IT DONE! You will feel, and know how strong you really are when your going threw it, and are done with it. You will gain a sense of accomplishment threw the C.T. way that is transferable to sober life. I since survived Hurricane Katrina taking EVERYTHING materially I have ever worked for, my family photos, lives of people I loved, the place where I grew up "St. Bernard Parish", my house, and my life as I knew it at the time, but I KNOW I am an over-comer, and I have what it takes to be a survivor. Not only "just" surviving, but living life fully and abundantly! You need to want to BE DONE bad enough to put everything aside for a couple weeks, and Just Do It! No dilly-dallying around. Believe me you are strong enough! You need to let go of the FEAR of Withdrawing, and look forward to it. Sounds crazy right, looking forward to detoxing! Your not looking forward to the detoxing, but past it knowing "IT WILL END". When you get to this point in your life your success rate is a whopping 85%. Our Center has an 85% success rate of course with hiccups here n' there, but 85% overall. With this said about COLD TURKEY detoxing you also have to visit your Dr. 1st, not looking for excuses why not to, but to see if your body, and mind is medically able to handle it. I have 2 compressed discs n' 2 titanium rods attaching my spine together. I also used to suffer from Panic Attacks since I was 16 yrs. old that would have me black-out they were so intense. I did it with all of this, and YES it was an ordeal, but from that ordeal I gained a new perspective, one that stays fresh with me more so than any HIGH for sure. If you are medically able to, and your Dr. says you are, I would Cold Turkey whatever opiates you are on. If you really need something to cut off the edge a little ask your Dr. for 1 mg Klonopin 2x a day for the ordeal, or Clonidine 0.1 mg as prescribed. Give the bottle to someone else to administer them to you "properly". I do this for people all the time. Get to a place, house, hotel room, etc... AWAY from your hook-ups, and get dropped off there. DO NOT ALLOW YOURSELF TO HAVE ACCESS TO OPIATES, A WAY TO GET OPIATES, AND KEEP LOVING/SUPPORTING COMPANY, AND YOU'LL BE SO GLAD YOU TOOK THE COLD TURKEY ROUTE WHEN YOU ARE DONE! C.T. Detoxing shortens the PAWS too. PAWS are Post Acute Withdrawal Symptoms, which occur after the initial detox like insomnia, fatigue/lethargy, appetite, anxiety, diarrhea, etc... You have to know though that most of these symptoms are caused by "us" mentally more than they are truly physical. We do this Psychosomatically! We dwell on the negative aspects instead of moving forward being positive, and CHANGING. Getting sober after being high to survive is a change. Being sober now becomes like getting high where you need to adjust to sober life, because it seems off, like something is wrong when it really is as it SHOULD be. You need to know this! Your old ways of viewing how things SHOULD be were flawed. That's what got n' kept you addicted to the HIGH, our flawed views. It is a "decision" to CHANGE YOUR LIFE, and not "just" to stop using drugs. If you just stop using, and don't clean out the things, or people you KNOW shouldn't be in YOUR Life then you have a 99.9% chance, no exaggeration here either, of going right back. That 0.1% applies only if you die first! "If you sit in a Barber-Shop long enough you WILL get a haircut."! If anyone, and I mean ANYONE would like someone to talk to, with, or needs me in anyway that I might be able to help them you can E-Mail me @ _[removed]_ . I don't care if it's to snap, b***h, complain, or whatever as long as it helps YOU get sober.

Peace n' Love! :P
flippy Ed

P.S.: Keep ya heads up! Again my E-Mail addy. is: ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed **
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Suboxone detox is a very slow process which has to be done correctly
Or can be very painful. If you were at 24 mgs a day slowly taper down dosages
But do not stop completely. Once you are down to about 2mgs a day you need
To stay at that everyday till your last week which at that point you cut the 2 mg in
Half and take the one mg for the duration of your suboxone . People seem to have the
Misconception that you need to ween down by not takin the med everyday but this is not true you need to take this everyday till the end of you will get violently ill. Some patients on suboxone will klonopin to easy w/d symptoms
But this is not suggested to someone who is an addict. To find out more
Info on this and other detox's come to our website at ***edited by moderator*** web addresses not allowed

Dr. S. Williams

Hi there..
I had been addicted to oc the past year and been taking about 3-5 80s a day.. on and off suboxone trying to quit. Now having 3 months clean and been fully on suboxone..i feel amazing lke a new person, only problem is, now its hard to get off the sub. Since I was on and off of it the past 1.5yr..and now fullly been on it for 3months i think its accumulated in my system..I started on 2 full 8mg tablets,now take onlly 2mg in the mornings and 2 mg at night..I feel as if my withdrawl symtoms are like getting off the opiates all over again, help,what if i cold turkey it off sub for a few days?will the symptoms get better?