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Can I wean myself off oxycontin?

Hey fellow sufferers: I’m sure glad I found you. I’ve been on prescription oxycontin & oxycodone for 3 years for back & neck pain. (prior to that I used opiates recreationally for 3 years) I am so sick of how I feel. I don’t want to live this way.  my friends have gone away, and who am I?  About 6 mos ago I started tapering, currently I am on (1 - 20 mg oxycontin and 20 mg oxycodone per day) (So, a total 40 mg per day) taking 1/4 of the 20 mg OC per day 4 times, and 2 doses of 10 mg oxycodone per day. Crazy, I know, but ya gotta do what a gotta do. Anyway I was considering suboxone, however, after reading some posts here I’m asking myself if I would be better off getting off these on my own. It’s hard, but I’m good at controlling my use (it seems). My doctor knows I’m tapering, and I’m tossing around the suboxone idea in my head. I feel so close to getting off of these, but have a ways to go.  I wonder when I could just stop completely on my own? I am in W/D’s now, but the dose I’m taking helps me thru the day.  I’m attending AA and NA, where I started talking about by addiction to strangers recently, shame shame shame, guilt, embarrassment, etc. Late last night, I read some amazing posts here, from FlappyD  &  Refusingbondage & others -- Very helpful. Thank you. Everybody here, we are so similar.  I know that I'm an addict, I quit smoking 1 year ago and I’m still chewing nicorrette gum. My throat and esophagus hurts and my voice is raspy and horse. Does anyone know if that is from the oxy’s (which I chew). God help me, God help us all!!! Glad to be here.  And thank you to the people who share they’re success of getting off of the opiates completely, I want to be like you. p.s. is suboxone a pain killer?
12 Responses
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Avatar universal
Day 7 on taper -- nervous, shaky, anxious – struggling right now to days on my plan.  8 days ago, I snorted an oxy @ work, no less…. My snorting oxys was short-lived, when approx 2 months ago and ex BF came into my life – a whirlwind type thing, like a hurricane causing damage to everyone in his way, well me for sure, he told me several lies to accommodate his addiction (he left me about 2 weeks ago and told me that he used me for my oxys.), as he is an addict and abuser …. So when he snorted, I snorted….(for me about 10 times-total) I think that’s why this week was more difficult to cut back. ( I wasn’t a snorter ever, but wow what a hold it had on me in such a short time.) Someone here in this forum, told me to stop chewing them, so I’m not chewing any more, but I do cut them in quarters, so im not sure if it makes a difference…… --- I slept well last night…..  it seems the camaraderie of mutual suffering here eases the pain. Im feeling huge a sense of loss... and want to numb the pain, i gotta b-strong today.
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Avatar universal
Wow, thanks everyone for your comments..... I guess I will wait and see. The only support that I have is NA and AA. That’s it. I went to an N.A. meeting tonight and it really does help.  I do want to do this without suboxone, and I think I can, so, when I taper more, time will tell, but I sure do appreciate your support here. I feel more alert tonight… I’ve been so so tired & depressed for the last couple years, I'm already seeing payoffs from the taper. Thanks for sharing your plan ShoShosays no, that is interesting to me, sounds like something I would do… and knowledge definitely is power!  
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Avatar universal
PS When tapering try to stay on the dose your on till the w/d is gone then taper a little more That is how my sub Dr taperd me and it does work.
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Avatar universal
Im a former sub user, I can not taper If i have a pill i take it. So after 4 years and tow surgeries and two hernieted disc in my back a dislocated should, the surg. were 2 disc replaced in my neck and a tore rotorcuff in the shoulder that was not dislocated. Im in chronic pain. I lost my job house was sold for taxes, my truck self respect and almost my family, i tried to committ woke up in rehab got on sub got my depression under control, went back to work then 13 months later got off subs I have had a 1 week relasp, but im still going, and need 1 more surgery on my back. SUB saved my life if i could have went c/t or taperd i would have sub is good when used right and the taper is long enough. It is not a quick fix. You are doing good tapering i would keep try'n that way if you see you cant then try the sub, if you go on sub you had best be in it for the long haul. SUB can be a two edeged sword remember that. DO YOUR OWN RESEARCH AND THEN DO WHAT IS BEST FOR YOU Good luck
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Avatar universal
Welcome, and congradulations for admitting you are ill and want to recover....Good for you you are sharing with others....it helps so much to have a safe place to be 100%honest about your addiction....I have found only other addicts truly understand what you are going through.....and this is a safe website as far as I have found....everyone here wants to get well too.....

