I'm down to 8mg of Subutex about go to 6mg

[Clee123]

Hi everyone,

I'm so grateful for all of your posts. Your post provide a wealth of information. Thank you so much for sharing your personal experiences. When I read your stories are my story as well. Until now I thought it was more to do with low thyroid gland and adrenal glands. Dr. Told me I have adrenal insufficiency and that the medication is responsible. Had my first cervical spinal fusion when I was 29 and now I'm 55. Last Cervical spinal fusion was in 2012.


I'm down to 8mg of Subutex 1 time a day & feel awful & have been there for about 2 month. I about go to 6mg or want to but I feel so awful I'm hesitant. But I can't stay were at. I've been on Subutex for a year or somewhere around there. Before that I was a methadone for several years.

Well I ever completely recover? Well I have energy again? Will my legs feel like they can hold me because my legs always feel so weak. Even weaker than the rest of my body. Although I strive to keep up a front One day just seems to go on to the next.
Dr. Finally gave me the 2 mg tablets of Subutex and thinking about taking them three times a day so that it spread out through the day and maybe I'll feel better then taking 8 mg one time a day?

I'd be grateful for any input, advice, personal experience?

Please forgive me I know I'm rambling right now. Just really frustrated as how to proceed.

Helps so much you know I'm not alone.

Thank you so much and God bless.

[Clee123]

Right now I take one 8mg of Subutex a day but feel awful until I take it in the afternoon at 2 PM.

Seems to make sense to me to take the 2 mg tablets three times a day so that maybe I don't feel as awful.

I know you can't give a lot of info but doesn't this seem like the right way to go?

Thank you Vicki & motye51 & all of you! This forum is a lifesaver!!!!

[Clee123]

So happy for you thatn you're off of this stuff!
May I ask if you didn't taper how did you get off of Sub? Can't thank you & Vicki595 enough for your support.

Now I'm Waiting for Ins. Company to give go ahead that they will pay for new script of the 2 mg tabs of Subutex. Script is already at pharmacy who told me that entrance company wants preauthorization. Pharmacist faxed over info to my doctor regarding the preauthorization needed. Yesterday pharmacist told me to call my doctor to give them a nudge to contact my insurance company. Can hardly wait to get new script of 2 mg tabs of Subutex because I'm ready to step down to 6 mg a day.

[Clee123]

Yes and idk?
As I said had my first fusion at 29 & now I'm 55. Had have had several neck and shoulder surgeries in more c-spine due fusions due to terrible car accident in my 20s.  So have been long-term chronic pain patient since first fusion & when Dr. couldn't figure out way he finally sent me for chronic pain management. Omg....... I remember that day SO WELL..... Asking then Dr., surgeon who did first fusion why am I in so much pain? Initially, we were just write me a script for pain pills basely just to get rid of me. Finally I basically cornered himand asked him again "why am I in so much pain?" He finally told me, "I don't know" He had me on Loricet 10/650. Or at least I know Loricet 10--- Hydrocodone and I didn't like the way those made me feel as well as after being on them for years no longer controlled my pain. So Dr. recommended that I try  methadone.  

Because if I stopped using Loricet I would be in extreme unbearable pain and inmwhat I now understand was withdrawal.
Had two small children was caring for husband aging grandparents and mother. I couldn't have taken care of Them while being in bearable excruciating pain.
I've tried to understand is there a difference between being dependent upon these types of medication and being addicted to them? As far as I understand there is from research I've done. I don't like feeling Loricet/hydrocodone gave me.
I do have an 2 amazing pharmacist and he told me that the Subutex was the lesser of the two evils between that and methadone. These pharmacist have been great because they understood me & didn't treat me like I was some freak.
Is there a difference between dependence and addiction? Wouldn't anyone who has to take pain meds over a long period time become dependent?
I honestly don't  care either way I just want to understand this madness of being dependent on these types of medication?

[motye51]

I have to agree with Vicki.....the suboxone dose was overkill!  24mg is the dose I started at. I quit in Jan, 2014 but I didn't taper and again, tapering is the key. I took subs for opiate w/d not for pain management, I am an addict. I do not taper b/c I don't want to feel like ****! lol, but tapering at small amounts over long durations of time is the key!  Just keep it slow and steady and you'll be out of this hole before you know it.

