Thanks - for the post. I Have been on Suboxone for over 2 years. Was on a maintenance dose of 2 mg 2x a day - I dropped down to 2 mg for 7 days - then cut strips into 1/3 for 5 or 6 days and went off. Sure I feel lousy, have trouble getting focused - headaches etc - But this jump has been easier then my past attempts. Thanks for your post It gave some light - all other posts seem futile.
I'm sorry to hear that. I've been on and come off subs several times and had very little WD symptoms. In fact, none to speak of. I'm sure a lot of other addicts will cry foul and that I'm full of crud, but it's true. Only symptoms I get are a loss in energy and some sleepless nights, no sickness at all really.
everyone says taper down but that takes like four to six months. i have 27 sbs left and i have to try to taper off of that quickly and comfortably. how can i ween off of 27 films whn i am used to takin 16 mg a day? i am pregnant and i have to do it. if cold turkey is the lasr resort then it looks like thts what lll do.. any advice
I had been on suboxone for six years. I decided it was time to get off and be free once and for all. My suggestion is very simple. I started tapering off more than a year ago. I was taking four 8mg. suboxones a day. After two weeks, I decreased it to three, two weeks later, to two a day, and two weeks after that, one a day. I continued on the one 8mg. a day for over 6 months. I then started to take 1/2, which would be just 4 mg. a day. I did this for another few months. My doctor, who is an addiction specialist recommended the sublingual two mg. strips, and I did them for close to 3 months. The sublingual strips are great, because you can cut them in half easier than spitting a two mg. pill. Now you will be down to just 1 mg. a day. After a while, about one month, I started cutting the half strip, thus decreasing the suboxone to 1/2 mg. a day. Now here is some good and bad news. I stopped taking the suboxone on Sunday of this week, it was not until Tuesday that I started to feel withdrawal symptoms. Tuesday afternoon I came home from a short shopping trip, completely exhausted! I had to go to bed beause of the fatigue. Wednesday, I stayed in bed most of the day. Then the diarrhea started, very mild sweating, a minimal amount of body aches. Thursday, much better, I was able to get out of bed, still very tired, but pushed myself to do a few things. Today is what I consider day 5. I am feeling so much better, not 100%, I am not going to kid you, it will take willpower, BUT DO NOT TAKE SO MUCH AS A FRACTION OF A SUBOXONE, or you will be back to square one. I have detoxed before from an oxycontin addiction. I had access to an arsenal of oxycontin. That was 10 yrs. ago. I was taking 12 (80mg) oxycontins a day. Most people I tell that to think I am exaggerating, but I did not start off taking 12, I started with just one 80mg. and over three years, it progressed to 4 in the morning, 4 in the afternoon, and 4 in the evening. Let's say when I finally decided to "cold turkey" it, I was admitted into the hospital, given buprenorphine shots, and sent home after four days to go through one of the most horrific detox I have ever been through. Although I am feeling mild withdrawals symptoms now, it is NOTHING compared to the 6 weeks of hell , and an additional 6 months of body dis-ease, I experienced from that withdrawal. My advice to anyone trying to get off suboxone is to please do not sabotage your effort by quitting abruptly. Go slow, real slow. Even if it takes over a year. Cut down, cut down, cut down, and then CUT OUT. I am feeling much better today, a week is not much to sacrifice out of your life to be free from having to take ANY medication just to feel normal. By the way, addiction strikes all ages and professions, as most addicts and non addicts alike well know. I am 61 yrs. old, retired from a life long career with the government, and the worst part about opiate addicts, most of the time they go virtually unnoticed. We are functioning addicts, THE WORST KIND. I wish you luck if you are trying to get off any drug. One more thing, NA meetings ARE helpful. I got real active in those groups.
A doctor can prescribe an alternative, safe drug to replace the suboxone while you are pregnant. I wish you luck. I forgot the name of the drug, but it will not harm the baby, or so stated the doctor I spoke to because my daughter is on suboxone and had made this inquiry.
thank you all for all your input, i don't feel as alone as before.my husband doesnt know i have been secretly taking subs for the last two years after i stopped taking pills. i want to quit and have been weaning off them but it is hard.im going to stop taking anything in the coming days so im preparing for wd. wish me luck!
Hi everyone. I thought i should share my experience, rather than just be a peeper. I'm currently on day 4 of suboxone withdrawal. I was taking 8mg for 1 year and 4-2mg for an additional year. In total, 2 years of suboxone use that was only meant to last for 3 months from previous percocet addiction. Well, it sucks! The constant diarrhea, leg shakes, cold sweats and MOOD SWINGS and taxing on the body and mind and will leave you feeling defeated and blue BUT, the main fuel that goes behind this mission...Mission CLEAN is knowing that I will return to my old, alert, ALIVE and FREE state SOON. My gosh I can see how much of this last 2 years were in a haze. Suboxone is a miracle drug, but just like all things- should not be abused.
I also just got my 4 wisdom teeth removed and have not been on Subs for 4 days and took a few percocets to ease the pain. I am 100% confident that I will not fall into the percocet web again but just wanted to see if anyone here feels that it will reset my suboxon withrawal stage and make me start from scratch?
Many thanks,
Hopeful
Try clonadine to help you sleep.
You'll need a script but explain the situation to the Dr.
Use Loperamide at about twice the recommended dose - it hits the opiate receptors - its just a molecule removed from Demerol - evey junk depends on this. This is the main thing - keep comfy - eat well, treat yourself like you have bad flu THAT WILL PASS - and it will.
A Doctor subscribing Suboxone for Vicodin ES dependence is no different than people on Vicodin shooting Heroin and rationalizing the Vicodin as the reason for using it - unreal!!!!
Im currently on day 8. went from 1.5 mg to 1 mg over a week period and then stopped. Atavan has helped me with the sleep. I passed over the hump about day 5 but the slope on the other side seems to be long. Worst part for me is being tired and you really have to pay attention to the depression. if you can see a Dr and talk to people for support on that. its a dark lonely period and you have to stick with the program. keep telling yourself, IT WILL END! Good luck and God bless!
anyone know if doing inipi or banya's would help at all?( sweats/sauna)