For anyone who has successfully detoxed with a rapid taper (under 21 days) Suboxone protocol....

Hi.  I am on Day 13 of a Suboxone detox.  I was supposed to be completely weaned off by Day 11, but that wasn't happening.  Here was my original schedule:

Day 1 - 8 mg. (with 4 mg. to take later if needed - I didn't take them)
Day 2 - 8 mg.
Day 3 - 8 mg.
Day 4 - 8 mg.
Day 5 - 4 mg.
Day 6 - 4 mg.
Day 7 - 4 mg.
Day 8 - 2 mg.
Day 9 - 2 mg.
Day 10 - 1 mg.
Day 11 - 1 mg.

I found I could not drop from 8 mg. (on Day 4) to 4 mg. (on Day 5 - on day 4 I actually ended up taking 10 mg. because I was have some pretty bad withdrawal symptoms).  I added in 3 days at 6 mg. and then dropped to 4 mg. for 3 days with no problem.  Then, it was time to drop to 2 mg. I began having trouble again.  That would be yesterday and today.  I have ended up taking 3 mg. instead of the scheduled 2 mg.  

I am wondering this...is this psychological or physical?  Has anyone else had this experience or problem?  Also, am I screwing myself in the process by dragging this out too long?  At the rate I'm going, I should be off in 20 days instead of the original 11 they had prescribed.  

If anyone has any insight or experiences to share, I'd sure appreciate it.

Rosie

[Whenwillitend]

Hello Hon,

I know how you feel. I did really well dropping 2mg every other day, until I dropped to 2mg -- I got major cravings and mild wd's -- while I made it through the day, the next day I went back to 4mg -- and took another 4mg today.

Tomorrow I'm gonna try doing just 2mg again, but yea, there seems to be a point where it is REALLY hard to drop any more.

I wish you luck! :)

[ILoveLukey]

I started on Sub 3 months ago at 8 mg per day. 1/2 in morning and 1/2 in evening. After about month and a half was getting some urges. Doc put me up to12 mg per day. Still on that for maintenance.  I am concerned about my self......I  don't think I take it because I need it (no w/d symptoms) I just look forward to putting that little pill under my tongue when I wake up. It is a mental thing now.......I really want to cut back to just one pill a day on my own during the next month........I do not want to stretch this out any longer than I have to........guess it is just an old habit, looking forward to that 1st pill when I wake up,,,,,I gotta get out of that habit..........all mental..........retrain the mind.

[wait2long]

try dropping at a slower rate? like 1 mg at a time instead...maybe 2 mgs is too much for you at once...? and when you get to 2 mgs daily, drop it even lower if you have to.

[VOsRose]

Whenwillitend:  How long have you been on the Sub?  I tried dropping from 4 mg. to 2 mg. and ended up taking 3 mg. yesterday and again today.  Tomorrow I'm going to try to do 2mg. and hope it works.  If not I'll do 3 mg. again and try for 2mg. the next day.

ILoveLukey:  I totally get the "looking forward to the pill" thing.  I posted last week about the psychological impact of detoxing this way.  Because I'm not suffering withdrawal it almost doesn't seem real and so I am still in the "habit" of taking something when I feel "normal" because that must mean it's time to take some pills...does that make sense?  The nurse told me that I'm going to have to just ignore some of the minor withdrawal stuff I feel when I drop my dose.  The cravings I can handle (I really haven't had any except on Day 4 when I took the 10 mg.).  I just, as soon as I feel a little stomach upset or anxiety, think I need to take more Sub.  It could be that the little bit of stomach upset and anxiety is all I'm going to feel.  If I start feeling that tomorrow I'm going to try to wait a couple of hours and see if it gets any worse before I take anything.

wait2long:  Always good advice.  I'm doing exactly what you suggested...great minds and all that!  Love you!

Rosie

[ILoveLukey]

Exactly. I think that is all it is for me. Just so used to that morning routine of having something to take that I think will help me wake up and start my day better....even though I don't get the euphoria from it.  It is just my mind talking. Gotta shut that thing up........LOL

[JBailey]

You guys are great.  And you are doing an awesome job.  I am praying for you now, the only thing that has gotton me at this point (2nd day of methadone) has been the prayer for sure.  Anyway, God bless you.  Maybe in the morning you could take a vitamin or energy supliment.  I also need the 1st pill in the morning and that little warm feeling in my stomach that starts when it starts to work.  I tell myself its time to take the training wheels off - refering to the oxys, and start to live my life without help from the drugs.  I am too sensitive about so many things, thats why the drugs worked so very well for me.  But they don't work anymore i had to take 10 to 14, 30mg oxys just to get a happy feeling, but then coming down was a b..... i would sleep all day and not sleep at night.  it just isn't worth it. i am looking forward to being normal but also a little scared.  Good luck and God Bless!  AJ