To stop or not to stop?

suboxdoc · Site Admin Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 31

Everyone on Suboxone will entertain the idea of stopping the medication and becoming 'normal'-- the medication gives opiate addicts the chance to remember what is used to be like, before opiates ruled their lives.

Unfortunately, Suboxone does not 'heal' opiate dependence-- it instead forces it into remission. When a person stops Suboxone, he/she is usually surprised to find that the obsession to use is still there.

That said, I don't consider a trial off Suboxone to be totally unreasonable. As long as the person is aware of the risks, and has taken all steps possible to increase the chance of remaining sober, then a trial may be the right thing to do-- especially for younger patients.

I have some plans for the future along this line, including a group for people who would like to stop suboxone-- I think that getting support from others during the period of stopping the medication would be very helpful. Stay tuned...

Masuka · Joined: 25 Feb 2008 Posts: 22

I guess I already asked you this but I think this is a more appropriate place to ask. As you know I was only on suboxone for a short period, but now convinced it saved my life. I just have no doubt I would still be stuck in the withdrawals of methadone had it not been for suboxone, when my Dr saw me for the last few months unable to taper lower than 20mg, he said you look like your dying, and I felt that way too. I was most fearful that if I stopped I would always feel this way and if that was the case I had truly planned on taking my life. That's why I have been such a proponent of both you and the drug. If someone comes off it, having addressed all their issues and slowly tapered, what could they expect in terms of withdrawal. I ask because I have a friend on the board who is just embarking on it, though don't know yet if this will be short lived or for years to come. Thank you for this forum
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Just trying to get my story out there

AgentSmith110111 · Joined: 24 May 2008 Posts: 4

Yeah,

I mean how hard is it to find your dose? You start in the middle somewhere, 16mg, see how you feel and adjust accordingly. Now granted, this is specific to me, because I used about 100 to 160 mg of percs a day for 6 - 7 months this time around (been hooked before). YMMV. if you're strung out on tons of dope, done, whatever, this may not work for you, but i think it can no matter how much you use, if you're willing enough.

I'm not a doctor, so i'm sure I would/will get flamed for this, but if you're serious you can find the right dose, and taper down . I would say taking longer than six months to taper down off bupe is too long considering there are no cravings. Again, this depends on your previous habit. but I do believe with a little common sense,and the ability to purchase what you need, you dont need to pay a doc 400 dollars for him to say "How do you feel?" Ok come back in two weeks so i can ask you again "how do you feel?. Ok take less."

Do your research, support from others is always helpful, so I guess a doc can hook you up with this. But NA is free. And I'm not pushing NA, just saying, free support is out there, and you don't have to become a 12-stepper for life. I was in AA for three years, and it was extremely helpful in that it taught me to grow up, take responsibility, accept that life is what it is and my feeling sorry for myself doesn't help anything.

I started with a 2mg chip, believe it or not, as I said in another post. It was not nearly enoughafter the first day, but if you've ever had cravings/withdrawals before, you'll know. Moved to to 8mg twice a day for a week, now down to four mg 2x a day. Will stay this way for about three weeks. I will then stay on 2mg, 2x a day for "as long as it takes), supplemented with xanax (not at the same time, I separate the xanax by at least four hours to combat the boredom/depression/anxiety that is inevitable). Again, this maybe a dangerous substitution for some people, considering we wouldn't be talking about this if weren't addicts. Which we ARE. Maybe more exercise and being social can take the place of xanax for some, but for me, my whole painkiller mess started with a serious neck injury that is still prevalent so it keeps the exercise to a minimum.

Again, this is my experience so far only, not trying to tell anyone their way is wrong. I have a friend, he was up to about 3 to 4 80mg oxys a day, sprinkled in with some percs here and there. Couldn't stop. Went to suboxone doc and hasn't used anything except subs at all in three years. The problem is, he still take a 4 mg sub 3x a day. My questions: Why? After three years, do you really need it?

Remember: Experiment. Fail. Learn. Rinse. Repeat.

dru18h · Joined: 22 Sep 2008 Posts: 1

I have been on opiates for many years especially oxycontin. I have decided to quit the habit and since i was buying the oxy on the street i was able to also find some suboxone. i read some stuff about people having withdrawals after quitting suboxone and i want to avoid that. I want to know if it is possible to avoid opiate withdrawals if i only take suboxone for the first 5-7 days then quit will i be through with opiate withdrawals and also avoid suboxone withdrawals. anyone experienced this? basically i just want to take the subs for the least amount of time possible to get through the awful opiate withdrawals and then be done with it. Any input or suggestions??

poohgirl · Joined: 02 Nov 2008 Posts: 8

nomore · Joined: 02 Jan 2009 Posts: 1

After a long time of using heroin, i finally went on subs. B4 that i had used subs from friends just to get through H withdrawls but never used it for more than a few weeks MAX... back then I'd just stop taking them and go back to normal with out much suffering at all, truly a miracle drug i thought.
Now after being on it for 3 years I'm starting to think I should have educated myself way way earlier.. it did keep me clean for that time but I'm starting to think there's no way out of it. I tapered myself down to .5mg twice a day, and then once.. it's amazing how a lil bread crum is the difference between being normal and totally dis-functional. The withdrawals weren't as bad as from heroin or benzos but the CRAVINGS hit me like a ton of bricks after almost a week... As I came closer to 2 weeks off my head felt like a big black hole and eventually i ended relapsing and shooting heroin again... after about a month of struggling back and forth with deis and subs I flew myself to my sis where I couldn't get anything and been off about 2 weeks... After the initial withdrawals though it wasn't over, I woke up and felt like my body weighs 500 pounds! it was some serious effort just to walk a few steps to get some water... I never experienced anything like this, off any other opiate it was a week or two of suffering and thats it... So I started researching and found out there's soemthing called PAWS(Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome) which can last for MONTHS, where you (atleast I did and still do) feel like a zombie... Personally for me that feeling is the most dangerous for me, i'd almost rather be in withdrawals... If I was home right now I'd definitely break and call my dealer right about now.. My brain is in absolute agony.

My question for the Doc is if there's anything I can do for this feeling?

and my suggestion for anyone who wants to quit after years of being on subs is... DON'T b stupid like me and think you can do it alone. And if you're thinking of starting suboxone just know that eventually you'll have to deal with the problem and go get treatment or stay on the pill 4 life... At least thats my addictive opinion.