Suboxone withdrawal can be a beast and not many of the Drs (at least in my experiences) warn you about coming off. I started suboxone treatment 2 1/2 years ago at 16 mgs a day for a tramadol dependency. I stayed at 16 mgs a day for a year and then spent the next year and a half weening down to 2 mgs a day. At this point after 2 mgs a day for a couple months I thought i was ready to quit. I asked my Dr what to expect if I quit right there at 2 mgs and he blew it off as mild wd for 2-3 days tops and that I was barely getting anything physiological from the small dose that I was on and it would be mostly mental. I figured it was then time and asked for a take home script and opted out of the program. After 2-3 days the mild WDs turned into a Mack truck without brakes slamming into me. I spent the next 2 weeks feeling like my life was falling apart. Debilitating anxiety, crushing depression, intense RLS, no appetite whatsoever and basically feeling like every single minute was a living nightmare. I have to say however this feeling does pass! I began to feel a difference around day 18-19 and now at day 24 I'm actually feeling human again. I still struggle with lack of energy but I'm starting to sleep again and my appetite is slowly returning. I'm also starting to find joy in things that 2 weeks ago seemed impossible. Music, good food, good TV shows, GOING OUTSIDE! I'm beginning to socialize again and the pieces are falling slowly but surely back into place! I know how many blogs and forums are out there with absolute horror stories about this and i wanted to post something positive to those who are still suffering. the truth is, it gets better and can be done. 24 days sober was something I couldn't fathom just a month ago, and now I'm living it. If anybody needs advice or just needs to vent don't hesitate to ask. I hope this can encourage somebody!
This is very helpful and has givin me some hope. Thank you for posting. _mother of four who feels like it'll never end. Been going through this hell for 4 years only trying to feel n function some what normal.
Hello Felyne1987, how are you doing? I definitely feel your pain. I have 2 small children at home as well, which doesn't make things any easier for sure, but in the long run its best for them so I've just kept plugging away at it. I definitely felt like a bad father when I was at my lowest moments of WDs and I did everything in my power to stay active and positive for them. I've struggled with a pain killer addiction since 2006 myself. I quit for 2 1/2 years from 2008-2010 before foolishly thinking I could fill a prescription and be responsible the 2nd time around and it led me right back onto subs for another 2 1/2 years. It's certainly no walk in the park but I remember how good I felt during my 2 1/2 years clean so I've done it before and know it can be done again. I still deal with some lingering PAWS, mainly no energy/motivation, and cravings when it's been a long day but I'm probably 90% back to myself again. Unfortunately it take time and perseverance. How long has it been since you kicked subs? Are you still withdrawaling bad? One thing that I noticed is, the more attention you give the WDs the worse yet feel. I think we tend to exaggerate to ourselves how bad it is and dwell on all the negatives. When I quit subs in 2008 I naively thought there wasn't any WDs with quitting subs so I just stopped cold turkey and it actually wasn't that bad because I didn't even realize what I was doing. This time around it was worse because I was expecting it to be bad. That my theory anyway. Also, as hard as it seems, exercise works wonders to get your endorphins naturally flowing again and help with sleep and appetite. Eating and sleeping normally really is the key. When I started eating full meals and getting my sleeping pattern back is when I noticeably turned the corner. I don't think that was a coincidence. Anyway, I hope you're doing well. Let me know if you have any questions and I will try to help you as best I can.
i am close to giving up. doc didn't tell me much about the wd's no not even second stage wd. i am crippled with CRPS/RSD left extremity n my lower back is a wreck. have been disabled 14 years. doc's r so quick to judge "take this med, but don't you dare feel good!!"
on subox for bout 3 years n now 7 months later i am in misery. if i didn't have valid pain i think this would be easier, plus i am borderline personality disorder. all this struggle on my own. like others i feel horrid, lost all bowel control, adrenaline rush 24/7. i am angry why didn't doc tell me all this??? i see him wednesday next week. i want to slap his face, sorry but this is unbelieveable. i no longer take care of myself, i don't care about anything now. subox just won't let me go. i don't have a caregiver. i need one, i am alone. i have been suicidal in the past. oh yeah, this doc no longer can write scripts for subox. omg what is there to stop this down spiral? glad u others are here.
on subox for bout 3 years n now 7 months later i am in misery. if i didn't have valid pain i think this would be easier, plus i am borderline personality disorder. all this struggle on my own. like others i feel horrid, lost all bowel control, adrenaline rush 24/7. i am angry why didn't doc tell me all this??? i see him wednesday next week. i want to slap his face, sorry but this is unbelieveable. i no longer take care of myself, i don't care about anything now. subox just won't let me go. i don't have a caregiver. i need one, i am alone. i have been suicidal in the past. oh yeah, this doc no longer can write scripts for subox. omg what is there to stop this down spiral? glad u others are here.