Day 18 - will I ever sleep again????

Hi, I would appreciate some info from others that have come off subutex - I guess I just need to know there is a light at the end of the tunnel.

I am on day 18 now (yay, so so proud of myself) and NEVER want to go through anything like this again. I was on sub for a yr and tapered down slowly to 0.4mg per day before stopping. Didn't think I would feel too bad coming off this little amount - well I was wrong! But the worst is definitely over, days 2-5 were the absolute worst, I honestly would not have cared if I had died. However, I had read up on it before coming off so even though it would have been so easy to go to the doc for more, I pushed through as most people said the worst was over by day 5

But the reason for my writing is that I CANNOT SLEEP. Day 18 and mostly feeling better - (still sneezing loads, diarrhoea & legs still a bit restless but this is downright healthy compared to 2 weeks ago!), but since day 3 I have hardly slept at all. Some nights not at all, some 1-2 hrs and a couple (day 7 & day 9) about 5 hrs. I lie awake until about 5am and finally doze off with exhaustion. Im so tired but sleep does not come. Because of this, I feel lethargic and drained all day, no energy/motivation to do anything but still no sleep.

I am resisting the temptation to go to the doctor for sleeping pills because i dont want to end up with another addiction, but if i dont start sleeping soon, i feel i will have to. I have to get up for work at 6am each day so it seems as soon as i finally manage to get to sleep, i have to get up again.

Surely i should be sleeping again by now??? Or at least better than the first week of wd? I love sleeping usually & I miss it!!! So to everyone that has got off sub - did you experience this, and when did it stop? Please say soon!!!

Cheers,

[lulu747]

Hi There and Congratulations on 18 days...
The not sleeping is definitely the worst...I get it.  There are some natural supplements you can take to help (Melatonin and Valerian root) and exercise has been key for me.  The thing about sleep is-the more anxiety we have about not sleeping, the less we sleep...A vicious cycle.  I was stuck in it for about three weeks and meditation, yoga, hikes, sleepy time tea, hot baths, saunas, and the supplements I mentioned above are things that helped tremendously.  However-I didn't really sleep until I let go of worrying about not sleeping....I know-easier said than done, right?

Wise people told me-when your body needs to sleep it will give in and sleep.  It will come back...Patience is key....
Congratulations again on your clean time...Awesome work...
Lu

[all_alone1]

congrats on day 18...and lulu is right there are some natural sleep aids that can help with sleep....I have been altering between a sleepytime tea( which has the valerian root lulu mentioned) and a kava stress relieving tea..they have been helping me sleep for the past few nights..

again congrats on day 18

[kk1303]

I feel you! I'm on day 10 & so tired of not sleeping. I've tried EVERYTHING! I've tried melatonin, valerian root, benedryl, gabapentin, clonidine, several diff sleeping pills, exercising, eating lots of carbs...no sleep.