[vicki595]

So, you were on methadone strictly for pain management and NOT for addiction. Is that right?   I Don't believe you should have ever been on Sub and the dose she started you on was HUGE!  That's just sad.

She should be helping you taper off. We can't advise you on tapering or dosages; it's against forum policy. I CAN tell you that dropping a small amount over time is the way to go and you really do need to get off of this stuff.  Is there a pharmacist you can ask for advice?

[Clee123]

Thank you for giving me hope motye51.
After being on short acting pain MedSurg Dr. put me on low dose of methadone. After being on methadone which did control the pain but was wrecking my energy levels etc.  

About a little over a year agoI sought for new Dr.  She put me put me on the 8mg 3 times a day, so  24 mg of Subutex a day with new Dr.
Latter part of Nov. 2014. I started tapering myself down to 2- 8 mg a day. Then latter part of Jan. 2015 started tapering again so now I'm at 1 dose of 8mg that I take at 2:00 pm every day, but I feel like crap all day
Now Dr. gave me script for the 2mg Subutex, at my request, so I can step down to  6mg a
Day.
Thinking that when I'm emotionally/psychologically ready I'll take the 2 mg tablets three times a day then stay there until I'm ready to start tapering again.
Does that sound like a best way to go? to go from 8 mg of Subutex once a day to 2 mg three times a day sonIbcan step me down to 6 mg.

[Clee123]

Oh thank you so much for your support. It's priceless!
I want my life back! I want to be able to go back to work even if it's only part time. Thank you all so very much!
Main motivation is to have my Energy back as well as to be free & dependant on these kinds of Meds.  I no energy whatsoever and I feel so trapped. Dr. told me that it was due to adrenal insufficiency., But from what I'm reading on here on this wonderful forum from others posts that what I am experiencing is not uncommon with these Meds.

Yes, for chronic pain from C-Spine fusions. I have had severe muscle spasms on the right side of my neck, shoulder and right arm along with debilitating headaches that start out of the base of my scull & sometimes my neck and radiate from there all the way into my face. Although, and thank goodness I am finding alternative ways of dealing with them.
The last time I was completely drug free was 2005 after Laser sx to remove bone off of a c-spine nerve & then went to a wonderful dr. & program that weaned me off of methadone. After 2 weeks I was in excruciating T spine pain. (I lost the natural curve that is in your neck and all the weight went to my T spine, like T10 and 11.
So Dr. put me on low dose of methadone. After being on methadone which did control the pain but was wrecking my energy levels etc.

About a little over a year ago I went on the 8mg 3 times a day, so  24 mg of Subutex a day with new Dr.
Latter part of Nov. 2014. I started tapering myself down to 2- 8 mg a day. Then latter part of Jan. 2015 started tapering again so now I'm at 1 dose of 8mg that I take at 2:00 pm every day, but I feel like crap all day
Now Dr. gave me script for the 2mg Subutex, at my request, so I can step down to  6mg a
Day.
Thinking that when I'm emotionally/psychologically ready I'll take the 2 mg tablets three times a day then stay there until I'm ready to start tapering again.
Does that sound like a best way to go? to go from 8 mg of Subutex once a day to 2 mg three times a day sonIbcan step me down to 6 mg.

Thank you so much for any and all input.

[vicki595]

Hi there- Do you have pain?  You said you thought "it" was due to adrenal and thyroid insufficiency. What is "it"? The way you're feeling?

I'm not sure but maybe you're taking too much Sub. I'm assuming here that you're on it because you became addicted to pain meds. That's why I asked about the pain.

How is your doctor helping you with these symptoms? Were you on a larger Sub dose when you began?   Once you're off the Sub completely, you'll be better able to evaluate all your symptoms and get to the root cause.

You'll receive a lot of support from this forum and others who have taken Sub will comment. I have never taken it although I'm familiar with how it works.
Keep posting-

[motye51]

As long as you taper, slow and steady, YES, u will eventually feel better. The taper is the key...if u dont mind me asking, what were u taking before the 8mg??? Like mg wise for the subs??