Comments on: Suboxone Taper 101 http://suboxonetaper.com Sun, 05 Sep 2010 19:53:33 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.1 By: Jaime http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29836 Jaime Fri, 23 Jul 2010 23:55:05 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29836 I wanted to add a few things to my previous post that I think are important to the success of anyone who attempts the taper method I wrote about... I had access to and took full advantage of the relief provided by 2 mg Xanax bars and 10 mg Ambiens throughout my entire withdrawal process as well as the 1st few days of any milestone dosage decrease during the taper process. These medications are so very important due to the fact that they provide SIGNIFICANT relief and enable you to somewhat silent your body and brain in order to sleep and just simply get through each day. If you have a doctor I suggest you ask them for Baclofen, a muscle relaxer which helps with the creepy crawlies and restless legs anytime of the day but mostly at bedtime. These symptoms were unbelievably minimal with my method anyway but not completely absent. This drug, Baclofen, is not sold on the street to my knowledge. My doctor gave it to me when I told him I had night tremors. I also took the recommended dosages of extra-strength tylenol and Ibuprofen throughout the entire withdrawal to deal with the achey legs and back. Use a heating pad or ice packs to help with minor sweats and chills. Take showers and baths whenever you feel it getting rough, this provides a surprising amount of relief. I actually fell asleep in the tub on the 3rd night after experiencing a bit of RLS when I got sleepy, luckily I woke up a few hours later before the water got too cold and my head went under. Over all I slept in 3-4 hour segments throughout each day/night whenever possible. I didn't try to force sleep I just let myself nap whenever possible (that's why I recommend taking off of work... so you can minimize stress and sleep whenever the hell you need it or feel like it). There is no such thing as Circadian Rhythm during the withdrawal process and these naps are priceless and necessary. Stomach issues were minimal but keep a bottle of pepto bismol or Immodium by your bedside just in case. It is important to stock up on any of the items I mentioned before you jump off the subs!!! Also pre-prepare meals for the week (dinner plates to heat up, microwavable meals, canned goods such as chef boyardee and soup, which I sometimes ate right out the can... YUCK... basically anything easy). Also stock up on liquids to drink (bottles of water, gatorade, electrolyte drinks, and protein shakes for when you just can't force yourself to eat). I even bought plastic forks and spoons, paper plates, and cups so I did not have to do any dishes that week. Buy 2 cartons of cigarettes if you smoke and, BY GOD ladies, DO NOT try to do this at a time of the month when you are expecting your period. That's an instant relapse if you get severe cramps like me. Please take care with the medications I mentioned and only use them when necessary and at safe dosages. Again, good luck and be safe, Jaime I wanted to add a few things to my previous post that I think are important to the success of anyone who attempts the taper method I wrote about…
I had access to and took full advantage of the relief provided by 2 mg Xanax bars and 10 mg Ambiens throughout my entire withdrawal process as well as the 1st few days of any milestone dosage decrease during the taper process. These medications are so very important due to the fact that they provide SIGNIFICANT relief and enable you to somewhat silent your body and brain in order to sleep and just simply get through each day. If you have a doctor I suggest you ask them for Baclofen, a muscle relaxer which helps with the creepy crawlies and restless legs anytime of the day but mostly at bedtime. These symptoms were unbelievably minimal with my method anyway but not completely absent. This drug, Baclofen, is not sold on the street to my knowledge. My doctor gave it to me when I told him I had night tremors. I also took the recommended dosages of extra-strength tylenol and Ibuprofen throughout the entire withdrawal to deal with the achey legs and back. Use a heating pad or ice packs to help with minor sweats and chills. Take showers and baths whenever you feel it getting rough, this provides a surprising amount of relief. I actually fell asleep in the tub on the 3rd night after experiencing a bit of RLS when I got sleepy, luckily I woke up a few hours later before the water got too cold and my head went under. Over all I slept in 3-4 hour segments throughout each day/night whenever possible. I didn’t try to force sleep I just let myself nap whenever possible (that’s why I recommend taking off of work… so you can minimize stress and sleep whenever the hell you need it or feel like it). There is no such thing as Circadian Rhythm during the withdrawal process and these naps are priceless and necessary. Stomach issues were minimal but keep a bottle of pepto bismol or Immodium by your bedside just in case. It is important to stock up on any of the items I mentioned before you jump off the subs!!! Also pre-prepare meals for the week (dinner plates to heat up, microwavable meals, canned goods such as chef boyardee and soup, which I sometimes ate right out the can… YUCK… basically anything easy). Also stock up on liquids to drink (bottles of water, gatorade, electrolyte drinks, and protein shakes for when you just can’t force yourself to eat). I even bought plastic forks and spoons, paper plates, and cups so I did not have to do any dishes that week. Buy 2 cartons of cigarettes if you smoke and, BY GOD ladies, DO NOT try to do this at a time of the month when you are expecting your period. That’s an instant relapse if you get severe cramps like me. Please take care with the medications I mentioned and only use them when necessary and at safe dosages. Again, good luck and be safe, Jaime

