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781991 tn?1237964779

27th Day

I've officially been 27 days clean from my bad hydrocodone addiction with the help of Suboxone.  This morning's post is just a quick one, but just wanted to update that it's going well.  Today in my tapering plan I, for the 3rd straight day, took 4mg of my Suboxone.  What's been so great about the tapering is the consistency.  It's been a pleasant surprise.  Tomorrow will be day 1 at 2mg.  I'm not as nervous about tapering as I was in the beginning.  I'm actually, more so, looking forward to it.  The only little bit of nervousness I have is while I'm tapering that some of the symptoms will return.  When I completely stop taking the Suboxone I totally expect some of the symptoms to return and that's fine....it's just part of the process.  I would just be a little upset if while I'm tapering and still taking Suboxone that some of the symptoms return.  I'll deal with that at the time but currently I'm staying positive and if the full taper is successfull I'm positive that once I'm down to nothing, I'll make it through those inevitable symptoms.  Thanks for all of you who have commented.  I really appreciate it.  I look forward to counting the days off of Suboxone.  Good luck to all of you and God Bless.

BQ
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781991 tn?1237964779
All along I've had a plan and stuck to it.  The plan is to continue tapering all the way up to the 16th...I started a week ago.  Today I'll be down to 1mg.  Originally when I was coming up with a plan, I figured 1mg will be enough to taper to, but decided to add a few days at 0.5mg, so that's what I'm going to do.  3 days at 1mg, then 3 days at 0.5mg.  So far I've taken the tapering very well.  In fact, I feel no different today then when I took 8mg a day.  I know the next 6 days can be a bit more tough, so I'm prepared for that.  Haven't taken my 1mg yet today, probably will after I go to the gym here shortly.  Thanks for the concerns everyone, but trust me, I learned all the fact about Suboxone before taking them, and although I don't think my doctor is technically very experienced at prescribing Suboxone, he did a lot of homework on it.  In fact the whole doctor's office seems very educated in the subject, so I'm in good hands.  The fact I'm actually taking something responsibly is a miracle within itself.  We all know how addiction is.  In the middle of it, we are out of control, it didn't matter what we took.  

I would recommend Suboxone to anyone who has failed at so many things to try and quit and yes, I would definately recommend taking it in as little time possible.  I just think for those who failed cold turkey and those with not enough self discipline to taper what they were taking originally, Suboxone helps you get a clear mind quicker, and if used 100% responsibly, greatly help your chances of getting clean.  I've been prescribed them about a month and would have loved to been off of them by now, but naturally I abused them right away for a short stint, so it's taking me a hair longer than I would even like.  Again thouugh.....EVERYONE IS DIFFERENT.

BQ
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Even 2mg doses of sub should be tapered. Using a pill cutter if necessary. Some try to get to 1/2 or 1/4mg before they jump off. Some get toward the end of therapy and skip days. Dose 1/2mg on one day and no dose at all the next. The day following that you go to 1/2mg again. And so on...... If your dose toward the end of therapy is 4 mg's - and you drop to 2mg - you just cut 50% of your dose. Thats too much. Likewise with 2mg and jumping to 0mg. Slow and steady wins this one.
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Avatar universal
it is a good thing that you are feeling comfortable and able to funtion and all. i am glad for you of this. i am hoping for you that you can be released of the suboxone also soon. just wanting to really impress how much HARDER the suboxone is to get off than the hydrocodone. it is a much more complicated drug.
did you notice on the site you went to that everyone was still on the suboxone?
the phamlet even states "no controlled trials have been undertaken to determine the best method of dose taper at the end of treatment."
but from listening to everyone on here and personal contacts- the sooner the better.
great sucess stories with only taking it for a few weeks. it is when it adds up to months and years that the horror stories begin. and with it being such an exspensive drug and all it would totally suck if you could not afford it for some reason one day and be forced to go cold turkey.
here's to the 16th!
Helpful - 0
781991 tn?1237964779
I wouldn't say you were stepping on anyone's feet actually.  I'm sorry if I came across this way.  I'm new to this whole recovery thing and I think sometimes some of us who are successful in our own right with our recovery we want to give those thinking about becoming clean some "tough love" so to speak.  I've been guilty of this a little in my short time on this forum.  But, what I try and always do is, before I post what I first have on my mind I really have to think about it first.  If I would have posted the first thing on my mind everytime I would have come across bad to some people and that's not good for anyone who is addicted to anything.  You weren't negative in anyway, so it's all good.  We just have to be careful I think.

