Comments on: Life After Suboxone

By: Joe

Joe — Wed, 01 Sep 2010 20:35:13 +0000

I have been taking suboxone regularly for 7 days now in order to get off of oxycodone. I am at 1 mg a day and want to jump off by day 10(which is 2 more days of taking 1mg. Will I have any withdrawals?

By: Tcg

Tcg — Mon, 30 Aug 2010 03:22:39 +0000

The million dollar question- will I ever get off suboxone? That question plagued my mind every day. I was a slave to heroin, then I became a slave to suboxone. I would like to share my experience, and offer some hope to others who have the same issue. I was a heavy heroin user for 10 years. A few years back I had been on suboxone a couple times, but always went back to the dope. My parents sent me to rehab 3 times, but I always relapsed. Last November, I decided that I had enough. I wanted to reclaim my life once & for all–my way (no treatment centers & rehabs). I found a doctor who put me on 8mg 3 times a day– I felt great. The 1st month was a little rough– not because I was sick, I just needed to get over the fact that I wasn’t using needles anymore– but, I was so grateful to be feeling good that I didn’t really give a shit. I have been off suboxone for 3 weeks now– I am FREE. Each passing day, my energy is being restored a little at a time. I have never felt such a sense of success and accomplishment in my whole life– I NEVER thought that I’d ever be off suboxone– and now I am. My personal advice– take your time, but set a goal. I tapered so slowly– I dropped my dose by .25mg on schedule every 4 weeks (actually, I got off before I was supposed to). When I got down to2mg a day, I noticed that I would feel a little tired, restless and anxious the 1st 3 days or so, then I’d be okay– nothing terrible. Then after a month, I decided to jump off– big mistake. I thought I was okay– until the 3rd day– fuck my life– my legs wouldn’t stop, my stomach cramps killed me and I was exhausted, but I couldn’t sleep. I couldn’t take it anymore, so I gave in and took 2mg of suboxone and I felt better. Then my mind got the better of me, thoughts of “will I have to be on this for the rest of my life?” were making me crazy. I didn’t want to rely on a substance to make me function– I began to panic. Then I decided that I would taper more slowly– 2 mg was too high a dose for me to stop suboxone, so I continued my taper as I had planned. I finally got down to .25mg daily (I was basically putting a dust particle under my tounge (trying to split a 1/4 of a 2mg pill in half isn’t easy). Finally– 3 weeks ago I decided to stop and I have never looked back. The first week was a little rough– but not nearly as bad as any detox that I had ever suffered. I was tired, a little restless at night (but I was able to sleep most of the night– what a miracle). Xanax helped, I only used 25 mg on the more restless nights (I used a total of 3 xanax the 1st week, and none after that. Anyway, the 1st week I felt a little crampy in my stomach and wasn’t too hungry, and I was tired– but it wasn’t that bad– I just kept telling myself that these were typical cold symptoms with a side of anxiety and that it would be over soon. I felt that I had come this far, and if I took suboxone I would just be starting over & prolonging the inevitable. I stayed as positive as my head would allow me, and took it a day at a time. Each day that I was suboxone free I would write “CLEAN” on my calandar proudly– it was like a little reward system. It felt good to see an accumulation of sevral “CLEAN” days (I never thought I’d ever have a single day without suboxone) I’m so grateful for suboxone because it allowed me to put the pieces of my life back together– I was learning to live “normally” again, so it served it’s purpose. But, I didn’t want to be controlled by a substance anymore either, so I did what worked for me, and today I don’t need suboxone to function. My advice– take your time, set a goal, and do your best to follow it. Your mind is very powerful, if you look at the situation with the glass half full it helps. I stayed positive, and stuck to my plan– even if it meant stupid notes on my calander and buying myself something that I wanted for a long time as a reward each week that I was suboxone free, and learning to meditate. The meditation helped ALOT. I needed to quiet my mind and my body– it helped. Best of luck to everyone– If I could do it anyone can.

By: Chuck3

Chuck3 — Wed, 04 Aug 2010 23:12:54 +0000

I appreciate you taking the time to share yer experience and really lay it out there. I have read way too many horror-story posts by ppl in their first week of WD’s (with no follow-up post later), and ppl regurgitating all kinds of stuff about PAWS after long-term sub use. Hearing yer story has made me feel more hopeful. I know tho that experiences will vary and I do expect to pay somehow.

As seems to be the usual case, my Doctor thinks it shouldn’t be too big deal to taper down to nothing in the span of a few weeks. (I wonder how much the mind has to do with our WD’s tho in how the WD experience is as good or bad as we expect it to be?) I made a half-ass attempt to taper off a few months ago, but had some difficulty (Waaah!) around 3mg and so decided to go back up to 6mg. The time just wasn’t right. I’ve even looked into Ibogaine, but it doesn’t seem to be so good for a long-acting opiate like Sub.

I have been on sub for 3 years and started off at 24mg. I have made the decision to make another go at tapering down. I’m at 5mg now and plan on taking it real slow.

Thanks for posting 2 1/2 years later to let us kno what it was like for you.

By: Rachel

Rachel — Tue, 03 Aug 2010 16:32:12 +0000

To the above question: It’s really up to you, what you are mentally ready for. If you are ready to let go of the crutch then jump off and get it over with. Once you get that low, you can’t wean much more. And once I’d gotten myself that low, I felt like I was in a low state of withdrawal all the time…I actually went back up because it was driving me nuts. I wasn’t mentally ready at that time to jump off. It’s up to you when you are ready for the jump…eventually you have to just do it. Only you know when that time is…but the longer you are on suboxone the harder it seems to be to get off for good.

