trying to get off of suboxone

[cmakai]

i've been on suboxone now since jan. 1st, 08. i was originally addicted to oxy's. so i went to the methadone clinic, i was there for about two years, and i tried and tried to come off of that, and it was a nightmare, to say the least. so i finally found a doc that prescribed me suboxone, and the first of the year i was clean off of methadone. i was so happy because the suboxone helped my withdrawls so well and was finally free from methadone. my problem now, is i'm addicted to suboxone. i've been trying to get off of this drug now for the last two months. i can't do it! i will ween myself down to an eighth of a 2 mg pill, so right now i am on a 1/2 of a mg, and i still can't seem to kick it. i hear some people have stopped at 6 mgs. i guess i just have a low threshold for pain, or discomfort! i don't know what it is?? but i want off soo bad because i need to go into treatment so i can move on w/ my life, but you cannot be on suboxone when you go to inpatient. does anybody have any recommendations on how to make this easier?? or know of certain medications i could be on to help with my withdrawls? ie: cold sweats, muscle cramps, total body discomfort, can't sit still, CAN'T SLEEP, anxiety, ect. please help! i want my life back, i want off this damn drug.
Courtney

[TheCartel]

Courtney,

First of all, good job on kicking oxy and methadone! It sounds like you're on the right track,...especially the part about inpatient treatment.

In my opinion, the uncomfort and pain you begin to feel is not so much chemically based. Keep in mind that us drug addicts have usually been taking SOMETHING for a long period of time. That means when the thought of not taking anything enters our mind we tend to panic,...whether it's concious or subconcious. The pain of withdrawl coming off of 1/2 mg a day won't be too painful. My advice would be to not use yet another drug to try to "ease" off of suboxen.

If the pain that using drugs caused is not sufficient motivation to feel a little discomfort then you might need to re-think your motives for treatment. I don't mean that to sound harsh in the least, but rather, I'm trying to be realistic about what it is we want. (I sobered up multiple times with my motivation coming from the wrong source..the result was repeated problems).

Good luck, and I'm sure you'll get other's opinions that may differ drastically from mine...oh, I guess the most important advice would be to consult your doctor (who hopefully knows you're an addict). There is very little that should replace doctor's sound advice.

Keep us posted,
The Cartel.

[Evanna]

Hi Courteney,
Maybe you just need to ease up on yourself and take it a little easy?

I took the methadone detox route so cant comment personally on the suboxone. However, i have had friends who were able to come off very quickly in 6-8 weeks, seemingly suffering withdrawals somewhat but coping. Whereas my husband who went the same route as you....methadone then suboxone and took a great deal longer to taper. It was around 9mths after switching from methadone to suboxone that he finally finished his taper. He was on a methadone taper for around 18mths before the sub. I used to get really frustrated with him as it seemed to me that it was going on forever but it was clearly right for him. 5yrs on he is still clean, employed as a drugs worker and more wonderful than i ever could have imagined.

Whatever you decide to do i wish you best of luck.

Warm Regards
Evanna.

[bvaljalo]

To be honest with you, you aren't making a whole lot of sense here.

Lemme tell ya why:

1) Being on suboxone doesn't in any way prevent you from getting on with your life. I know, I was on it for a long time. I've been off of it for 10+ months now (100% clean and sober that whole time, I might add). You know what, I *really* don't feel much different now than I did when I was on it. Yes, my life has changed, but that's been more because of my attitude, and participating in Recovery (NA/AA) more than anything else. I was given the 'luxury' of putting my life on hold while I weaned off of subs, but if I hadn't been given that luxury, I would've been fully capable of working and everything else. I was on a lot more than 1/2 a mg a day, and when I quit I was at 2mg a day. Yeah, it sucked, but it was doable. NOT doable alone, though... I had my mom and my S.O. watching over me, I started attending NA/AA meetings IMMEDIATELY, and I had a long-time sober + good friend as a sponsor. I didn't go to treatment myself, but I think it's a fine idea for anyone who can do so to do it. Which brings me to my next point:
2) They USE suboxone in MANY inpatient treatment programs. The notion that you *couldn't* go check in because you're 'on' suboxone is flatly ridiculous. If that is actually true at the place your looking into, then find another facility. The reality is, I seriously doubt that if you show up in withdrawals from opiates, be it subs or heroin, you are gonna be turned away provided your arrival is expected and you can pay. Think about it, if you were friggin OFF of everything, WTF is the point of checking into treatment? EVERYONE who checks into treatment is some kinda addict, and thus, when they show up, there's a pretty good chance they are ON something, don't you think? What kind of business do you think a rehab center is going to do if one of their admission policies is that you have to be OFF DRUGS before you check in? I mean, seriously..

