Comments (141)

1. Jon says:

   January 15, 2012 at 12:20 pm

   Very informative and definitely emotionally lifting. Knowing there is a light at the end of the tunnel makes doing this easier. Everyone has a different story but in the end it all comes down to the same thing … Getting off this poison and getting your life back. So here is my story: I had a double s curve and a twisted spine. For most of my life it presented no problem. I jogged 4 miles 5 times a week for 20 years until things started heading south. My Dr. gave me perocet (50) that lasted me about 5 months and I went back to get more. A year later I was up to 100 pills a month. Six months after that I was up to 10 mg pure oxycodone a 4 x/day. In between all this I went for cortozone injections and kept that up until there was no room for a the needle to pentrate my L4-L5 vertebrae. I was increased to 20 mg oxycodone tabs. I tried to moderate the pain med’s to the smallest amount I could stand. The pain was so intense sometimes I took out my S&W 500 magnum and seriously considered pulling the trigger. Six months later I was switched to 25mg Fentanyl patches. Six months later I was upped to 50 mg Fentanyl patches because the 25mg were not effective enough. Three months later is was switched to 75mg patches. Three months after that 100 mg patches. Three months after that even though I knew the pain was going to be unbearable I decided to get off the patches before they killed me or my girlfriend did in my sleep. Although the past three years seem like a blur I dam well knew that was not the case for those around me. I detoxed by myself in my condo with help of Clonidine and Xanax for 10 days. The up side of all that is I am no longer afraid going to hell … been there, done that. I was probably about 50% detoxed and had the energy of a 95 year old that was just hit by a bus and was in so much pain I wanted to kill myself. I was then put on 30 mg oxycodone every 4 hours. Eventually it went to 60 mg every 4 hours and when I was awake it still hurt like hell. I felt that if somthing drastic was not done I would be dead in 12 months. After much research we uncovered a doctor in Tampa that specialized in my kind of problem. I have never met a Dr. like him. I underwent an 8 hour operation that kept me in the hospital for 7 days … a 7 level spinal fusion procedure. I now have 16 rods and 18 titanium screws in my back AND no pain. The operation cost $250,000 but was covered by insurance. It wore a brace for 6 months and physical therapy for 6 months. My Dr. told me he would fix my back but he could fix my addiction to pain med’s. He was right. I never abused pain med’s. I feel that those people who truly need them do not abuse this medicine because they hate it … but it makes no difference. The body gets just as addicted for legitimate reasons or drug abuse. Three months after the operation I tried to get off the pain med’s. I had no pain, I hated the medication and I wanted my life back. I detoxed in my condo for 10 days with the help of Clonidne and Xanax. I was again about 50% detetoxed. I then went to see a Dr that dispenses Suboxone and he said because I was 50% detoxed I would be best served not getting started on Suboxone. Three days later I went for my once/3 month visit to my Dr that gives me my ADHD med’s. He immediately put me on Soboxone … 8 mg/day. I felt I was being overdosed. I felt itchy and actually high. I told him he insisted I keep to his program. Over the next 4 months is worked my way down to 2 mg/day. I tried to get off it and couldn’t. Over the next 2 months I started splitting the 2 mg pill into 4 pieces and worked my way down to 1/2 mg/day. Over the next 6 months I tried to get off it and still couldn’t. I was really getting pissed. Let’s be honest here … the drug company who makes Suboxone makes big bucks. If they wanted to get people off the drug they would have titrated the dose of 2 mg to much lower doses. That’s when I started reading all the blogs. The handwriting was on the wall. I was going to have to detox again. I am now on day 9 and starting to feel better. It is 75 degrees outside now and I have the fireplace roaring … wearing warm clothing and the heat is on. When people visit you under these circumstances you know you have some real friends out there. I know I will eventually be OK because of who I am and because of blogs like yours. Thanks from the bottom of my heart.
2. Jenna says:

   January 15, 2012 at 10:31 am

   first, let me start by saying I have been a heroin addict for 11+ years, so I know what full blown withdrawal feels like. I have been off heroin for about 4 months (this was only a short run & I have had years of clean time in the past). I have never been prescribed to suboxone but have used it many times to “kick the habit.” anyway, for the last 2 months I have taken suboxones from anywhere from 2-3 times a week, and want to know if there is any chance I could experience withdrawals from not taking them? I believe it is mostly psychological, thinking I need to take “something” to feel normal since I have for so many years. can someone please help me & tell me if I will feel the withdrawals or if I am just crazy? thank you for letting me get that out! I wish all of you the best!!!
3. TJJ says:

   January 15, 2012 at 8:47 am

   Hey Cesar ,have you jumped yet? Havent heard from ya latley,,,just wondering how yr getting along God Bless
4. Mps says:

   January 13, 2012 at 12:03 am

   This message is for Vince. I’m almost too 3 months and Im having same burning in my feet,legs,back,arms and neck (down the sides) and terrible blurred vision. How do you feel now? I hope this subsides…feels like electricity running in my brain. I’ve got a new friend chest tightness…wish I would have just gone throguh the opiate hell then this prolonged craziness.
5. off one back to another says:

   January 10, 2012 at 2:42 pm

   Hi, I am trying to get off Subs too……. It kinda makes me wish to GOD in heaven that I would have went through the hard opiate withdrawl for a week or so instead of this month to a month and a half shit….. Im in bad shape, so what did I do ??? Started back with percs, I feel so lost, so trapped, so in chains, 2moro is day 5 no subs, I am so afraid of where the percs will lead…… I wish for the days when I was a kid and I would get up every day to play, and be so happy and excited about it and so so free, maybe this is my depression or emotions talking but I just feel lost…….. Does anyone have advice for me, when can I stop the percs, and stop feeling sub withdrawl, will I feel normal in 10 days from the sub withdrawl, because if someone knows that I will, then I will gladly take these percs and flush the SOBs and never ever touch another opiate again…… Or a Sub….. EVER EVER AGAIN, GOD HELP ALL THE LOST TRAPPED HELPLESS PEOPLE….
6. Paul @ 5 months says:

