Using Vicodin to ease suboxone withdrawals

@Not a doctor, Let us know if it worked, I'm in the process of going from 1 to .5 mg of Suboxone a day to low dose Vicodin to avoid the long-acting Suboxone withdrawal and revert back to the three-day then I start to feel better withdrawal and I'm curious to know how it works for you.

I've been on suboxone for 6years now starting at 2 8mg tabs a day. Doctors would not ween me off for nothing. I was paying them $200.00 per week for script. for 6years. I got myself down to one tab in the last 2 years(8mg) then to half a pill(4mg) for 6months, and then finaly (2mg) once a dayfor about 8 months. I have a script of 60 vicodine from some doctor, and ive been going threw withdrawles for about 2 weeks now, some days better than other. but somedays im up for 24-48hrs vomiting, and pissing out my ass. I started the vicodin say about 4 a days ago, and they have been working to cut down these withdrawls. I've rarely ever tooking vicodine in my life, and the last time i did any type of drug was alittle over six years ago.(besides suboxone) I know im not going back to drugs. i was on these things for so many years the withdrawles are probaly going to last a very long while.

I have been reading and reading this blog page over the past week as I have been going trough Sub w/d.  And I think its time that I put my experience/method with you all.  I'm on day 8, and things seem to be a bit better.  I've taken the "low dose opiate route" to ease w/d symptoms. 

I agree with a previous post in that the more we put out here, the more the information is available to us. 

I bought Kratom (low opiate herb), and got a few O.C 20mg and broke them up.  the first few days were the worst for me (less than 24 hrs from my last sub dose).  I was trying to use Kratom to break the symptoms.  And it worked for about an hour or two at a time.  But I was not fond of eating all that powder every day.  So I was lent a few O.C's.  Since then, (4th day) I started with a full 20mg pill, and it made the day soooo much better!!!!!!, but I dont want to get re-hooked, so every day since, I've been taking smaller and smaller doses.  Only to the point of desperation.  I have to be at work so this was a lifesaver at points. 

I would only take one dose of O.C. a day.  If things got worse later, I took Kratom.  And Kratom before bed with Tylenol P.M. where I'm getting roughly 4-6 hours.  Today is day 8.  And i was feeling shady after my first 5mg dose of O.C. but took Kratom once O.C. went away.  I went to the gym, hit the steam room, and I feel soooooooooooo much better.  I plan on taking my last 5.mg. O.C. tomorrow [day 9] (but only if things get bad).  I want to save it if not!  Remember, Sub w/d's are weird.  One day you may be fine, but the next could be worse.  So before you think your out off the woods, make sure you have a day or three to say your in the "clear".  But it is nice to know that I have that Kratom powder there too.  It does help.  But only for an hour or two.  and once you've taken a certain amount througout that day, it just doesn't do anything.  So use sparingly/desperation. 

All in All, the Opiates have helped tremendously.  Esp since I need to be at work all day.  By no means has it been a walk in the park.  And It should't be.  You dont want to have to ever resort back to Subs again.  They suck at life.  But if you want something that helps make things semi-managable, then I'd recommend the LOW DOSE opiate route.  But make sure your in check.  Recognize what times of the day are really bad and times that are not.  And stick to that.  Dont go popping pills because you got a chill down your spine, or you have a little fever.  If you decide to go this route, stick to your goal.  I think a disciplined person could benefit from this method. 

This method of replacing is very risky.  I have been on subs for 3 years, went to impatient rehab prior, and have changed my life around.  I would not recommend this if your fresh out of using.  As I've caught myself considering to buy more opiates.  But I'm so damn determined to get away from this jail-like lifestyle, and to move onto much better days.  And I would hope you would want too as well.  I'll try and post back with any further observations.

I really wish everyone the best.  Sub withdraw is one of the worst I 'ave encountered.  Not because of the intensity, but because of its length.... Just remember to keep drinking lots of water, the more you drink, the faster it gets out of your system. Try and get outside. Walk, jog, sweat, build natural endorphins.  You'll be happy you did!  And remember, Your not alone, were all brothers and sisters, so treat each other that way.  And if your really thinking about going backwards.  Go to a meeting!

