Aa
Aa
A
A
A
Close
Avatar universal

How long will my withdrawal symptoms last for?

I have been on subutex for 4 years due to drug abuse in the past i then was told about subs and that they prevented you going through heroin wds but then i got hooked on the subs and i actually enjoyed taking them as they gave me a little buzz at first and made me feel normal but now i am sick of them they make me feel awful when i take them and prior but its hard to not take em if your addicted to them mentally and physically. I tried to stop six months ago but did it completely wrong by jumping off at 2mg! DO NOT DO THIS BIG MISTAKE! I lasted 4 days then gave in to them as the pain, rls, nausea, body aches, sweats, hot n colds, sneezing etc got too much! I now have found if you taper down its much easier and less painful. Thats exactly what i now have been doing. I have tappered down from 2mg to half a 0.1mg in a month the last week was rough but not as bad as jumping off at 2mg. I am also on 4 codeines a day but this is only for 1-2 weeks to help with pain etc and then i take a zopliclone at night to help me sleep. The codeine/cocodamol deffinately has helped especially with the rls and body aches they have been a god send! But that is only because the codeine is a part of the opiate family. I am a tad worried about getting hooked on these now but hopefully i wont and its just temporary whilst getting off the subutex. I am now 3 days off the subs and have taken 4 cocodomals a day and so far i dont feel too bad! I do before i take the cocos but still its bareable. I am so proud of myself and everyone on here its such a hard thing maybe one of the hardest things to do but we CAN DO IT GUYS! I hope this helps someone out there and sorry its such a long message. If anyone has any advice for me please please message me back! Thanks again guys! Good luck! God bless
10 Responses
Sort by: Helpful Oldest Newest
Avatar universal
Please read comment above hun how do think im doing? Will it be hard tapering of the codienes now do u think? I hope not! I am now 11 days off the subs but am still takin four codienes a day since i stopped the subs. In the last two days i have cut down to 3 n a half. Its hard but i know im going to have to do it! Xx
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey kat sorry have dissappeared have been soo busy with xmas coming up but i am now 11 days off the subs! Which i am very pleased with! However its been the codiens that have really helped me get through it i have cut down to 3 n a half instead of four a day and even thats hard as they are hardly touching the sides but still they take the edge of alot but not as much its so hard as im still in pain too still got rls, sneezing body aches and flu like symps i just feel terrible everyday like carrying folders or bags tires me out hugely i have no energy what so ever! Its the hardest thing ive been through as well as stopping the drugs i just wAnt it to end now its really getting me down and is so difficult! Im dreading stopping the codienes as i know i will more than likely be in agony all over again! Its also hard working uno i say i have rls but they dont know what im goin through really and why and how hard it is uno. They say they havent slept well or they have a viral infection n i just want to cry scream and shout at them because what im going through is a hundred times worse do u know what i meen but i suppose they dont know what im going through sometimes i wish they did so they could understand me better and help me and support me but i suppose i just got to carry on! Once i stop the codeines i will be even prouder of myself. But gota get through this next battle now first. Wish me luuck!! Xx
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I think if you are using a phone Barbie, something happens and you have to do something to it. I am using a laptop, don't have a cell phone. So I couldn't say. But I will try to find the post about the phones and let you know. Thank you for saying such kind words about my post. I'll tell you again, it will be uncomfortable, but it won't kill you, and it is doable. That's what everybody said to me in the beginning. But like I said it is so worth it to get your life back. I also LOVE painkillers, but like some people who can just take them as prescribed, I ate them like candy. I am an addict, who can't just take one, like an alcoholic who can't take just one drink. But I am proud of myself. I did it! I got through the detox and w/ds and I think my brain receptors are finally resetting themselves. If you read all the posts on subs, you will see they are a beast! I'm glad you tapered off them. Now it's time to lay down the codeine. Good luck Barbie...Let me know how you are doing today. Private message me if you'd like. Always here to talk and help you get through this. And remember YOU CAN DO THIS!!!!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have written more than the above message i dont know why its not posted the whole message! That is really annoying and upsetting i wrote so much more than that! Does anyone know why this has happened at all?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi katmandu thanks again for that lovely message it actually had me choked up such a lovely heart warming helpful message! And i will deffo be trying those things you listed to help deffinately! They all sound brilliant! And yeh i hear what your saying and you know its such a reality check you have told me the abdolute truth what i have been running away from for the longest! I so see what your saying but do you know what i think cutting down off the subs helped because i knew i had something else i could now take instead of the subs which were the codeines and at first they were amazing and really helped me alot. I generally have in my life enjoyed taking painkillers like aby sort as soon as i got a headache or toothache but i never was addicted i just would always reach for them when in pain alot of people dont really like taking painkillers but it bnever bothered me. When i got onto the subs they made me feel incredible and very normal! So i got hooked on them immediately physically and mentally but now i just thought this has gone on too long and i wonder it must be affecting my body one way or another i dont know how but it must be as it goes to the brain etc. i have loved takin the codeines but now my daily dose of 4 a day for a week is no longer working for me and im achein my bum off im in agony and now i have to try to sleep as in almost 10pm here and i have work tommorow
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
