what helps suboxone withdrawal?

I realize that this is an old thread, but it was the 1st one that came up on Google....so I will tell you about my experience. I was on basically everything shy of Heroin for years (diuladid,fentanyl,vicodin,soma,tyl#3,etc.). I was prescribed suboxone by a dr, and was on it for 9 months. He abruptly cut me off. I went from 16mg 3-4 mos to 8mg 1 month to 4mg 1 month to nothing. I made it a week, and was just about ready to meet my maker. I went into detox after relapsing onto the opiates for 3 days, and was started back on suboxone. What I did with 60 8mg tabs is this: 8mg 2x day for a week, 4 mg once or twice a day if really dying for a couple weeks, then 2mg once or twice if needed for a couple weeks, then I broke it into 6 pieces, so about 1.5 mg or so once or twice if needed for 2 weeks, then what ever I had left ONLY as needed for a few days. I was fine the 1st day. Day two got bad, day 3 got horrible. I was ready to lose my mind. Day 4 was slightly better. Day 5.....50% improvement. Day 6......60% improvement, and today is day 7, and I went back to work, and other than a burning sensation on the right side of my back, and a little bit of anxiety, I am tolerating it. I would definately recommend a slow taper, but not so slow that you become permanently accustomed to being on the subs. Best not to stay on them, but most Dr's won't let you anyway. I would suggest discussing a DETAILED taper plan when you start taking them. None of the 3 dr's that I have gotten them from did that, but then again I didn't ask. If you are anything like me, you will make it, and you will be ok, trust me. This is what is working for me, and if you are anything like me, you don't want to use opiates, the withdrawals are just too bad going "cold-turkey". Oh, and the main suggestion I would give you, is find an NA group. Best thing I ever did.

Thank you everyone who has given us hope that getting off suboxone and through the withdrawal is possible. I found out that my insurance coverage was cancelled when I was on the way to pick up my prescription for 2mg suboxone (among other things). I wasn't given any notice that my insurance would be cancelled so I'm not really able to follow through with my plan to come off the medication. I'm trying to make the last two tiny pills I have last, but it feels impossible. If anyone has advice in addition to what's listed above I'd appreciate it. I've been on suboxone for a long, long time. I have a medical condition that causes severe pain and the suboxone helped me get off narcotic pain meds and fentanyl patches. I'm nervous about the inevitable end of my supply which will likely coincide with my pain increasing since my other medications will be out of my system. Any insider tips would beyond greatly appreciated. Thank you all and good luck to anyone else dealing with this mess.

Yes, this does suck. Unfortunatly MY doc kept perscribing me my subs for a year now, finally i told him no more. But, this hurts so bad. I was doing oxys for two years all the time, but have been sober for a year besides the fact of the subs. It sucks so bad, and don't feel crazy cause yesterday was my first day without it and it was okay, and then today is baaad. The nights are the worst part i can't sleep and theres hot and cold sweats. But, you have to kept going. It suuuucks SOOOO bad. I looked for little pieces earlier that i had hid and found a little piece BUT, you can't do it. I threw it away. You can't do it. Just keeep going. Don't break down. But, it does suck. Horribly and sometimes i don't know what to do, but then you think "i can do this" just don't think about it. good luck.

Be real-men and not wuss.

Thanks for the two previous posts. I'm on day 5, and prior to reading this message board I was under the assumption that the withdrawal would only last five days. I do feel markably better, however. Though I'm not sleeping very well, my goosebumps have finally disappeared. My eating habits have been very inconsistent, I've lost a little weight. I just wanted to let everyone who's going through this that they're quite literally doing one of the most difficult and courageous thing a person could ever do. Most people in their lives will never experience such pain. We should not demonize ourselves for our experiences, but use them as a conduit to escape from dependency and strengthen ourselves as individuals.

I am needing off it now and I went from 8.2mg 3 times a day and now at 8.2mg cut in to 4 and take only one half of half a day but I need off almost out of it help please I went to do it last night and had hell....

I am needing off it now and I went from 8.2mg 3 times a day and now at 8.2mg cut in to 4 and take only one half of half a day but I need off almost out of it help please I went to do it last night and had hell....