I'm living proof that you can make it over the mountain top.  Just try and stay busy.  You want to keep your mind off of things, and to help days go faster.  AND ONE OF THE MOST IMPORTANT THINGS EVER.......... Laugh!!!!!!! laugh at yourself, or whatever makes you laugh.  If watching people fall down is funny (I think it is), then find videos on you tube. 

This will end.  It can't go forever!!!! and the people who say its taken them months to get over w/d's.  I've found that those are rare cases.  2-3 weeks max, but you'll be feeling better after 7-10 days.  (was on subs for 3 years. it was all up in my system when I dropped last week. And I deff have a beer belly, where I know some of the beup is hidding ;-)

YOU ABSOLUTELY HAVE 'NO IDEA' THE SEVERITY OF COMING OFF OF SUBOXONE!!!!! THIS STUDY WAS NOT DONE PROPERLY IN MY OPINION. MY DR. HAS HAD NE ON FOR 5 YRS, BY MY CHOICE "INITIALLY" AND HE CONTINUED FOR 5 YRS NOW. IT IS AWFUL TO COME OFF OF. IT IS PURE HELL!!!! WORSE THEN ANY OTHER DRUG OUT THERE DUE TO THE LONGIVITY OF THE WITHDRAWALS. ABOUT 3 MONTHS!!!!

no r3d sox ur a f*****g dumbass

Thank you xwindowuser! That is very true! I was hooked on bout 90, 750's vicoden for about 6 months due to ankle surgery that didnt heal correctly n then my doc put me on Norco, 240, 1000's a month n took those for another year but had to buy some cuz I kept using more for the pain to go away n was up to taking bout 28-40 norcs a day then met my husband n he made me realize how bad I was so I went to a doc n told him the truth so he started me off with 60 8mg suboxone tabs a month n then went to a neurologist who up'd me to 90 8mg a month..ive been taking them over 2 yrs now and tapered myself in a month to a quarter of a tab for bout 3 days n quit, im on day 5 and im ready to kill myself sometimes from the pain n sickness n rls. I dont think I can make it but my husband is helping by giving me a couple of his norcos a day (day 2 of that) n it helps alot for sleep along with a .5 xanax but its not getting better at all yet. What can I do to ease the day when I cant jus get out n do stuff..mostly jus clean house but im even to tired to do that. Thank you for making this website! I just hope it doesnt last for months this feeling like some are saying!

Hi not making comment, just stating the horrible place im in, im a 30 y/o mother of 2 young beautiful childern. i started small and worked my way up to roxis for about almost 2 yrs some times 4 to 8 or so a day and almost was feeling nothing! Had been wanting to clean up for my kids for the longest tim cuz like others have sais its hard to get thru the day not knowing if u will have enough for the rest of the week let alone day,. Stared using subs bout a mth ago thinking it would b easier for the roxi wd's and boy it was, for the first week i felt kind of normal again, than that normal started to waredown and now just feeling depressed all the way around, its pretty much a complete secrect from the whole rest of my life!! its very hard to find a way to feel happy and driven!!!

so i was on subs for 6 years! i have no idea how the time went by so fast..and my doc is a total nut job..stupid me though, i figured from the beginning, "if this pill is going to keep me from withdrawing, then it's probably going to be addictive as well"..it's just replacing one thing for another..i was sooooooo terrified to stop...i've been through wd's so many times in my life, and been in bed for months and said that if i had to do it again, i would want to die..i got down to about .5mg and stopped. the stupid nurse actually said to me, "oh it's easy...3 days of wd, just take some tylenol"...are you kidding me? it's really funny how these docs have noooo idea what its like to get off subs. anyway, i'm ranting...so the worst os over for sure...its been 19 days...the most annoying and lingering symptom is the lack of energy and motivation. now i also suffer bad from depression and anxiety, and i'm sure the subs fed into that because it's poison. i've since been to a new doc who's very nice and gave me clonodine, klonopin and trazadone for the worst of the wd's..these will really help, but only take what you really need. i dont get hooked on benzos cause i hate feeling loopy and tired..i'd rather be wired. i didnt take much..and try to push yourself to exercise! you need that natural endorphine rush! lot's of water, vitamins, and i just picked up some natural chlorophyll liquid...its a cure all product...amazing reviews, really! And for me, my doc put me on a low dose of prozac, which is still working its way into my system..so if you feel you need, and its just an option, maybe a mild antidepressant or mood stabilizer. I dont really respect anything my previous doc ever said, but he did mention putting me on a new mood stabilizer before i jumped because of the psychological wd's and that one of the ingredients in suboxone was a mood stabilizer. hope this info helps...