]]> By: Jaime http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29834 Jaime Fri, 23 Jul 2010 22:36:05 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29834 I have a great tip that helped me tremendously as I got below the 1mg portion of my taper!!! I started at 16 mg a day of sub to deal with a roxicet/OC habit and tapered my sub dose over an 8 and 1/2 month period. I just followed what my body was telling me to do and gradually started minimizing my dose once I felt ready mentally. I can't say my taper did not come completely without minor withdrawals but it was worth it to hold on to that last dose as long as I possibly could without taking my next daily dose. This enables you to jump to a lower dose more quickly, but quick = slightly uncomfortable. WELL, that said, HERE IS MY ADVICE... Using a diposable plastic syringe (without the needle or course), dilute a 2 mg piece of suboxone in 2 mL of water or just use a basic 1:1 ratio or 1:2 ratio to dilute, measure, and dispense the liquid sub mixture under your tongue. I was able to taper, quite easily, to .03 mg per day using this method, which, by the way is also a very precise method of tapering unlike breaking off chips of the sub. YES! .03 mg per day of suboxone. My taper was like clockwork due to the very precise and very small dosage decreases this method allows. Once you're at .03 mg of sub take your time deciding when the time is right to jump off and make plans for an uncomfortable, but fairly easy, withdrawal. It took me about 5-7 days (1st two days weren't bad at all) to get over the VERY subdued physical withdrawal in comparison to the much more difficult time I had jumping of at .5 mg and even .25 mg. This method also helps minimize the "I think I'm OK's" and produces a much more stable period of physical withdrawal. I would suggest taking off of work for at least a week and dedicating yourself to this task completely while also following this site's owner's advice (He is very spot on in my opinion). Though this method did make the physical withdrawal much easier, the psychological aspect is another story with a completely different timeline and experience for each individual person. Get help... it is so lonely and difficult to do on your own. This experience was the hardest of my life. It makes you feel very scared and support will help with the fear. Good luck, Jaime I have a great tip that helped me tremendously as I got below the 1mg portion of my taper!!! I started at 16 mg a day of sub to deal with a roxicet/OC habit and tapered my sub dose over an 8 and 1/2 month period. I just followed what my body was telling me to do and gradually started minimizing my dose once I felt ready mentally. I can’t say my taper did not come completely without minor withdrawals but it was worth it to hold on to that last dose as long as I possibly could without taking my next daily dose. This enables you to jump to a lower dose more quickly, but quick = slightly uncomfortable. WELL, that said, HERE IS MY ADVICE… Using a diposable plastic syringe (without the needle or course), dilute a 2 mg piece of suboxone in 2 mL of water or just use a basic 1:1 ratio or 1:2 ratio to dilute, measure, and dispense the liquid sub mixture under your tongue. I was able to taper, quite easily, to .03 mg per day using this method, which, by the way is also a very precise method of tapering unlike breaking off chips of the sub. YES! .03 mg per day of suboxone. My taper was like clockwork due to the very precise and very small dosage decreases this method allows. Once you’re at .03 mg of sub take your time deciding when the time is right to jump off and make plans for an uncomfortable, but fairly easy, withdrawal. It took me about 5-7 days (1st two days weren’t bad at all) to get over the VERY subdued physical withdrawal in comparison to the much more difficult time I had jumping of at .5 mg and even .25 mg. This method also helps minimize the “I think I’m OK’s” and produces a much more stable period of physical withdrawal. I would suggest taking off of work for at least a week and dedicating yourself to this task completely while also following this site’s owner’s advice (He is very spot on in my opinion). Though this method did make the physical withdrawal much easier, the psychological aspect is another story with a completely different timeline and experience for each individual person. Get help… it is so lonely and difficult to do on your own. This experience was the hardest of my life. It makes you feel very scared and support will help with the fear. Good luck, Jaime

