Clean for 1 Week on Suboxone

[DawsonT]

I wanted to tell someone this - I guess this is fairly common but wanted to get it out there. I'm just a normal guy, 39 years old, wife and no kids. I had low back pain for 4 or 5 years and started taking Lortab 10mg for the past 3 years. I tried quitting several times and felt like I was going to die! My wife didn't know - I even got married during this period without anyone knowing. My wife knew something was going on and knew I took pain pills but didn't know it was a problem. I tried everything to quit and couldn't get over how bad it made me feel, so I kept using. I was up to 20 tabs per day of 10mg each, Sometimes 25! Thru the local paper, I found a new drug study going on 3 months ago but couldn't get into it and it req'd a lot of time away from work. I met with the doctor of the study and he encouraged me to come to his office and try Suboxone. I started it a week ago and have been off Lortab for 1 week! The drug is awesome, for me anyway and I had to tell someone! I am in counseling as well but I went from everyday counseling to once a week at the moment. I am taking 16mg of Suboxone per day, everyday, and I feel great. I had zero withdrawals symptoms, no problem sleeping and my insurance even pays for the drug.

I realize that not everyone is in my situation. I'm paying for private doctor counseling and paid for all the blood works, etc. up front. However, I tried to quit cold turkey twice before and it really ruined my life while I was off of Lortab. I just need someone to know how well this drug has worked for me. I'm also aware it doesn't work the same for everyone but it has been amazing for me. It was very difficult to have my wife meet with the doctor and to confess all this b/c I wanted to do it on my own without anyone knowing. However, I think I'm over it and my wife handled it very well. I do realize that I'm an addict and that this is a life-long disease I have to care for every day. However, Suboxone has been amazing for me and I have no cravings and no withdrawls. I do find the habit of taking pills still with me so I have to be careful with that, but it is not nearly as strong as before. In some stressful situations I find myself wanting Lortab to help but I'm slowly getting past that. I know I'm not out of the woods yet and still have to get off Suboxone at some point in the future, but it is supposed to be much easier to get off of and I'm not taking Lortab with Tylonol in it, which is much, much better for my health. Please, Please, Please look into this drug if you haven't already. Any doctor can prescribe it but be careful, most doctors don't know how to use it. I would try to find a brain specialist or phsych to help you so you get counseling too - but either way, this drug works and should be considered!

Regarding telling your children. I think I would not do it unless they are over 18. It takes a very mature person to accept the addiction, understand it and then keep it confidential. I'm sure others have the opposite opinion but that's just mine - I don't have kids and I'm not living in your shoes so you have to decide based on all factors in your life. I wish you luck and God Bless!

[exjunky]

"What he said" ^^^^

[tangerine13]

Regarding telling your children. I think I would not do it unless they are over 18. It takes a very mature person to accept the addiction, understand it and then keep it confidential. I'm sure others have the opposite opinion but that's just mine - I don't have kids and I'm not living in your shoes so you have to decide based on all factors in your life. I wish you luck and God Bless![/quote]

Hi! Ive heard of this drug, and I think its wonderful that its working for you.

I has to be said that in addiction, children are affected by our disease, they see everything we do, and they know when something is going on with mom or dad. When one person is sick, so is the rest of the family. I was proud of myself the day I told my children. they were only 5 and 7 at the time, and they also went to meetings with me. It took some time for them to understand, it was rough for a while, but they did. I think its a big mistake to keep them in the dark, and not make them understand the disease.

Thanks
tangerine13

[Brewster]

I'm glad you realize it's time to change and that you've found a method that is working for you. One week not taking Lortab must seem like a miracle.

[chrissy27143]

Wow, I just went with my b/f today to get some help. He is addicted to oc's and the doctor recommended Suboxone and already he is feeling good! I hope this works for him too! Congrats on a weeks sobriety btw! That is wonderful. I hope that you stick to it! Sounds like you are on the right path...

[Rugrider]

I too was addicted to Lortabs, I had a 4 year addiction of taking about 15 a day. I tried many times quitting on my own, but I would always give in. Oh sure, I would go 5-7 days without but the thirst would always win. I had wanted to try the Sub but for me, my daughter was the only thing that was stronger than my addiction. When I was using, I never thought what I was doing was hurting her but I was wrong. I quit cold turkey and the first 2 weeks were really hard, but I kept telling myself it would get better and it did. I always loved the opiate high but the feeling of being clean and no longer a slave to this evil drug is better. I'm sure had I tried the Sub, my w/d would have been much easier. I am a southern man and we never ask for help (just kidding). Congrats on being clean for a week, soon you won't even need to count any longer.

