I hope this helps.
I was addicted to Oxys for about 2 years. About 2 months ago I was up to 300 mg. per day. I had actually had enough of it 6 months ago but I was afraid to stop because of the whole withdrawl thing which I went through a few years ago due to Percocet addiction. (10 10mg pills per day) That withdrawl was 7 days and nights of pure HELL. 7 days without 1 minute of sleep, heart beating out of my chest, unbelievable anxiety etc. As horrible as that was I found myself addicted again, this time to 30 mg oxys. These were prescribed for a medical condition which caused severe pain. I actually went 2 months in agony before I finally gave in and filled the prescription. I knew I would become addicted again but I was about to loose my job because I could not function due to the pain. Well, 2 years later and taking 10 30 mg oxys a day I was getting close to loosing my job due to the addiction. I investigated Suboxone and read all of the posts about it many of which scared the hell out of me. But I know I needed to stop beacause 300 mgs a day was not enough anymore and I probably would OD if I didnt. I went to the Suboxone website, found a doctor and made an appointment. The doctor told me to make sure I was in withdrawl by the time I came in for my visit. At 9AM when I arrived at her office, it had been 26 hours since my last dose. I was having all the symptoms of withdrawl. Yawning, sweating, chills, anxiety, shakes etc. I was feeling sick but not too bad yet. I took one 8mg dose of Suboxone and was told to wait in the office for a while to see how I felt. 10 minutes later, full withdrawls hit me like a brick wall. It got so bad the doctor gave me another 4 mgs and we waited. 30 mins later I was no better. She had me lay down in a dark room and finally after another 30 minutes I started to feel a little better. Then all at once...I felt really good. I had read posts on here about how Sub. will put you into a full withdrawl if you are not off your opioid long enough. I thought that the 26 hours was long enough. I was afraid to go any longer as I thought I would then be to sick to drive myself TO the doctor. She explained that everyones body chemistry is different and that my receptors held on to the opiate longer than the average person. So I suggest to be as far into withdrawls as you can handle before beginning Suboxone. The good thing is, even if you do get sick when you take your first dose, It will go away in an hour or so. I drove home and really felt much better. I decided to just lay in bed, watch movies and relax for the rest of the afternoon then go to sleep. After a few hours, I started getting a headache. It got worse and worse almost to the point where I thought of going to the hospital as I had never had a headache this severe. Useing an icepack and taking 6 Motrin in a 4 hr period I finally fell asleep. I woke up in the morning took my 8mg Sub. and let me tell you I felt great! I hadnt felt this good in such a long time! The first 3 weeks I took 8mg Sub in the morning and 4mg at night. I had energy, I felt happy. Happy as hell to be off the damn Oxys! Everyone, even people at work noticed what a great mood I was in every day, I just felt normal again! 3 weeks later I stopped taking the 4mg evening dose and have been on just 8mg one time a day. I was using pretty heavily for the past 2 years and so far, 2 months on Suboxone I have NOT wanted to use AT ALL! I even found 2 Oxys in a drawer the other day and I just flushed them. The doctor said we can lower my dose in another week. I cant wait to be off the Sub. so I can be pill free and not have to always make sure I have a pill with me where ever I go just in case. I am a bit nervous about whats going to happen after I take my last dose because I have read some peoples posts that said the withdrawls from Sub. can be pretty bad. But I have also read some that said Its not bad. Guess Ill find out for myself and will keep you posted. Even though that first day was pretty rough (for me), I know Suboxone saved my life! One other thing my doctor explained...MOST pain clinics (at least the ones in south Florida)perscribe Suboxone and keep you on it as long as possible just like they do with the oxys, roxies and other pain meds beacause they are just out for your money. So she reccomends finding a qualified doctor who specializes in addiction. Most of them should be more interested in getting you off pain meds, and on Suboxone for the shortest time possible. Group therapy Is supposed to be very helpful as well. Although I am not comfortable with that myself and hope I dont need to enter a program down the line. I just want you to know that there is help and hope out there and dont be afraid to go for it and get your life back. Sorry for such a long post but I really wanted to thak you all for all the information and encouraging posts I have read. They really did help me into making the decision to go and seek help! Good luck to you all! God bless
and yeah yeah i know i dont wanna clean.