]]> By: Brian_Taper http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29518 Brian_Taper Fri, 30 Apr 2010 04:16:03 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29518 Daniel, There is nothing wrong with staying on Suboxone (I think... Granted I did get off it and have stayed off it but that was my choice regarding my own personal circumstances). Seriously, you don't think I thought the exact same thing or considered the situations that you have described. I didn't start smiling really, (without putting effort into it) for probably 2 months. I mean, I did ok, I could laugh a little, joke a little, but I had to almost be self conscious about it cause I felt out of place. I know exactly what you are talking about..... (to much to cover but I just read your post again back to back)... I am good now but I'm also in my early (early) 30s...Not that I am 18 but I can still somewhat bounce back. Im ACTIVE now but I can fully see where your decision is coming from or based on. When I say I am more active now, I do have to say that this whole ordeal, coming off of everything and the sub has taking some of the "life" out of me. Don't take this the wrong way and Im just giving you my opinion. If you kicked ass, felt better and were more active on the suboxone....then stay the course. I mean seriously, you're 50...between now the time you'll be 55... they'll come out with something that'll be like a Norton Anti Virus for people like us.... it'll clean all the bad stuff out while making us feel 18 again.... Wishfull thinking hu.... Or actually, I think there is something they came out with but we already crashed and burned on it, get my meaning. What works for you (suboxone for instance), what keeps you healthy and keeps you away from a drug that can or could depress your respitory system so much that you die (i.e. oxy, vics, percs...pain meds in general / opiates).... If you're good on the suboxone and you're happy, then roll with it. Don't take a chance at this time. Daniel,

There is nothing wrong with staying on Suboxone (I think… Granted I did get off it and have stayed off it but that was my choice regarding my own personal circumstances). Seriously, you don’t think I thought the exact same thing or considered the situations that you have described. I didn’t start smiling really, (without putting effort into it) for probably 2 months. I mean, I did ok, I could laugh a little, joke a little, but I had to almost be self conscious about it cause I felt out of place.

I know exactly what you are talking about….. (to much to cover but I just read your post again back to back)… I am good now but I’m also in my early (early) 30s…Not that I am 18 but I can still somewhat bounce back. Im ACTIVE now but I can fully see where your decision is coming from or based on. When I say I am more active now, I do have to say that this whole ordeal, coming off of everything and the sub has taking some of the “life” out of me.

Don’t take this the wrong way and Im just giving you my opinion. If you kicked ass, felt better and were more active on the suboxone….then stay the course. I mean seriously, you’re 50…between now the time you’ll be 55… they’ll come out with something that’ll be like a Norton Anti Virus for people like us…. it’ll clean all the bad stuff out while making us feel 18 again…. Wishfull thinking hu…. Or actually, I think there is something they came out with but we already crashed and burned on it, get my meaning.

What works for you (suboxone for instance), what keeps you healthy and keeps you away from a drug that can or could depress your respitory system so much that you die (i.e. oxy, vics, percs…pain meds in general / opiates)…. If you’re good on the suboxone and you’re happy, then roll with it. Don’t take a chance at this time.

]]> By: Daniel http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29468 Daniel Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:04:57 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29468 I see no one has posted since Feb. Now I am worried that this was all for naught... I hope you are still off Brian, or if you are back on- that it was simply because you wanted to get high, and not b/c the sub was kicking your ass. I see no one has posted since Feb. Now I am worried that this was all for naught… I hope you are still off Brian, or if you are back on- that it was simply because you wanted to get high, and not b/c the sub was kicking your ass.

