Weining off of Suboxone

Hello Board:

I started on 3-8/2 mg strips. I am now down to 1/8th of 1 strip. I plan to stay on this amount for 2 weeks. What would I go to after this? Is it time to come off yet? Do I go to 10ths? The dr. tells me nothing. Just writes a script. Any information would be greatly appriciated.

PS: I, like everyone else on this board am not a street junkie> Mine came from a lumbar fusion that went south. My neurosurgeon, after surgery put me on oxycodone 15 mg. Starting at 4 per day and when therapy started went up to 5. After about 3-1/2 months after an MRI he started with Norco 10 between the Oxy's. I became very concerned but did (do)have severe pain. I am having a stimulator where the leads go in the spine. This will happen tomorrow (1-11-12) Wish me luck. The pain management dr. took me off oxy/norco and started MSCotin 2-30mg 2x day (4 30 mg daily) I elected to come off of this on my on to see if the stimulator actually works or is it the meds. We shall see.......

Any advise will be greatly appriciated!!!!!!!

My advice is take as little of the suboxone as possible. After some time your body will get used to the suboxone and then you'll have another withdrawal to worry about. Many clinics or doctors will put you on a long-term plan to use subs to make money but you do not want to do that. Cut that in 1/8ths like u are doing and it should work just fine and day by day keep reducing. Suboxone has a long half life meaning that it stays in your body for a while, filling the receptors in your brain in substitutuion of the opiates or pain medicine you have been taking. After you are down to taking 1mg or so you should be ok to be off the next day. Try not taking it unless you have some withdrawal symtoms. You may be tired and wont have much energy because the suboxone is clearing out of your body but it will get better. Try to motivate yourself to go out, it helps a lot whether you are shopping or going to friends house to get your mind off of any meds. if you are still experiencing some pain after the fact, ask your doctor for ultram (tramadol). I use it for back pain but it also helps to come off of stronger meds such as hydrocodone or opiates. It is not addictive and you may experience some sleepiness or restlessness...however your body will interpret it, but check out the side effects on this med.