[DawsonT]

I tried quitting twice cold turkey but I couldn't function. I cared about nothing, wouldn't eat, my headaches were terrible and I hated everyone and everything. That's when I knew I had a problem. I would go and borrow drugs from people I knew and claim it was due to back pain. Or, I would go and take some from my parents. Get that, a grown man taking drugs from his parents. What a shame! And I'm sure that is NOTHING compared with a lot of what goes on but I was so embarassed about it!

Suboxone is working great but I do need the counselling so I won't go back. I still have some Lortab (about 30) in my bathroom drawer. Should I throw them out? I keep thinking I should but I don't. That's enough to get addicted again for me, I'm sure of it. But I've been told by the doctor that even if I used them to try and get an opium high, it wouldn't work b/c the bupro (sp?) will block the opium going to my brain (or my brain blocks it?). I've read this in the booklet too but not I'm not sure if it's true. I hope it is b/c that's also what is keeping me from using the Lortab at night or during the day when I get stressed. I will need to get off this Suboxone at some point too, how long before I can begin to think about getting off of these? Thoughts on this from anyone on all this? I'm just learning about all this so please, don't hesitate to chime in and give advice, I'll take it!


I'm now 2 weeks clean!

[Noah]

I would chunk them in the toilet fast! If I knew they were there I would be thinking about them all the time. That little voice would keep reminding me over and over, but that is just me.

Noah

[exjunky]

Lose the Lortab. They won't work with the suboxone in your system anyhow. But one day you'll be off suboxone and then they'll start calling your name.

[kj3880]

I agree, I'm taking suboxone and I even turned down two docs over the past two weeks who wanted to prescribe percocets after some dental surgeries. I'd rather have the pain than have to go backwards. I know if I had them on hand, eventually, I'd take a break from the sub and do the percs until they were gone, then go back to the subs. But what if my doc did a random urine screen and found out that I did that? How embarrassing, and I might not get any more subs. Not only that, I would lose my precious 2 wks clean time off pain pills. No way! I don't want to do it. I'd chuck the lortabs pronto!!!

[kj3880]

By the way, that digger up there is you, burying the lortabs in the dirt. Better yet, flush em

[wearytoday]

Today is one week for me as well ! I am on 12mg subox and I probably could use a slightly higher dose; but then again i am an addict and i could always use a higher dose!
Congratulations and keep it up

NOTSO wearytoday

[Tryin2Recover]

flush the tabs....like ex said once you are off the subs they WILL start calling your name, that i can guarantee.

[butterfly19]

I will be starting suboxone in less than 3 days. I know it's not a cure-all but I am looking forward to not having withdrawal like I have so many other times when I have tried to quit cold turkey. Congrats to you for seeking help even though you were afraid of what you're wife might think! I know just how hard it is to admit to, heck we all know that!

There was a time when I took as much hydrocodone if not more than you did. I am thankful to still be alive and fairly healthy. I wonder everyday how I didn't accidentally overdose at some point. It is yet another thing to thank God for! My mom has often told me, "God must have been walking with you on those days".

After I got off the hydrocodone, I switched to codeine. So that is why I'm starting suboxone, and yes I know that one day I'll have to get off that as well. I totally agree with exj and the others, that those opiates will always be calling your name. That's why we all need to stay strong and focused even during adversity. The counseling and going to meetings will be very helpful for me in my recovery. I hope you will find that to help you as well. Thanks for the great post, I've been looking for someone who is new to suboxone. Come to chat sometime, it's a great place to vent and get inspired by others!

Take Care!

butterfly19

[DawsonT]

Last week I threw out all the muscle relaxers and other 'stuff' I had from a million doctor visits. That felt healthy but... I didn't throw out the Lortab. With that, I figured out why you said to throw out the darn things. This weekend, I worked in the yard very hard both days (about 5 hours each day) and my bad back hurt very badly. As bad as it has hurt in years. I think part of it is due to coming off Lortab over the past 2 weeks and my body can't take this much punishment at one time. Well, I didn't throw them out and I took 8 over a 7 hour period to reduce the pain. It helped a lot but I'm upset about doing this. I'm mad at myself. I don't think I took it to get 'high', I 'believe' I really did it for pain. However, now I have to start over!! I'm still proud of myself and trying not to get too down about it. I do need to throw out the pills that I have and I'll let you know when I do it. I think I blew it when I worked myself too hard. I'm a Type A personality, like a lot of addicts I'm sure, and I couldn't slow down the yardwork - so I just pushed too hard and I need to realize that this is going to take months and months, not days and days to get better... so my body is not ready for hard physical labor like moving dirt and lifting 50lb bags of fertilizer. I need to throw out the pills, stay on my Suboxone and work the program without overworking my body. How does that sound? I'm sorry I blew it, I'll do better, I promise!!! Thanks for listening.