Scared about coming off suboxone.

Question

So, I've been here for a while, and talk to many of the wonderful people on this site. Medhelp has helped me through so much.  I am currently on Suboxone. However, I am extremely anxious, scared, and worried about coming off.  I used to look to medhelp for support, but now, I am honestly nervous to even voice my opinion, and problems, b/c of all the sub bashers and haters.  By reading all of the horror stories on medhelp about coming off suboxone, I have basically worked myself up so bad that I am a nervous wreck.  I know that I needed suboxone to get clean.  I seriously wish that there were more success stories about people using suboxone. Yes, I know I have taken it longer than most of the people on this site think you're supposed to. But, I honestly felt like I NEEDED to take it so I wouldn't relapse the past few months. I just wish that there were more good stories about suboxone, that would help to give the people on sub, more hope, and not put us into such a panic. I've got myself so worked up about this that I'm having CONSTANT anxiety, having trouble sleeping, etc. I love medhelp, so don't get me wrong. The friends that I have made here are the best, I just wish that there was a little more support for this, and people didn't come on here bashing so badly, b/c it makes me not even want to sign onto medhelp anymore.

spacejam1 · Answer

Seems that everyone has different results coming off Sub, and different reactions to it. I studied Sub for the past 3 yrs and it seems to be a unpredictable drug. NOW, I SAY THIS, it does help some people. And some people have little to no w/d off of it. To the original poster, wean down with a plan and just go thru it. Its the ONLY way of getting off something is to go thru it. BUT, think positive thoughts! You very well could be one of those lucky people, unlike myself, who have little to NO w/d from Sub. But weaing with the help of your doc is a must! Dont' just quit taking it then you might be asking for trouble. Talk to your doc about a good weaning plan, stick to it, DON"T go back up on the dose after starting to wean, and think positive thoughts! A lot of w/d can be in our heads, and if we set ourselves up for a bad w/d then we might just make it worse then it already is. Make sense? 
We are here for you and you CAN get off that Sub and live a drug free live with some sort of support group, or at least thats what I needed. Much luck to you and positive thoughts!

worried878 · Answer

u can go to the suboxone websiete...nabbt dot org or sumpin like that..it will give u doctors in the area u r going to who can prescribe sub

TTT69 · Answer

i need help in getting suboxone when i'm in las vegas for convention .. i'm from australia and i'm going there for work about 6days and by the sound of it i will not be clean on time. please help me

strong_woman · Answer

hey hun just wanted to say that i feel the same exact way....this is actually my first day on this site....i had a prob with percocet and at the time 23 not knowing anything i took methadone to try and self detox....yea big mistake...i heard of suboxone and found a wonderful doctor...i have now moved and no longer have that doctor and so many are money hungry they wont even take insurance....i started on 2mgs 3x daily i am down to between 1 to 2...i have 3 2mgs left and and 8mg.....i am trying to break all of them down and going straight to it...its just time for me ya know...while on suboxone i tried to get myself as physically strong as possible working out constantly and lost alot of weight, i was trying to discipline myself to help when coming off....i just feel like it would have been easier jus coming off the percs but i was young still am and didnt know about all that stuff, but suboxone helped me focus and get my mind prepared for the wd i would of had to face anyway....i am right there with ya and im prob going to be no i know i will be done with my sub by thurs or fri so i am soo scared too....but i think it is alot of emotional wd bc they say sub is like an anti depressant as well...anyway let me know if you want to keep in touch maybe we can calm each other down everyone around me is telln me that i too am working myself into a frenzy very bad anxiety...many blessings...
monique

LateAugust · Answer

It's interesting there are two threads on the same day that are polar opposites:  one regarding the money hungry sub doctors   and then another about how the doctors are so cruel to people in real need of pain meds  and how inappropriate the monitoring of narcs is now.....       Perhaps it is just me  that it seems a bit odd....     Thank goodness with sobriety comes responsiblity for one's self and for our own decisions/actions.   Just a thought.

xru11 · Answer

Hey.  Suboxone can be a life saver.  It was very effective in helping me kick my opiate addiction.  I was on Subs for a year.  I weaned down to a crumb for a week or two and jumped off.  I just wasn't prepared for how rough it was going to be.  Medhelp gave me all the resources I needed to make my jump an easier ride.  Being prepared is half the battle.  I think you should arm yourself with everything you might need aminos, bath salts, good friends, an exercise plan, clean food, hot teas, vitamins bananas, etc., and get to a doctor that knows what he or she is doing.  They might help you thru the process.  This is especially true if you start feeling anxiety or depression.  Look, it took me about 11 days to get thru the toughest of the physical part.   But looking back (its been 165 days for me)  I would have been so much better off if before I quite, I came here to learn what to expect.  Its not all that bad.

