Aa
Any good tips on starting suboxone would be great!
I am starting Suboxone on monday. I am currently on 50 miligrams of methadone down from 100 miligrams. I am planning on detoxing for the weekend FRI, SAT, SUN, then I am supposed to see my doctor on monday morning. I am really nervous about the withdrawals and was just wondering if anyone has went through the same thing and how it went for you. Any information you can give me at al;l would be greatly appreciated. I have been on methadone for 2 years now and I am sick of it taaking over my life. I haver no energy and could care less than to do anything. I used to love to bowl and play basketball etc... And now I sit around the house and watch TV all day and I am satisfied with this. Has anyone else noticed this same effect? Anyways like I said any info at all would be greatly appreciated and thank you fopr your time in answering my question! Sincerely, Brett
Hi Brettt, Here are some tips based on my own experiences with Sub. I have done two sub treatments with one being very successful.
1. Only do a short term sub treatment. The longer you are on it, the worse the w.d will be. Methadone is a hard drug to kick. I believe that sub should only be given to Heroin, Oxy Contin and Methadone users as Sub is just as strong, if not stronger. You want to be on the sub long enough to get the methadone out of your system. But remember, sub is a partial opiate and that is why you won't be in w.d, you can and WILL get addicted to the sub if you stay on it. Most drs will keep you on high doses for long periods of time as most sub dr.s only accept cash. Its rare to find a dr that takes insurance for sub. If you have, then great. But still be aware of the doses.
2. If you have never taken sub, you won't know how much to start with. Your dr (depending on your current DOC usage) will most likely start you out anywhere between 16mgs - 32mgs a day. Once you start the sub, you will see that you do NOT need anywhere near that much. Sub has a strong half life of 24-36 hrs, which means it stays in your system and continues to build with each dose you take. So when you discontinue the sub altogether, you won't feel any residual w.d until about 2 days after you stopped. The lower the dose you are on when you stop will determine how bad your w.d is. Like when you start, you should immediately start to taper, as I said you will see you won;t need that much to feel normal.
3. I did a 21 day treatment, but stayed on it for 27 days. When I started I was started in 16mgs a day, but immediately dropped to 8 the next day, stayed at that for a few days then dropped to 4mg then to 2 and so on. I stayed at 2mgs a day for a week then went to 1mg then to .5mgs every other day. THen I stopped. I did have w.d, but not as bad as when I went c.t from Oxy's. If you are on sub any longer the w.d will be bad. No matter what your dose is. Just be careful. For some, long term sub use is ok because it does diminish cravings and when you take it you can't get high if you take anything else so it keeps people from relapsing. But again, the w.d will be severe if on it long enough and essentially, you are trading one addiction for another.
I am here to help so if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask..
Good Luck...
Lisa
1. Only do a short term sub treatment. The longer you are on it, the worse the w.d will be. Methadone is a hard drug to kick. I believe that sub should only be given to Heroin, Oxy Contin and Methadone users as Sub is just as strong, if not stronger. You want to be on the sub long enough to get the methadone out of your system. But remember, sub is a partial opiate and that is why you won't be in w.d, you can and WILL get addicted to the sub if you stay on it. Most drs will keep you on high doses for long periods of time as most sub dr.s only accept cash. Its rare to find a dr that takes insurance for sub. If you have, then great. But still be aware of the doses.
2. If you have never taken sub, you won't know how much to start with. Your dr (depending on your current DOC usage) will most likely start you out anywhere between 16mgs - 32mgs a day. Once you start the sub, you will see that you do NOT need anywhere near that much. Sub has a strong half life of 24-36 hrs, which means it stays in your system and continues to build with each dose you take. So when you discontinue the sub altogether, you won't feel any residual w.d until about 2 days after you stopped. The lower the dose you are on when you stop will determine how bad your w.d is. Like when you start, you should immediately start to taper, as I said you will see you won;t need that much to feel normal.
3. I did a 21 day treatment, but stayed on it for 27 days. When I started I was started in 16mgs a day, but immediately dropped to 8 the next day, stayed at that for a few days then dropped to 4mg then to 2 and so on. I stayed at 2mgs a day for a week then went to 1mg then to .5mgs every other day. THen I stopped. I did have w.d, but not as bad as when I went c.t from Oxy's. If you are on sub any longer the w.d will be bad. No matter what your dose is. Just be careful. For some, long term sub use is ok because it does diminish cravings and when you take it you can't get high if you take anything else so it keeps people from relapsing. But again, the w.d will be severe if on it long enough and essentially, you are trading one addiction for another.
I am here to help so if you need anything at all, please don't hesitate to ask..
Good Luck...
Lisa
I recommend you go to the Health Pages (upper right of this screen) and look for a post titled "Members Experiences coming off of Suboxone". It gives a lot of useful information. Bottom line most seem to agree on is - - When you go on Sub, less is better --- Many doctors do not know how to prescribe or dose Sub and will have patients taking way too much - causing a much more powerful addiction to breakt than their original DOC. I started out at 2 mg twice a day and tapered. I recommend you do not try to eliminate all of your W/D's take only enough to make them bearable and begin to taper immediately. Sub is very addictive and will grab you fast and hard. Do your research -- beware of doctors who prescribe it -- many have financial motives to get you started on it. Read sites like this by those who have actually been on it. All the best Please continue to come to this site and post your experience -- many others can benefit by your experience.
I detoxed before off from methadone and it after 17 days I still felt like **** so I ended up giving in. I could kick my self in the *** for wasting all that time and now I have to go through it again. Artghh!
if you really want to get free again, give yourself the chance to experience a short sub course.
I have been on almost 1 and half yr and dont like it; it feels similar to what you are feeling on methadone.
It's really something to look at what I used to be inspired about and how i feel now. I really feel it's true the natural receptors in the brain are not recieving or producing natural good feelings enough for my needs.
I dont know what w/d's from methadone are like or how the wds are, but I needed to see my doc for the subs sooner, as oxy is a short acting opiate.
I have been on almost 1 and half yr and dont like it; it feels similar to what you are feeling on methadone.
It's really something to look at what I used to be inspired about and how i feel now. I really feel it's true the natural receptors in the brain are not recieving or producing natural good feelings enough for my needs.
I dont know what w/d's from methadone are like or how the wds are, but I needed to see my doc for the subs sooner, as oxy is a short acting opiate.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