I am a long time addict and abused vicodin, percocets, dilaudid, oxycodone and oxycontin, and my worst abuse was with heroin. I'm going to give you a little background info on myself and explain my story. I'm 18 years old, and on January 6th, 2011, I checked myself into the San Diego Sharp Mesa Vista CDRP unit (chemical dependency recovery program). I went there because I was abusing heroin for about a year and before that and in between, I had a problem smoking ochos (80mg oxycontin). I'm 63 days clean and serene and as of this very moment, I'm trying to kick suboxone. I was on 16mg's of suboxone a day for 2 months due to how much heroin and opiates were in my system when I entered the program. I'm in NA and love the program. So I'm on day six of kicking suboxone, and I have a few tips for everyone who's kicking suboxone also. My doctor screwed me and didn't taper me off of suboxone, so I was quitting cold turkey from a 16mg a day dose of suboxone cold turkey. Day 2,3, and 4 were the worst. My withdrawal symptoms are still very bad but I've got a few tips for those of you who are trying to kick suboxone. First off, eat a lot of fruit and vegetables everyday, especially bananas because of the potassium. Drink lots of fluids such as water and Gatorade. Even though it's hard without sleep and being exhausted, but run or walk and get as much exercise as possible. Take hot showers and/or baths regularly throughout the day. The hot water will help with the body aches and muscle spasms, and restless legs. FYI, before I went into a detox/rehab center, I was 5 days clean from heroin, and trust me with the amount of opiates I was using, those 5 days sucked, I basically spent a week in hell. Anyway, yesterday the WD symptoms were becoming progressively worse and I was losing my mind. I tried to take the edge off by drinking liquor, specifically tequila or beer. It can take your mind off what's really going on. Today, I called my doctor and yelled at him because it's his fault I couldn't taper off suboxone and quit on a 16mg a day dose cold turkey, and he prescribed me 10mg Valium. Any benzodiazepene like Xanax, or Kolonipin could also help, but I'd recommend Valium since it also helps muscle tension and pain. The Valium really saved me from my WD symptoms. I'm still having trouble sleeping but I'd rather feel good and not sleep then not sleep and feel like your going to lose it. Some people could take ambien to help control sleep patterns, but I took a 10mg Valium and a 10mg ambien 3 hours ago and I still can't sleep, but I have barely any WD symptoms and I feel much better. I'd like to say I could just quit heroin and suboxone cold turkey and stay COMPLETELY SOBER during the withdrawals, but some of us use more than others and it's not possible for me. Drinking could take the edge off, also smoking weed, but I'd recommend Valium. I read a 100 different forums in the past week to help get through the subxone withdrawals on my own, but in my situation, it's a little different. I really hope this is going to help someone, I'm a fellow addict and love to help other addicts because kicking this sh*t isn't easy even if you do taper. If anyone has any questions or needs someone to talk to ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed **
Please read our Terms of Use

Because from the NA big book, "one addict helping a fellow addict is without parallel."

i had been on a variety of pain medications over a ten year period, and i just got sick an tired of being sick an tired. thats when i started looking into different options. my family had no idea, i took care of my kids, worked, all of the normal things a mother would do. so suboxone seemed like an only option. i wished i had never seen those little orange pills. oh my gosh! i was down to splitting a 8 mg into 4ths, and have tried even a smaller dose and i can't kick them. my family still doesn't know the predictament i'm in. i have been buying off the street for over a year now because its actually cheaper than going to the doc to get them. i have prayed to god to help me kickthis, i HAVE tried everything, but unless you have a couple of weeks of clean your system out and cleanse your mind, ther is no ope of getting away from this. to this day i am still struggling, waiting to get by myself to go through the withdrawls because i know its going to be bad, i made it to day 11 before and still thought i was dying..i just want to get rid of this demon that has a hold of me. i know a lot of people doesnt have family support and has hidden their addiction. functioning addicts. and its shameful to admit to it. if you haven't already started suboxone...don't...try kicking the other opiates. the withdrawl , by far, doesn't even come close to the suboxone withdrawl..good luck and stay safe!