   January 8, 2012 at 5:34 pm

   I have been free of Subs for 5 months and feel terrific! Suboxone is a very valuable tool for addiction, but I feel the withdrawal was not worth taking it for 4 years to manage my pain. While on the Subs, I also had to take Doxapin for peripheral neuropathy ( all my muscles ached), 8-500mg Tylenol, and prilosec for reflux daily. Since being clean of the Subs, I no longer need to take any medication and my pain is pretty much gone. After having a major accident 36 years ago, I thought I would never again be pain free. I AM and never think about hurting daily! Stay positive for those of you trying to quit. Looking back, the WDs’s don’t seem as bad as they were while experiencing them. You will get thru it, you will sleep normally, you will get your energy back, you will be happy, and you will get to live your life as you choose. Patience and perseverance and you will succeed!
7. MIKE says:

   January 8, 2012 at 3:23 pm

   I just got out of detox 7 days ago. I was taking 1200mg of oxycodone daily. I’m getting so many conflicting stories about suboxone. One out patient program gave me the number of the only doctor in Vegas they trust to give suboxone. It’s a 4 month wheen down. They told me statistic wise, with doing that much for so many years, The chances of relapse (outpatient or not) are very high unless I get on Suboxone. Any thought?
8. Bobby says:

   January 2, 2012 at 1:23 am

   I have been taking Suboxone for 3 years. Started 8mg./day.
   Eventually I began to abuse them taking up to 24mg/day..
   I was on 24mg/day from approx. Sept.2010-July 2011. I cut myself back to 8mg./day again since July. This was due to the availability of getting the drug. Prior to taking suboxone I had a habit of 160mg/day of oxycontin. I found that trade off in addictions to be painless and way cheaper. I was introduced to suboxone by a dealer. And beleive me I dont really view doctor’s any different than street dealer’s. No offense but suboxone is a very powerful drug. And I view it like i did the old oxy’s the snortable, very popular green oxy 80′s. I see no reason that anyone should be perscribed these powerful drug’s. Now….sure everything is hunky dory but, Iam in my forty’s and I want to change my life completely. I want off of these suboxone. This post has literally scared the fuck out me. . I wake up in pain everyday. Not from sub’s but from what I beleive is their side effect’s of long use.. I dont want them anymore. I dont want to pay $500.00/month for them anymore. I want to heal my body from 8 years of drug abuse.. I have begun the great taper. Iam at 6mg/day right now for a few days then 5…then so on until dust….IS THEIR ANYWAY I CAN KEEP MY JOB????? OR IS SHIT GONNA HIT THE FAN. I cant keep destroying my body… I love my wife she will be there for me…But I cant lose my job….I think I need advice…I think I need help…Bobby.
9. Greg says:

   January 1, 2012 at 6:07 pm

   I have been on 1.5-2mg/day of suboxone for 3 years. In this time I went from doing nothing to being a Senior at Columbia University. I plan to tapper over the course of a month.

   Most of the comments here are from lazy people who don’t want to do the work. If you are on suboxone, try running everyday for 3 month, then tell me if you have depression. If not running, lift. Suboxone is a tool, not the answer.
10. IDIDIT says:

    December 28, 2011 at 6:26 pm

    I am so happy!
11. Jamie says:

