suboxone withdrawal: how long is this going to last...I'm mi

I've been dealing with this sh*t off and on myself. The bottom line is, if you want to get off, then you have to be the one who says I've had enough. Of course the withdraw sucks, everyone is different. If you're looking for an answer how many days does it take to stop feeling like sh*t? Everyone is different. Myself, it takes me 3 days then I'm in the clear. This drug stays in your body for 24 hours after you've taken the last pill or piece, how ever the person does it. Just push through the pain and I promise you'll feel ten times better when it's all said and done. Talk to people about it, someone you can trust, tell them what you're going through, have them talk you past wanting more, put good thoughts in your head. Bottom line, if you want to get off this sh*t, then do it. I have faith in all of you that are trying, if I could do it, then all of you can.

Just wanted to say thanks really. I posted yesterday and the thread has had two replies since then. Its the 5th day for me and the aches are leaving but the depression and utter complete fatigue remains. its tempting to just get some sent to me, I know where to go but I will go to a meeting tonight instead. Have faith everyone out there doing this, its tough but I remain sure it is worth it. Aside from that the only tip I can give is that smoking large amounts of weed helped with the restlessness and 'kicking' legs in the first few days, Perhaps not the best way to go but it did work for me. all the best anyhow.

I started using narcotic pain pills about 8 years ago. Over the years, I eventually increased my habit to heavier amounts, every day. I'm 6 feet tall and weigh 135/140 pounds, but it even got to the point where I was eating 2 100mcg/100mg Fentanyl patches every day, which is enough to put just about anyone in their grave I actually quit Fentanyl cold turkey. Big mistake. I didn't sleep for 8 days and started having nightmares while I was awake. I had constant restless leg syndrome in my knees, elbows and solar plexus. I gave up and started using pain pills again. They were so expensive, I started using heroin. That lasted a couple of years. Once again I began using more and more until I was doing around a gram a day. And once again, I had to quit cold turkey. The whole withdrawal experience set back in but it wasn't as bad as Fentanyl. Seriously, Fentanyl is only helpful for terminally ill people who expect to stay on full strength until the day they die. I have to say, even though dope withdrawal wasn't as bad, and lasted shorter, the withdrawal was a nightmare. I made it to day 7 from dope when I started taking 1/4 to 1/2 of an 8 mg Suboxone every day. I heard such good things about how I could get clean from everything else with only a part of a pill each day. In fact, I did clean up from everything. The only catch was that Suboxone had become the replacement. I took 4mg each day for a year, then I took 2 mg each day for another year. I had a steady hookup and I didn't need a doctor. Everything seemed to be working out. Eventually, I decided to stop. I started taking 1.5mg a day for 2 weeks. I still felt fine. I stepped down to 1mg each day for another week. I felt ok, maybe a bit tired. I finished off the rest of my pills at about 1/2 a mg a day for the last 3 days. Woops. My withdrawal is less intense as Fentanyl or dope, but it is still withdrawal. Usually, strong withdrawals begin to subside by now. This is not the case with Suboxone. It's lighter but longer. I'm on day 6 and there's no signs of relief. My solar plexus keeps retching in waves. I have restless leg syndrome in my elbows and knees, which gets worse when I try to sleep. I haven't slept for more than 4 hours since I stopped. I'm depressed, exhausted, unmotivated, sneezy, shaky, and most of all alone. Nobody knew I was on Suboxone this whole time. Only my hookup and 1 or 2 random people who don't know me well. It's hard pretending that everything is ok to my friends and family, especially my wife. I hope this doesn't draw out too much longer. I read many of the other posts and I keep hearing the same foreboding theme: "Stay on Suboxone and opiates for too long, and the withdrawal will last for a long, long time, maybe even months." I remain hopeful. I will try to stay strong. And I will post again.
-J