Where do I start, I been taking Boxins for 2 n a half years and I take Somas here and then So I wanted to kick boxins this last month I decided when I am on Somas I don't take Boxins so its perfect time to get off COLD TURKEY since I would be sleep for first two days I thought that was the worst, I am lucky I have a hubby who is understanding he called posion control and asked them questions well they have no clue they give u answers but since its so new the drug noone has the real answers. SO the first week, I stayed in bed and had the cold symptoms sneezing, fever, diarrhea, legs hurted a little bit but the pain went away within the first week, I already suffer from sleep problems So I had Tynol PM and was taking those. a friend of the family started treating me for a cold she had me buy popcicles, jello, bannana's, gatoraid. After the first week and still feeling sick I went the doc since I was talking to my sister who is a nurse and she said I may be dehydrated and could goto EM Room to get a IV for fluids and to stop diarrhea, well the DOC sat and listened to my story I was on like week two, I said I feel like I have a cold, I was on my monthly cycle at the time too, so I felt like a triple whammy. She give me a shot for Nausea, and took blood test, and checked my vitals in several positions, and last but not least checked for a cold. I didn't have a cold, because of the gatoraid, and all the stuff I was eating and drinking my electro-lites were fine, I was not dehyrated so she asked me why didn't I go to the doc where I got them to help me get off them? I said I have a feeling they won't be no help, they make$from my useage. So the Nausea pills really helpped, because that day I was having dryheves and couldnt keep anything down, she told me not to take Immodium, and to take Bendyrel and not Tyhonel PMs. So that was that, I didn't mind the WD stuff, it was the diarrhea that drove me crazy, which started slowing down after that. I started drinking energy drinks which I thought helpped with the low energy, but after the first three weeks, I felt like I was slowly making my way around but read that it takes 2 months I am hoping its 2 months and not more to feel back to normal. I wondered what they meant and now I know since I am on day 43 of being off, well I messed up last week I was sick of the tired-ness and everything in the past when I wanted to excape I would take Soma's so I got some, BIG MISTAKE, after they were gone after 3 days I went back to work and had a week of no energy and the cold symtoms were back, and the leg pain too, along with sleepness nights. for about a week, I felt like it just set me back, I read these posts and I see people crying around about depression and they are dying its hard for me, because I am such a strong person and I have suffered days and nights of no eating or drinking in the past so I figured if I can do that I can do anything, what helpped me though the mental depression was alot of prayers and a strong belief for spirituality, and a higher power. I am on day 43 still looking at posts like what helps with the low-energy? energy drinks and coffee goes right-through, I am hoping after this next week or at least the next two weeks is the end of the tunnel, but if I set myself back then I have another month or so of low-energy. But guess what U best believe I am not going back and I am not giving up. I came this far and I am not letting this orange MUtha win, So if there is anyone who has been off it and has gotten to month two and 3 or even 4 what can you tell me about low-energy? Should I still be treating this like I am still in month one and take all these remedies suggested? or should I push on and there is nothing I can do about the low energy?.....I wish all those of you in ur first week power, respect, and heart. cuz thats what it takes to make it, MAN OR WOMAN UP..U can do this...

***edited by moderator*** ** inappropriate posting** It really isn't that bad this sh*t is wayy more mild than coming off of anything else. I went from 8mg to nothing overnight and besides who needs sleep anyway sleep when your dead. Thats the only hard part for people is the sleep, and whats this about emotional/depression f**k man you guys need to get over yourselves and get your sh*t in gear.
suboxone has helped me a hell of a lot and this is my second week off of it so suck it up and get your life on track.

1IAM REALLY WANT TO DETOX OFF SUBOXONE      I HAVE BEEN ON FOR ABOUT 4 YEARS  IAM SO SCARED WITH WITHDRAWLS

PLEASE HELP ME....................................................................................................................................................................

So I just came across this site today and I literally just sat here and read all these posts. I am going through f*ing hell right now and by the sounds of it, you guys all understand. I've been on Subs for 3 years now, was in the SLOW process of weining off them, but I really cant afford it anymore bc my health insurance is gone. I jumped off 4mg/day 14 days ago, cold turkey, no benzo, just all my vitamins and gatorade and hot showers. I read in another post above where someone said Subs starting turning on them. I was going through the same. When I first started subs, I felt great, had energy, was happy, but slowly over the past year I have had no motivation, been isolating myself alot more often, more emotional, just a series of "side affects". SO I am 14 days into it, havent had anything besides OTC stuff, cant find any kind of sleeping med that works, and honestly I feel like sh*t still. Not as bad as those 4th,5th,6th,&7th days, but not THAT much better. Still cant sleep but an hour at a time, very sleep deprived, still have clammy hands and skin, night sweats, body aches, feeling useless, and just a s**m bag.eh  all that terrible stuff. UGH, My mind is just screaming "it could all be over, just take a half of sub" but I am scared to death to do this over again. This is my second time coming off, the first time was easier bc I jumped off at 1mg, but this is terrible. To make things a little worse, my bf is also coming off Subs, we decided to do it at the same time, so I have no support. He is going through the same thing and really isnt up to being all supportive right now. I have someone to whine to but thats about it. Basically why I am writing this is to put myself out here, I am looking for support, ppl that have done this and can talk to me about it, reassurance, all those good things. This sh*t is hard to beat, but I really really want to end this terrible cycle of WDs every couple years, going back and forth. This sucks.