    December 19, 2011 at 6:50 am

    History: I was a heroin/oxy/methadone addict off and on from the age of 17. Joined the Marine Corps at 18. Had periods of long abstinence from my service in the Corps but everytime I came home on leave, I couldn’t resist the urge to use…and this was everytime. Luckily by the short duration I was home I never had time to develop a full fledged physical addiction. I am the prime example of the double life addict…controlled, methodical, intelligent, successful in appearance, but beneath the service an all out mess. I ended my service at 22 and returned home to enroll in college. After years of honorable service, two tours in Iraq, I came home and transformed into a full time addict again. It was only after I met my wife and she gave me the ultimatum to get help or be without her did I seek professional help for my addiction. I began suboxone treatment. Suboxone absolutely saved my life. I finished college with a 3.8GPA. I got married. I’ve experienced the birth of my two beautiful kids. I’ve made a more successful career for myself than I ever thought possible…all the while with a dark little secret my proffessional colleagues weren’t aware of that I was in fact an opiate addict prescribed subxone to keep me from turning into Mr. Hyde. I successfully and very carefully got off the suboxone a few times over the past 4 years. 3 of those times I did relapse within a month after which I immediately went back on suboxone as it was the only way to regain control. Looking back, those 3 times out of 4 I always detoxed way to quickly…going from 8mg/day down to 2mg/day in a matter of two weeks. “Well moron ofcoarse you’re probably going to relapse when you rush things and make yourself go into withdrawals, what addict is going to sit and let himself feel that way?” Anyway, the last and final time I made a 3 month plan. I went slowly decreasing my dose down to 4mg/day. At that point, every 5 days I would go down 1mg until I was steady at 1.5mg/day. This is where it kind of gets difficult and you need to evaluate how you feel everyday. You DO NOT want to be “sick” even the slightest as you cannot decrease further without becoming even more “sick.” Anyway, I just took my time all the way down to .5mg/EOD. I was prescribed the suboxone sublingual strips which made it easy to cut and administer the small doses of .5mg. When I was stable at .5mg/ED or EOD(depending how I felt) I discontinued my use of subxone. I’ll admit, the first 2 days sucked for better words. Not because of withdrawals, but just a depressed, nasty, pissed off attitude. You feel miserable mentally. Please listen to me tho friends..IT WILL PASS in a matter of a day or two. I felt pretty well physically tho…enough so that I was able to continue an extremely physically demanding military training schedule of running 4-5 miles in the morning followed by extremely in depth academic schedule all day. I don’t want to get too involved in my present military career as I worry of this story coming to light and jepeordizing my career but I did forget to mention, I did go back into the military after college graduation. Anyway, I did have annoying sneezing for about 3 weeks after. I slept pretty well but did toss and turn for a few weeks. Nothing that would make me crazy and want to return to using tho. Here’s the gold mine advice for this story. I had to return home on leave. Peoples places and things right? Before I even got off the plane I called my personal physician and request a prescription of Naltrexone. Naltrexone is a god send. It is a complete opiate agonist and is the next step after long term subxone treatment for turning the page and living a completely normal life. It is completely non addictive, non habit forming, and little to no side effects. The comfort of living your life and knowing that you couldn’t even abuse opiates if you wanted to is freedom. I took that Naltrexone every morning I was home. I had cravings but everytime the mental obsession started I heard a voice “dude, you can’t even get high if you wanted to so just quit obsessing bc it’s not going to happen!” and miraculously my friends, the cravings and obsession subsides. Presently, I hold a respectable and higher profile position in the officer ranks of the military. I live life free and the sky is the limit. Not many people know of my past struggle with opiates. I look back on it as a learning experience in my life, much appreciated but also feared. I just want good people to know, getting off suboxone successfully is possible. Don’t listen to people crying and whining about how hard it is, they’re being weak. You gotta be strong. You gotta push yourself. You gotta be positive. Understand you’re addicted mind and how it can turn on you. I knew I always relapsed at home…so anytime I return there I take Naltrexone for the duration to ensure 100% there are no problems. It’s been a substantial amount of time since I last had suboxone (opiates) in my system. I’m amazed at the things I notice about myself that were numbed for so many years even slightly while on sub. Yes even on sub, you’re not your full self. My wife would even comment how she saw the actual “Jamie” only after being completely off suboxone. Not a huge difference, but more alert and energetic, more creative, less tempermental. The brain and body will heal tho I promise you. My biggest point on this story is, don’t put yourself out there if you’re nervous…have a doc prescribe Naltrexone either by pill form or implant after suboxone discontinuance. It’s the safe, insurance policy to get you to the next step of having a normal life. I highly recommend to everyone getting off suboxone. It’s the true non addictive, non habit forming “freedom” pill.
12. Sheila says:

    December 12, 2011 at 2:21 pm

    Hey everyone
    well its been 6 months to the day since I have had a sub, Thank God! I look back and read the post you have written and when I hear all of describe the WTD I can feel it. I am now sleeping through the night. My energy level is regaining itself, I have started working out and big on vitamins it does help. But threw it all I say HELL YEAH! it was worth every minute tossing and turning, up then down, walking rubbing my arms and legs, sitting on the toilet all worth it. I PROMISE! I am not this super strong willed person but when you are done being sick of being sick and tired somethings got to give and a change has to come. I just wanted you to know you can do, and its worth..
13. five mistakes says:

    December 11, 2011 at 8:35 am

    Your blog is pretty interesting to me and your topics are very relevant. I was browsing around and came across something you might find interesting. I was guilty of 3 of them with my sites. “99% of blog managers are committing these 5 BIG mistakes”. http://is.gd/w4g8Ml You will be suprised how fast they are to fix.
14. Cesar says:

    December 1, 2011 at 1:10 am

    And Vince, when I read your post I missed that you said you stopped in April but are depressed & have anxiety now in November. If you had these symptoms every since you got off the Subs that that could be a major reason for how you feel now. If you were fine for months (totally clean) & these feelings came on later then maybe these feeling came from something else. Medicating with vicodine is only going to mask the problem & in the long term make it worse.

    I feel like I’ll get off of 1mg in about a month but everyone is different, maybe it would take you 2-3 months, take it real slow. If how you feel isn’t related to the subs, maybe you just need to see a doctor about treating your anxiety & depression. Certainly vicodines are GUARANTEED to make those feelings worse in the long run!
15. Cesar says:

    December 1, 2011 at 1:05 am

    Hey Vince,

    You stopped at 1mg cold turkey? That is too high of a dose to stop taking subs like that. I wrote a big explanation under the comments in the No Withdrawals From Suboxone section of this website. I would get back on Subs & find your stabilizing dose, hopefully it’s still near 1mg but if it’s more, don’t worry, you can taper off, whatever the dose.

    You don’t need those vics – that’s a shit route to take. Subs don’t get you high but they are really really powerful, you should stabilize on a dose, make sure you feel solid for a good 4 days in a row (longer if you want) – then drop your dosage by a maximum of 25%. I often did less than a 25% drop to make the math & measuring easier.

    I started on 6, then went to 5, 4, 3, 2.25 & am now on 1.75mg. I haven’t even noticed each step, barely anything. Each step I waited until I felt fine for 4 days in a row then dropped to the next step.

    I’ll go from 1.75, to 1.25 to 1 to 0.75 to .5 to 0.375 to 0.25. I realize that 0.75 to 0.5 is more than 25% but I’m hoping at this low dose I can get away with that step at 33% – again, just to make the math easy.

    Finally at 0.25 I’ll skip 1 out of every 4 days, then 2 out of every 4 then 3 out of every 4 & finally 4 out of 4, aka no more subs. Taking only 0.25mgs every 4th day is like taking 0.06 mg/day. Now that is a low dose that I expect to be able to handle coming off of.

    I’ve heard this system works for a lot of people & its been great for me so far. So many people don’t realize that 1mg is way WAY to high of a dose to stop taking cold turkey. At 1mg you are still about a month away from being totally off subs. Those that do stop at such a high dose get into the same position as you. Feeling like garbage & so they either start using again or yo-yo up & down on & off of subs.