Wow. It's day 10. I'm better. I used no meds to get through the withdrawal. I'm the one who posted above ^^^ I sleep full nights. I feel like someone who just regained their sense of smell, except it's not smell and taste, it's feeling, emotion, and appreciation for life. I read most of these replies. One person said that their opinion of withdrawal was that the return to normalcy was the shocking element on our system - that being a sober person is in fact a painful experience to begin with, and you don't realize how painful life is until you've had a break. (Especially opiates!) They said it reminded them about why they started using in the first place. Now, I do understand that a life on opiates is a true relief from the pain of living. But it's also a true inhibitor of the beautiful depths we feel. Yes, it does make you numb and impervious to many things, not just physical pain, but inner struggles as well. I really hope desperate, lost souls read this. Don't be discouraged. If you are struggling through withdrawal, if you feel betrayed by your doctor, and most importantly, if you cannot see the light at the end of the tunnel, you have my soul's own word that there is a way out and especially up from here. I love you all. Good luck, and always try to remember that the pain of living is the most beautiful gift that every living creature has been granted.
-J

Shoulda..Woulda...Coulda

Hind sight is always 20/20. After being clean for over three years, I ended up taking some oxy, because of severe lower back pain. A condition that is continuing to worsen with age. I'm 47 as of 01/2010. Been addicted to almost about every type of opiate on and off, for nearly 20 years. Have been clean about 10 of them... Including jail, prison, rehab, and psych ward. I'm an addict. Can't put it any plainer than that. Needless to say those two perc's ended up being 300 mg a day roxy habit.
In my glorified brilliance (trying to get off them and save my life and the family that I loved), I endedup at a local methadone clinic. Managed that on and off for about 2 months. I knew it would never work..Been there done that. Last time I kicked Meth was at the local county jail. Clonadine 3 times a day to ease 125 mg of meth plus the dope(heroin) I was injecting into me. A band-aid on a bullet hole!!
Just goes to show, after going through that, you would think I would have learned. But addiction such a skeaky little disease. I actually convinced myself I could control it. And would not get out of control.
But lets get back to topic at hand...Suboxone. Just another flippin evil, the phamacutical companies are tossing at us with a false hope that they can save an addict. Do not be deceived... The only chance of getting a life is a complete psychic change. That comes with the complete realization that ANY form of narcotic, will destroy you, your mind, your home life..That's if it does not k**L you first (They, in my opinion, are the lucky ones compared to active addiction.
After the methadone, I decided to flip to sub. I had some experience with them from getting them from on the down low. I immediatly started lower than the doctor prescribed. Instead of 16 mg per day. I went to 12 after the first day. I went down 2 mg every 4 or 5 days.
I didn't take them for a full month before I was down to 2 mg for 3 days and stopped. I had enough. I lost more from this last relapse than I ever believed possible. And it came to a point that I am soooooo tired of letting this disease ruin my life... I am getting too old for this s***. It wants me dead, but will settle for miserable.
So what happened after my last dose? I took benedryl to help me sleep. I actually slept for about 5 hours a night for the first 4 nights.
I was not feeling great, but nothing like kicking meth or heroin. Energy gone, appitite nonexistant. A little jumping out of my skin syndrome. DAY 5....WTF?????? No sleep...chills ...sweats..sneezing... leg twitches...blanket on.. banket off... You know the routine for those who know w/d. I caved on day 6. Took 2mg. Took 2 mg yesterday. 1mg in a.m. 1mg p.m.
Today the stomach is off. Slept 7 hours last night. But I pray this is it. I hope the rest of this is tolerable. I have set my mind. NO MORE!
I know it won't last forever. It won't k**l me.
If I am to give advice (which I think I am qualified)... Suboxone? DON'T DO IT! Get yourself to the nearest detox ond get off the pills or heroin that way. In 2 weeks you will feel better and be able maintain. I suggest at the very least going to AA and/or NA everyday. Maybe you need a program (rehab) to keep safe for a month or two. But give yourself a break. Before you die.
Suboxone only prolongs the inevitable and is harder to kick. It is fat soluble. Look it up if you don't know what that means. Long and short of it, is that it will not clear the system for over 40 days.
Drink lots of water or green tea. Start taking multi-vitamins--You are deprived of proper nutrition from the drugs. Imodium AD for the obvious and ibuprophen for aches, benedryl before bed. Not perfect and it's still gonna suck. But it ain't gonna k**l
That's my story and I'm stickin' to it... Hope it helped someone. God Bless and good luck.

