Got off Suboxone--having mental cravings

[Anne2040]

My husband has been off suboxone for 13 days now, he told me the other day that he is having mental cravings and that he wasnt ready to come off suboxone yet.  He said that he needs to go back on sub for another 2 mons that way he can work out so it will be easier to come off sub.  Is he just manipulating me????  As of now, he is doing pretty ok, he just has mental cravings.  He told me that the doc suggested he takes naltrexone so he doesnt have mental cravings. Has anyone taken naltrexone???? does it really work?? He is worried that he will have a cross addiction and will relapse.  He was on suboxone for 9 months, tapered down to 2mg to 1 mg.  Please tell me what he should do!!! he made an appointment with the doc tomorrow.  

[mikesicknomo]

he done the right thing. im also feeling the with drawel of suboxone and i swear it isnt mental. get your prescription filled at wal mart its alot less expensive there than anywhere else.

[Gobig]

And you don't need to have cravings the rest of your life - not at all!!

You'll be fine.

[allaboutmary]

Oh this is great to hear. We are swamped at work and that was part of the reason for going on the sub and not doing c/t again. Our doctor is setting us for group therapy.  I just needed to know that I won't feel like the life was sucked outta me again. I climb ladders all day and do alot of physical work.  Couldn't stand it, was almost 2 months clean and had absolutley no energy. (relapsed)   I will take all the positive feedback I can get . Like you said , getting worked up and afraid to take the leap.  Thanks so much    Mary

[Gobig]

I was on 2mg for a week, was supposed to go to 1mg for a week before stopping, but when I went in to see my Dr., he asked if I wanted to stop - I was fairly uncomfortable at this point - and I said "yes" - I just wanted it over with and to get to the other side!

Withdrawal - certainly!  Clonadine helped a lot (had to monitor my blood pressure constantly).  We - my Dr. and I - planned it so the worst part would hit on the weekend.  At the time (looking back), the fear of the withdrawal was worse than the withdrawal itself.  I got myself really worked up about it, and I kept waiting for the other shoe to drop, but it really never did - got worked up for nothing.  

Look, you'll have to deal with the energy thing - but not nearly as much as you did when you went C/T.  Going to meetings?

[allaboutmary]

2 mg today  got by with only 1 on sunday (but didnt have to work)

[Gobig]

What dose are you on now?

[allaboutmary]

Did you suffer any withdrawals after the six weeks ? I ask because I am on the sub since Jan30 th and hope to be done next week.  Just hoping I won't get that horrible lack of energy thing like when I went cold turkey.  

[Gobig]

Sub. is not a drug used to deal with "cravings".  It's a wonderful drug to use to detox - you don't have cravings while you're on it because it's a very powerful opiate - so you're getting what you crave.  The physical addiction - and the removal thereof gets you, maybe 10% (probably less) closer to solving your problem.  If you don't start to reprogram yourself before your off the stuff there's no reason in the world to think you won't be back in the place you started sooner than later - why wouldn't you?  I did a 6 week sub detox and started going to meetings the day after I started the sub., and I've gone to a meeting almost every day ever since - and I'll have a year clean March 28th of this year.  I have no cravings - and pray it stays that way - and I was a drug addict of the worst kind. :-)

[worried878]

I did not go that route...but I think with an addict it is a behavior change that must take place...that is why follow up care is so important...I guess some stay on sub forever...everyone is different...I ould not want to have to take that forever tho....I am with you...just after reading seems as thought that is another quitting process as well...dont know...your husband has to feel comfortable with where he is at

[Penelope14]

Today I spoke with a addiction specialist who claims that suboxone is much different then methadone, as I was looking into getting onto the suboxone instead of methadone, & she was not hip with the idea, as she stated that some people do very well with this drug while others tend to relapse much more then patients on a methadone taper, she also claims that people who take the suboxone also get a sense of feeling good, almost to good, thus once they get off it, the old cravings come back & they are then left with where they were once they once were.  Take Care Penelope

[madazzahatta]

To all those battling with cravings.

The fact that people still have cravings for drugs that they have long since been free from is, I think, down to one major problem. This is the same problem which drove us to drugs in the first instance. We have a gut feeling that something is terribly wrong but we can’t put our finger on the problem. A human being has a very powerful innate drive to become something greater, spiritually, than what they already are. Call it what you will, self-realization, enlightenment, anything.

Modern society, especially western society, does not seem to be supportive of this most powerful of drives to become transcended from our miserable state. Conflict ensues and we become addicted to anything which reduces that spiritual pain. Even people not addicted to drugs are addicted to something.

The key to stopping those cravings is to have that great revelation, that enlightenment or self-realization. The great irony is that there is no effort involved. In fact it will not occur if any form of effort is present! Some people feel it creeping up on them and are actually fearful of it. It’s like a great fierce lion chasing you for years. One day you find that the fear is greater than the act of being eaten alive. And so you turn. You face this fearful animal. Exhausted, you face your tormentor. This fearful lion is now a pussycat, joyfully licking your face.

What glorious realizations then flood your consciousness! This whole stifling society was merely your own reflection in symbol form. With yourself changed your society can never reflect something which is not there any more. Most people go through their whole lives without attaining this, their prime purpose in life. This, the very greatest of life’s events, should happen when a person is around 28-32 years old. I have never heard of it happening in anyone over 42 years old but it must still be possible whilst there is air in a persons lungs.

When it happens you will not crave anything anymore. You may still be physically addicted to drugs at the time but you will know that this will be your final detox. The cravings will vanish forever. It is impossible to crave for any drug when you become an authentic human being. The pain is gone. It is over.


