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Day 3 off Subutex and No WD! Anyone have input on this please...?

I was diagnosed with MS in 2005, and had been taking short acting opiates for pain management.  I became dependent and eventually addicted.  My doc put me on Methadone, and I had been taking 10mg three to four times a day for 7 years!  Over the past few years, I had been gearing myself up toward being drug free...all drugs (except vitamins, supplements).  Methadone was cheap and I had no insurance for 3 years.  It was way to easy to keep putting it off.  Finally, on July 22 was my last dose of Methadone.  I waited for intense withdrawal, and on Saturday morning, July 26 I began Suboxone 8mg strips twice a day. (16mg/day).  I thought I was going to die.  I was feeling a constant state of panic, and had to work at keeping myself from losing it. This lasted for me for at least 48hrs. I could not understand why I wasn't feeling any better. Everything I had read said that it should take anywhere from 1-4 hours for PAWLs to begin subsiding, due to the fact that I had been in full withdrawal when I initiated that dose.  The following Tuesday I began to feel like I could leave the house.  I was able to go see my doc, and he gave me the best pep talk EVER.  I stayed the course.  Felt better, but still having symptoms.  The following week, my doc suggested I try subutex vs. suboxone.  On July 31, I began the subutex sublingual tablets. He wrote for 8mg tabs twice a day.  I took that dose for 2 days and felt amazing.  The third day on subutex, I decreased to 8mg once a day, and continued to feel great ("normal").  My mood was elevated, and I felt like I had walked out of a cave and into a bright new world.  Filled with inspiration!  Week 2 of subutex, I went down to 4mg once a day.  There was no change other than, once in a while I could feel a "craving" for more... but I resisted.  This past Sunday morning, August 24, was the last time I took 4mg subutex.  I went out of town, and left my Rx bottle at home.  Monday night I had some intense hot flashes, cravings, and mild perspiration.  Yesterday and today I feel really good.  Do you think there is more to come?  I really suffered transitioning off Methadone to Suboxone.  Never felt "good" or "normal" I guess while on Suboxone that first week.  Had been on Subutex 16mg/day for 3 days, 8mg/day for 4 days, and 4mg/day for almost 3 weeks.  Any input out there regarding withdrawal?  Anyone out there with a similar experience? Thank you!!!
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Avatar universal
Thank you both for the feedback. I was not sure if I should be expecting withdrawal symptoms to begin again.  At the end of day 3, just finished 5mi jog and feel great! I check into a treatment program this Sunday for one week. I really wanted to try to go in substance free and focus on maintenance and recovery.  I'm really excited about going.  I was concerned that 72 hours might not be quite enough time for it to be out of my system & that I would experience hell while there; however, being in a treatment program while going through WD is probably the best place to be. I do much better if I can anticipate what I am in store for...make sense??  Never again do I want to be around any narcotic of any kind.  I am praying every hour that I have made it through the storm.!!  thanks again for comments/input!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thank you both for the feedback. I was not sure if I should be expecting withdrawal symptoms to begin again.  At the end of day 3, just finished 5mi jog and feel great! I check into a treatment program this Sunday for one week. I really wanted to try to go in substance free and focus on maintenance and recovery.  I'm really excited about going.  I was concerned that 72 hours might not be quite enough time for it to be out of my system & that I would experience hell while there; however, being in a treatment program while going through WD is probably the best place to be. I do much better if I can anticipate what I am in store for...make sense??  Never again do I want to be around any narcotic of any kind.  I am praying every hour that I have made it through the storm.!!  thanks again for comments/input!
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I agree with above....  If u r not going thru wd's, count ur blessings.  No reason to look gift horse in mouth.   I weaned off long term suboxone n it was no fun jumping off completely.  39 days since my last dose.   Sub does stay in system for awhile, but u would b feeling it by now.  If ur not, b thankful n start looking for a good aftercare program best suited for u.  Lots of aftercare suggestions can b found reading thru posts on this forum.  Congrats on 3 days clean!
Helpful - 0
7163794 tn?1457366813
COMMUNITY LEADER
This is just my opinion, and I'm NOT a doctor, but I'm thinking only staying on the subutext for 3 days might have been your God send!  I really don't think that was enough time for that med to build up on your neurotransmitters so I think you might be in the clear.  If you are, count your blessings and DO NOT start them up again. The longer you stay on the subs, the harder they are to get off.  Good luck to you!
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