    Good luck!
16. vince says:

    November 28, 2011 at 4:22 pm

    I took subs for about a year and 8mos stopped cold turkey was only taking about 1mg a day. i stopped back in april and now its nov i have severe anxiety and depression. i get this burning feeling in my legs arms and feet and my neck and shoulders . i also get brain zaps its hard to live like this.and i have to work the only thing that helps me is a couple of vicodine a day i dont take 7-8 pills like i used too. but i cant get back to feeling normal. I think the suboxone gave me bad anxiety and i dont know what to do can some please help
17. Michelle says:

    November 27, 2011 at 12:20 am

    It will be very hard if anyone has been on sub for over couple of months. Apparently you cannot ever recover as bup damages your brain to some capacity so I cannot imagine how hard it is for long term bup users such as 1 year and over. I have never ever met or known anyone who took bup for 6 months and over stay clean. The depression is the worst after stopping bup. I think the manufactures made this medicine so folks can be on it for Life!!!!! No matter how you taper down the fact bup re-wires your brain to deplete endorphins makes it extremely difficult to ever stop bup. I dont think people can live life after quitting sub.

    Another sad fact is that even taking bup is very bad because you feel very unmotivated, very leathargic, very bored and depressed. You feel like your over medicating. You have no life while on bup. You lose interest and the zest for while while you take bup, its a fact. Lastly the liver damage is immense from bup..

    I think there is no way to ever quit bup for users over 6 months and over unless you want to stay depressed and umotivated all your life once you quit sub..Theres nothing we can do about it either.
18. bh says:

    November 26, 2011 at 5:27 am

    Hey everyone. I’ve been off suboxone for 6 weeks. I’m starting to feel human again. I’ve been an addict since 15 so I know withdrawal. This time I was on suboxone for 3 years. I detoxed in treatment..in a human way over 15 days. I didn’t really even feel bouge until 3 days after I got out. That’s when I knew this would take a while. I feel pretty good under the circumstances. What I really notice is no energy. And it’s difficult to stay interested in anything. I have 13 songs ready to get mastered and published…but I cant play my guitar. In fact, I wrote all the songs under the influence and I can hardly play them clean. The same thing happened 17 years ago when I got of methadone. I actually quit playing all instruments that time and it wasn’t until I got on suboxone 3 years ago that I even picked up a guitar. I may have to let music go if its an issue of staying clean. The loss of creativity for me is huge. I’m a monster when I have the energy and just thinking about it when I don’t.
    Meetings, meetings, meetings. Any issues you could have about the strange new oddities of being clean can be addressed at another meeting. And like I read on this website…about 2 months into this, your brain chemistry starts correcting itself and begins to retreat through the gates of hell. I’m on my way and I hope from the bottom of this dope fiend’s heart that you all find peace in being clean.
19. Angel says:

    November 16, 2011 at 10:29 am

    @ Shazz yes !!! I have heard and read about ibogaine a bit in the past,but from what I recall it is not available in the US correct?
20. Angel says:

    November 16, 2011 at 10:23 am

    What scares me is so
    Some mornings I wake up feeling like I have been hit by a car,yet i read that u don’t feel withdraw for days after stopping suboxone…if that’s true then why do I wake up sick and in pain most days after sleeping a while without taking it ? I really want to be done with these things, I am thankful they helped but I hate the side effects they cause . I am constantly drinking water but my mouth is dry,u have lost weight because my apetite sucks and we all know it affects normal bodily functions … The doc had me on 2 mg 3-4 times a day then I tapered myself down to 1/2 mg 4 times a day because he didn’t seem to care whether I stay on this for the rest of my life( been 2 years). I am so ready, but I have a family that depend on me so i can’t let them suffer and I myself hate pain so there’s that lol
21. shazz says:

    November 13, 2011 at 5:26 pm

    has any one ever heard of ibogaine? i was on sub, lexapro, wellbutrin, concerta, abilafy etc… for over a year, and have been fighting addiction most of my life. 6 months ago i heard about ibogain hcl, i had never even heard of it,, well to make a long story short i got off all of those meds with one dose of ibogaine. with NO WITHDRAWAL AND NO CRAVING. i am NOT kidding. if you havent heard of ibogaine you must look into it, please take this post seriouslly google ibogaine.
22. larry says:

    November 8, 2011 at 8:11 pm

    hey everyone, This site is great, i had a back problem for 6 years i really did have a injury and back spasms , they are what gort me doing vikes 5s then 10s then oxy 15s for 6 years , I have been very lucky in my life other than being born a addict , the crazy thing is while on oxys i was ahppy and productive but i know they would of won , im just sayin i still feel sometimes that if i went back on em that it would be ok , reading all your testomies hepls me because i see now it would of been worse way worse , ive went to a doctor and got on subox and have been for 2 years ive taken it from 3 8s to 1 and a 1/2 of a film , the smallest i can break off , thinking that everything is great , i got my life back ,new girlfriend work was kicking ass , and i had no bad desires kinda like clockwork orange , it took away all the bads but some i didnt want to loose , like sex drive,, for 1, and i liked some of my bads made who i was and it also was a way to deal with a bad case of adhd , then after i personally took myslef all the way down to the smallest piece , i had noticed im losing muscle mass , im losing wieght , i started to get depresed , then i couldnt focus at all!! i said f it im stoping , ive quit all kinds of hard drugs in my life with pout treament , i was going to stop cold turkey , i knew i had the will power , i hadnt loked online because i knew it would be bad i had tried before , it fucking sucks no dought about it, i cant help but wonder if it would of been as hard to stop opiates , suboxone seems to be a perfect drug to make bad people who r good just get high stop from doing bad things it took all feeling away , i was super depressed , so with out talking to my doctor i stopped , i made to day 1 no problem it wasnt to bad, i thought wow that was way to easy , i had weed , first night drank some too just to sleep
    after that day two it started to get worse , what i didnt realize is im not sure because i had adhd it was worse but my mind seemed to start to fire , at first i was happy becuase thats what i wanted , but then the sickneess starts , day three i was sick i couldnt slep the night before , i had gone ona walk in the woods that helped , ive read all kinds of post but i do think weed helped and walking , hot tubs , more weed , i kinda wished i had some harder drugs just to get me thru but since my hatred of what i did to get myself here wouldnt allow that nor would my new sexy ass girlfriend and a house full of kids , like i was trapped , if i stay on it i will continue to get more depressed, if i ate more subox it didnt work either it almost is like a super enginererd drug that once u r on it ,it way hard to stop , i found that all my demonds i had before i started were there waiting for me , i wanted to get hifgh worse than ever , i didnt care crack , weed pills valume , but my desire to stop is so big , to have a so called treatment for drug abuse basically just trade one habbit thats on the streets for one given to u by a doctor ,
    someone should regulate doctors and make sure they stop giving out pain pills like candy they r everywhere , i blame doctors , yes we all abused them who wouldnt they make things great energy and focus , u name it , i think suboxone the devil , i hate it but im stuck after the 4 th day my mind is what took me out , i had the shits , i couldnt eat , i couldnt sleep , i had shivering tub nights but i could do those what i couldnt do was handle the magnafied intense feeling of adiction and my mind going kinda loon tune ,i was a dick to my girlfriend , i was very agro, and since i have kids and a life that has no idea but her , i couldnt bring that into our lifes , i tried but realized how hard this is going to be now, i know at least i need a month to do the worst of it maybe more maybe less after reading all that i couyld find , i went to my doctor (suboxone dealer ) and he adusted me , gave me some new stuff , i feel so stuck , becaus eafter long term suboxne u will loose energy and all desires go away, all i mean all , u cant fucus and just dont want to do anything
    sorry my spelling suks , my point is , they should warn u when u start suboxone yes its great u get your life back , your family thinks hey hes in treament , he pees in a cup,, yeah!!!! ,, um not!, its just a new addiction and in my opinion worse than a 500 dollar a day crack habit after one year, thats the worse ive ever been , but still it does save your life and i agree with brian it does slow things down and temperarly make all good , its just what it does to u after long term they dont warn u about , if i would of known how hard suboxone would of been to get off i would of tried my chances of getting on coke again or dirnking for awhile , i think it would be easier than this ,, i failed time one , but now im getting out a razor blade and cutting the films down and will try a trickle down over time , im already at such a small dose i thought it would be easier than that , its basically going to take balls of steal, and time , i have the balls and desire , but the time thing suks , i feel like i have no choice to stay on it until i can someghow take a long time off , so things that happend to me , remeber and tell your partner taht u r going to be a dick when u stop, taht u wont know u r thiinking gooofy but trust me u do, so warn them , it will a major struggel for them too, its not fun,also im a true believer in the weed , god made it so it has to be good,
    andd it helps , i strted eating subox again and im still in withdrawls after two days like i broke something trying to stop , but my doctor says i will be fine after it get a hold again , im so sad i didnt make it, i could do pain, i could do the shits , withdrawls sucks but i could do it , its like having teh flu bad, but what i didnt know is about my mind and adhd that i have i think its made it worse because i swear i turned into a big dick and started to see shit not move but like things looked like they had gas fumes in front of them , the air looked like it was moving like a mirage , this whole thing sucks , i know i had my part in this , i know doctors had a huge part of this , but in the end its going to be upto me , i might have to let my current life go to get to safe ground and man if i ever make it i will never abuse pills again this is a living hell, i do think if u r bad hooked u should do suboxone , it will level your life and gets things back in place but make sure u reduce yopur dose overtime never stop cold , u wont make it , if u do it will suck , im going to start to reduce it over time on a rapid scale so every week im going to get smaller and smaller , until i cant cut a waifer witha razor blade , tell my doctor when its time , load up on weed , be prepared to take 4 -6 weeks off and have someone u trust to help u stay on track, and then god , i love your site it gives me hope even thou i failed i forsure will be back and will be that guy who has 2 years clean , energy back, for all of u who are in the battle STAY STRONG!!!!!!!
    ima strong guy , and it kicked my ass , i stayed on it too long thinking i was in treatment , its crazy but i hate it but it saved me , i would eat it forever if it didnt have all the fucking side effects , i want me back, thank u to most all of you , i will check on this site and please ., even if u fail post everything , because we all want to know whats going to happen , how long will it take , what will help, this is a great site , bad ass man , i promise i will be on here as a suceess instead of failer , not eevryone will make it the first time , i know u all want to stop , im one of u, i hope we all make it , and shit someone tell all doctors to chill!!!!!!! seriously they are turning allot of good peopel into addicts becaus eof a injury or money , stay strong everyone !!
23. samson says:

    November 3, 2011 at 9:27 am

    Ok so i see great taper threads all over and most are right, but i dont see many people saying EXERCISE!!!!!!!!!!!! doing this a month before jumping 3 days a week will make EVERYTHING better. Exercise releases endorphins, the same shit as when you take opiates. this will make your body ramp up natural levels 10x faster then just relaxing. ive wd multiple times and this last time I had been lifting weights a month before and it literally reduced my WD AND PAWS time by almost 50%!!! and the actual wd was much less painful and sleep was waaaaaaay better and i have severe insomnia bf the opiates. IT WONT BE FUN, IT WONT BE EASY, BUT IM TELLING YOU ITS 1000% BETTER THEN SITTING AROUND, IT WILL BE HARDER BUT YOULL FEEL NORMAL MUCH MUCH FASTER!! and the faster you can feel better, the better chance of no relapse, Good luck all
24. Crystal says:

    October 31, 2011 at 2:12 pm

    I’ve been off of suboxone for 2 mths. Although I’m not going thru “withdrawls” I have no energy what so ever! I don’t feel like cleaning (who does) or really anything. I make myself work luckily I can work when I want. But when I do, I’m exhausted! My body has no strength. I’ve gained like 15 lbs. When will I feel like a human again? With that being said I don’t crave opiates anymore. My husband always has them cause he’s a chronic kidney stone producer. But it doesn’t bother me. If you know when I might feel like a human again! That would be great! Thanks so much! Congrats on your 2 yrs!
    Crystal
25. Duffy says:

    October 28, 2011 at 8:19 pm

    I’ve been off suboxone for 10 days my ambien scrip is up and my klonopin is going way to first. I dream of the the needle and i cannot stop the fantasy of feeling that warmth once again. I’ve been a new person since i’ve been on sbxne but the moment i thought i could stop, the old familiar itch has returned. I have a new life of joy and family and i feel it slipping away. Drinking has been my only oasis and depression my closest companion. The darkness within has lied dormant for these last 3 years while on the orange messiah. Now the road ahead is rocky and fearfully dark. Is this temporary or am i doomed to repeat my sins. Those that only Dante’ could put to prose.
26. kp says:

    October 25, 2011 at 7:03 pm

    can some of you tell me: my son was on heroin and pills opiates, then he was doing suboxone he would buy on the street, finally he agreed to go to a rehab and now he is there, but they have him on 7 diff meds to help with anxiety mood stabalizers they won’t give him suboxone because they don’t believe in it, he says he would be better off just coming out and doing suboxone long term that it would be better than all the other f=drugs, i say he is still in withdrawels, it has been about 12 days now and he would be better off getting off it all, does anyone have any thoughts on this? thanks.
27. Paul- update says:

    October 21, 2011 at 11:20 am

    I have been free for 6 weeks and feel completely normal except for sleep patterns. At 11 at night, my body says its time to start a new day. I covered all the clocks in the room to alleviate the anxiety. I sleep 5-6 hours a night getting up once or twice. I have been told by an anesthesiologist it will probably take another month or so for my brain to resume normal sleep patterns. Sleeping pills did not help much so I rather not take anything. It’s OK and I am looking forward to the New Year!!
28. Chip says:

    October 19, 2011 at 11:44 pm

    I just found this website the other day and I must say it is nice to know that there are others out in the world dealing with the same issues i have been dealing with over the last few years. Thursday will make 3 weeks since I stopped taking the subs. Ive been on them for 2 years and I have had enough of not being able to manage them and always running out and getting sick from the withdrawals! I started out just like everyone else going from percocets all the way up to oxycoton 80mg. I was prescribed them for back pain but I’ve always had an addictive personality and started abusing them too. Put a lot of strain on my relationships and my work and everyday life. Finally had enough and got on suboxone but that became a problem for me too and I’m just fed up with it all! I’d rather real with the back pain!
    I’m still not a hundred percent and I know it will probably take a few more weeks to get better but I’m determined to succeed! I’m gonna be a father in February and its time to straighten up and clear my head! This has been by far one of the hardest things I’ve ever done but as long as you have a reason to get clean then you will succeed! For anyone who is going through this your not alone and it does get better. Just hang in there and look towards a better and brighter future! Thank God I’m off the crap and for good!
29. Brian_Taper says:

    October 19, 2011 at 1:33 am

    Dr. Junig,…. Jeff, thanks for taking the time to post here, I really appreciate it. I got your e-mail also and I’ll call or e-mail you tomorrow.

    Everyone, I tell it as it is… Dr. Junigs site (suboxonetalkzone.com) has a ton of straight to the point info…none of that bullshit run around stuff. Check it out. Dr. Junig thinks outside the box and understands all of our situations.

    Thanks again Jeff.

    Brian
    Suboxonetaper.com
    info@suboxonetaper.com
30. Jenny NYC says:

    October 18, 2011 at 9:36 am

    It’s very hard for me to find online someone who had been on Suboxone as long as me and actually completed getting off it. You are the first one. I was on it for 3 years. I wanted to know how long it takes to sleep again. I don’t know if it is relatively the same for everyone or if it depends on the total amount of years of opiate use. In total I was on opiates 6 years.
    My last dose, I took 4 weeks ago! That sentance looks too easy. It was not easy. I usually research things but this, I did not want to know. I knew it would be agony.
    But once the peak of agony was over, I looked some stuff up in a desperate search to find someone say that it was almost over. The people that make it lie. They lie so bad. They say it takes a few days.
    Today I came on her looking again because I can’t sleep. Of course absolutely nothing worked in the first few weeks to get me to sleep for more that 5-20 minutes at a time. On day 8 I took waaay too much Xanax and still would not sleep and was taken to the E.R.
    That was then though. On day 21 I was well enough to make it to my doctor’s office. I was still in withdrawal but it was tapering off and I felt like I was perpetually coming off of coke, because I hadn’t slept in 3 weeks. So he gave me 30 clonodine with a refill and 30 ambien with a refill. Problem is, that was 6 days ago and I only have enough left for tonight.
    Don’t get me wrong, it IS getting better, it’s just so slow. Every night is a little better, but get this. I wake up about every 2-3 hours (last week when i got the pills it was every hour!!) and have to take another ambien. I wake up wide awake with energy, but tired and cracked out tat the same time. If i’m still staring at the ceiling an hour later i take another ambien and a clonidine. 2 hours later, repeat. The first night i took (like i said, not all at once, one at a time) 7 ambiens and 4 clonidines – last night, only 4 ambiens and 2 clonidines.
    I got my answer that it takes a few months to feel myself again… that’s what i figured. I want to know when I’ll sleep again though… but I know the answer to that. Cause every day it gets better, so maybe in 2 weeks I’ll sleep normal.