now a quick question on this topic everyone's talking about...can a low dose of vicodin really help? will it have any adverse effects and throw me back into accute wd if i just take one on a day i have to work for 10 hrs? cause my job doesnt really understand how long the wd's are and they just threw me back in at full time hours and i am soooooooo lethargic

Low opiate pain killers will deff help! But you don't want to get back in the habit of taking them again. I would set guidelines. Like only take halves until you feel ok. But eventually your going to have to experience some discomfort. No get out of jail free card.

Man....do you know how many doctors you have to go to find ONE who really cares enough to try and understand or even want to help?????????? I have tried and even recovery clinics PUSH suboxone and flat out lie about it's long term problems. Care NOTHING about you really wanting to get off of it ALL. Some can do it some can't ...it must be a biological thing I don't know all the answers but I DO know, although methadone and suboxone does help some people...for alot of us it just makes it worse and no one is willing to admit that....too much money to lose. I pray I die clean...I pray I live long enough to have it all out....

It's the other way around. If you take Vicodin while Sub is in your system Nothing Happens. There will be no effect of the Vicodin because it has nowhere (or fewer places) to bind.
The vicodin (or percocet, oxy, etc) will not knock Sub off of your receptors. These drugs are not antagonists. Sub is an Agonist/Antagonist and it will knock opiates right off of receptors, causing Precipitated Withdrawals. This is why it's stated not to take Sub too soon..This makes people incredibly sick.

I have found that taking the anti-anxiety lorazapam helps withdrawl from suboxone.

to give a clear, short answer to the original question. 

using weak opiodes to get off suboxone absolutely works. I did it. this is how: 

you have to actually take the low dose opiodes for a bit. you need to completely get rid of the dependence to subs (which takes several weeks) so take percocet for a couple weeks to satisfy that dependence. then taper off the percs (or any other weak opiate) when you finally are done with all opiodes,  the pill withdrawals will be pretty bad. there is no way to avoid them. BUT I would trade them for sub withdrawals HANDS DOWN. 

THIS METHOD WILL GET YOU BACK TO BEING HOOKED ON PAIN KILLERS SO IF YOU THINK YOU MENTALLY COULDNT HANDLE PUTTING THEM DOWN ONCE YOU STARTED AGAIN, DONT DO IT. BUT IF YOU CAN DEAL WITH STOPPING THE HABIT,PAIN KILLER WDS ARE MUCH BETTER THEN BUPE WITHDRAWALS. 

anyone who has been through both knows that. 

good luck to anyone going through this. it sucks alot. but it works. you just gotta deal with it and bite the bullet. no way around detox withdrawals. but be smart and detox from the less painful thing if you can. 

(clonodine will help wd symptoms if you can get a script. look up clonodine) 

 references: 1. I have done this in the past

2. im in med school. it makes sense scientifically. 

 

obviously you've never w/d'd off heroin

I have been on sub for 2 yr. 8 mg twice a day. I have been to rehab twice to kick this demon which i thought was my savior. I had been hooked on pain pills for years. I can tell you this- I could detox from any narcotic within three-four days-over. This suboxone holds no prisioners. I got off once. It took two mo. of hell, and still was not all well. So I know the battle before me. I am going to be out in two days. I can not go through that sickness again. I found Neurontin to be of great help along w/h clonidine and benzos.
My question is- since I will be out of sub soon,; can (or will) a narcotic (perc, vicodin) help w/h withdrawal? And if so, how long after the last film of sub can I try the narcotic?