]]> By: Daniel http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29467 Daniel Mon, 12 Apr 2010 13:03:16 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29467 Hi Brian! I hope you are being honest. I have had a tough time w/sub. I wont go into my opi history- on and off for 20 or so years, but mostly off. I had almost 10yrs off at one point. That was when I went back on and couldnt stop and went on sub August/2006. I have tried several times. It was the last time that kicked my ass. I went from about 6mg and jumped at detox. 4 weeks in detox, and another 5 at home clean. Total- 9 weeks clean, and the fog, the dizzy (exactly as you describe-to the "t") and weak etc- but the foginess, lack of motivation/ weakness. I just couldn't take it any more. I ended up going back on. I really feel bad about my self. I have two wonderful daughters that I raised by myself. They saw what I was like before I went on sub. I am but a shell of that person. BUT as you say- it does stabilize you. You are not "high" or nodding etc. You can think +/- ok. The down side of sub: typical opi side effects: zero libido, hormone change, lack of true motivation etc. So here I am- I went back on in mid Feb. I am at about 6 mg again. I have heard that taper works much better. I can deal with 14-30 days of weakness/no motivation/dizzy etc. But I was past 2 months and feeling this way. So you have given me hope. I have also taken advantage while back on sub to go to support group // .(wont mention name). That is going well. So my question, I hope you answer me. Please, I need hope- If I take my time- taper 6-4 to 3- that wont be hard getting to 3. Two may take a week of taper, but 2 is not bad. BUT 2mg is when it seems to begin. So if I do as you say, crush the tabs, and go sloooowly from 2-1.75, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0- all the way down to .25 and (assuming I can do this) stay at .25 until I feel relatively ok- relatively- then (if it is possible to taper further? great if so) then get off at .25- Am I going to go through the same deal of feeling worse and worse and worse- even at 60+ days? I am prescribed Klonopin- so I have no problem getting them. I have found that Seroquil helps greatly w/sleep. I slept well during my last detox. But do you think the taper is going to help? If not- I cannot go through that again. The zombie feeling was just too horrible. I will have to stay on for life. If so, I will likely jump with a rope around..... because I do not want to finish my life like that. I was active- super active- I am 50 now, but up until I started the opis (for 3 months) then on Sub at 47, up until then- I was scuba diving, hiking mountains, surfing, yardwork- I was in good shape. Now? I feel like a used up 60yr old that does not excercise. I NEED HOPE. I go to the Subsux website and it is filled with hellish stories, and some of them are true, if not most. But tapering may be the key to easing the length of PAWS. Hopeless in Miami and Maine (live both) Daniel- thanks everyone Hi Brian! I hope you are being honest. I have had a tough time w/sub. I wont go into my opi history- on and off for 20 or so years, but mostly off. I had almost 10yrs off at one point. That was when I went back on and couldnt stop and went on sub August/2006. I have tried several times. It was the last time that kicked my ass. I went from about 6mg and jumped at detox. 4 weeks in detox, and another 5 at home clean. Total- 9 weeks clean, and the fog, the dizzy (exactly as you describe-to the “t”) and weak etc- but the foginess, lack of motivation/ weakness. I just couldn’t take it any more.
I ended up going back on. I really feel bad about my self. I have two wonderful daughters that I raised by myself. They saw what I was like before I went on sub. I am but a shell of that person. BUT as you say- it does stabilize you. You are not “high” or nodding etc. You can think +/- ok. The down side of sub: typical opi side effects: zero libido, hormone change, lack of true motivation etc.
So here I am- I went back on in mid Feb. I am at about 6 mg again. I have heard that taper works much better.
I can deal with 14-30 days of weakness/no motivation/dizzy etc. But I was past 2 months and feeling this way. So you have given me hope. I have also taken advantage while back on sub to go to support group // .(wont mention name). That is going well.
So my question, I hope you answer me. Please, I need hope- If I take my time- taper 6-4 to 3- that wont be hard getting to 3. Two may take a week of taper, but 2 is not bad. BUT 2mg is when it seems to begin. So if I do as you say, crush the tabs, and go sloooowly from 2-1.75, 1.5, 1.25, 1.0- all the way down to .25 and (assuming I can do this) stay at .25 until I feel relatively ok- relatively- then (if it is possible to taper further? great if so) then get off at .25-
Am I going to go through the same deal of feeling worse and worse and worse- even at 60+ days?
I am prescribed Klonopin- so I have no problem getting them. I have found that Seroquil helps greatly w/sleep. I slept well during my last detox. But do you think the taper is going to help? If not- I cannot go through that again. The zombie feeling was just too horrible. I will have to stay on for life. If so, I will likely jump with a rope around….. because I do not want to finish my life like that. I was active- super active- I am 50 now, but up until I started the opis (for 3 months) then on Sub at 47, up until then- I was scuba diving, hiking mountains, surfing, yardwork- I was in good shape. Now? I feel like a used up 60yr old that does not excercise.
I NEED HOPE. I go to the Subsux website and it is filled with hellish stories, and some of them are true, if not most. But tapering may be the key to easing the length of PAWS.
Hopeless in Miami and Maine (live both)
Daniel- thanks everyone

