Can I taper Subutex sharply in the beginning?

After reading here I've realized I was fed a pack of lies about Subutex before I went on it. I was put on 32mg/day and told I could take it indefinitely. Well, it's not doing anything much any more-it made me feel good/energetic for the first few months, compared to the hell of Percocet withdrawal especially. I've been on thst dose for almost 3 years. I know a very long, slow taper is recommended. However I don't have the sself discipline to do thst. Can I possibly just not take it at all for a day or two and then when withdrawal sets in, take just barely enough to ease it? And then go again as long as I can stand it and then takea bit less? Or just knock myself out for a few days with Klonopin or Trazadone or both? The problem with the long slow taper is that I need to feel I'm taking major steps forward in order to keep myself motivated to get off the Sub. I'm psychologically as well as physically addicted to it. Every day I intend to taper-every day I end up taking even more than prescribed.

[dominosarah]

Do you have someone that could hold the pills for you?  Have you thought about any type of recovery care?  That would help you with the mental game that comes with this addiction.

[gnarly_1]

hi your best bet here is to talk to your sub doctor and have him work out a taper plan for you we would do it but is agents the guidelines so we cant post one sub is like methadone you go off it slowly if not the withdrawals are unbearable so this week give the doctor a caoo im sure he will have ataper plan thatsv both safe and workable good lluck and God bless.......Gnarly  

[snakejones]

Hi there---a taper plan is the very best way to get off Subutex. You must go slowly, though, or you could go into both physical and mental crisis and throw up your hands and go back to the original dose. This is one nasty drug to ditch; don't do it quickly. As far as tranquilizing yourself, that is dangerous and not going to be helpful, anyway. Each drug you take---especially different types of drugs---are like keys that fit into locks in your brain. One key doesn't open three or four locks, just one. So your brain wants the right key to unlock it, and substitutes like Klonopin and Trazodone to try to fool your brain ain't gonna work. Your brain is going to want what it wants; therefore, the best way to do this is give it what it wants, but put it on a "diet" and taper down just a little at a time. It can take you a couple of months to taper at the current dose you're taking; that's a big dose! If you have the strength to do it this way, the symptoms will be mild. And even if you don't like my suggestions, whatever you do, don't come down hard on your dose, or you'll be in crisis mode for sure. All the best to you, and I wish you health!

[Catslady]

Thank you both. My doctor is no help. Money hound only. I'm going to do this. I haven't figured out how this forum is organized yet-how ti get bavk hete from anywhere else. I need to work in thst. But I'm going to start my taper today. I'm just si afraid if the lethargy and apathy tjat I have and thst Sub partially relieves temprarily.

[AshA48]

i've started 10ml today after relapsing 3/4 mnth ago but i just take subutex until i feel well then stop them,for 1day i had back pain but other than that i was fine-just hope i will be this time.Also ur right the doctors just say what we wann hear.Hope all goes well for you