How do get off Suboxone?

[JAS3]

Hi, I have been on 16mg of Suboxone for over 5 years after abusing Oxycontin for less than 2 years.  My mood is content, but I am a shell of a person.  I do not work and I never leave my home.  I get up in the afternoon and go on my laptop until I go to bed around 4am, and then I repeat the same thing the next day.  I am extremely constipated and have no energy.  I know I need to get off Suboxone, but I don't feel strong enough to and the more time that goes by, the weaker I get.  There was only 1 time that I was ready to ween myself off Suboxone.  It was after being on it for 6 months and a psychiatrist had put me on an anti-depressant.  I mentioned to my doctor, that was prescribing the Subs, that I was ready to ween down and he said I shouldn't think about that now.  So here I am, 5 years later.  I get frustrated to why Suboxone affects me so much because I know plenty of other people who take it who can work and function properly.  I used to be a very hard-working, family oriented person and now I don't work, hardly every see my family, and lost touch with most of my friends.  But still, none of this motivates me enough to even go one day without Suboxone.  I've called a few rehab centers, but they only offer like a 5 day detoxification, which makes no sense for the long term nature of Suboxone.  Does anybody have any suggestions or is anyone in a similar situation?

I'd like to make a note, though.  I am not condemning Suboxone.  It stopped my life from spiraling out of control and I know I wouldn't be in this situation if I got some kind of co-therapy when I initially started taking Suboxone.  I am blaming myself and the doctor who only cared about my urine samples every month I saw him.  (Sometimes, I would have to stay in his office bathroom all day until I could produce a sample because the Suboxone also causes extreme urinary retention for me, even though the doctor didn't think that was possible.)  I have a new doctor now who prescribes the Suboxone and thinks everything in my life is going great because I don't know what to tell him.

[kim21979]

Hi, I am in need of assistance in weening off subs. I have been prescribed 24mgs per day for 2 years but have only  taken at the most 8mg's per day. I shot heroin for 6 years and prior to that was originally addicted to tabs, morphine, oxy's, and any other item that would fix me being sick. I have attempted to go down 1mg every 2 weeks and then when down low enough begin skipping days. My sub doc just looks at me and says that if I want to get off them to skip days. He has no clue. Do you have any real suggestions as I am ready to have no more crutches???? Thanks robert_325~~~!!!!

[clean4good]

Ok, I think I will make my own thread...thank you. And as far as my bf goes and the tappering... He is not having it. The way he thinks is I've had 5 years to do so. He don't truley understand how hard it is since he has never had to go thru it. But he has helped me a lot.. Saved my life actually. But im going to start a new post and thank you for replying.. I don't feel so alone. :-)

[hangetsu]

If your mind is made up to jump from 24mg all I can say is good luck. I think you'll have a much easier time of it if you taper down to a lower dose before you make the jump.

If you confide in your bf that you're serious about getting off but jumping from that high of a dose will not be as easy as if you lower your dose first I don't see why he wouldn't accept that. It should make the whole experience easier on him too. :P

This is an old thread. Why don't you make one of your own if you're planning on letting us know how it's going...

In any event, good luck.

[clean4good]

Ok, here its goes.. I've been on subs for 5 years... Im on the highest dose I have ever been on recently..24mg. I know it's a lot... 8mg three times a day. Sometimes I only take two though. Anywas.. Im more ready than ever to get off of it. Its affecting my relationship, jobs, my personality..everything!! Im ready to quit cold turkey. My boyfriend if 5 years also is kind of fed up with me and my medication crap too which I can't blame him. I envey anyone who can wake up in the morning and be normal!! And not rely on anything but maybe some coffee or glass of pop :-/ but anyways I just know that it's been a very long time of me my "normal" self. Any suggestions? Im litteraly just gunna come off it at the dose im at and say screw it..ive detoxed before but from oxys n vics!

[mikeyboo1980]

hey JAS3 i have the same problem u have but there are times i can go out and do things but most times in my life i just stay home all day long and not socialize with nobody i also lost contact with friends i live with my family but i don't really include myself in conversations with everybody i normally isolate myself from everybody and I've been on 24 mgs of suboxone for 3 yrs now and i to at one point was ready to start the weening process of suboxone but my psychiatrist told me that it wouldn't be such a great idea cause she was still experimenting on medications for me and it might interfere with how i react to the medications she's trying on me and she won't be able to tell if the meds she's prescribing me are working.Now I'm on the right meds and i just haven't felt ready to start weening off the suboxone i actually feel some days i need to take an extra suboxone. But i do have a question for u if u can answer for me? But can my suboxone doctor make me start the weening process for suboxone even though i say I'm not ready? Or the doctor has to wait for me to say I'm ready? Cause thats one main thing I'm so worried about happening.I was told by friends and family that the doctor has to wait till I say I'm ready.Is that true?

[upndown925]

How do I speak with you privately?