]]> By: Tcg http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29374 Tcg Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:10:10 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29374 Hey Brian, Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I'm a 32 year old female, and I'm planning to come off of suboxone once and for all. I had been on opiates (IV) for 10 years with two stints of clean time ('01 for 3 months & '03 for a year). Aside from being pissed at myself for relapsing when I was home free for a year, I am very fearful of withdrawl. In November '09, I began subs and have been tapering them from 8mg 2x/day down to 2mg 1x/day right now. I tried stopping a week ago, and did well-- UNTIL Day 3! I was able to somehow conjure up the energy to get through the day at work (no appetite, extreme fatigue, and hot/ cold sweats), but when it came time to go to bed, I was a MESS! My legs were thrashing around, and I felt like my stomach was filled with razor blades. I broke down after fighting till 3am, and took 2mg. I needed to get some sleep--I have to work, my job is physical. Then I felt depressed because I gave in and needed some medicine-- I felt like a failure. I was doing 1 mg/day,for a couple days, but had no energy at all, and still had a rough time at night unless I used a sleep aid. So, now I'm back to the 2mg a day, I have decided to not lose hope, I didn't use opiates for 2 months, it was 10 years, so I can take my time. The bottom line is that I have completely changed my life since I began the subs-- I go to work every day, work out, I can save money, I don't need to lie, cheat, manipulate or steal anymore-- I lead a very productive "normal" life (whatever normal is). I have had to re-learn behaviors, and learn how to live life without rushing home to use-- the suboxone made this possible. Now, I'm ready to be off for good. I will taper down to 1.25mg for a month (starting this Mon), then down to 1mg daily for a month, then .5mg and so on until I'm ready to jump off. It may be a bit rough for the 1st week, but I'm gonna ask for a week off at work in advance, so if it's tough, at least I don't have to deal with customers & hard work. I'm also gonna ask my doc for some xanax or ambien (just for that week or two). In the event that things get a little too unbearable, I can always take a chip off a sub, and resume my plan. It's a hell of a lot better than relapsing on opiates-- I have no desire to use them ever again! I have to keep my head up and know that I can do this, I appreciate your story, it has given me some hope. Best of luck in your continued sobriety. Sincerely, Tcg Hey Brian, Thanks so much for sharing your experience! I’m a 32 year old female, and I’m planning to come off of suboxone once and for all. I had been on opiates (IV) for 10 years with two stints of clean time (’01 for 3 months & ’03 for a year). Aside from being pissed at myself for relapsing when I was home free for a year, I am very fearful of withdrawl. In November ’09, I began subs and have been tapering them from 8mg 2x/day down to 2mg 1x/day right now. I tried stopping a week ago, and did well– UNTIL Day 3! I was able to somehow conjure up the energy to get through the day at work (no appetite, extreme fatigue, and hot/ cold sweats), but when it came time to go to bed, I was a MESS! My legs were thrashing around, and I felt like my stomach was filled with razor blades. I broke down after fighting till 3am, and took 2mg. I needed to get some sleep–I have to work, my job is physical. Then I felt depressed because I gave in and needed some medicine– I felt like a failure. I was doing 1 mg/day,for a couple days, but had no energy at all, and still had a rough time at night unless I used a sleep aid. So, now I’m back to the 2mg a day, I have decided to not lose hope, I didn’t use opiates for 2 months, it was 10 years, so I can take my time. The bottom line is that I have completely changed my life since I began the subs– I go to work every day, work out, I can save money, I don’t need to lie, cheat, manipulate or steal anymore– I lead a very productive “normal” life (whatever normal is). I have had to re-learn behaviors, and learn how to live life without rushing home to use– the suboxone made this possible. Now, I’m ready to be off for good. I will taper down to 1.25mg for a month (starting this Mon), then down to 1mg daily for a month, then .5mg and so on until I’m ready to jump off. It may be a bit rough for the 1st week, but I’m gonna ask for a week off at work in advance, so if it’s tough, at least I don’t have to deal with customers & hard work. I’m also gonna ask my doc for some xanax or ambien (just for that week or two). In the event that things get a little too unbearable, I can always take a chip off a sub, and resume my plan. It’s a hell of a lot better than relapsing on opiates– I have no desire to use them ever again! I have to keep my head up and know that I can do this, I appreciate your story, it has given me some hope. Best of luck in your continued sobriety.
Sincerely,
Tcg

