i had relapsed and now i got on suboxone to get off the pain pills

[ileanni]

does anyone know about suboxone? i took one of my films and the imprint N8 thats on the film, imprinted on my tounge  i would like to know why and what affect it will do if any.thanks for your time.

[ileanni]

thanks :)

[asailorswife]

i know nothing about subs, but i just wanted to say that your last post really hit home for me. that is exactly how i was, at one point, with the pills....when was i going to get them again, can i afford the co-pay this month to get more if i spend money (out of pocket) to see my PCP to get the refill that i need.

either way, kudos to you for getting clean! super proud!

[ileanni]

One of my concerns that i shared with my husband when we first started on the subs was i was worried that our addiction wasn't just an addiction, but it had became our lifestyle. everything we did revolved around pills. who we were gonna get them from, when we would be able to meet up with the person, how many we could afford to get, and then worrying about how long those were gonna last before we had to do it all over again the next day. i asked him if getting on the subs was gonna work, then what were we supposed to after that. That whole "chase for the pills" was gonna be gone. and it had become so routine that i was scared the subs weren't gonna be enough. I told him we needed to make other changes too. Start doing more with our kids. Which we actually have been over the last 2 weeks. I started working out. A majority of my family is addicted to some sort of opiate, whether it's methadone or pain pills. So we've distanced ourselves from them for the most part. My dad has been on methadone for 20 years, but him and my mom are a big part of our kids lives. So i won't cut them out completely. But even being around my dad, knowing he's got a box full of methadone in his room, i don't crave it. i don't crave anything. I'm actually really interested in joining an NA group. My problem is not having anyone to watch the kids so me and my husband can attend one. That's something i'm gonna try and work on as soon as possible. And as far as tapering off the subs, i've read a lot of stories of people who have a harder time coming off if they've been on them for longer periods of time. So i'm gonna talk to my doctor on my next visit and see what she says. But i don't want to stay on them too long. Since i've been doing 8mg a day for 2 weeks, i'll probably go down to 6mgs next week. and see how i feel. I believe i can i do this. I don't take my strip as soon as i get out of bed at 5 in the morning. When i was on pills, that was the first thing i did when i got up. I had to in order to 'wake up'. but i've found with the subs, i can function normally and feel perfectly fine for a majority of the day before i take my strip around 11. and i don't get any type of high from it. But i'm also not looking for one. i just want to get back to being normal without any opiates in my system. And i know that's gonna be a long road to normality, but it's a road i'm willing to take.

[VICourageous]

Hi I was on the methedone for 12yrs plus other meds mixed. I did the sub for 4days it was my choice to not want it...I must say after reading here on this post and getting private mails I have changed my mind about the subs a bit. You are making a better choice then going through the h***ll that methedone will put you in. It took me along time and many stages.I have been clean since Sept but I wish I would of come here before I did it my way..But its over and things are good. I wish u the best on what ever you do..The DR should know. Cleanks & maria gave u good advise all the above did....
vickie

[maria920]

When u dissolve it under ur tongue the imprint will go away. As for u tapering make sure u do a ferry slow taper or it would have been for nothing. Let me ask u a question , if u weren't on suboxone right now would u still crave pills? Would u cave at the cravings? If so stay on it longer. Suboxone shouldn't b used to just get rid of WD its a program tht should v worked and it will give u some clean time under ur belt before u jump tht way if cravings hit u kno how to deal with them... PM me if u would like to talk. I've been on them for 6 months due to a pill habit turned into a pretty bad heroin habit.

[frjs85]

Hello
Suboxone worked really well for me. N8 is 8mg's. As for tapering, i am not really sure about that. I would suggest Maybe try taking it slow. After a week cut down to 6 mgs, a week later 4, etc. Hopefully you'll get a lot of feedback on this one.
Id recommend asking a doctor who works with suboxone, or someone on here who has tapered themselves down. In rehab, i did a 10 day taper. (was on oxy, vikes, and others) for about 14 months. and it wasnt all that bad.  
Youre making a great choice for yourself. Im glad to hear youre doing this. So check back and hang in there!!!