PLEASE READ!!!!!!!I HAVE GONE THROUGH THE WHOLE WITHDRW PROCESS WITH SUBOXONE...IT WAS THE WORST PROCESS EVER. i TOOK IT FOR ABOUT THREE YEARS AND WHEN I DECIDED TO STOP IT TRULY TOOK 60 DAYS FOR ME TO BEGIN TO BE COMPLETLY NORMAL...GOING TO GYM, SPORTS, STUFF LIKE THAT. THE SUBOXONE WITHDRAWS ARE NOT AS INTENSE AS VICODIN'S; HOWEVER, THEY LINGER FOR A LONG TIME. IT CAN BE DONE, KEEP YOUR SELF BUSY AND BASICALLY WHAT IT COMES DOWN TO, IF I START TAKING SUBOXONE AGAIN I WILL TO IT TILL DEATH! I REFUSE TO GO THROUGH THOSE TYPES OF WITHDRAWS AGAIN. i AM NOT HERE TO GIVE HOPE, NOR SUGARCOAT, BUT IT WAS AWFUL I HATE SUBOXONE. YOU KNOW, BEFORE i WAS TAKIN TEN VICODIN, 10'S, THREE TIMES A DAY, SNIFFING COCAINE, BUT ASLO SUBOXONE REALLY screwed ME UP BAD, IT IS JUST AS BAD AS BOTH OF THOSE. IF YOU ARE READY TO SYOPPAINKILLERS, JUST GO THROUGH THOSE AND GET THE WITHDRAES OVER WITH 2 WEEKS MAX OF NOT FEELING NORMAL; BUT BEWARE!!!! SUBOXONE WITHDRAWS ARE LONG AND DRAWN OUT. I WOULD HAVE TO TAKE IT FOR THE REST OF MY LIFE IF i START SUBOXONE AGAIN...GOOD LUCK


SORRY ABOUT THE SPELLING

Well people Its been day five for me. I was actually on Vicodin and Methadone to begin coming off the vics. I had sustained a back injury as I played college soccer. This is something I never would have gotten myself into. I never ever ever ever new that taking pain medications for so long could do this to me. That is not who I am. I am a graduating this December from college, have a great family, building a new house....everything should be looking up....until 5 days ago. Finally after day three I went to my doctor. He put me on a low dose of Xanax, Phenogren, and Zanaflex. It has helped TREMENDOUSLY. The only thing that sucks right now is the F'ing chills. I hate it....I am sleeping about 12 hours a night because thank god I have Ambien. Is there anything I can do for the freakin chills? Plus lack of energy. I am taking Potassium, Calcium, Zinc, Magnisium, Fish Oil, B-12 and multi vitamins along with everything my doctor prescribed. He assures me I will be out of the woods by Friday. A little advise...if you are just on this site surfing around DO NOT GET ON ANYTHING. Pain killers are HORRIBlE. I WILL NEVER TAKE ANYTHING AGAIN. Any ideas on how to get my energy back as well as get rid of these damn sweats??????? :-(

Ok I'll jump on here now. Yes it is comforting to know I am not the first and only person in the world going thru WDs...Day 7 off suboxone. I have constant goose bumps, feel anxiety, trying to sleep is utter hell at night. But after 8 years back and fourth on oxycontin I thought this suboxone was a miracle drug F*** that SH*T!!! This is the worst thing you can prescribe an addict. These are the worst withdrawls I have ever gone thru. I tried tapering off slowly but from everything I have read, no Dr. seems to know sh*t about how to wean off subs. I feel no different today than I did days 4-5...other than sleep. If I can drop one bit of advice for people going thru the hell I am try melatonin. I managed to get a fantastic 7 hours sleep last night! I still have WDs and need more like 12 hours of solid sleep at this point but I will take what I can get. The second bit of advice...if you are an opiate addict taper off of yr heroin or oxycontin. DO NOT mask your addiction with suboxone, all it does is pro-long yr healing. This is just my experience thought I could share and hopefully I can help at least one or more people with a decision someday...

