Getting off Suboxone

[Wolverine819]

I have been on Suboxone for 3months,taking 18 mgs a day.I want to start tapering off of them but am really nervous about it.I was on Oxy for 9 years and am still having some secondary withdrawal.Will that get worse if I taper off the Suboxone?I also am nervous about perhaps having withdrawal from the Sub.Im not ready for it as I just withdrew from the Oxy and am not ready to face that again.Would appreciate feedback from anyone else who is in this situation or has been through it.
Thanks

[Wolverine819]

I was taking it legally for a chronic back problem that had 3 surgerys.When I quit everything I was in agony as you know the oxy withdrawal hits you like a sledge hammer,magnified my back pain  and made every other part of my body hurt.Now I am on 600 mg Ibuprofen,lol.After 900mgs of oxy thats like,why bother taking it.But I do and am also on Cymbalta,which besides being for depression,is supposed to help with neuralgia.I also wear Lidoderm patches and Flector patches which has diclofenic epolamine,whatever that is,lol.I also wear a tens pack,which is a spinal stimulator which is supposed to block the pain receptors from getting to your brain.
So other then all that,Im doing fine,lol
Thanks everyone I appreciate all the feedback

[Wolverine819]

thanks for your input,I appreciate it.I was on major doses of oxy and Roxicodone,all told for 9 yrs.I was going through wicked Withdrawal,admitted to a detox for a week and started on the Suboxone there.I talked to my Dr and she said she will take me down to 12 mgs,for my next refill and then if it goes ok will start to wean lower after that.I really want to get off it . So hopefully this will work.All told I probably will be on it for 5 months.weaning off of it,any withdrawal cant be as bad as getting off the oxys.I am in pain anyway with my back but that magnetized the pain 20x worse.

[refusingbondage]

Thats a really heavy habit and I guess the sheer amount of your mgs is why you are having lingering withdrawal... does your doctor not suggest you stay on until at least 6 months?? Its probably best to deal with one thing at a time.. One thing I will continue to suggest is meetings or some kind of support group -- the suboxone right now is helping keep your cravings away and keep addiction at arms length.  When its stopped all that floods back - - the mental "I want" part of it.  Best to have support around you for when that time comes.  Were you taking legit or abusing?  There is a difference of course.. What about pain when you quit everything?  Stick around ok.  This forum will give lots of support.. the folks on here - willing to help are fantastic.

[BIKERDAD1963]

Thats a lot of sub!! Your doctor should never have given you so much. You should start off at the lowest dose you can; usually at he very most 8mg and thats even a hi. Most people try starting at 4 mg. then start tapering after 15 days. The longer you are on the sub the worse it will be. Sub is also a very addicting drug. It stays in your body a long time and builds up so when you start tapering you dont notice it to much. then when you are off of it completely it takes about a month to get it out of your system. The idea is that the slower it gets out of your system the less severe the withdrawals will be. However the withdrawals last at least a month. You should have started the taper long ago and your doctor needs to have his head examined. You should always educate yourself first before taking any medicine perscribed by a doctor. We all have to much trust in our doctors so the more you no the better you will be.

[Wolverine819]

Thanks so much for your response ,you have given me some good info on the vitamin use,will give them a try
It sure cant hurt!!!!!
thanks for your support

[Wolverine819]

Thanks so much for your response,I was on oxy and roxicodone for 9 yrs.Also had methadone,kadian,zoloft ,Klonapin,ambien,trazodone.and hydrocodone at different times with it during that span.The last 4 yrs I was taking between 700mgs and 900mgs of oxy,roxi a day.Because of the length of time and the high doses I was told it will take about 6 months before I am somewhat normal.Right now on the Suboxone I am still having some WD,yawning non stop at times,leg and arm shakes and everyonce in awhile my whole body will tremor like I had a shock.Not to mention the fuzzy head and lack of focus and concentration with no energy.thats why I am wary of tapering off the Sub ,dont want to start wd to that but I will take your advice and taper down 2 mgs a week and see how I handle that.
Thanks again

[refusingbondage]

Hey there.  If you are on 18mgs of Suboxone, you should not be feeling any secondary withdrawal from the oxy.. Suboxone, namely Bupenorphine which is the opiate in suboxone, is much stronger than oxy and 18mgs is a lot.  Are you taking the subx via a subxone doctor? He/she should be able to help you with a taper.. everyone has an opinion on suboxone but from my experience - the shorter the time on sub and the lower the dosage you jump from equals the least amount of withdrawal.. You have to discuss with your doctor, but you can probably taper down 2mgs every 2 weeks and not be in too much pain..everyone is different.. we all react different, did your doctor not tell you sub was a replacement opiate?? Many doctors, including the MH addiction expert, recommend a very long sub maintenance treatment - combined with therapy and meetings.. suboxoen can surely be a lifesaver but your still an addict when you stop using it.. many people have learned that the hard way.. I would def suggest educating yourself on the good and bad of suboxone - talking to your doctor and setting a plan that is right for YOU.. Beginning sub treatment is definitely a step in the right direction! I have lots of sub experience - good and bad - so feel free to ask and I will help to the best of my ability.  Good luck!

[NorcoQueenoftheUniverse]

NOT SURE about the Suboxone w/d.... Never took it BUT I have read some PRO & CONS regarding using it to help with your w/d symtoms....

I did a c/t off of a 8-10/day Norco habit x's 3 years (for 2 back surgeries) and I did a MODIFIED THOMAS RECEIPE.. (without the Valium or Immodium)  

I'm working on DAY 25 clean... YIPEE!


I found that drinking ALOT OF WATER, taking a COMPLEX B VITAMIN, VITAMIN C and L-TYROSINE seemed to help... (I don't know as I've NEVER been thru w/d before)
PLUS... IF you can MUSTER up the energy to get a LITTLE EXERCISE.... that seems to help with getting your NATURAL ENDORPHINS kicking in..).

HOPE this helps you... and KNOW THAT
EVERYDAY THAT YOU DON'T USE IS A BETTER DAY THAN IF YOU DO!

thoughts and PRAYERS are with you thru this JOURNEY... it's TOUGH but DO-ABLE

hang in there and KEEP ON POSTING.... this site is a LIFE SAVER...