Like those above who have mentioned Suboxone is an option, I agree.....before I would consider taking it, I would truly sit down and research as much as you can, and then truly come to terms with your illness.....can you be completely opiate free, and not end up relapsing.....do you have the support for that?  

You have been using opiates for 6 years 3 recreationally, and 3 for pain......so your brain definetly has undergone some changes.....don't be afraid because the brain like any other part of the body can heal.....but it is how much healing does it need.....Only you and a skilled professional can determine that....and when I say skilled, I don't mean any Sub doctor, but those skilled in addiction.    Addiction is a very tricky adversay, but it can be beat with a good plan.

I have been taking 200 mg of MScontin/day for 5 years......I did a slow taper down from 300mg....10mg/month.......I am using Suboxne now, and this is day 9 for me....I am doing an unusual plan but one I thought would work for me, and I have discussed it with my doctor, and he is willing to help me.....I am a chronic pain patient, and i was pretty well able to control my use of hte MScontin, but I want on a lower dose.....So I am doing a switch back and forth......6 weeks sub,.....followed by 4 weeks lower dose of MScontin....We are all different and must find what will work for us.  

I don't know how high a dose your drug is because I have no experience with it....but the 6 years is what concerns me, to come off everything and not relapse.....It depends also on your support.  Do you have family around you to help you when you are feeling blah?  It will take some time for your own brain to start producing it's own natural painkillers....and it is during this time that one is most likely to relapse, especially if they have no support...."WE are fighting the euphoric feeling, even if it doesn't feel so euphoric anymore, and we are fighting to have our brains work normally.....the good news is they will eventually....it's getting there.

Only you can decide if you can get there by yourself, clean and away from all drugs......if you know deep down in side you can't......then suboxone is a good treatment plan.........it will put time between you and the oxy.......and it will help the brain to recover......but in the end there will be a w/d off the suboxone......I've heard some have done it smartly, and with little dis-ease....and others had a very hard time......

Good Luck and keep us posted



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Avatar universal
Great Post mom_of_two136.
and just to add to that.. Suboxone saved my life as well.  From snorting Oxy to a very productive life .. at work and at home.
God Bless -
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867096 tn?1252202513
Just to put in my two cents about suboxone. I think suboxone can be the answer for someone who has tried many times to stop. I know I did over a 5 year time period. I became so distraught that I thought I had no where to go. I tried to kill myself because I was so depressed and felt like such a failure. Luckly doctors saved my life after 3 days on life support. For me, suboxone saved my life. I just wish I would have known about it so I try to let people know about it. Saying that, I am always clear in that there are draw backs to using it and people should be made aware of them. Suboxone is a choice. I think there is so much negative comments is because some people who are now on suboxone never should have started it to begin with. Also there is negative comments is because people wean too quickly off of it. You need to wean slowly. Anyway, suboxone can save live of those who have failed many time to stop the insanity. Best wishes to all us addicts in whatever method you choose. I mean, aren't we all here to help each other and give our experiences. :))
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Avatar universal
I agree with you 100 percent.

Just so many people on here tell people what they should do or should not do..
Suboxone is not the cure all.. but it many cases it has helped so many people.. and taking 4mg's of suboxone a day is sure a lot better than taking 160-240mg's of Oxy a day.. any day of the week.

