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880349 tn?1240440611

Help me - I am detoxing off suboxone - refusingbondage i have read some of your stuff

Hi.  I am brand new to this site as I found it trying to research what suboxone withdrawal will be like.  I am terrified now and really wish I would have done this two years ago when I started taking it.  If I knew all of this then, I would have just suffered the cold turkey way for a week or so.  I started on suboxone back around mid July 2007.  I was on 3 pills a day at 2mg I believe.  I stayed on that for quite a while and then went down to 2 a day and then eventually here at Christmas one a day.  Now I am bordering on 1 and 2 and decided to stick out 1 pill a day for a week before stopping.  My prescription is out and I really dont want to refill it now that I see all of this.  I am going to have to go through this sooner or later so I just want to do it and get to the end of the tunnel.  I am scared though.  I thought my life was so well and it was.  It is just that I did not expect this tough of a battle coming off of it.  I read the different posts about tapering off even more so than the one pill but I think I will just jump into this now since I am a couple days into it.  I had my last pill about 36 hours ago and I am starting to feel the cramps in my body.  I stayed home sick and though it would be worse this first day and better within a few days.  
Refusingbondage - I saw you were on it over two years.  That is about where I am at.  What can I expect?  When will I feel "normal" again.  I can handle a few lingering withdrawals but it is the hard part I want to know when I will get through.  Why dont the doctors tell us this when we start.  Withdrawaling rom about 30 vicodins a day sounds like it would be easier than this is going to be.  I am just scared.  I have led such a good life the past two years since drug rehab and I dont want this unexpected withdrawal to mess it up again.  I just want to be done with everything and have a great life again.  Any help anyone?
15 Responses
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882278 tn?1241173929
Day 8, had night sweats after fighting sleep for a couple hours.  1st sweat I have had.  Was on suboxone for 14 mos., taking up 2 thirty two mgs. @ once + adderall, ambien and booze, cigarettes......
Yeah, this lasts longer than opiate w/drawal but not nearly as severe.  I tapered real quick and in my post titled; suboxone jones day 6 Update, I made a top 10 things to know.  Hope that helps.  Off to work, I am about 70% back to normal.
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Avatar universal
Hey - everyone is different and a lot of this is mental.  You have a great great outlook and are taking this head on and with a positive attitude.  Way to go!  Many people find its easier to just keep on with life (go to work, etc) and not dwell.  Its amazing what our bodies are capable of under these curcumstances.   Good luck and keep me posted!
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880349 tn?1240440611
Day #2 and I actually feel kinda not awful but not great.  It seems to be a place that its like, ok I could handle this if it stayed that way.  This morning my legs actually are not cramping but my stomach hurts really bad.  I am definitely hearing a concert or something in my stomach lol.  I slept last night about 6 hours and only woke up a few times.  I am almost scared that maybe that means the suboxone isnt all out of my system yet and the worst is still to come.  I dont know.  None the less, as much as I could love to stay on this couch today, I think I need to get up and go to work.  I am drinking a lot of water and today I am going to get some Gatorade Rain on the way to work.  That stuff actually is pretty good.  I like the taste, the Berry flavor.  I know I read somewhere that Gatorade was good to drink during withdrawal so I am going to try it.  So here's to the second day, lets hope that I can get through this one like I got through yesterday.  
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Avatar universal
Hi Taxboy,
I was on Suboxone for 18 mnths and was on only taking 1 x 2 mg tab per day..i would take it in the morning and had no need to take it 3 times a day..i think that's an excuse to take the same dose 3 times a day every 8 hours what a crack up...the dose u are stable on should last 24hours..well it does in Australia anyways...maybe ours is stronger than yours in the states..anyways i have been 14 days clean from a 2mg jump off..and i feel great also i was back at work in an ofc 4 days ago and only pain i had was minor leg cramps and minor back ache which was easily disquised with a stretch or 2..you're work mates wont know whats going on unless they are ex user or something hehe..
My doctor said it takes 10 days to get suboxone out of the body ( completely ) however i did an RDT or rapid detox treatment to achieve this in 24 hours..it was the worst 24 hours of my life ( ever ) like another deamon was crawling out of my skin and back in every second..but after the 24 hrs i actuallt felt better like all the 90 days of normal withdrawalhad been compressed into 24 hours..then immediately i backed it up with a nalrexone implant..these things cost only $800- in the U.S.A and can be inserted into the lower abdomen ( with - 5 stitches )..when i did the Rapid detox i was told to eat MS CONTIN ( morphine ) 2 weeks before the operation that was meant to soak the opiate receptors and remove the suboxone..
Its a much better way to get off suboxone and in the states they also have full sedation rapid detox programs that u basically get to sleep heavily while u w/d and after 3-5 days u r cured..i have noticed my mental state is better than before the proceedure the only down fall is sleep ..i get less sleep now but i dont care ( im clean now ) and will stay that way..the implant will be good for next 6 - 12 mnths and means i must remain abstinant..as it blocks any silly stuff..it's the best insurance policy ever !!
I now remember i did do the straight C/T yrs ago and wow that was 6 mnths of hellish leg ache and back ache and inability to work..

Hope u find a better way of c.t like me it's so much faster than sufferring every day !!


