suboxone is easy to come off

Today is Monday and ten days since my last dose of sub. Yesterday wasn't that bad as I was able to work on my car in 40 degree weather--it was cold. I think I could subsist forever on 13 mg hydro/day, but that ain't gonna happen. I've got a lot of stuff to get done today and a lot of running around in the car to do, but I SEEM to feel a notch better today so it will be not bad. I'll think I'll try some Imodium too--maybe that will lessen my other opiate intake (i.e., vics). I gotta be careful too with that as I don't need to get constipated as well--that's a b***h in itself. I'll give it a try just once to see if it makes a difference. The thing I notice most right now after about 6 hours after 2.5 mg of hydro are the chills. And at night, after 6 hours of sleep, waking up and one, can't get back to sleep, and two, very minor RLS that is entirely bearable. If it weren't for the wife sleeping right next to me, I'd just lie there. However, I'd get up, pop 1/2 of a 5 mg vic and be back to sleep in a few minutes. I usually get up at 8:30am, but today I over slept to 9:30 and felt reasonably decent. So, my day starts and really looking toward the end of all this....

Today is Thursday and 13 days since off of sub. I feel noticeably better, less malaise, less chills, etc. Still taking ~13mg hydro/day spread out. I definitively have more energy, and the will to do things. However, something weird is happening. I used to be very allergic to cats--we have two. I've been on opiates and sub continuously for well over 12 years. I noticed sometime during that time that my allergies went away. Never thought much about it thinking old age I was growing out of them. Now, they seem to be returning--with a vengeance. wtf. It's only been a couple days since this has been happening, so hopefully it will go away. But if that's the case, why would opiates suppress my allergies?? Don't know, but I'll deal with this separately. (could this be a sign that the opiates are leaving my system, meaning the sub in particular?)

This weekend, I'm going out of town with wife for a Superbowl party, so I will continue with the hydro as needed, then next Monday take the steps to reduce it altogether. And really, I think I'm almost there. What they are really needed for is sleep. That'll probably be how I finish up with the hydro--just a couple mg's before bed for sleep. If I wasn't so lazy, I'd go see my GP and ask him for something to sleep, which I might do if stopping the hydro and I still unable to sleep. For me, if you can't sleep, it's like Chinese torture, just laying there wide awake while the wife is peacefully snoring away.....

Another sidenote: ever try to split a 7.5 watson into 3 equal parts?? GD pill makers don't make it easy--hard as rock. I could do a cold water extraction, and then it's easy to measure the liquid accurately, but I can't do that now with the wife around. It would be nice if they could somehow make "soft" pills to make them easier to divide, and I'm not talking about just opiates, but any pill that where potentially you just want a lesser dosage. My rant for the day....

I have been on suboxone for almost a year now. I was addicted to OC's for almost 4 years. At my worst, I was taking 4 80mg a day. I finally gave up after tapping out most of my inheritance at 21 years old. I went to the SUB Dr. and got on taking 3 8mg a day (I think). Now almost a year later I am taking 1mg a day. Not once has my Dr. mentioned tapering off of the Subs. My psychiatrist tells me that you're supposed to taper at your discretion and that's exactly what I did. Everybody reacts different to the doses of Sub your Dr. prescribes and that's why a lot of you are thinking your Dr is ripping you off. If I hadn't cut down on my doses, I'd probably still be taking 8mg a day or something like that. You have to do it yourself, not your Dr. Whenever you decide to come off of the Subs, ask your Dr. about switching to subutex. My Dr. told me it makes things a little easier when coming off subutex instead of suboxone. He also prescribed me to clonodine and luckily my sister has some klonopine's that will help me through it. Good luck to all but remember to cut down on that sh*t at your own discretion... don't wait for your Dr. who see's god knows how many ppl a day to tell you what you need to do. I also recommend cutting down to 1 MG!

Today is Saturday and it's been 15 days since off of sub. Almost feel normal, but not quite. No chills, good stools, a little tired maybe, infrequent runny nose, but no depression or other mood sh*t. Started a new regimen of hydro--now taking 1/2 of a 7.5 mg pill every 8 hours which makes 11.25 mg/day. It has really helped especially with sleeping. I fully expect at 21 days, I'll be at just taking 1/2 pill at night for sleep, which should wind things up finally. It's gonna be nice to get off once and for all. I know I will have cravings in the future, but by now I'll just have to remind myself what I've been through.

