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Suboxone

I am contemplating seeing a local doc for Suboxone treatment.  I have really tapered down but am having difficulty dealing with the withdrawal symptoms.  I can honestly say that I don't really crave the opiates, I just cannot handle the w/d and end up taking something to take away the discomfort.  My question is, is it possible to just take the sub for a week or two to get the mess out of system and past the withdrawals, or does your body then need the sub? Thanks!
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480448 tn?1426948538
I'm a supporter of Sub in the right situation.  I tend to agree with weaver, that sub should be left for people with either very hefty habits, or a person who is on one of the stronger opiates.  That's just my opinion...plenty of people addicted to Oxy, or Hydro, seek out Subs, and do well.  Others get stuck on sub, as they soon learn they have to w/d from that too.  It's a very personal choice.

I would tell you this...if you want to choose Subs because you want to get and stay clean, and have had a hard time doing so, then that's a good reason, IMO.  To want to go the sub route thinking w/d's will be avoided is NOT the right reason.  MOST people have SOME level of w/d from subs, even when properly tapered.  Sub w/d, as a whole is a bit more severe and longer in duration than other opiates, like oxy, hydrocodone.  Therefore, I would recommend you simply try to taper yourself off the oxy, versus taking suboxone.  It really is the lesser of two evils, simply where w/d is concerned.  Everyone is different too...you will see LOTS of different stories of personal experiences.

No, CYS will not be notified if you seek professional help for addiction (which is a great idea btw!).  My advice to you is...if you can get a doc on board to help you with a taper plan, and with some meds typically helpful in detox (ie clonidine, zofran, etc), then that's a good plan.  The best approach would be to taper down to the smallest amount you could, allowing yourself to stabilize in between drops.  That's about as specific as we can get with taper advice.   Once you are able to taper down, you come off completely. With a proper taper, and you doing some of the work, utilizing the thomas recipe, and giving yourself some time, it's totally doable...we see it here every day!

Be SURE you are putting an aftercare plan in place, whether it be NA/AA, or private therapy, something!  Believe it or not, it's the "staying clean" part that is the biggest challenge.  You've already tried many times, with no success, due to the w/ds.  Well, once you get through the detox (and you will)...you have to start fighting a lifelong battle, which involves exploring WHY you turned to the Oxy, and what your triggers are, the signs of relapse, and how to handle relapse.  

Very best to you, whateverr you decide.  Please let us know!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Even if you get caught doctor shopping or the doctor finds out some other way than you telling your doctor, most doctors red flag you at the pharmacy. I've known many people who took street opiates and they didn't get in any trouble for seeking help. I've never herd of anyone getting in trouble for seeking help. Opiate addiction is so common amongst all walks of life, most doctors have dealt with this epidemic many times. I'd worry more about not seeking help than seeking help. You'd have to check your local laws to know for sure.
Helpful - 0
2107676 tn?1388973859
If your doctor is prescribing the meds to you for legitimate pain, there should not be a problem.  Oxy and percs are highly addictive and he should be able to come up with a good slow taper plan for you as I am sure he has dealt with this before.
There are many other things that can help ease the withdrawals if you decide to go cold turkey.
Doctors should be happy to help people.  It is their job.
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Avatar universal
Can I ask another question? If I go to doctor, they cannot call DYFS just because I am seeking treatment, can they?  As I mentioned, my work and family life has not been affected at all by this, yet.  That is why I am seeking help now.  I'm an excellent mom and I take care of my family as my husband is disabled and home with them.  But can a doctor do that just because I seek treatment?
Helpful - 0
4592241 tn?1359813138
I wish I could tell you you wont need the subs..put after all is said and done...one year later and I am still taking subs so I dont get sick from withdrawal. I am on a really low dose but if I try to stop I have horrible withdrawal and depression. If you want off all opiates, probably good to just deal with the withdrawal, otherwise you are just avoiding the problem till later. Although subs have given me a chance to regain my life and saved me from certain death..I know I am not completely over the addiction because I am still on the subs. Suboxone is great for people like me who have failed at all attempts and could not stand another failed attempt...( my kidneys are shot) so I cant really tell you what to do, but if you can get thru it without..that would be the best way to go.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hey Andie, I'm glad subs helped you, they saved my life also. I was taking 200mg+ of methadone. I know for a fact that I would be dead today without them, but I was taking more than 2-3  percs and 60mg of Oxy a day, and so where you Andie. Subs seem to work great for people like you and me. That's the reason I wanted to know how much Wolverine was taking. 4mg of sub is stronger than the amount Junip is taking.

