I was 16 years old when I was diagnosed with Juvenile RA. They immediately put me on hydrocodone, and over the years, they kept upping the dose over and over. I had no idea that these were addictive. I never took them more than prescribed, but I found that I became physically dependent on them to live. At age 25, in March of this year, I went to another doctor to get on suboxone as my boyfriend also had a very bad addiction and was doing the same. I am prescribed 4 mg a day, but over the last week, I took myself down to 2 mg, then today I started 1 mg a day. I feel fine now, but I know the lower I go, the withdrawals will start to set in. My boyfriend is currently going cold turkey from 1 mg a day and his withdrawals aren't pleasant at all - body chills, restless legs, diarrhea, and stomach pains.
I know withdrawal and recovery time is different for everyone. But I wanted to know if anyone had any advice for me so that I can get off these horrible chemicals over the next week or so. I absolutely HATE being dependent on any drug to get me through the day. And after reading a lot of old threads here, it sounds like suboxone withdrawal can be worse than hydrocodone withdrawal (which was the worst thing I've ever experienced).
As of today, I feel okay. I have some slight restless legs and a little anxiety, but otherwise, I'm feeling pretty good... for now. Should I taper to a lower dose than .5 mg next week? Will that help the withdrawal? Or should I just stop now and grit my teeth and bare it? If I do that, does anyone see my withdrawals being very severe or lasting for a very long time?
Also, any support you guys could give me would be amazing. I really want to kick this crap. I hate living my life this way. I just want to be free. I want to wake up in the morning and just lay there, feeling happy, not immediately rushing for my prescription. Or worrying I'll run out. I want to wake up and not even think about needing something. It's always the same - anxiety and a LOT of depression about being addicted to something that you want nothing more than to shake off.
My boyfriend is having quite a hard time. I've read through a lot of threads here for him, to see if there's anything I can do to make it easier for him. When he was using, he was on much higher doses, and recently, with the Suboxone, he tapered, I think, much too quickly - from 4 mg to 1 mg to nothing within a week.
Again, any advice and support would be so very appreciated. It's time to finally get off this stuff for both me and my boyfriend, and I'm excited for the future. I'm excited not to have my life revolve around drugs. That's why I know I can get through this. My drive to live a normal life, a free life, is much greater than my want to take the drugs just to keep off the withdrawal symptoms. I feel positive this time. I know I can do it, and I can't wait. I know there are hard days ahead, especially once the suboxone is stopped completely, but I'm mentally preparing myself. I know it will be difficult. But I'm ready, and I'm going to do it! :)
Ashley