By the way if you have something to say,...say it!  Don't be intimidated by the vigorous opinions of others.

TysonRed · Answer

I used sub for about 5months, switching over after I had tapered down from 140mgs of methadone to 30mgs. Im not sure what dose your at but I found that actually the lower the dose the more effective it was and the better I felt. If its true that your taking more than 32mgs, then you may want to find a different doctor because theres no benefit in taking more. Like I said I found that when I got down to 2-4mgs I really started to feel great and it got to the point where I did get addicted to that burst of energy it gave me. I was also extremely nervous about quitting because I had heard of many bad experiences, but compared to methadone/oxycontin w/d's suboxone was physically quite a bit easier. I basicly had about 10-14 rough days, I never through up,but did have most of the typical symptoms of opiate w/d. I did have a lingering depression and some sleeping issues for awhile, but my experience really wasnt that bad. I can tell you getting yourself all hyped up for a bad detox will only complicate things, so try and stay positive. You'll want to get down to the lowest dose possible before quitting, I know some of the bad experiences came from people who jumped off at high doses. Ive heard from people who had bad w/d's, mild w/d's and some people had no problems at all. I do think when people post during their withdrawal period we tend to make it sound worse than it really is. I know for me if someone asked about sub w/d while I was going through it, I would've had nothing nice to say about the drug, but looking back Ive had many other detoxes that were much more intense. The main problem I see with sub these days is people are using it as their first option over just trying to taper or quit flat out. Theres a bunch of money hungry doctors who only accept cash and mis-represent what people should expect out of suboxone treament. In the end Im not pro-sub and Im not anti-sub, its a personal choice that addicts have to make. When you do quit, look into the vitamins, supplements and amino acids that can help. I also took some clonidine to help me relax and melatonin to help with sleep. Overall I had a positive experience with sub, even though when I stopped everything I heard about the w/d's were scary. Any w/d's are so darn mental its crazy, so staying positive and determined can really effect your experience. You can get through this, we're all routing for you, good luck with everything, take care.

If you ever have any questions feel free to ask.

imanaddict · Answer

I know how you feel! I have been on sub for a year and a half and am scared to death to come off because of all the things I have read about it on med help. Theeagle is right though. The ones that have had horrible experiences are the ones we see the most, and that makes perfect sense. 

I wish I hadn't stayed on sub for as long as I have and I almost feel like I'm at the point of no return. If I had read all the horror stories before getting on sub, I would have done it for about 2 months and gotten off of them. When I first went to the sub dr. they said they like their patients to be on it for at least a year to give your body time to go back to normal. But how can your body go back to normal if you're still on opiates? GRRRR!!! I know how you feel, so if you ever need to chat, feel free to PM me.

122 Tactical Fighter Group · Answer

Your doctor (I believe) has you on a dose that is above the ceiling effect of sub......I believe it tops out at 32 mg and any more is wasted. May have my numbers wrong, so check them out. Sub is one oddball - supper strong, but in a particular sort of way. 70milligrams wouldnt do any more good than your 40 - if that can make sense.  

I tried sub for chronic pain and it was about as helpful as a bag of skittles.

gizzy32 · Answer

It`s great to see you post and don`t feel bad. Yes there are a few sub bashers that scare people from posting, but only YOU can do what is right for you recovery. Since this is a public forum and your a friend I can also give you my opinion, hehehehe. 

First of all you know you don`t want to be on sub too long, I think you need to get off it and get involved in aftercare. Just don`t say you can`t get clean without sub, cause that is not true. By working on your recovery, making a plan and sticking to it, with tonnes of support you will succeed. I believe in you and so do a lot of people here so get out of that head of yours and start thinking positive. So much to getting clean, is a positive attitude. Don`t let nobody scare you into posting. You can do this girl and you will feel better than ever:) Get some aftercare and get off the sub, boy am I bossy today, lol.