[acon4726]

Hi Courtney,

I agree with the guy above me that you should start looking at other treatment centers.

I was on Suboxone for a few months before my treatment also. I know it is freightening taking that last step from something (and .5 mg is barely anything!) to nothing. Don't psyche yourself out about it though. You have tapered down to practically nothing, which is awesome. The worst you can expect in getting off of half a miligram, and this is just from my experience, is some anxiety and insomnia for a week or two. It is different for everybody, though. Its wonderful that you are looking for inpatient treatment. That sounds like the right step to me. Good luck, it gets so much better!

[hairgirl]

I would try taking your dose every other day for awhile, then every two days, til you are done.I am in treatment- now it's aftercare- but that is where I was put on Suboxone.My nurse has said some people have a harder time than others, but staying active and having a long taper and a recovery program in full effect all make a huge difference.
Now that I am having a baby, I would love nothing more than to be off this stuff, but I can't.The withdrawals could kill my baby, so I will be switching to Subutex tomorrow, and praying allot.

[Heartbreaker]

Addiction is Psychological as well as Physical....don't take this wrong I am not saying your crazy but I am wondering if your not "thinking to much".. I think trying the every other day method for a bit and practice telling yourself that you CAN do this is worth giving a shot. Also if you can, find yourself a good physical activity to tire yourself out. I have been walking ALOT and it has helped tire me and my legs out, which helps with that ever dreaded restless leg syndrome!!

I also dream of all the things I can do with the money I am gonna save by not buying drugs!! Keeping busy...used to crack me up when someone told me...but they are right!!! I can see you have the desire now turn it into FIGHT POWER!!!

My Thoughts are with You,

HB

[paula312]

hi there~reading your post sounds like i could have written most of it~i was also on methadone for 2 1/2 years and if i would have had to use it again i would have detoxed with nothing~it was the worst to detox off of~i have read on different sites where ppl are on suboxone for months at a time~the outpatient clinic that i am going to only allows you to stay in it for a month~no longer than that~this is my 2nd full week on it~i started on 16 mg then down to 12 now i'm on 10~they kept me on 12 mg for about a week and now i will taper down 1 mg every 2 days~i think ppl get more psychologically addicted to it than physically~i had been clean for almost a year after the methadone when i got really sick and in the hospital 6 times in 2 mths with test after test and they gave me pain meds~i told them i was an addict and they were like 3-5 days won't hurt you with was right~but after the 3rd hospital visit i was starting to withdrawl when i wouldn't have naything to take which made my stomach issues worse~needless to say i relapsed~but the suboxone has been a God send~i think the 1 month detox on it for the withdrawls is the norm from what i have read on most medical sites about the sub.~anyway, just hang in there~you are on such a low dose that you prob wouldn't feel any different not taking it~why don't you skip a day inbetween taking it for a week then go 2 days inbetween and by the time you get to 3 days you should be able to just stop it all together~well, i have babbled long enough~take care and if you ever need to talk/vent ect... just hollar~

Paula M.

[So Cal]

Im not sure how the administraters here feel about posting other sites and if im wrong in doing so i apolligize,,,but if i might make a suggestion try looking at subsux.com and you can find some others experiences in tapering off sub.
If i could i would help but i have been on sub for 4yrs so i have no experience in getting off of sub,,,obviously.
Tattoo Tommy