Thanks for sharing the info. I wish I had read something like this before Idecided I was sick of being a slave to suboxone. I had no idea how long the detox was going to drag on for. Suboxone was helpful because it kept me off painkillers (OC was my drug of choice…when I could find it…otherwise any opiate I could find). But the problem was that almost 3 years later I was still on suboxone. I had tried to detox off it twice & both times I went back to a dr. scared. Finally, I was just one day tired of it. I had just left my suboxone drs appointment where he had unexpectedly raised the already pricey appointments. And with a full script, I just decided I was sick of being a slave to it. So for the next 7 days, I writhed around with a bottle of suboxone next to the bed. My boyfriend (still on suboxone) thought I was nuts. But having it there made me feel more confident. I could stop it when necessary. The thing is….I had NO idea it was going to take much longer than 7 days to get through withdraws. The doctors have no clue!!!! I’d say on day 11 I finally started seeing a some light. I could finally focus & had a few positive thoughts…like I can do this. Day 21 I finally drove myself to the library, all by myself, and got on some forums to figure out what the helll had happened. It was reassuring to know what I was experiencing was normal. If I had known what to expect it would have been easier. It’s now day 33. My energy has finally come back. And I can think straight…pretty much through it. Still feel heavy in the morning and skin sensitivity is still there. But I don’t have to wake up every morning & take suboxone to get out of bed. I don’t have to be scared because I can’t afford the pricey medication or the even more pricey dr appointments.

By: Missi

Missi — Mon, 26 Jul 2010 16:24:24 +0000

OMG! I asked (and am still asking) myself the same questions you did. After taking it for three years, I did a slow taper. I’m in day 5 and feel so tired. My legs bother me some and I have no appetite, but the worst thing is the fatigue and lethargy. I have to go back to work in three weeks and I’m a little scared because I have a job that requires energy and creativity, none of which I have now.

However, I don’t regret taking suboxone. I had lost my job, and was on the verge of losing my children. With the help of a 12-Step program (yes, I know…many 12 steppers from on this but it worked for me) and suboxone I got my life back and was able to become a functional memeber of society again.

By: jaymi adams

jaymi adams — Mon, 05 Jul 2010 18:59:43 +0000

I want 2get off just can’t get the sense of normalcy I need HELP cuz iam more than 32mg at times & I don’t want to but I just can’t seem to stop so if you can help with any words of wisdom!thanks

By: cyndi

cyndi — Sun, 04 Jul 2010 18:54:22 +0000

Hi, I need some good advice. Seems like I keep getting drastically different answers. I have been on Suboxone for a month started at 8mg. I have dropped every three days to a week a half a dose. I’m at .5mg. Day three my stomach bothered me but no biggie. I’m due for another drop Wednesday. Do I drop to .25? Or just jump off?

By: Jeff

Jeff — Wed, 30 Jun 2010 17:37:53 +0000

I’m on day 8 off of subs after being on them for about a year . I still get goosebumps a bit and sleeping hasn’t happened much at all yet, but I have had spurts of happiness where I feel like my old self again yesterday and today. Anxiety is still pretty high as well (I think lack of sleep doesn’t help this factor.)

It’s almost like my brain wouldn’t let me be happy for a week and is now showing me what I haven’t felt in the past few years I’ve been abusing opiates. Even posting this comment is a big step for me.

There’s definitely no “Easy Way Out” when quitting any opiate or opioid, but I really do believe I have a good chance because of Suboxone. I’m not gonna say “I dont even think about opiates” because I have had some mouth watering cravings, but I know where that will lead and it’s not what I want, I think I am ready.

-Jeff

***The past few days I have been reading threads (Brian is 100% about the comments and their negative effect on the reader’s psyche), but this story is by far the most relate-able to me and has helped a lot.

By: dru

dru — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 19:31:48 +0000

I’ve been on subs for two and a half years and have beenn tapering down from 32mg per day to 1 mg every other day. I found that xanax 2mg 3x per day has made this possible. I have a high tollerance for xanax but my doctor says I can taper off of those as well (after I’ve been off suboxone for a few weeks). The biggest problem I have with sub w/d is anxiety. My Dr.’s approach to tapering off subs is to start skipping days since I’m down to 1mg. He says if you try to cut the 2mg subs into quarters it’s impossible to get an accurate dose. my next step is to skip 2 days between doses for 2 wks then three days for one week. After that i’m done. Then I have to continue the xanax untill my sub w/d is gone. I once had six years without any alcohol or drugs by attending 12 step meetings and acctually working steps. This was the happiest and most productive time in my life. As soon as my detox is over (xanax and subs) I will be going back to NA. It has been my expeirience that this is the only way to go. I stopped attending meetings about a year before my relapse. Ithought I was “cured” but this is not possible we can change our way of life and be happy and free but we will always be addicts. I’ve proven this to myself the hard way. Good luck to everyone and deffinately look into NA or AA as soon as you stop ur meds. The support in those meetings is invaluable and we cant do it alone.

By: A Friend

A Friend — Sat, 19 Jun 2010 00:43:54 +0000

My biggest fears;

1. That I will loose all the modivation that has allowed me to co back to school and get in to one of the best colleges in the country (pretty good for someone who did not pass high school).

2. That the rumors will be true and I will be really sick for a long time.

3. That I will use. I don’t have any desire to, but I don’t know how I will feel when I get off.