]]> By: T.R Long http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29364 T.R Long Sat, 06 Feb 2010 21:12:40 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29364 After using dope for nearly 3 years with intermittent bouts of clean time, including a year in a program, I reluctantly went on Methadone. I got off the meth waaay too quick. I thought a month would be enough time to taper from 85mg to 0mg ! WTF was I thinking. I couldn't deal with the prolonged withdrawal that methadone produces. Horrible. I didn't sleep for 23 days, at all. Feeling like I had lost my mind I had a great plan of catching a dope habit long enough for my body to "forget" about needing methadone. I tried quitting after a month of running & still the withdrawal never ended. So I went back to dope for another 7 months. I got clean for 30 days, all of which sucked physically & opted for another "easy way out". Suboxone. I have been on 8mg for 5 months. I needed to know how I would feel if I didn't take my dose. It seemed worse than coming off dope. I threw up, which I never did coming off of dope. I have 35 8mg pills left & I want to taper to 0mg. Any suggestions? I know that no matter how I do it, it will be uncomfortable. I just don't want it to be like kicking the other 2 evils, b/c then whats the fucking point. I am considering to immediately go down to 4mg for a month. Which would leave me with 20 pills left. After that I am not sure...I will figure it out, but any suggestions would be appreciated..Thanks... - T.R After using dope for nearly 3 years with intermittent bouts of clean time, including a year in a program, I reluctantly went on Methadone. I got off the meth waaay too quick. I thought a month would be enough time to taper from 85mg to 0mg ! WTF was I thinking. I couldn’t deal with the prolonged withdrawal that methadone produces. Horrible. I didn’t sleep for 23 days, at all. Feeling like I had lost my mind I had a great plan of catching a dope habit long enough for my body to “forget” about needing methadone. I tried quitting after a month of running & still the withdrawal never ended. So I went back to dope for another 7 months. I got clean for 30 days, all of which sucked physically & opted for another “easy way out”. Suboxone. I have been on 8mg for 5 months. I needed to know how I would feel if I didn’t take my dose. It seemed worse than coming off dope. I threw up, which I never did coming off of dope. I have 35 8mg pills left & I want to taper to 0mg. Any suggestions? I know that no matter how I do it, it will be uncomfortable. I just don’t want it to be like kicking the other 2 evils, b/c then whats the fucking point. I am considering to immediately go down to 4mg for a month. Which would leave me with 20 pills left. After that I am not sure…I will figure it out, but any suggestions would be appreciated..Thanks… – T.R

]]> By: keith http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-29225 keith Sun, 06 Dec 2009 18:57:42 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-29225 all opiates are the devil i hate being on them all opiates are the devil i hate being on them

]]> By: Kelly http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-20424 Kelly Sat, 17 Oct 2009 23:01:51 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-20424 I reasearched/googled "Suboxone Taper" because I have been on Suboxone for one year now, after a long 9 years of hard opiate dependency. I was wanting to read up on the taper and came across Brian's personal experience with Suboxone Taper. This was really good for me to read- I've been thinking of when and how I'm going to start the process of tapering. And i now know that it really is possible and there is HOPE!!! Thanks to all the ppl who made remarks and posts their experiances. -Kelly S. I reasearched/googled “Suboxone Taper” because I have been on Suboxone for one year now, after a long 9 years of hard opiate dependency. I was wanting to read up on the taper and came across Brian’s personal experience with Suboxone Taper. This was really good for me to read- I’ve been thinking of when and how I’m going to start the process of tapering. And i now know that it really is possible and there is HOPE!!!
Thanks to all the ppl who made remarks and posts their experiances.
-Kelly S.