To the poster above, you're right. It took me 2, maybe 3 years to adjust my dose to where I just felt normal; not high, not feeling crappy. The optimum dose for me turned out to be 2 mg/day, which I took just once a day in the morning. I also found that if I took it at night, it had some kind of stimulating effect that made it hard to sleep. My sub doc really had no clue for dosage, help with getting off, how long it takes to get off, etc. But, he never, ever hassled me about refills, which was a good thing.

Everyone is different, however when the time comes to jump off I highly recommend to getting down to no more than 0.5 mg /day before taking the leap. And this means being on the lowest dose at least 3 weeks, which seems to be the time it takes to stabilize the dosage. Trying to do it in any less time may not have the desired effect. Everyone is different.

This will likely be my last post. What, it's been 30 days or so since stopping sub?? Seems like yesterday. It's been 2 days since taking any opiate now after taking the partial vic's for 4 weeks or so. I know this will sound crazy to some, but I'm going to flush several hundreds of dollars worth of 2's and 8's of subs down toilet. I can't think of any reason to keep it around, and I don't need temptation.

I can now sleep fine w/o sub or hydro. I'm still a bit tired feeling, but that's probably residual hangover from the vic's that I had been taking for a month. Now, no more daily routine of dosing, going to the doc every month, taking the occasional drug test, hiding the sh*t from the spouse, spending $200+/month on the drug and doc, which arn't covered by insurance, no more worry about going in for legit medical issues like surgery, etc, and worrying about pain control. Back to normal I'd say.

I can say w/o reservation that after some 40 years of taking sh*t (I'm 66), I'm finally through with it all. And kids (anyone younger than me), if you're reading this, take my advice: stop taking sh*t, it just is not worth it. I've taken everything under the sun; lsd, peyote, strung out on heroin for years, speed, everything. Oh, and I smoked for 40 years too just to make things complete. IT JUST ISN'T WORTH IT; CAN YOU GET THAT THROUGH YOUR MIND?? I know, I didn't listen either. I didn't listen, because I could cope with daily life while high. I got my BSEE and MSE, excelled at work, and was a top wage earner. Been married now for 35 years too. Yet, I always took drugs. Was it worth it? Was it worth it to get caught by the man and have a record?? (I never did get caught--close calls--but never caught) I remember back in the early '70's when I was really strung out on H, no money (lowest point in my life), and my buddy and I were going to do an armed robbery--that's how desperate we were. That's how things can get. We didn't, but you get the picture.

Well, I ramble, but just wanted to make a point. Really, just say no. Think about it, you are reading this probably, because you are f**king sick looking for relief. Still think it's worth it?? Anyway, enough said. Good luck to you all that are having problems, and hopefully some day they will have a humane way of treating dope fiends with their additions......

:$ I started taking suboxone over three years ago. I thought it was a god send and at the time it was. I was clean for 18 months but I started to have cravings to drink beer for some reason? my brother who is now dead had the same cravings. My kids mother went to prison and I relapsed but got back on the suboxone and now I have no suboxone dr and only a few pills left. I havent takin more then a qtr a day for over a year now. But, if I try and go a day without even a crum I start to get sick. It seems from others that suboxone dts just keep getting worse and worse. Im so scared ive already lost my brother to drugs and i have 2 kids to take care of. Does anyone know if weak nerve pills would help like kaldapin? I have to get off the suboxone ive been on it way to long and I dont even take enough a day to get any energy or anything just to maintain not being sick.. I have insurance but all the rehabs in ohio either give u suboxone or dont do anything when u go thru dts.. if anyone could chime in please do.

Kyle, if you have a few pills left and no means of getting more, then you need to set a plan in place--RIGHT NOW. You need to get down to no more than 0.5mg/day; the less the better, and at least for a couple of weeks. The problem with sub unlike other opiates, the wd seems to be extended. (methadone may be the same way. I was on methadone for awhile in the '70's but truly don't remember the wd's I may have had with it.)