The only thing that brings that back (and if you are like me, hate the answer) Time. No overnight remedy. It WILL come back... Don't give up

Day 6 off suboxone, more depressed than I ever remember feeling. I have been on 3 different antidepressants while on suboxone, nothing has helped. I have a career and a young child, but find myself drinking (heavily) daily to escape the pain and depression. I am really close to calling the pill man, tho I know this will just nullify the last 6 months of hell. Does anyone have a sollution for the depression? It seems to be what gets to me most and my solution (alcohal) only makes me MORE depressed. This seems like a losing battle, I would love to hear from someone with a poditive outcome of opiate dependency.

It will take about three weeks to get over the bad stuff

im only on day 4 and already cant anymore the thought of going through this for even just one more night is unbarable and now i here that i have at least another six days too go getting back on subs and living on them 4 ever fells like my only opt.

[Ive been a drug addict for years now. Snortin Contin, Perc.........you get my point. Then i made the HUGE and i couldn't reiterate enough HUGE mistake of getting on suboxone. Its worse than methadone. I was down to taking 8mg a day and said the hell with it. Im done. Im quitting cold turkey off Sub's. Its day number 8 and i feel like a mack truck ran over me. I ate about 7 bars yesterday and still had to get up out of bed and take 1 and 3/4 MORE just to sleep a few hours. Suboxone IS NOT and i repeat IS NOT this miracle drug that these professional drug dealers tell you it is. Your stuck bc you have to have it and the $$$ is in the doc's pockets. If it makes dollars, it makes sense. I actually had a suboxone doctor give me 180 Roxy's!!! can you believe that sh*t. I am dead serious. So no one better fool themselves into thinking suboxone doc's aren't just professional drug dealers. YOU WANNA GET OFF OPIODS????? YOU WANNA GET OFF SUBOXONE???? YOU WANNA BE "NORMAL" AGAIN?.......................................ONE WAY!!!!!!!! COLD TURKEY............AND ABOUT 50 XANAX BARS

thanks,

A dude who just put it real to ya]

after quitting the receptors in your brain can take up to a full year to start producing natural opiates so for a year your going to have to fight.Just like they always say if we put as much effort into quiting as we do getting the drug... lol. Dont give in or you'll lose years of your life and you will be left wondering what i could've done when i was healthy and younger.

Hey People... I posted on here on 9/30/2010. It's been a struggle. Since then I found myself doing 6-8 mg per WEEK to wean off. I would go 3 or 4 days of lying in bed not sleeping and getting bad chills. I would take 1mg for a day or two..go a few more days without. During this process, if I didn't feel bad enough I got an abscessed tooth that went nuclear. Long story short..Tooth gone..Last taste of suboxone 5 days ago. I don't feel like running a marathon (never did unless I had opiates in me), but you get my drift. I don't have alot of energy yet.
I started taking melatonin 3mg just before sleep... It's working. 8 straight hours a night. Feel groggy until the second cup hits the system, but small price for good nights sleep. I am getting some REM sleep too. I am dreaming again. Not the best ones, but I know it means my brain is producing again. And yes people, you ARE going to have drug dreams. It just means your brain is focusing on what it knows... No hidden meaning that you want to use. Relax.
I guess what I want to purvey in this posting, is to reiterate what many are saying. Suboxone withdrawal is hell. And cold turkey suboxone withdrawal (no matter where you brought yourself down to) is hell's torture chamber. If you are thinking that subs are the answer to getting off oxy, roxy, heroin, methadone, percs, vics, lorries, fent, morphine yadda yadda yadda...DON'T DO IT!
Please learn from what EVERYONE is telling you here. Suboxone is HARDER to come off of than what you are on right now. Take it from someone who has tried them ALL.
I finally have hope I am through the worst of all this, and I can start living my life as God so intended. It has not been easy, but it can be done. You have my empathy, for anyone who is trying to get off this hell ride. Do it. You are worth it. If you need someone to talk to, get in touch with me. I can only keep what I have, by giving it away. Good Luck