[clean_in_ks]

Hey there.....sounds like you and your hubby are doing really well right now.  There are A LOT of opinions about how long you should stay on subs.  Heck, there are A LOT of opinions about even going on subs ha!!
But, you and your hubby were on pills prior to going to see this sub dr, right?  So, is there any aftercare or outpatient support thru this dr?
That would be an "ideal" sub program.  But, if not, while you are un-learning addiction behaviors and finding a new lifestyle, it is important to make new friends that are in recovery, learn to cope with all this life throws at us by surrounding yourself with friends/fellowship of others who also understand addiction and are choosing to live their life without ANY drugs.
You may learn or glean some insight from reading about other Medhelp forum members and their experiences with getting off subs.  Here's an article from our health pages:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Members-experiences-coming-off-of-suboxone--/show/473?cid=66

In my own opinion, educating yourself thoroughly about the strength of subs and setting a goal for tapering and a timeframe to wean off them is REALLY important.  Lifestyle changes can be made while you are on them so you will have some new habits and strength in your daily life when you DO finally get off the subs.
Some people stay subs for just a short time.....like 21 days to a month....
others who had a heavy heroin habit, may choose a longer timeframe to be on subs.......it's VERY individual, of course.....the main thing is......inform yourself....you and  your hubby set your own goal after you learn some more.  I was in an outpatient program where I saw other sub users STAY on them.....for over a year or more.......that's NOT their purpose imo.....it's to assist......if you will.....and I'd hope this sub dr of yours would also have some helpful things you two can do on this road to recovery.
Addiction cannot be "cured"......just put into remission and arrested.....
joy can be ours.....with a lot of hard work.....and a lot of changes.  If we are honest, open to change and willing....the SKY's the limit~

[ileanni]

Last summer i quit methadone cold turkey and went thru hell for a little over a month.. After my husband got out of jail shortly after we started using pills again every now and then. And then that turned into an everyday thing again. We were spending almost 200 dollars a day on the pills. A friend of ours is on suboxone and gave me and my husband each an 8mg strip to try out. It didn't get me high at all, but actually made me feel normal. I could wake up in the morning and not have to run and get me pills as soon as i got out of bed. So me and my husband went to a psychiatrist who works with suboxone. She prescribed us 3 8mg strips a day. I only take 1. And i feel fine. I don't have the cravings for pills or anything else. My husband takes 1 strip before he goes to work. And 10 hours later when he gets home he feel the need to take another one. We've been taking then for almost 2 weeks now. And they really do help. I myself want to taper off before being on them for too long. So hopefully the taper wont be as bad as if i was on them for a year. Do you have any advice on how soon i should start tapering? Oh and i do take the strips under my tongue. The first 4 days we were on them we both got these horrible headaches. But thank god those have gone away. And thank you for any advice you may have :)

[Andie015]

Suboxone helped me so much with my rampant addiction. It helped me to feel normal and live my life again. Look at it as a bridge between active using and sobriety...it helped me so much I can't explain. I know many will say its just another addiction to deal with but you don't crave it or get high off of it...it just helps. Just remember these are my opinions and my experience with suboxone...I'm not speaking for everyone just myself....give it a chance and make up your own mind. Good luck and I hope it helps...

[clean_in_ks]

Can you fill us in with what is going on with you now?  I read that you went from pain pills to methadone.....and then you were getting sick (vomiting) when you got off the methadone.  Did you go back to pills and now are on suboxone?  Are  you on a sub program thru a clinic?
The imprint on your tongue shouldn't affect anything....but since it is intended to be administered sublingually (under the tongue) you may want to take your dose that way.....we have tissues that absorb the drug more readily UNDER our tongues.
Let us know what you're dealing with.....and hang around for some more support~