]]> By: Rich http://suboxonetaper.com/suboxone-taper-101/comment-page-1/#comment-10237 Rich Mon, 21 Sep 2009 15:23:41 +0000 http://suboxonetaper.com/?page_id=48#comment-10237 This article is a fantastic find. You have done a great service and in this case have really given me more faith I can get thru and done with subox. 1994 - snapped metacarpals 4&5 in half, bones shoved up into wrist. my accounts of post-cast pain were answered with cold-turkey from 30 mg/day vicodin ("that'll teach him!!"). 1996 - complaints of spreading pain up into elbow and visible atrophy. surgery to re-break, scrape, and pin&screw bones. 1998 - surgery to remove pins. post-surgical pain was EXTREME. I kept describing it felt like a pin had been left behind, something was stabbing. surgeon enraged by my (101% true) complaints and requests for opiates. NEW DIAGNOSIS: RSD Local pain-management "wizard" treated me like street addict, sent me for x-rays. whattya know, radiologist finds still-fractured metacarpal. 2000 - surgeon's partner immediately sees reason for one more surgery..a fusion.....I COLD TURKEY from years of 125mcg/48 hr. duragesic to beat surgery deadline by 30 days. that withdrawal was a solid month, wherein I also got addicted to librium. Surgery: re-break, scrape, plate&screw for FUSION. I agree to trade power grip and wrist-bend for pain-free life. He provides Tylenol3 only. Post-surgery pain @ 45 days is 300% WORSE. Surgeon's answer: "you're gonna have to get off the painkillers"....yes, he's marked me as "addict" and therefore refuses further treatment. I was fired. Strange thing- I was told the surgery would take away the bending of my wrist, that it would be a rigid structure. Curiously, I can bend my wrist 90 degrees. NO SURGEON will discuss this with me.....I am asking only if it is a broken fix and possibly the reason for pain? HOWEVER: my primary care knew I was speaking truth and promised to keep me comfortable as long as I was proactive in seeking any non-narcotic solution. I got to a daily max of 960mg oxycodone/day with 12mg xanax/day to help with anxiety, and pain is pushing me toward suicide. Acupuncture restores temp and color to my gray/purple/freezing hand. SUDDENLY, another doc informs me oxycodone is INCREASING my pain. AT this point, I'm HAPPY to hear that- it's a real reason to quit chasing tolerance. I attempt to titrate. Due to "oversight" by my doc's ass-istant, Aug 2, 2007 I took my last doses of everything, slammed into cold turkey, and had to wait a week for a bed to open in the ONLY rehab hospital here that can or will treat benzo withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal is the worst thing ya can go thru, and xanax withdrawal 100 times worse than THAT. Been on Suboxone since August 07- gone from 24mg/day to a now-easy 8, and had a perfect record at the rehab- like honor roll :). BY the way- the rehab nurse got me to test prozac to see how my pain reacted. Were I a "purposeful" addict, I would not have reported the miracle of nearly TOTAL elimination of my pain! NO MORE OPIATES was the best possible future. I owe that nurse. I stayed on prozac a bit over a year. when i stopped, still NO PAIN! There is structural pain, but not random stabbin NERVE pain. I left nothing but a trail of perfect credibility. Baltimore/Annapolis is still a small town. I tried cold-turkey from 8mg/day 2 weeks ago. By Day 6 the crawling was too intense. I was BEGGING for a muscle relaxer (Soma), saying that I was SO close to the finish line.....I was refused. The same doc who watched me fulfill every promise to get off the oxy, whose mistake caused me to do the vertical plummet from 800/day oxy and 12/day xanax now refused me soma to help me get thru the last/worst part of my effort to get subox done and gone. I called a friend from rehab group who came to my rescue with a couple 8mg to help me get back to "functional", and I've stuck at 4mg twice a day. However....the doc I'm working with to titrate me from subox keeps pushing me UP and I am risking non-compliancy by refusing to increase. I suspect exploitation in the community....extremely expensive fees and no-insurance options.....I have to pay $250 initial and $100 a week JUST for the paper scrip. I was on the 30-day subox supply but now with new doc it's 7 days. I'm in the WRONG end of that business. THANKS for making this available and congratulations on your victories :) This article is a fantastic find. You have done a great service and in this case have really given me more faith I can get thru and done with subox.