    My insurance, Fidelis, a Medicaid plan, refused to let me into a detox. When I o.d.ed on xanax, on day 8, (the worst day) the director of the detox of that hospital wouldn’t approve me either unless i took methadone and started all over.
    My good friend took me in from day 1, cause he has detoxed alone off heroin twice, and he took care of me for 2 and a half weeks. I was lucky, he was on vacation. He made sure I drank water, tried to get me to eat food, and most importantly, was right at my side when I went into withdrawal fits. He didn’t sleep either. You can’t sleep with someone moaning in the same apartment.
    If you’re thinking of doing this, don’t put yourself through it more than once because it’s torture and it takes a long time. I can’t think of a better way than mine, but not everybody has such a good friend. Do it once and don’t give up. Everyday I told myself that I got this far, I can make it farther.
    The fits come in spurts, half hour here, 20 minutes there, but at the height, when my friend took me to the hospital, I had been going on 3 hours of a non-stop kicking anxiety fit. It lasted another 2 hours before I fell asleep from exhaustion in the E.R. and woke up only 4 hours later even after 15 mg of xanax.
    I’m sorry if I’m scaring you out of doing this. Not my intention. This is the truth though. It’s hard to find. You have to know what to expect because you don’t want to do it twice. I wouldn’t have made it withought my friend.
31. marina says:

    October 15, 2011 at 4:45 pm

    im on day 5 of no subutex, i came off cause im 3 months pregnant, my dr suggested i not go off during my pregnancy but i did it took abou t 4 weeks from 16mg to 0..i feell like shit i am severly depressed and have 0 energy i also have a 2 and 3 yr old and i cant even play w them..when will this end ??I cant afford to feel this way?
32. Jeff 'the subox doc' says:

    October 15, 2011 at 4:18 pm

    Hi Brian,

    I’m so glad to hear ‘the rest of the story.’ The last we talked was a couple years ago, I think, and you were still struggling. I really appreciate the honesty in your story, and the way you avoided all of the typical inflammatory statements that reduce discussions to what is ‘good’ vs. what is ‘bad.’ We still get the suboxone-haters at the forum. Such opinions are bizarre, but they run deep; we even get moms writing about how bad Suboxone is, even as their sons or daughters fail treatment after treatment on a certain path to overdose.

    I particularly liked your description of being ‘stuck on pause.’ I think I’ll write a post of my own about that issue, and how I think it all comes down to personality— some people simply SHOULD stay stuck on pause, because the only alternative for them is chaos. Others– those with strong interests in things, or a constant desire to better themselves– may be best ‘off pause, on play.’ My only worry is that I was one of the latter back in the 1990′s, and I did great for 7 years– that’s a long time! Then I had a rough week when the addict in me ‘needed’ something, and it was all over so quicly– lost an entire career in 3 months.

    Is it worth 7 or 10 or 15 years of Suboxone, to avoid the risk that hit me at 7 years? Who knows.

    Brian, read my post about ‘ideal Suboxone’ at suboxonetlalkzone.com– the one about a lower-potency ceiling effect– when you get a chance.

    nice to hear you’re doing well!

    Jeff
33. Scared of unknown says:

    October 12, 2011 at 8:08 pm

    I have been on suboxone for 1 year and I have gotten down to 2mg a day and I am about to stop. Friday will be my last 2mg dose and by Sunday I am expecting the shit to hit the fan. I am scared of failing. I remember all to well of the drive to get “that feeling”…un-certain of life after the suboxone scares me. I do feel like myself again on it, even though everytime I take it I wonder if I will have the “feeling” again that the oxy gave me :( I think that I will make it, but again I am scared. I have my husband that supports me, but I am sure he doesn’t really understand what it feels like to be scared to fail at something that takes a hold of your life. I have never posted a thread and hopefully someone can relate and give me some advice. ONLY POSITIVE PLEASE!!
34. Rissa Leigh says:

    October 6, 2011 at 10:39 am

    i was hooked on hydros for 4 years because i have horrible panic disorder. so i went on suboxone for 5 years. today is my 5th day off of suboxone and i dont have any w/d symptoms physically they are all emotional …i feel sad :( the xanax takes the edge off a bit… im glad i found this site i thought i was going insaine all alone :/
35. Carolyn says:

    October 3, 2011 at 1:39 pm

    Thanks for this site. It’s so hard to find positive feedback on getting off of Suboxone. I find that the lower I go the more depressed I feel. Will this mental state get better and when?
36. Billy bob thornton says:

    October 3, 2011 at 11:15 am

    I was an oxycontin addict for probably 2 years. Pretty serious habit cuz i had unlimited access to them and they were free I was taking 160MG’s in one sitting every day. At the end of it i just had enough. my whole life was deteriorating, school, family, work, girlfriend, EVERYTHING. I started taking suboxone thinking it was a good solution to being dumb high on opiates all day everyday..WRONG. you might not be getting high off suboxone but its an EXTREMELY powerful drug that sticks in your brain like glue and i took it for 3 years not knowing this. Its taken me a month and a week just to be able to wake up in the morning and not want to die. The diarhrea, restless legs, loss of appetite and sleep deprivation are prolly the most discouraging aspects of it all tho because they WILL test ur mental toughness and determination. IDK why we give this drug in the long term…if i had even an inkling of how bad it’d be to get off suboxone i woulda never touched it.. REAL S&*T. i never had bad withdrawl even from the ridiculous amt of oxy’s i was putting in my system. It has a good medical purpose and that purpose is for a short 3-4 day detox off of opiates..NOTHING MORE. F*(Ck all these dumb A$$ doctors that say ur imagining it when u try to get off. its as real as you or me. I think of kicking as like having to run through a long, dark, empty lonely cave. The only thing is that with long term suboxone use the cave is f’ing huge HUGE and its an epicly long, lonely freaking run. Im sorry if this scares some of you but honestly you should be scared would you rather i lie like the doctors and tell u it’l all be fine to find its definitely NOT? but i will tell you what helped me..#1 is determination and self control, if you dont have it i’m sorry but ur prolly not gona make it and ull be on subox ur whole life, second weed, weed really really helped me get an appetite and helped me relax and sleep, its not for everyone but it was for me. Showers, masterbation, multivitamins, exercise and WATER (also listening to music helped me). Load up on all these as they all do a small part to help. (also if you have heartburn a lot TAKE PREVACID OR PRILOSEC NOT Zantac or tums, i suspect zantac somehow makes the stomach problems worse during wD) I read another post about someone who was starting to laugh about dumb jokes again n living life with passion again like they did before addiction and thats EXACTLY what im starting to feel like. I know i wont be fully back to my normal self again for another 2-3 months but ive come too far to go back now and theres no doubt im through the worst and i will beat it. I did it myself because i have no insurance and i was ready, but it takes a special person to do what i did, if you’ve been on subox for over a year then get into a rehab for a month and come out ready to stay sober. either that or if you’re SURE u have the mental toughness of a navy seal do what i did (which requires u have no obligations IE job, school, etc. for 4 weeks and have money/family to sustain urself during this time). Ultimately we’re all family weather we like it or not. everyone reading this is family so i truely hope if ur reading this you heed what i said and however you can, get back to the REAL you it is possible.
37. Paul- final post says:

    October 1, 2011 at 12:55 pm

    Jon it is different for everyone. I have been off for 17 days and am feeling almost perfect. Slight headaches, but nothing the occasional aspirin can’t handle. Read the positive posts and disregard the ones you feel are negative. It will and does get better. I finally am sleeping at night. When I took a shower this morning I noticed the temp was a lot less than the previous week when I thought it was barely hot.

    IT WILL PASS AND YOU WILL BE WELL!!!!
38. Sheila says:

    September 28, 2011 at 8:41 am

    Thank you Brian, I am so tired of hearing I can’t get off or some other BS that goes along with addiction.
    Look I am on my 61 day of being off suboxone, i was on them for 5 years. Do I struggle with some days ? YES, do I have triggers and have to way my options everday YES. But there is not a day that goes by that I dont thank God for giving me the strength and courage to change.

    So heres what I did I tapered down for 3 months. Went into detox for 5 days. Coming out they give you meds to atleast get you through the worst of it. Bottom line, is getting completely clean what you want? For me it was! At first I was going to NA meetings 5 times a week. I am down to 3 now, being around people who encourage and have been through what your going through is SO IMPORTANT.
    LOOK, YOU NEVER HAVE TO GO THROUGH THIS AGAIN, YOU NEVER HAVE TO FEEL THIS SICK AGAIN. ITS ALL ABOUT CHOICES. ” You can do it, you deserve it”.
39. jon says:

    September 27, 2011 at 1:43 pm

    I have been on subs for almost 3 years and during that time I have completely turned my life around. I often forget that I was ever even an opiate addict because I have felt normal for so long. But now it is time to quit subs because they are simply too expensive and since I must quit at some point, the sooner the better. Looking for support online because I am currently tappering off the subs and I found this site. Great website man, it helps just to read about other peeps in the same situation. However, I wish everyone would stop saying “oh its horrible and it takes 3 months”. Even if it does take that long dont say it I mean geez, why scare people like me who havnt done it yet. Thats just mean. Lets encourage each other a lil more.
40. Ed says:

    September 27, 2011 at 5:38 am

    I’m a heroin addict. I was on suboxine for 11 month. Ive been off of the suboxine for 2 weeks and I can’t sleep. I’ve been up for days. Does anyone know how long it last?
41. sue says:

    September 26, 2011 at 9:31 pm

    This message if for Jerry, I hear you on coming of the suboxone. I have been on oxys, ran to the methdone (A bad dicision) I made it to 80 mg and was on this for 3 years. I also couldn’t believe what my life had become. Im a junkie, waiting in that line to get your sip. Anyway I have been fighting this addiction for over 8 years now. I can finally say I have let this drug take over way to much of my life and Im done. I have slipped up and then got on suboxone, 8 mg for 3years. I am also on 1 mg of Klopin for my anxiety, Which I do believe I create. I have been in detox 5 times (a waste of my insurance money) to be there 5 days and back on subs that was last year, now I am ready I and sick of being sick and shitty everytime I ran out. Today I have been off my subs for 2 1/2 weeks and I didn’t even tapper I just stopped and did take 5 days of methone 10 mg and then lowered to lortab. I am achy and can’t sleep at night,my stomach is in constant notes always, but for the most part when I pulled myselft out of bed and soak in a hot bath the backpains and leg pains start to go away, I was suppose to go to a detox center ( I was also scared to death of failing yet another treatment) I have alot of support from my chruch and family, my church is paying for the cost of 60 day inpatient. If you feel you may hurt yourself or something elso, try a medical detox and then a long term inpatient treatment facility because getting to the root of why u are using in the first place is very helpful and after so many failed detox I knew I needed to be locked away. I a lucky I have the chuch to back my in my time of need. It;s very expensive for both detox and inpatient. Depending on your money situation look a safe place to go, the ER may not help much but if you are in need of medical help usually a psych hospital will help with the detox and make you more comfortable.

    Thanks for all the posts I was really thinking that I would never get my energy back but reading this really helped.

    One more thing and its also for personal experience, it sucks not to have energy, Iknow but taking adderal isn’t a good idea, I had really bad time with that crap also, the best this to do is let your body heal,

Ok, well, if this site has helped you out, donations are greatfully welcome. Thanks, Brian