It isn't going to be easy, but you got to do it, otherwise when you do run out and are on any higher dose, you are really going to feel a lot worse. I haven't ever really found anything to make it easier aside from another opiate. Wish I could offer more advice other than making a plan. A written plan and log, otherwise you will forget how much you took and when. And stick to it. It's important to do this if you are serious and want to minimize the inevitable. Good luck to you and report back on how you are doing. You'll find that posting here is therapeutic....

Hi Sub Helper, Are you still out there? Your post was the first to give me some hope. I have been on suboxone for about a year now. I take 1-2mg per day and I really want to stop. I was going to try to stop cold turkey, but I dont know what I will go through. Can you talk to me about it? Thanks so much, and I really hope you reply.

im verrry low on suboxone and called my x dr who threw me out due to lack of funds i had had my last 2 scripts for 4 and 7 pills she had written to ya know withdraw on so i had thekm and with what i had left from previous month i hasd enoughg to withdraw semi ok and when i dropt them off at pharm i come back a few days later to find out they had called her to ask why?? they were written for different strengths 7# 1/2 a day 14 days 4 # 1/4 aday for 8 days ya know so instead of anyone calling me to ask why i didnt use them right away i was about 1 1/2 weeks late useing them she cancels them and tells them to just give me 4 pills nice right ... so here i am mentaly syked to do this and boom i go from 11 pills to 4 to to finish detoxing on WTF!!! so icall her office and what oooo shes OUT OF THE COUNTRY!!!! NICE....... so when she gets back she callls me and say ooo well i didnt know what you were doing with them ...... i thought u might of relapsed ..... well i cant do any thing im at my 100 patients SO GET THIS SHE TELLS ME TO BUY SOME FROM SOMEONE FROM GROUP OR SOMEONE I KNEW NICE RIGHT!!!!!! WTF!! .........I GAVE UP THAT THATS WHY I GOT INTO TREATMENT!!! so im freaking i am like i was cutting down you should be happy for me her response is well i didnt know,,,,,, all i could ask was " WE"LL WHY DIDNT U CALL ME???? " " OH WELL I WAS LEAVING THE COUNTRY THE NEXT DAY " BLAH BLAH BLAH ECT...... she hangs up and then calls back about 1/2 hr later ok ill call u in your 7 i sAID THANK YOU SO WHY HUHHHH I DONT GET IT NICE RIGHT LIKE SHE WAS wanting me to fail well now i dont know any way im afraid to get off them ...............when i first started suboxone she made it seem like it was my prayers had been answered but now its like awwww c**p she has told me time and agin go into rehab/detox!! i could have done that friggin 3 years ago why tell me i didnt have to do that then she should have been up front


you only need suboxone for as long as you can afford to pay me!! thats the moooost aaccurate nice huh?????

Everyone is effected by medications in a different way. One person may have no trouble detoxing from a medicine like suboxone, but the next person may find it extremely difficult. I have heard many different stories, some are nice, and some not so much, but the bottom line is it is impossible to know how detox will effect you until you attempt it. Nobody said that medications can make detox easy, but having something is always better than nothing.

I live in ontario in Canada. And i am also just starting on suboxone. I just started 12mg today and i have been on 8mg for the past week. It has done wonders for me and soon i will be no longer using. Becuase i had such a opiate problem i have been using small doses while on suboxone but that is up to your doc to deside. I was using 40 times a day now 3 times a day, and that is mostly getting by the mental part of addiction. Just wanna say that it is in Canada Now and it is a great method to get your life back.