For example I came across someone's post who had been taking Suboxone for a long time and I asked if they had tried to taper off the Suboxone as clearly Suboxone can just as easily be a substitute for another drug.  He then proceeded to tell me much of his story.  After reading that I gained more respect because he had been fighting a pretty bad opiate addiction and was down to 4mg of Suboxone a day.  And for anyone who knows anything about Suboxone, that is a VERY responsible amount and compared to what he was taking before, it was a HUGE improvement.  So, who was I to suggest to him to start to taper?  Ya know?  That's why I say all of us are different.  I definately agree that Suboxone should be a last resort, but if that's the route someone takes, then they should taper to a schedule that is best for them.  

I'm pretty positive I can taper to nothing by the 16th, but this is my first time doing something like this, so who knows?  I might get to nothing and my body just won't be able to take it.  If that is the case I will go back to a comfortable level and get with my doctor on a new plan.  I'm down to 4mg a day and completely comfortable, so I know that I won't ever have to take more than 4mg in a day to feel fine, so worst case scenario would be that I'd have to be at this level, but the bright side?  It's a heck of a lot better than 200-250mg of hydrocodone a day JUST to feel normal.  

Again, I'm sorry if I came across to you that I felt you were stepping on my feet and were negative because that's far from the truth.  I saw another reply you had on another post and it was nothing but positive, so you are just as great as pretty much everyone on this forum who are so positive and helpful to everyone who comes here to seek help, so I appreciate that.  Thank you.

BQ
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
glad to hear you have a quit date all lined up. and sounds like you know what you are dealing with here. i have a friend that tried the sub and his doctor was not very experienced at it. so he was on it for over a year and felt that he was in a worse spot than before he ever took the sub. it is not meant for long term because it is addicting. he ending up going back to drinking after 12 years of being sober and has lost his marriage and is going to jail soon for DUI's. so i am just wanting to warn you of the addiction part of the sub. some people take it for years and not any good senarios of that yet.
i will try to be more careful of stepping on peoples feet.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
yey...time to get on off the sub..ur hydro wds are iover..the physical ones...be safe and congrats on 27 days
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781991 tn?1237964779
PS - Yes, I know what Suboxone has in it.  My doctor has explained it.  I've also researched it greatly at suboxone.com.  It has VERY LITTLE opiates in them compared to how much opiates I was taking before.  
Helpful - 0
781991 tn?1237964779
I don't wanna sound mean here, but I did mention that I was tapering.  But, since I know you must not have read my previous posts, I'll tell ya a few things.  

When I stopped hydrocodone I had my doctor involved and he prescribed me the Suboxone.  I had taken Suboxone before, so I knew what to expect as far as how it reacted to me when taking it.  But, as non-disciplined as I've been as far as taking pills responsibly, it was just another thing.  I immediately abused the Suboxone for the first week taking double my prescribed amount....32mg a day.  After just one week I was already sick with myself.  So much so that I completely quit the Suboxone cold turkey for 1 full week.  The symptoms I was having were getting a bit annoying, but for once I felt comfortable actually taking some medication responsibly, so I went back on the Suboxone with a goal of coming up with a tapering plan ASAP.  It was a blessing in disguise I believe.  When I started back up I was taking 8mg a day.  Half my prescribed amount.  So after just another week I came up with a taper plan which I'm in the middle of RIGHT NOW.  I'm currently down to 4mg and will start at 2mg a day tomorrow.  I plan to be on my first day of nothing on the 16th (next Monday).  So we'll say 27 days is 4 weeks.  1 week at double the prescription.  1 week at nothing.  1 week at half the prescribed amount and I've been tapering for about a week.  

I know you're just trying to help, but you need to be careful when replying to someone's post.  Recovering addicts are sensative.  A lot of us put majority of our current situations in our profiles, so it doesn't hurt to check it out before replying, so you know what's up.  Secondly, saying 2 or 3 weeks is all you need for Suboxone may be a good window for most.  But, EVERYONE is different.  Some people may only need them a week.  Some who have posted have literally needed them for at least a year.  There are many underlying things to consider here.  My addiction was bad for the better part of 2 years.  That's probably a good example for your 2 or 3 week window.  Technically I've taken the Suboxone 3 weeks and have started to taper.  But, I guess I was only confused because I mentioned that yes I was prescribed them 27 days ago, but I had already started to taper.  

Anyway...thanks for the concern, but I'm doin' fine.

BQ
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
so you have been taking the suboxone for 27 days. it is best to taper off them real soon now. 2 or 3 weeks is all you need to be on them. it is very easy to get addicted to them also. and they are harder to come off of than regular painkillers. you do know that they have opiates in them- the suboxone- right? that is why the withdrawl is not bad.
best of luck to you
Helpful - 0
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