 ***this post is edited by moderator *** *** private e-mails not allowed*** Please read our Terms of Use

I welcome all the emails you wanna send. Thanks. 

I've been horrified to learn of people going cold turkey from 4mg of Suboxone!  I switched to Suboxone about 18 months ago from methadone, which I had been taking for chronic pain.  I began to be worried about the long-term effects of methadone, so my doctor referred me to a physician who was licensed to prescribe suboxone.  I experimented with different dosages and eventually settled on 8mg per day.  A few months ago I decided I was tired of being dependent on painkillers, and thought my chronic pain might be easing, and spoke to my doctor about getting off suboxone. 

He gave me a suggested schedule where I went down 2 mg at a time until I got to 2 mg and then in 1/2 mg increments from there, staying at each level for at least a week.  Well, it was all quite easy until I got to 2 mg.  Going down from there has been really difficult, and in doing some research, I learned that the partial agonist effect of buprenorphine follows a curve where it rises most rapidly in the first 2 mg and then gradually flattens out after that.  Basically, there's about as much differential in opiate effect between 0 and 2 mg as between 2 mg and 8 mg, and my experience has shown that there is little effect gained above that, although the ceiling effect is  really not achieved until about 48 mg.  That just means that the curve is completely flat at that point, but it's been nearly flat all the way from 8 mg to there.  I explain this so that readers will understand that going from 2 mg to 0 mg is at least as difficult as going from 8 mg to 2 mg. 

My experience certainly bears that out.  I proceeded from 8 mg to 2 mg over a period of a few weeks with little trouble, but I've found since then that I've needed to slow way down.  I am now at 0.5 mg per day (I take 0.25 twice) and am feeling pretty lousy, but not nearly as badly as some others have reported here.  It can be really frustrating to have to take it so slowly - I really wish it was just over.  Incidentally, I took myself off of methadone at least once before, and it was nothing compared to this, although I was on a pretty low dosage (15 mg per day).  I went back on it because of intractable pain.  I've since been able to learn to control my chronic pain through physical therapy and relaxation, so that's not the issue this time.  I've been treating my chronic pain with opiates (all doctor-prescribed) for over 10 years now.

I am cutting up the 8 mg sublingual film pieces - .25 mg is pretty small - I don't know if I'm going to try cutting them into .125 (1/8 mg) pieces yet.  I think I will try going to .25 mg after I'm feeling better on .5 mg, and then go completely off from there, but if I have to, I'll cut those strips into even smaller pieces (if I can) and take it even more slowly.  Like many others, I've had trouble working, and don't have any insurance at the moment, so I don't want to have to pay for some 2 mg strips (which are the same size as the 8 mg ones), which would be a lot easier to cut into the smaller doses. I've found that using my wife's rolling sewing knife works best to cut the strips - it's like a small, sharp pizza cutter.

If you have a lot of money, I suppose the way to go is with one of those rapid detox centers - has anyone here had any experience with one of those?

ive been taking narcotics vicodin then methadone then suboxone for 7 years. iquit at 2mg for 21 days couldn't do it anymore pain too bad then got on suboxone for another 14 days . then quit again. now i am on day 11 and i fear freakin great. but i notice u have to have clonodine andthere is somethin about compazine nausia pill that helps stabilize your mood. well at least from me. ihope u all can do it.  I am. and i am surprised i made it. oh i also hs zanax for the first week and like 4 valium on days 9 and 8 so 2 a day. and a benzo. yep u got that u can conquer it u dont have fun because when i didnt have that the first time arould i couldnt do it. thanks have a great day