You know I hope that Dr's come on this forum and read that people who are given subs to come off opiates has not gone well at all for anyone. I have heard from many who have taken them. And the detoxing and w/d off of subs is so much harder than with the opiates themselves! First of all you said you tapered down off the subs right? And you started taking the codeine to help with the detoxing and w/d pains, and they are not working anymore. In my humble opinion, I think it's time to stop the codeine too. Listen honey, there is no getting around the detox and w/d symptoms you have to go through them. We ALL had to jump off everything. Some of us did it cold turkey, and some of us tapered. But the codeine is not working, so flush them and let the natural detox process happen. It's gonna happen sooner or later, that is up to you. First, you need to get some very important things you can pick up from your local Pharmacy. Please read the Thomas Recipie that is located at the bottom of your page. Get some Imodium for the obvious reason. Get some Tylenol and then get yourself some Epsom salts for the rls symptoms.  They have them in aromatic flavors, such as lavender, rosemary and mint, and others that also make you feel good if you are into aromatherapy as I am. You put 1 cup into a hot bath, as hot as you can take it. And just soak. The magnesium in the salts draws out all the poisons and impurities of the drugs inside you. It also helps with rls and it helps me with the pain I have too. It made me so tired last night, I wanted to go to sleep at 5pm, but it was too early, so I stayed up as long as I could till I passed out. I can't say enough about the salts. Get a big bag, because the little bag will only yield maybe 3 baths. I don't understand why your boyfriend would use iv drugs. That is like the codeine you are taking. It is just prolonging what you need to do to get your life back. I was taking oxi's/trams/vicodins..anything I could get my hands on for 3 years straight. I went cold turkey off of everything. I was very sick, hot/cold sweats, never mind rls, my whole body was jumping out of my skin!  I couldn't move off my couch for days. I couldn't sleep...I was a big blob of nothing, well at least that's what I felt like. Ate a lot of bananas, they say potassium is good for you also, maybe get a bunch. I kept posting on here, every day saying "When will I feel better?"  And these awesome people on here, kept pushing me forward, telling me "Keep going", You can do it!! And many many more supportive addicts that had gone through it before me also helped me through the detoxing which in my opinion took about 1 week, maybe 2 depending on the subs..not sure on that subject. But Let Me TELL YOU...you are going to feel so much better. Like your old self before the drug use. I go around singing now like I used to. When I was on the drugs, I never even listened to music, and I love music and singing. Cracking stupid jokes with my awesomely supportive husband, who was there for me, when I didn't deserve him at all. I messed up real bad. But he loved me enough to help me through the worst time in my life. So, I hope I was the help you were looking for. I wish you all the best. And we both know the detoxing must be done, but you can do it!! It will be uncomfortable for awhile, but is so worth it, to become your old self again. Good luck to you Barbie and God Bless you!
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
Hi there
Yeah apparently coming off of subs is pretty brutal.  I think they stay in your system for a long time so that is why you are starting to feel pretty bad now.  I don't know how much the codeine will help but it just might take the edge off.  I wouldn't take anything else though.  That will just drag it out longer.  Stay away from the stuff your husband is doing.
Hopefully someone will come by who has experience with sub withdrawal.  If nobody answers on this thread, start a new one.
How are you feeling now?
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Wow thanks guys for writing back to me im so happy for the fast responce from you guys! Im happy im not alone and that help is here if i need it so reassuring it really is ok lol Firstly il start with katmandus help thank you for giving me more ideas of what i should do and do you know what i belive you are so right in saying that should stop everything even the codeins now its such a big step especially if you are still getting some of the symptoms still while taking the cocos but they make life so much more bareable and pain free basicly until they wear off my plan however will now be over the next week to try and cutting down on them like that. Im not going to lie but i think its going to be hell being on nothing at all being off the subs has been hard but ive had something else to help and they helped alot. How long do you guys think it will take for subs to be out of my system i am 6 days now clean off subs just still on codiens/codomal they help so much and its my 6th day takin 4 a day i plan to start cutting down next week to then get off them. My parter is 5weeks off subutex and has taken codeins once two pills then that was that. But however he has used coke n heroin inbtween his detox off subutex maybe 5 times in five weeks which he is silly for doing but it takes the pain away from it all and helps him to relax as still he is still achin 5weeks later n got rls sneezin hotncolds etc why is all the symptoms lasting so long for him too? and im really starting to feel terrible why could this be? I think he shouldnt of used as this may make it worse but i dont know. I am Up to 5 days no subutex jus codeins and now 6th day still using codeins n im starting to feel really awful again just like in my last week of tappering down of the subs last that week was hell! Im
Scared its on its way again now
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
Wow, great job on getting off the subs and I don't blame your for using the codeine. You may still go through a withdrawal from the codeine but it won't be nearly as bad as the subs.  Taper off the codeine as well.  Even cut them in half and do it slowly when you are ready.
Good luck and let us know how you are doing.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi! And welcome to the forum. I think it's awesome that you are off all subs. But now, I don't think you are not going to like my advice to you, but it's just my opinion. I think you need to flush the codeine. You need to get off them before you are totally addicted to them. There is a time when you just have to bite the bullet and jump off everything!!  You are just prolonging and maybe making the detox and w/d process worse. I know it's not easy, but it won't kill you and it won't last forever. I'm not going to go on and on..but sooner or later, hopefully sooner, you will have to put it all down and detox. We have all been through this, that is what this forum is for. We know what you are going through and what you HAVE to go through to get freedom from pills. Good Luck and God Bless.
Helpful - 0
Have an Answer?

You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community

Top Addiction Answerers
495284 tn?1333894042
City of Dominatrix, MN
Avatar universal
phoenix, AZ
Learn About Top Answerers
Didn't find the answer you were looking for?
Ask a question
Popular Resources
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.