Haven’t posted or visited here in many years. I’ve been on suboxone and eventually generic buprenorphine for 15 years or more. I am now in my early 50s. I tried many times to “taper” and quit - but my stressful job and activities would not allow me the chance to go through months and months (and months) of withdrawal. Those that say it was easy - I don’t buy it. I tried. I was on 1mg to 2mg per day for a decade or more. Even lived in Europe and got it free in France for a few years. Been a big part of my life. What if I lost them? What if I ran out? How many times have you counted them? I get it!
One day I decided to try ibogaine. I went to the clinic in Mexico for 10 days - took 5 doses during that time, 2 high dose and 3 “booster” doses. The website of the clinic is Ibogaineclinic.com - in Playa Del Carmen. It did more than free me from buorenorphine, it also alleviated my drinking and completely changed me. It was incredible. I have been cold turkey off of generic subutex for over 30 days - almost no withdrawals. All the really bad stuff anyway - made it totally manageable. It’s not an easy time on the Ibogaine - it’s gritty and rough, felt horrible at first / but within 10 days I was feeling good and I don’t need the subs anymore. It really works!!
It was expensive - and it’s not for everyone but if you REALLY want off, it will almost certainly work for you. If you want to reach out to me, please do so. I feel like I owe my testimony to help others who need it. All the best and God bless.
Mr Grapes
How I quit buprenorphine
Re: How I quit buprenorphine
Hello and thank you for your testimony.
My website : https://www.mypornmotion.com/
Re: How I quit buprenorphine
Yes, thank you for sharing.... understand though that there are cheaper ways. I've started about 900 patients on buprenorphine since 2007, and currently have 270... most of the other 600 tapered off, usually after at least several years on buprenorphine.
The attachment to opioids, including to buprenorphine, usually fades over time... but slowly. Yes, some people, especially those with chronic pain, are more attached to buprenorphine than other people. But most people are ready to let go after 3-5 years.
I've written about the best way to taper many times on my blog at suboxonetalk.com -- if interested go there and search for 'stop Suboxone' or 'how to stop suboxone'. It usually takes about 12-18 months to do it without withdrawal symptoms (buprenorphine's ceiling is as potent as 35 mg methadone per day, and people generally taper off 50 mg of methadone in about 12 months if they stick to it).
It takes motivation, but it doesn't require a person to be sick. Just a slow lowering of tolerance. Going from 16 to 8 mg/day is easy and associated with almost no withdrawal at all -- even if done over 2 months, as I recommend. The path from 8 to zero is harder, but again it does not require significant withdrawal if done correctly.
I had one patient go to Mexico for ibogaine. The program recommended that he stay there for three months and do their 'full treatment', so it was difficult to tell how much of his recovery was from ibogaine and how much was from three months in a treatment program. There have been a few deaths from hypothermia in people who sought ibogaine treatment, so do some reading from independent sources before booking a flight.
The attachment to opioids, including to buprenorphine, usually fades over time... but slowly. Yes, some people, especially those with chronic pain, are more attached to buprenorphine than other people. But most people are ready to let go after 3-5 years.
I've written about the best way to taper many times on my blog at suboxonetalk.com -- if interested go there and search for 'stop Suboxone' or 'how to stop suboxone'. It usually takes about 12-18 months to do it without withdrawal symptoms (buprenorphine's ceiling is as potent as 35 mg methadone per day, and people generally taper off 50 mg of methadone in about 12 months if they stick to it).
It takes motivation, but it doesn't require a person to be sick. Just a slow lowering of tolerance. Going from 16 to 8 mg/day is easy and associated with almost no withdrawal at all -- even if done over 2 months, as I recommend. The path from 8 to zero is harder, but again it does not require significant withdrawal if done correctly.
I had one patient go to Mexico for ibogaine. The program recommended that he stay there for three months and do their 'full treatment', so it was difficult to tell how much of his recovery was from ibogaine and how much was from three months in a treatment program. There have been a few deaths from hypothermia in people who sought ibogaine treatment, so do some reading from independent sources before booking a flight.
Re: How I quit buprenorphine
I am one of the ones who thought it was easy. But it was slow, like 4-5 months slow. I started at 4mg and began tapering starting at 3mg. No problem there. After a while 2mg. No problem there. Then 1mg without issues. But when I got to .5mg I hit a wall. I just got stuck there. Looking back I think it was in my head. Anyway after a while I started going down from there. You get to where you are talking tiny slivers or crumbs, depending on strip or pill. You're kind of guessing at that point. After doing this for a while I started forgetting to take doses, and one day I just stopped. I didn't feel a thing.
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Crazy_Cat_Lady
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Re: How I quit buprenorphine
Great insight. I hope to commit to a taper plan. I worry about the long term effects that I might cause if I take Sub forever. I love the medicine, but I need to commit to reducing my dose.
Fingers crossed
Crazy Cat Lady
Fingers crossed
Crazy Cat Lady