Junip, if you choose the sub route, educate yourself as doctors take an 8 hr class and pay a lot of money to be allowed to prescribe them. Some doctors over prescribe this drug to the detriment of the patient and the benefit of their income. There are a lot of great sub doctors though, so learn all you can about buprenorphine and find a doctor that knows what they are talking about. The suboxone/subutex FAQs at the bottom right of this page is a good place to start. Whatever you decide, we are all here for you sharing our experience, strength, and hope. Hope that appointment goes awesome. Keep us posted.
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Avatar universal
Thank you so much for all of the support and advice. I have abused off/on over the years and consistently for past two. I guess I never felt it was a big issue until I realized I had awful w/d when I would try to stop.  My husband is now aware and concerned and I need to get clean for my family, before the addiction gets worse. It may seem minor compared to others but I suppose for me it is significant enough. My intentions are there but I just cannot handle the awful cold/hot, anxiety, skin crawling while I try to excel at work and raise my boys, so I give in so I feel normal. I have a doc appointment tomorrow at 6:15 and feel like this is the first step!! Your support is much appreciated!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Sorry...wasn't disagreeing with wolverine...love that name by the way!
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Avatar universal
I have to disagree...this is only my opinion of course and everyone has their own opinion. It's true that subs cause withdrawal when they are stopped but if it wasn't for this med I wouldn't be clean today. My 13 year habit encased my whole life and my hundreds of attempts to get clean always failed. I was taking 20 to 30 a day and there was no way I could deal with detox on my own. I went to detox and rehab for 2 weeks and was put on subs...I owe my life to suboxone...I really believe this. I had little problems stopping...again this is my experience. Think this through and make your own decision because it just might work wonderfully for you as we'll...just know all of the risks before you jump in...good luck
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Avatar universal
Wow Woverine, that's awesome. Do you mind if I as how long and how many oxys you where taking last time? I love to hear success stories like that. I did a fast taper on subs, but I was on a lot higher dose for a lot longer than Junip.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
am currently on suboxone,withdrawing from an oxy addiction.Its my second time going this route and have had no problems on the sub.Last time I was on it 3 months and had no problem stopping.Had no withdrawal from it at all,its much better then putting your body through the agony of wd if you dont have to,especially in your case where you need to be discreet about it.
I understand its not for everyone ,but in my case It helped immensely with no drawbacks
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I definitely wouldn't go with suboxone, it's stronger and a longer detox than what you've been taking. It would probably make you high and/or give you headaches. The easiest, least painful way is a slow taper. We can't give taper schedules on the forum, we're not doctors, but it's just like it sounds. Take a little bit less and stabilize, then drop a little more. For example, you say 2-3 Percocet, stop doing the occasional 3rd, even if you want it. The lower you get the less you want to drop. If you end it on a Thursday, you'll have to make it through Friday and then there's the weekend. If you aren't able to work by Monday, use the old flu excuse. You should be good enough to work in a couple more days, then you have the excuse of getting over something if you have some lingering discomfort. You're on a relatively low dose and haven't had any major losses, I'm glad you are getting out now. It gets harder and harder over time and at higher doses. Keep posting for support and advice.
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Avatar universal
Hopefully I'm not reposting twice, learning site.  Thanks for the responses, I greatly appreciate it.  I have been taking OxyContin 60 almost daily and Percocet 10/325 (2-3 per day) for about two years. I am a professional with a great job and family and need discreet treatment. So far this has not affected my work or family life but I get uncomfortable withdrawals when I try to stop. I don't know how to go about it...
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I did a short sub detox to get off of high dose methadone. I would not recommend subs for any other use than treating high dose powerful opiate addiction. Subs are the second strongest opiate on the market, just behind fentanyl. A lot of people are not just trading one drug for another, but are trading for a much stronger addiction with subs. They saved my life by giving me a mental break, but they did not stop me from having withdrawals by any means. You will have withdrawals at some point, no matter what method of detox you choose. So my questions are, what where you taking, how much, and how long? What dose are you at now?

Look up Palm Beach Outpatient Detox Center, run by Dr. Scanlan. At the bottom of his web site there is a suboxone article about short term sub use. Also, read the suboxone/subutex FAQs at the bottom right of this page.
Helpful - 0
1551327 tn?1514045867
Yes you can get addicted to subs and I always encourage people no to go on them but it is a personal decision and I have to respect that.  If you can make it through the withdraws, I would advise not going on the subs.  You are just going to exchange one addiction for another.

Good Luck,

Larry
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