1994 – snapped metacarpals 4&5 in half, bones shoved up into wrist. my accounts of post-cast pain were answered with cold-turkey from 30 mg/day vicodin (“that’ll teach him!!”).

1996 – complaints of spreading pain up into elbow and visible atrophy.
surgery to re-break, scrape, and pin&screw bones.

1998 – surgery to remove pins. post-surgical pain was EXTREME. I kept describing it felt like a pin had been left behind, something was stabbing. surgeon enraged by my (101% true) complaints and requests for opiates.
NEW DIAGNOSIS: RSD
Local pain-management “wizard” treated me like street addict, sent me for x-rays. whattya know, radiologist finds still-fractured metacarpal.
2000 – surgeon’s partner immediately sees reason for one more surgery..a fusion…..I COLD TURKEY from years of 125mcg/48 hr. duragesic to beat surgery deadline by 30 days. that withdrawal was a solid month, wherein I also got addicted to librium.
Surgery: re-break, scrape, plate&screw for FUSION. I agree to trade power grip and wrist-bend for pain-free life. He provides Tylenol3 only. Post-surgery pain @ 45 days is 300% WORSE. Surgeon’s answer: “you’re gonna have to get off the painkillers”….yes, he’s marked me as “addict” and therefore refuses further treatment. I was fired.
Strange thing- I was told the surgery would take away the bending of my wrist, that it would be a rigid structure. Curiously, I can bend my wrist 90 degrees. NO SURGEON will discuss this with me…..I am asking only if it is a broken fix and possibly the reason for pain?

HOWEVER: my primary care knew I was speaking truth and promised to keep me comfortable as long as I was proactive in seeking any non-narcotic solution. I got to a daily max of 960mg oxycodone/day with 12mg xanax/day to help with anxiety, and pain is pushing me toward suicide.

Acupuncture restores temp and color to my gray/purple/freezing hand.
SUDDENLY, another doc informs me oxycodone is INCREASING my pain. AT this point, I’m HAPPY to hear that- it’s a real reason to quit chasing tolerance.

I attempt to titrate. Due to “oversight” by my doc’s ass-istant, Aug 2, 2007 I took my last doses of everything, slammed into cold turkey, and had to wait a week for a bed to open in the ONLY rehab hospital here that can or will treat benzo withdrawal. Opiate withdrawal is the worst thing ya can go thru, and xanax withdrawal 100 times worse than THAT.

Been on Suboxone since August 07- gone from 24mg/day to a now-easy 8, and had a perfect record at the rehab- like honor roll :). BY the way- the rehab nurse got me to test prozac to see how my pain reacted. Were I a “purposeful” addict, I would not have reported the miracle of nearly TOTAL elimination of my pain! NO MORE OPIATES was the best possible future. I owe that nurse. I stayed on prozac a bit over a year. when i stopped, still NO PAIN! There is structural pain, but not random stabbin NERVE pain.

I left nothing but a trail of perfect credibility. Baltimore/Annapolis is still a small town.

I tried cold-turkey from 8mg/day 2 weeks ago. By Day 6 the crawling was too intense. I was BEGGING for a muscle relaxer (Soma), saying that I was SO close to the finish line…..I was refused. The same doc who watched me fulfill every promise to get off the oxy, whose mistake caused me to do the vertical plummet from 800/day oxy and 12/day xanax now refused me soma to help me get thru the last/worst part of my effort to get subox done and gone. I called a friend from rehab group who came to my rescue with a couple 8mg to help me get back to “functional”, and I’ve stuck at 4mg twice a day.
However….the doc I’m working with to titrate me from subox keeps pushing me UP and I am risking non-compliancy by refusing to increase. I suspect exploitation in the community….extremely expensive fees and no-insurance options…..I have to pay $250 initial and $100 a week JUST for the paper scrip. I was on the 30-day subox supply but now with new doc it’s 7 days. I’m in the WRONG end of that business.

THANKS for making this available and congratulations on your victories :)

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