I understand that suboxone is not easy to get "off" of.. but when done properly it sure beats going CT form Oxy or any other opiate for that matter..
I have talked to so many patients at the doctors office that have done a nice slow taper and been just fine..
I was just stating a fact when I said that this site seems to be so negative toward Suboxone.. and when it can help someone get clean.. it's scary to them..

Look- I understand I've been there and done that too..im not here for an agurment .. just to help addicts and speak from my heart.
God Bless All.
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Avatar universal
Naloxone is an opiate antagonist.  The definition is:

Antagonist:
A drug or medication that attaches to but does not activate specific receptors to stimulate drug actions or effects and can block other like-drugs/medications from binding to a receptor (e.g. an opioid receptor). Antagonists can also displace other drugs or medications. When an antagonist displaces an opioid, precipitate withdrawal can occur. Examples of opioid antagonists include naltrexone and naloxone.

In essence it is an opiate blocker.  This is in fact taken off of suboxone.com

This site is not anti or pro anything.  I am pro being clean from substance abuse.  I warn people about suboxone as I was put on it and told it would alleviate all withdrawal symptons and would be easy to quit.  I was not told suboxone would be addicting and extremely difficult to quit.  As someone who has detoxed off of various opiates, including suboxone, I share my story. If I was smart enough to have sought advice from people who were on it and were able to kick it before I started suboxone, I would not have used it probably at all and definitly not for as many years as I did.  Suboxone can be a great tool for recovery, but I think its important for people to know all aspects of it good and bad and be fully educated and not duped into thinking its a cure all.  

I get so many personal messages every day from people stuck on suboxone.  People who began using it to ease withdrawal and are now stuck on it years later because of how difficult the detox is.  These messages are from real people.  I certainly dont argue that suboxone is a the lesser of two evils regarding active addiction, and allows time to put recovery and support groups into place and gives the opportunity to get your life back. But I will never buy into the misconception that it doesnt come with its own price.  Cause I've paid that price and know too many others paying that price right now.  
Helpful - 0
214607 tn?1287677559
I am not sure if its just me, but your dose doesn't sound that high..you can DEFINITELY taper without the help of sub. You can do this. You have the will and you want to and that is half the battle. You can just keep dropping your dose until you can get down to 1mg of the oxy...then you should be able to stop with some minor w.d symptoms..you can def do this, trust me.
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Avatar universal
I just read the last post.. actually Naloxene is Not an Opiate blocker.. it's simply put in suboxone so you don't shoot it up.. look at the official suboxone website.. buprenephrine is a strong opiod and it will knock all other opiates out of the way to get to the receptors.. so you have to be in mild to moderate WD to take it at induction.
This site seems to be very anti-suboxone.. if you want some more positive advice on suboxone please search the web for support groups concerning suboxone.. don't let someone on med-help discourage you from getting treatment.. addiction is a hard thing to deal with.. and personally suboxone saved me from a bad pain pill habit..
Just wanted to make you aware that there is some positive web site out there about the use of suboxone..
Good Luck-
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Avatar universal
Welcome queenofween.  WOW It always amazes me when people can taper like your doing.. Good for you!  This is a difficult question and everyone has an opinion.  Here is mine.  If at all possible, I would skip the suboxone -- you've gotten down to 40mg per day and that is awesome.. keep tapering down until your down to 10 and then quit.  You will have some withdrawal but I dont think it will be that bad.. If you absolutely cannot, since you are able to taper and your attending NA/AA, maybe talk to your doc about using suboxone for a week, nor more just to help.. and use only tiny amounts to take the edge off.. then be done with the subs.  Be prepared though - most doctors will start you at a high dose and keep you on for a while.. If you dont want to be stuck on suboxone, dont go that route.  Use is as a tool for a few days and then flush them.  And, congrats on the smoking thing.. I am STILL trying to get over that vice.. Yes, suboxone is a painkiller.  Suboxone is one part buprenephrine (strong opiate) and one part naloxene (opiate blocker) so you are feeding yourself an opiate - thereby alleviating withdrawal, but blocking any of the 'high' you would feel off any other painkiller.

Good luck and remember -you can do this!
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