I have been caught twice relapsing on opiates and now my doc is kicking me off the program. I am scared of running out of subs since my refill wont happen. I have like 16 left 8mg subs and how should I wean myself? I have been taking 16mg a day. I scewed up badly I knew it was my last chance and I blew it. Now I pay the price. Any suggestions??
twobugz

When you went from .125mg of suboxone to cold turkey, how long did it take you and others you know to feel normal?? I have been following this process for a few years now as well, I had no choice, I've been working and going to school the last few years so I needed to maintain some sense of normalcy. I actually just posted a post on this website recommending the same treatment plan you recommended; unfortunately, I am not all the way off yet. I have been taking .5mg a day for the last few months. Just a couple days ago, I cut back to .25mg of suboxone a day. My body is definitely still adjusting, but the withdraw symptoms are as minimized as they have ever been. I primarily just want to be dependent from everything and was wondering how long it took you to get to that state once you tapered completely off. Also, did you or your friends have any problems with acne with this drug. Every time I tapered, my face and neck broke out like crazy. I got what I called frankenstein pimples on my neck, because they were so huge and would stick out of both sides of my neck when viewing my face from the front, just like those things frankenstein had on the sides of his neck. They made me look hideous. So just wanted to know if anybody you know can relate to that. I have not started breaking out yet with this last taper, but fear it will come soon.

I am obviously not the person that posted the original comment that you were requesting incite back from but I do believe that I can offer some useful advice.  I have been struggling with an opiate addiction since I was 20 years old and I am turning 30 in a few months.  I have tried every single thing I can imagine to come off.  At times I was able to detox but ended up relapsing.  I was on suboxone for about 18 months now and have been off for almost a year.  With no doubt every individuals ability to cope with withdrawals is different.  For me the first 3-4 days sucks complete ass and then from days 5-10 I can't sleep worth a sh*t.  I do not consider myself a typical addict in that I have somehow managed to become a moderately successful small business owner, married with 3 kids.  If you ever saw me you would never in a million years think that I am the type to allow such a ridiculous thing to control me.  I am sure that is the same for many others and I am sure they will join me in saying this.  It does not matter if you go cold turkey or taper down off suboxone or any other opiate for that matter, if you have not truly changed you mental ability to no longer view drugs in the same way as before, YOU WILL RELAPSE.  I have almost died twice from opiates, once in a overdose and once in a car accident that luckily happened in the middle of nowhere so that I was the only one hurt.  In both situations I ended up using again the second I could get my hands on the drug.  I have been faced with divorce, loss of trust with my wife and kids, and almost losing a big contract that would have devastated my company and the people that work for me.  But when my body started calling for opiates none of that mattered.  Stopping that aching feeling that comes during withdrawals was the only thing that mattered to me.  You need to fix yourself mentally and I promise that the second you are ready none of the withdrawal symptoms will matter.  Of course you will still feel some aspect of withdrawals and I truly question anyone that says they didn't experience withdrawals when coming off suboxone.  My last dosage was .5mg every other day for two weeks and then I stopped.  While they weren't as severe as the other times the symptoms were still there.  Anyways, you need to   muster up the mental will that comes from within yourself to overcome addiction.  Find what motivates you and hold to it as if your life depended on it.  Keep good thoughts flowing through your mind and use the support of others when you struggle.  While my time on opiates is history my mind and body are filled with its memories. If I think about it in the right mind set I can cause my body to desire opiates intensely. So if I can after entire a year since I used an opiate I can cause my mind to tell my body to want opiates, just imagine what we are capable under the right mind set.  If you want it bad enough and have the mental drive and power to get there it will not matter what they symptom, you will overcome.  My heart hurts for those who struggle with addiction and I truly hope you can get over it.  Hope I have been able to help someone.

I feel with the right suboxone doctor and a positive mindset, subs can work for you.  I have talked to so many people that are trully against suboxone and what it represents and feel as though you are just replacing one drug for another. Now this may be true but in reality suboxone is buying you time. You will eventually go through the withdrawls, but by using suboxone properly you are refocusing and strengthing your mindset for when this occurs. You get your life back in order by attending meetings, talking to counselors, or whatever it takes to help you mentally. Once you are comfortable mentally again you are then ready to begin your taper. Now the time it takes you to get your life back in order while on suboxone ranges. It could take a week, to a month, to years. Its all about creating healthy habits and again. It took me a year of 8mgs daily to become mentally prepared again. Then 6 months of tapering myself down to nothing. The last few weeks were all physical, because my mind was as strong as ever. I've been clean now from everything for 2 and a half years. so please don't knock the subs, because when used correctly it can trully save someones life.