mammasisk · Answer

hey all let me fill yu in on me i have had a mean loritb addiction and went to a pain specialist to get on subutex and off lortabs but knowing i do have valid pain he also wrote me tabs to take and with the help of subutex i didnt abuse them but as yuo know thy didnt have as great of a effect either so after a year i asked was there anything to help with pain because i have also had gastric bypass and i still dont absorb meds as well and he said would yuo want to swap to oxyicotin or stay on subutex and of course i said subuted so he uped my subutex to 5 8mlgram tabs a day and  i said will this help with pain and he said yes but i dint think so cause i knew the 3 a day did not now what to do when you really hurt im lost please advise lo9ve lots tawnya.

jdawne1899 · Answer

As always, you guys are the best. I feel 100 times better after reading all your replies.  You all made me feel so much better. Thank you.

worried878 · Answer

I havent seen anyone bashing people on sub...not here anyway...but I miss alot...I do see people like cathy said "steer" people away from sub when they r on a small hydro habit...there are people who take 30 mgs of hydro a day for 1 year and get on sub..and if it works for them and they get off without the wd associated with sub..then more power to them...for some people sub is their only option..and some may need it for life...but aftercare is so important..even after stopping sub..good luck to u...and if u taper slow maybe u can skip wd all together..i know being positive helps so much...fear can hold us back

refusingbondage · Answer

Hey girl.  Dont feel bad or nervous.  Yes, you have heard some negative stories of people coming off sub, but there are good stories too.. Its important to remember that everyone is different and what happens with one person does not happen to the next.  I don't get it, but its true.  I have talked to quite a few people who did not have that difficult of a time coming off subs.  Its a whole lot mental.  Dont be scared of it.  I know it seems daunting, especially after all you've read - but that comes with anything.  If you came on here trying to kick hydros, you would read many posts about how difficult it is, because it is difficult.  But you would also read many posts about how much better life is after - because it is better.  Just try to stay positive.  It does make sense that many people who have positive experiences have no reason to be vocal and move on and those that didnt will be very vocal.  Sub has worked for you the way it should.  This is the last step.  Stay positive and let us know of your successes!  Good luck and please no panicking.  There is no use in panicking about something that hasn't happened yet -- Keep thinking positive.

evildone · Answer

Don't worry bout what anyone else thinks. Just care for urself and do what you can the best you can. We're here for ya. I'm c/t off 65mg methadone so I feel ur pain. These ppl are helping me big time. Great site. Much love and goodluck

122 Tactical Fighter Group · Answer

From the expert addiction site - Dr Junig has relayed to me that he feels many that have unsuccessful sub experiences are the most vocal. People that have more positive experiences tend to move on and not prosletyze. 

Addiction and its treatment are highly individual. Do what works for you ...... I have used sub for chronic pain - but I am not a huge proponent of using sub (or MMT).  But by all means do not let yourself be panicked by the negative stories. Your own comment says it all - "I honestly felt like I needed it" - - - thats reason enough.  Calm down and look at things in perspective..... Besides - you already made your choice to use sub - and it seems to be working out - finish your plan and relax . Then tell your success story often!

Sunnyd210 · Answer

Ohhhhhh dawn Im sooo sorry u are feeling this way. There are some positive sub people on here I do remember seeing a post on the social side about the sub bashing. I dont really know to much about sub so I cant offer any advice but different things work for different people and Im glad this worked for you. If you need anything u know where to find me =)

cathy5841 · Answer

jdawn, i am so sorry you got this from MH.  there are some success stories for sub...i think like you some are afraid to post because of the bashing...i admit i sm guilty of trying to steer ppl from sub...BUT, you are taking it now and i promise you the good ppl here will be here for you and help you through getting off.  dont be afraid..i will beat up anyone who bshes you on here...lol...girl you have come so far and if took sub to get you there then so be it.  you are reaching a new phase of your recovery, getting off the sub.  i am sure you know to taper to a crumb every other day before you stop.  hun, you can soooo do this.  we are all here to help you

outotown · Answer

here is a SUCCESS STORY, I was hurt real bad at work in march 04 the dr put me on everything from tramadol to oxy, at one time i was on oxy, soma 350, and kolonipin, i was taking 60 oxy 10s in two days, after i lost my job my new truck the respect of my children and myself i wanted to die and tried i woke up in rehab.,im still in chronic pain, i tore my r/rotor cuff damaged 4 disc in my neck, herniated two in my back and dislocated my left should, they replaced two disc in my neck and did surgery on r/shoulder, after rehab. i went to dr. and got on suboxone and kept my dr. app. did has he said, its been 13 months but today is day 6 and its getting easier everyday, i feel pretty good today. i think people are trying to detox too quick i tried too stop taking sub. a few times and it was terriable but now not too bad. good luck and God Bless.