Suboxone withdrawal

[eperljm]

I've been an opiate addict for the better part of the last decade. My opiates of choice are oxycontin, and heroin. Over the past two years I've been introduced to Suboxone during several attempts to come off of opiates. Finally after several failed attempts, I went on suboxone for a year and a half. I started out taking 24mg per day, and over time tapered to 8mg per day. I used a lot of oxycontin and heroin, so the adjustment was rough, but eventually good. The time came back in May of 2008 to come off of suboxone, my Doctor had two methods to stop taking suboxone. First methos was the taper, which I tried several times, and failed always going back to suboxone. The second method, is to substitute a strong opiate in place of the suboxone. So being an addict, that method sounded wonderful. For three months I went on Fentanyl patches. The idea is the patch keeps you from feeling the effects of the suboxone withdrawal. My Doctor said it takes on average three months for suboxone to leave the blood stream. In my case it took longer. I've been off suboxone since may 2008, and off fentanyl since august 2008. I'm still a wreck, fatigue, loose stoole, depression, anxiety, insomnia, constant sneezing, stuffy nose, watery eyes, etc....I've been off of everything for one month, and things got worse before they got better. I'm no where near normal, but I have brief windows of normality. I would not take suboxone long term if I were you. I didn't have a choice because I could not stay clean, today I'm clean with no desire to use. I just want to feel normal again and slowly it is happening. Don't expect anything to happen fast, it is a slow tedious process. It *****, but thats the way it is. Compared to the withdrawal I've experienced in the past, this is mild but bothersome. I'm hoping by Thanksgiving I feel somewhat normal again. Good luck to you all, this stuff has its good points and bad points. For some like me it allowed me to get clean, but it's a long road back.

[eperljm]

The Doctor is an addiction specialist, and is very well known in the Santa Cruz CA area. I'll admit, going back on opiates to come off of suboxone sounds risky, but tapering just didn;t work well for me. The last few mg were hard to come off. The patch worked well for the first month, but then my tolerance kicked in, and the doctor had to keep increasing the dosage of fentanyl because I kept slipping into withdrawal. Finally, the obsession with the patches kicked in, and I had to request to come off of them early. I barely made it three months on the patch. I forgot to mention, after three months of the patch, I went on subutex for five days, and then nothing. The transitions were rough, but acceptable. My biggest complaint right now is insomnia, and digestive problems. Thankyou for your reply, and goodluck.

[ochooked]

Ditto to what this thread conveys.  I am on day 22 off Sub and still having some W/D's --  I think they are getting fewer and less intense but oh the pain that Sub caused.  I would have been so much better off tapering off Oxycodone than ever finding and using Sub.  I'm afraid I was like most opiate addicts who see Sub as the 'magic bullet' to avoid any pain from W/D's.  For those who are still  on Sub, I wish you the best and hope that you will also post after you quit the Sub to report on how you feel about it then.  I do wish everyone the very best no matter what path you take to sobriety.

[refusingbondage]

Hi.  I was on suboxone for well over a year. I truly had no idea of the facts when I started it and bought the miracle drug stuff gladly. Started at 16mg and tapered very slowly.  Today i am on day 14 without any sub.  For me its been the worst 2 weeks of withdrawal ever.  Been through it before off oxys/perks/vics and it really didnt compare to how severe and long this is lasting..not to mention how hard mentally its been.  Thank you for your post and telling the truth.  I know there is a very long road ahead with this but inspirational to see your getting by and doing well.  Good luck with everything.

[landbray]

Hi,
I have 28 yr history with morphine, perc's , vic's. xanax
I now am on suboxine
I have never heard of what your dr ? did with fentanyl patches.
I can't see myself agreeing to anything like that.
Do you know this dr well?
I agree suboxine isn't for everyone but it is working
for me and my husband, who spent 4 yrs on methadone to get off morphine.
Even then some crazy stuff went on but what you went through?? It's no wonder your wiped out.
It's great things are better for you
best of luck to you
paaddict

[SOCAL742]

THANK YOU FOR THAT. sorry for the caps, I am tapering off the sub right now 3 days ago went from 4mg daily to 2mg daily so far so good.....scared though very very scared. g wish my doctor gave me that option of the patch to get off of it....jk