Stopping suboxone

[Alltay]

Could my doctor be wrong? I have been on suboxone for over two years, after five years of opiate dependency. I tried to taper my dose from 16mg/per day to 0 at least five times without success. Each time I relapsed and went back to opiates, then went through the same withdrawals getting back on suboxone.  My doctors original plan for opiate dependency was suboxone maintenance for years, since less then 10% of  suboxone quitters stay clean within a year. I switched doctors hoping to quit. Just like my previous attempts it was easy to go from 16mg to 8mg to 4mg to 2mg per day. I had always relapsed after tapering further. This time I stuck to 2mg/per day for three months. You have to have the 2mg pills cut in half to get a consistent dose. This is when tapering became very difficult, and after no suboxone I had mild to moderate withdrawals for 10 days. I think the only way to quit is getting past the desire for opiates before you try to taper. I wonder if others have been successful?

[salsinator]

I agree with your comments Alltay.  Suboxone plans are different for everyone.  Some people need to be on it long term and there is nothing wrong with that.  Keep working your plan and use the resources of this site and the others that you have for support.

[Alltay]

I don't want to imply that ending your suboxone maintenance is for everyone. As soon as I started suboxone I thought I could quit. In the beginning each attempt at quitting led to a worse relapse. Once I starting using the medication for maintenance, instead of a quick fix, it worked great. I slowly worked through many problems at the pace that worked for me. I was able to slowly taper without any relapse, and kept to my plan of quitting. Most addicts I know other then iv. users can taper quickly to 2-8mg/day if money is an issue. The doctors I see let me know my overwhelming odds of failure. If you feel good on suboxone I would stay on it. I felt tired and not quite the person I wanted to be. I trust many doctors and believe most of the statistics they use, but I believe there is room for a person to change their behavior. You will put that to the test trying to quit long term suboxone use. I had a plan to quickly restart suboxone maintenance if there was any relapse. With less then a month off suboxone I feel very positive. I still haven't slept more then a couple hours a night. I might fail, but I might not!

[salsinator]

Seeing a psychiatrist is good - that is one on one therapy.  There are many support groups available, but I suppose that depends on where you live.  AA/NA are always good groups, but like you said it is hard to watch friends relapse.  If NA is something that works for you, or you are interested in trying, look them up on the web, there are meeting literally everywhere.  That is the best form of face to face support and you don't need to know anyone or hang out with them either - and the great part is that it's free.  Glad that you are working with a psychiatrist - I have a therapist that I have been working with for several years and I would not be where i am today without her.

[Alltay]

I appreciate your suggestions for staying clean. I continue to see my doctor and phsychiatrist. Without their help, I can't imagine where I would be now. I am having a hard time finding local people who have had a long term hardcore addiction and stay clean. It is too hard to watch friends relaspe without joining them. Is there a safe way to find a face to face support group?

[avisg]

As salsa said aftercare ,therpy or a support group to you have any with the sub because its soooo important

[Alltay]

very helpful

[badshadow]

I was on Suboxone Maintainence for a year.  Getting off was difficult, especially the last 2 mg.  I felt so sick, and it took me a year to get off the Suboxone.

Since I hadn't built up any foundation of Recovery while on the Suboxone I immediately relapsed back to Opiates.

Finally, last year I just got sick and tired of myself, my life, the way I felt, and I just stopped taking Opiates.

I have had many good days in Sobriety so far, but I have had alot of Challenges too.  However, these days  I want my Sobriety.  I do not want to go back to having to worry about whether  I have enough pills, where I will get my next script from, will I get caught for doing something illegal, etc.

There are alot of things about my life now that are very uncomfortable to deal with, and sometimes I wish I could get loaded just to escape, but that is just not an option for me anymore.

I am committed to stick this out.  However, I have to say that the one of the Number 1 things is my support group.  Acknowledging I have a problem, getting honest with myself in particular.

I don't think I have to go around telling everyone every little detail of myself, but I do have to be able to be honest with myself.  Not that I mean I go around lying to everyone, or make a habit of lying period.

There is a type of honesty that one has to have to one's self, and it takes time to get there.

Every day I learn more and more about myself, my feelings, the way I react and handle things.

I am far from perfect, but I don't have to be.  I just have to do the best I can and not pick up, or use drugs or alcohol to escape the way I feel.  

I have a few select friends that I share alot of myself with, other than that, I don't worry about who knows what about me.

I believe in "Karma," and that if I do the right thing, then I am helping to make the world a little better.  No strings attached, no expectations of getting things in return.

I am learning how to be the "best" person "I" can be.

The desire for Opiates comes and goes.  For some people it always will, that is why a Support System is so important, and using it is important.

If you wait for your "Opiate Cravings" to go away, you could be waiting the rest of your life.

[tryntogetwell]

I have been on suboxone for about 20 months now. I am trying to do a taper now but am having a hard time. I am going to go see a theripist next week. I have heard of some people on this forum who have been sucessful though. they should be on here soon.

[laurel453]

Hi, welcome here

yes, there are many people that have been successful, don't lose your hope here :) Some of them will come to tell you about their experiences as i don't have it but i am sure that they will encourage you to seek some kind of aftercare to help you not to relapse again. Have you been going to therapy, Na meetings, addiction specialists while on the sub ? maybe this is what you need to change the result...