Archangel.

[wait2long]

obviously you didnt check out the site mentioned or read one thing there...because there is not one drug co. mentioned there...had to go look to make sure...it is a self help site...funded by donations...LOL!
gee...who funds this forum...look above...look to the left or right...who cares...why so negative...geez...
i'll stick with the "band-aid"..lol....
good luck to ya...

[wait2long]

yeah...you visited...but did you join and read the stories...?
theres advertisements here also..you think the people there are placed there and paid by the drug companies????  
wheres my check?...LOL!
PFFFFT~

[flmagi]

I'm on the Sub and know that it is not a permanent cure for cravings. I know when I come off the Sub. I will, no doubt have them.  I don't think it says anywhere that the Sub will remove all cravings after you stop the Sub. This is why your suppose to get help from N/A or counseling etc.
Has your husband been going to any of these? N/A etc? This is where his focus should be now.  The whole idea is to be drug free someday. 9 months on the Sub should have been enough, its the after care he needs now. But then I guess some people are on the Sub. forever.
I just know I want to be done will all this pill stuff... pain pills... sub pills.. blah blah blah
enough already. I'm so tired of my life revolving around pills, pills to get high, pills to not get high, pills to not get withdrawels, pills to do this , pills to do that..   AAAAHHHHHH

[allaboutmary]

Keep us posted.  Try and get him to come on this forum.  It really will help.  Best wishes.  Mary

[Anne2040]

Thank you for all of the replies....he went to the doctor and they gave him subutex for 2 weeks and then he has to go back so the doctor can see what he should do next.  

[Chi_Chi_Lover]

isn't Naltrexone one of the blockers in Suboxone? I've neve used it just read info on it. Some people are on it for years. I would think you should be strong enough to come off of it at some point he may not be there yet. I felt like I needed off all drugs all together but for some they need something to help them for years. You and he need to discuss this with his doctor and I really think a NA or other counseling group would be good for both of you.
Best of luck

[sickcookie]

Thanks i did visit site and noticed it is a site  funded by drug companys to promote and find sub doctors in your area.I just think this should be last resort  and should not be the first thing tosuggest to people who want the info on how to STOP all drugs.I wish any and all people good luck on this program,but at some point we must face withdrawl it is just when one chooses to do it.I for one have been controlled by drugs for way too  long and wanted freedom and health not a long term bandaid.Just my opinion

[wait2long]

suboxone success stories...plenty of them....   naabt dot org
78% success rate of suboxone used for long term maintenance...
26% chance of success for short term detox...
you decide.

[tret24]

I dont think he is manipulating you, but im sure as you know addicts are the best liars and manipulators in the world. I would even go as to say they are the  smartest people in the world, if they want something bad enough addicts WILL find a way. If he is really having truly bad mental cravings(sincerely bad) as  he sas then let him decide what he should do about getting back on the sub or not. If it turns out he just wanted to be back on something for the wrong reasons he will eventually have to face reality  and realize his mistake. If you or him were talking about exonerates you should def look into it. I know it is an opiate antagonists, which blocks you from using other opiates and does help with some the of the withdrawal factor. I know naltrexone is mainly used for alcohol withdrawal and cravings. It wont let them get drunk no matter how they try or how much they drink. I know there is a new naltrexone drug out it is called vivitrol. It is a once a month shot of naltrexone that last up to 30 days. It's expensive if you dont have insurance but i have heard very positive rersults from it. There is also the traditional pill form of naltrexone too he could try if he wants. hope i can help and I wish your husband the best.

[lupuskidkid1]

I was on Oxys for years, stepped to percocets, quit cold turkey just this last December and i used suboxone for a few weeks.  I was told the w/d would be almost nothing on little suboxone.  WRONG.  I'm going through w/d as we speak.  The thought of one little pill right now sounds magical, but i know being almost 2 weeks opiate free, complete freedom is so close.  I've had lupus for three years now, no support groups, no job, always recovering or in surgery.  If a shy, depressed un-aided college kid can fight the w/d, i think we all have hope.  It's a heavy mental battle which one must want to wage in order to succeed.  Turn the obstacle into an opportunity.  Encourage the half-full philosophy, i know i lost that way of positive thinking while addicted.  Good luck.

[sickcookie]

Nobody can answer this but your husband I hope he decides to get off the sub now ,we all have to face the music at some point and sub just prolongs it.I have read about so many people getting on it ,maintaining on it but I have yet to read a post about somebody off the sub and staying clean,it is just a substitution.I speak from my own sub experience a few years ago.When the sub stopped I felt so bad I picked up the Vics again.So all these years later I finally have 27 days off everything.I really hope someone can come forward and give a sub sucess story I would love to hear it.I do not mean to rain on anybodys parade it is only my own experience and opinion.I wish you the best and am glad your here.

[allaboutmary]

Eeewwww This is a tuff one.  I would think 9 mo is enough time on the sub.  He might be feeling unmotivated, depressed, and lathargic and that is probably normal coming off the sub.  As far as cravings, I think it is something he needs to deal with. He needs support and maybe some therapy, N/A to learn to deal with these.    I have accepted myself that I will probably have cravings the rest of my life and it will be a forever battle. Ging back on the suboxone is just that....going back.   He needs to move forward.  This is just my opinion.  I am no expert, I'm just another addict.  Best wishes.  

[toxictome]

Welcome...I have no experience w/ the sub..but others will come along who do.
Glad you're here......keep posting!!!