WDs before subs

[Dog55]

Not to be a pest, but I'm still not sure how much WDs I need to be in before starting suboxone treatment. I'm horrified by stories of people not WDing enough and going into WDs after taking the subs for the first time. I'm taking 10 7.5m hydrocodone daily and I was thinking about just not taking any when I wake up tomorrow morning. My doctor's appt. is at 11:20, so from the time I took my last vicodin to the suboxone should be about 15-16 hours. I want to make sure this is enough. I know from personal experience if I get up and go without hydro until 11:20 a.m. I will be feeling pretty rough, but is that consider WD enough for the sub treatment? Help!

[road2recovery]

Yea it is a pretty good worksheet....I printed it out for my friend that is on sub...
But i think doctors should have this in there office and let you take it before they give u the medicine,  but i never heard of anyone saying their doctor did this??
r2r

[GoingToMakeIt]

I have never seen that one before. That is very good to know.

[road2recovery]

you are not being a pest...If you goggle "Cows scale" There is a sheet , and u can answer and find out if you are ready.......
Good luck u will do fine..
r2r

[GoingToMakeIt]

Good luck to you. There are many success stories with taking sub.

[Dog55]

Thanks, faith,hope,love for your comment. That really helps. I'm feeling better now, not so apprehensive. I was also concerned because I have a lot of things going on this weekend, and was hoping I will be able to function OK. But from what I've heard on these posts, everyone seems to say that the subs get you back pretty quickly. Thanks again for your help.

[faith_hope_love]

Hi Dogg, you are not being a pest at all and I am glad to be able to comment.  I just started suboxone 8 days ago and you sound like I did, anxious and scared.  I must have asked 100 questions or more and I probably did ask the same question several times but the people here were great!  No one was ever mean and they all have been so helpful.

Our situations are very similar.  I was taking 8-10 lortabs everyday.  I waited 19 hours and felt fine when I took my first sub.  Personally, I think 15 to 16 hours will be totally fine.  I think I was worrying too much like you and that is why I waited.

If you are curious, I have chosen to do a short term detox and then will just take one day at a time, focusing on getting healthy again with nutrition, exercise and of course vitamins and supplements.  The one thing that really helps me is knowing that yes, for the first few months, I might not feel "normal," I probably will struggle with getting my energy back but just knowing that I will start feeling like my old self the longer I am off the pills, that is what keeps me highly motivated.  

Here is my dosage plan -
Day 1 - 8mg
Day 2 - 8mg
Day 3 - 8mg
Day 4 - 7mg
Day 5 - 7mg
Day 6 - 7mg
Day 7 - 6mg
Day 8 - 6mg
Day 9 - 5mg
Day10- 5mg
Day11- 4mg
Day12- 4mg
Day13- 3mg
Day14- 3mg
Day15- 2mg
Day16- 2mg
Day17- 1mg
Day18- 1mg
Day19- .5mg
Day20- .5mg

One important thing a poster told me here was to ask for your suboxone pills in the 2mg. form.  That way if you need to break them up into lower dosages they will be easier to do than trying to break up an 8mg. pill.  I use a pill cutter.  Of course if you decide to do a longer term plan you might not need to do that but just letting you know ahead of time in case you do.

Getting back to the first day, I remember right before I took my first sub, I was really starting to hurt, especially in my legs, arms and hands for some reason.  I took the first pill and it took all that away almost instantly so be encouraged with that.

The only side effects that I have had our primarly nausea and I now take some OTC Emetrol and try to eat something small before I take the sub. and it works great.  

I broke my dose up on day 1 since I didn't know what to expect, basically 2mg and then 2mg an hour later and then the other 4mg in the afternoon.  Then after that I took 4mg and 4mg in the afternoon and so on.

One very important thing that Flmagi told me was to try and not take the sub. after 3 or 4 in the afternoon because it will keep you awake and she was right because the first night I couldn't sleep.

Also, people here recommended melatonin for sleep, it is non habit forming and it works!  I made sure I took my meds before 4 and took a melatonin around 8pm and slept really good.

Hope I didn't ramble on too much..lol  I just know how you feel exactly.  Take care!  Lyn

[GoingToMakeIt]

You already asked this in a previous post. If your Dr is reputable, they should've explained this to you. Most people say a minimum of 18 hrs after taking your last pills. Sub does not work if you are not in withdrawals.