My Suboxone Withdrawal Story:

That was very generous of you, Hawker. Now it's my turn: I'm kind of a hothead sometimes, and to be honest I really hadn't thought out my statement all that well before I said it. The purpose of me saying that people shouldn't go off was SINCERELY because I am afraid for them. But you are are absolutely right: you can go back on sub, and i didn't think about (duh!) the fact that most of those that taper off will probably keep a private stash of Subs just in case.
I'm (admitedly) a Suboxone fanatic. But it's because it works!!! Oh my god, the last 12 years of my life have been a never-ending, bottomless hell that I have gone through, dragging my friends and family all the way. Everytime I thought I reached rock bottom, painkillers took me to a new pit of despair. I mean, I had really given in to the fact that I was going to spend my life in prison or that I would just overdose and die in the next year or so. So now that I found Sub, it's like I have this tunnelvision that it's "all good" and it's hard for me to see why anyone would go off of it. But I know you guys have legitimit reasons.
So from now on I'm going to mind my own business about other people staying on or going of the Subs. I hope there's no hard feelings with anyone.
JD

I don't think JD should be kicked off.

Some are going to agree with him, some will disagree and some will be in between.

I was told by my neurologist that I would prob have to take some sort of opiate for years to come or more likely for the rest of my life. I know I could never control my other scripts for my severe chronic pain. I became an addict. Now in recovery, I can take suboxone as I am supposed to and use it as a tool for my recovery. Also, being a very strong narcotic, originaly made for chronic pain and used for ~30 years in Europe and even in the States for chornic pain as Buprenex, it MUST help somewhat with my pain. Maybe not for everyone, but I think it allows me to manage my pain without chasing a tolerance that I could NEVER catch. I don't have the best pain control, but it is managed. I wish I would have done this years ago. I don't plan on coming off of suboxone anytime soon. In fact, if it is at all possible I would like to stay on it for the better part of the rest of my life.....or if it is practical, the rest of my life. I am ok with that. That is MY choice. ANYONE should be able to make that choice if it is the correct choice for them. If someone wants to come off for whatever reason, that is THEIR choice and I wish you all the luck from the bottom of my heart. It can and has been done....and more will do it. But also more and more will end up on long term maintainence too. And yes of course some who do taper off of sub will have to come back and that is more than fine. Much wiser than choosing active addiction again. Others will be able to taper off and be med free and that is wonderful!!! IF I could have done that I would have. But for me, support and suboxone plus my family and friends is what is working.

Not an arguement, just my opinoin and my choice. I am a recovering addict with severe chronic pain having much success from buprenorphine treatment and proud of it!!

Good luck to all
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"The past is finished. There is nothing to be gained by going over it. Whatever it gave us in the experiences it brought us was something we had to know."----Rebecca Beard

"Have no fear of perfection - you'll never reach it." ---Salvador Dali

JD, I don't think that you have to stay silent about your thoughts and feelings. That is not the point. The lesson here perhaps is much more that your way is certainly not the only way and in some cases may not even be the right way. In the cases that it is the "right way", just keep in mind that it is the "right way" for you - and perhaps only for you. Everyone is different. Some may be able to stop Subs and stay off of opiates, while others may have to stay on Subs for an extended time and still others may need it for life. And guess what, they are all right - so long as it works for them.

Your experience and information is valuable as "one" of the ways to deal with opiate abuse. Don't stop sharing your thoughts. Just don't keep thinking your way is the only way to success.

Hope you'll continue to post and participate.

Well we all get a little hot headed at times:) Especially when it comes to such a big part of our lives.

JD i never quite got as deep in the pit as you did. I'm certain I would have eventually. I decided to go on subs when the tramadol seemed to just make me normal and I found my self taking my girlfriend's concerta. I took a few too many and had trouble breathing and had a panic attack and thought I was OD'ing. In reality I wasn't close to Od'ing but it scared me so much I decided to stop right hten and there and get on suboxone. My 2 years on sub have been better than my 5 years on opiates by a LOOOOONG shot. I think the world of the drug. I believe I have a shot at getting off everything and with proper planning, understanding, maintenance and focus can stay off. I think when you say the truth hurts you are right. But I think that should be more directed at folks who are uninformed and unrealistic. I haven't read all of the suboxdoc stuff like it sounds like you have but I have informed the hell out of myself in every other way. I understand what I'm up against and when I'm ready i'll be ready.

If i can't make it or have issues life on suboxone would be ok. I think if I had hit some of the lows you had i would view this whole thing differently.

I obviously won't suggest anyone be kicked off the site again...that was stupid. In fact I'll delete that post. Maybe I'll take a breath before posting next time. Keep posting and I will too...just make sure we both don't discourage anyone at any point....encouragement goes a long damn way.

Hi All!

Well.... I've been lurking on this thread. I know what I WANT, but I don't know what I NEED...

I go to the doctor - and I get a bunch of information about the 'disease' of Opiate addiction. I am given a prescription called suboxone to treat my disease. I get in trouble with the doctor when I refer to myself in any type of 'shame' or 'judgmental against myself' as that is not treating it like a disease.

BUT... I'm there for 3 months, in counseling, doing better than ever - and the doctor is like - OK, we are getting ready to tape you off right?

What the ??? Supposedly the doctors have been through training on this. They have limits on the patients they can treat. They tell us we have a disease, then quite quickly start talking about getting us to the place where the 'disease' can take us over again!

Sure, if the 'disease' is controllable by 'just say no' - I'm all for it. Where I am so dang confused is this whole notion of disease category. Is this like type2 diabetes where if I control my weight, my blood sugar is OK and I don't need insulin? OR, is this like a type1 diabetes, where I need insulin every day of my life?

Personally, the whole disease issue is confusing to me. Naturally, I want it to be like Type2 diabetes (therefore i taper off suboxone and all is OK - same as if I lost 50 lbs or something). But is that realistic?

Does this disease present differently in each person? Is it that I may have the 'you are OK off sub disease', but someone else has 'you are NOT OK off sub disease?'

Is anyone else confused about this? I feel like the only reasonable approach is to try the taper off method - and hope I'm in that category. It's just frustrating that they tag us with a disease, but can not come to consensus on what that means!

Does anyone feel this way too??

Hi,
I am feeling the same before some time but I searched a lot and I came to know about it in detail.
Mania is characterized by an extremely elevated mood and seemingly endless energy, a decreased
need for sleep, excessive irritability and anxiety, and strange or unusual thought patterns.
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r4 revolution gold

Lathe- I'm not sure if you've found a solution to your problem of the doc that wanted you to taper off the Subs, but I just wanted to say that I personally feel that no doctor should ask a patient to taper off of Suboxone before he/she is ready. Some people will only need Subs a little while, but most will need them indefinately. You are correct: Addiction is a chronic disease requiring chronic treatment. However, this idea is not that widespread in the medical community yet, and that will take a little time. You should start looking for another doctor pronto.

chris- I'm not sure what you're talking about, could you elaborate? Thanks

jd