Opiate Abuser<<<< Weaning off subs!! Quitting for good..

[M_DuBb22]

Hi guys. Some of you have probably read a few of my threads here, since about 3 years ago. Although I experimented with different opiates (every form of hydrocodone and oxycodone, opana, dilaudid, codeine, tramadol,suboxone, everything but heroin) and other drugs when younger, I didn't get addicted to opiates until I graduated high school and started college at about age 18 (almost 21 now)..

Since college started 3 years ago, I have been taking opiates daily on/off for about 3 years. I may have been using them to cover up some other problems, but LOVE the high. Although marijuana has always been my drug of choice and I have quit opiates a few times, I can't seem to stay away from the pills for good. They have definately helped cause MANY problems in my life, got arrested for selling weed and possessing vicoden (went to jail, did drug court/probation, and was clean from everything for 8 months), ****** up relationships, messed up things with family, lost job opportunities, ****** up and got kicked out of college even though I'm an A+ student, and have just been generally held back in LIFE..


ANYWAYS, for those who don't want the long story, here's my addiction history. I've done just about every drug, but I've always loved the opiate high from those pills, even though marijuana is my favorite.. I've quit a few times and stayed clean for months before, only to think I can take a hydro or tramadol here and there and slip back in to the cycle.. My normal daily dose is 60-90mg of hydrocodone/oxycodone in about 20mg intervals, although I have gotten up to over 150mg daily of oxycontin and worse (but never H)
.........I've been taking about 2mg of suboxone for about 3-4months now. I slipped and was taking about 100mg a day of hydrocodone (plus 60mg a day of oxycodone for 2 days) for about 2 weeks until about a week ago, now back on the sub..

I plan to stay on 2mg suboxone for another few days, than ween down to about 1.5mg. Than after about 4 more days I'll ween down to 1mg. Than to 0.5 after another week or so, and so on until I'm off completely. I plan to be off of suboxone 100% in a month, with the help of NA/AA meetings and a few other plans..

I have a few things motivating me, and I really want to stay clean this time!! I'm worried about the withdrawals, and being depressed and with no energy/motivation for months after I quit. I get all depressed and don't want to do anything and feel like crap for months after I quit everytime and lose my social life.. Maybe I should look into a councelor this time

Advice, suggestions, comments, criticism, support, or any type of feedback is STRONGLYYYYY ENCOURGAGED and APPRECIATED!! Thank you :)

[Csplat48]

I have a 22 year old niece that has been addict to oxycontin for the past 6 months. How can we help her? She wants help but is scared and we have never experienced this before. Cold turkey is what the family wants her to do. What can we expect, withdrawls, side effects, etc???? What is NA? She has a good family support but she is engaged to the man who is suppling her with these pills. We have removed her from his home. Any help would be great at this time! concerned Aunt D

[gnarly_1]

HI......good to see you back but I wish it where on better terms....I hate to see people relapse
I see you been going to N/A have you found a sponsor and tryed the 12 steps it might be the part your missing out on......another thing that will drive you back is smoking pot ...a buzz is a buzz is a buzz as long as your getting one you will return back to your drug of choice dude.
I wish there was an ezer way but theirs not if you want to get clean you got to be clean from everything for it to work I wish you the best of luck wile doing this stick with the aftercare give up the smoke and you will make it this time ........Gnarly  

[tired_of_oxy]

Oops I'm sorry I misunderstood, your in NA already that's great. If your feeling really ready then jump. Sounds like you have a good plan in place but if you needed more time that's ok too. It's when you feel ready that's the best time ;)

[tired_of_oxy]

I'll give you the same advice I've been given. Don't jump until you have a solid aftercare plan in place. Getting clean is hard but staying clean is much harder. I've been on sub for almost two months this time (did the on/off thing for awhile) and finally got a therapist lined up. I'd suggest getting in therapy and NA meetings. Once you've got that established and have support in place that would be a good time to jump if your ready.

I have tapered down to 4 but given that I've just started aftercare I'm going to give it time to make sure I'm really ready to come off sub. In the beginning I was bent on being off in X number of days but I realized until I was ready, going off prematurely would most likely lead me into problems.

[HenryS354]

Hey bud,

Congrats on your decisions... You have a long road ahead of you, but a very rewarding one!

I'm not entirely convinced personally that dropping to such low doses of sub is necessary to ease withdrawals any, but that's just my personal opinion.  I detoxed off sub 283 days ago. I was on sub for over two years and my final dose was 3mgs.  The wd's weren't fun, but they were nothing like coming off hydro, oxy, or fentanyl.

There are current studies that are going on that are suggesting that buprenorphine withdrawals are not dose dependent on the sub, but related to the dose, frequency, and length of time that you were using your DOC.

With that said... If you want to continue to taper as low as possible, ask your sub doc to switch you to the suboxone strips.  They can be cut super small, and make getting to low doses less the .5 mgs much easier!

As for the energy, I found that vitamin B12 helped me immensely. After the acute wd's are over, 5 hr energy drinks helped a lot as well.  A good protein supplement is also a good idea, as protein is one of the key chemicals that encourages production and processing of dopamine, serotonin, and norepinepherine... All those "feel good" chemicals in your brain.

A light workout daily will also stimulate neurotransmitter and endorphin production. And will help with the depression and energy.

I was similar to yourself... When I first started counseling, my therapist told me I was in a good place. I had strong family support, was happy with life in general... Could not find a reason that I began my drug use... I just kept telling her that I loved that physical high that I got. Of course in the beginning, she was skeptical... But after 2 years of working with her weekly, she finally agreed.

Through the course of my drug use, the damage that I was causing others and to myself was ultimately what kept me sick.  I hurt so many people while I was just trying to feel good... And that guilt that I carried with me was overwhelming. After xeroxing early on, I continued to use, and thus lose more things in my life.

It was discovered, that my using turned into a self punishment routine. I felt so guilty for those that I hurt, that I didn't think I deserved to live a healthy, happy life. Hence the cycle repeated.

It took almost 9 years of this and some heavy therapy to allow me to let go, and forgive myself, in order to move on.

You already have therapy and Na in mind for your clean up process which is great... Just don't underestimate the power of those two tools in your recovery. :-)

Best of luck to ya!

[jrizzy303]

Hey yeah I think the less sub you get down to when you quit is less as long detox and strong withdrawals. I have been off subs for 43 days and I am doing pretty good. As long as you drop the dose down you wont be depressed for months and you will have motivation. I do. I also have energy. I just worked my second week this week and I mean worked hard. You can do it if I can. Nothing stops you but your decisions. Also I take alot of vitamins now and sam-e helps with mood and joint comfort. I see a therapist too it is very helpful. Get plenty of support and some kind of group. Hang in there you can do it. I mean that. I know exactly what your feeling. I feel really good for being on pills forever. This is the longest sober for me for years. And I plan on keepin it that way. You are making wise decision to stop the sub. Be strong. Oh and switching back and for from sub to pain pills is very dangerous. Because you think you can go right back to what you were taking and the sub has that blocker. Easily can od. Please dont do that again if you can help it.. Keep up the good work and keep droppin that dose.