Kind Regards,

sam7400
Helpful - 0
880349 tn?1240440611
Well here it is, 10 at night and I finally was really feeling everything earlier.  I am miserable.  My legs hurt so bad and my back.  I had a headache but I think that is not so bad right now.  I actually got on the phone and talked to people for a long time and just tried to distract myself.  I drank some water and had a little grilled cheese.  I kinda actually feel ok for the moment.  I mean my legs still hurt, but I can tolerate it right now.  It would be nice to be able to at least stay this way for the night but I am sure that wont happen.  I did walk around for a while as I was on the phone and I think that helped too.  I just feel like I am going in circles just trying to make sure I am doing everything that I can.  I am going to try and tough out work since it is just too busy for me to take off more than a day or two.  I think I have a good plan of action and I am going to stick to it.  I just need to kick this already and be done and enjoy the life of a "normal" person as best I can at least.  I will just not have to feel this way anymore at least.  I am going to make it about will power.  Anyway, thank you everyone.  I will keep posting regularly and please, I like reading the comments of hope.  We are in this together and I hope to return the favors someday when I have made it to the end of the tunnel.  I love all the suboxone slogans.  It was great.  I try to find humor where I can.  Thank you again everyone!  

taxboy
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Avatar universal
SO has anyone tried to take any Benzos while going thru the sub withdrawl to sleep or lessen the anxiety? How did u work? Any one take any benzos while tapering on the sub?
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Avatar universal
13 months here amd i taperd to 2mg for a week then quit it took 3 weeks for me too get my energy back, and a month to feel normal  i wish i would have take it too a sliver. SURPRIZE SURPRIZE SURPRIZE it deffintly spanked me nasty. But the fight is worth it dont stop now!! Good Luck
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Avatar universal
Hey Taxboy. Keep going, you can do it. You are right. Theere is no time like the present. I am currently going on my 6th day FREE from Subs, so we are going through the same thing. Here's my journal/advice

Day 1-4- I still had cravings. I would have loved to have just a little bit of sub, but didn't. So if you still have meds or a prescription, get RID of it.
Day 5 and 6- NO Cravings, yey. In fact, I would not take a sub if someone waved a bottle at me. My mind has seen the light at the end of the tunnel. The light is so important because many people on opiates I think don't believe the light is there because they can't remember what it is like to be "normal", meds free. THis may be why there is such a low success rate with detoxing off subs. In my case, I didn't think my body would be able to wake up and function without Subs ever again, boy was I wrong.

Now the bad stuff. By no way am I saying it is a pice of cake. My mind is energetic, but my body is tired, weak- leg cramps, Severe Restless Leg Syndrome, insomnia (and your body needs rest to heal). I don't know how long they will last, although as I'm typing this on Day 6, I'm a little pannicky.

Day 5 was decent for me and may be good for you. This is the day where I saw the light and decided that Subs will never be a part of my life again.

As I mentioned on other sites. I am alone with this. My career doesn't allow me to be honest with my addiction to some. My husband has never been addicted to anything, so he keeps asking me if I'm sure that I don't have the flu? (He finally quit saying it was just in my head on DAy 5). My best friend is still on Subs and I think doesn't want me to get off.
Just remember, Subs has been an important part of your life for a long time and some feel like they are losing their best friend, but you will get through it. Journal your experience. Day 3 for you, YAY!

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Avatar universal
Keep talking and posting and reaching out for that support that you know is there.....many dont have that luxory.  Use your strong points and you will be successful .....  sounds like you have a great group around you - communicate - post here with people that totally understand you ...... and best of luck - I feel good about this one!!
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880349 tn?1240440611
Thank you all of you.  I needed to hear this.  It makes it less scary.  I know it seems like I am panicing and I kinda am but I new this was coming.  I just didnt realize this bad.  I am a tough willed person and honestly, I want to be to that good place.  I am going to use this site to get there too.  I just hope I can make it at work.  I work in tax accounting and I am so busy still for another three weeks.  I even thought of waiting until then to try this but heck, no time like the now.  I have a lot of supporters off of this website too so I know I can do it.  Thank you so much.  The words of comfort and advice of what other people experienced definitely are helping me calm down.  I also have NA and my sponsor knows everything that is going on so I have him too.  I will be on this site reguarly, especially as I am going through this initial part of "new" feelings.  Thanks again everyone.
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349859 tn?1257790973
Wow! It does REALLY suck that ALOT of people were under the misconception that suboxone is a miracle pill. I have been taking it for 4 YEARS! But I am slowly tapering down. I am trying to do my tapers every 2 wks. I am now on 4 mg, but I too lost my insurance and cant afford to pay for them anymore. I try to look at that as a blessing in disguise. Please keep posting. I would really like to follow your story.
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Avatar universal
sorry for all the typos.. Im doing 10 things at once and getting ready to leave for the day!
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Avatar universal
OMG Cattalina - you are the best:   "THE SUB SURPRISE CLUB" Indeed.  

Welcome taxboy.  OK #1 sto panicking!!!!! Its th eworst thing you can do.

I jumped off suboxone after being on for a little over 2 1/2 years on September 2, 2008 (hardest and greatest day of my life).  I jumped from 1mg - that is half a 2mg tab every day.. I was stuck on 1mg for months and months but finally decided thats it and quit.

I would say that it is probably worth it to taper to a smaller dose than 2mg.  If I would have found this site before quitting suboxone (I found this site on my 12 days of severe withdrawal) I would have gone down to that highly regarded 'crumb or sliver'...

That beign said - if your determined then just hold on tight and go for the ride.  I will not lie, nor exaggerate and I will tell you MY story (in as short a version as I can, cause I can be really long winded and these poor folks here have read it a million times already).  For me, severe physical lasted about 14 days and slowly.. slowly like s......l.....o.......w.......l.....y  by no mens did day 15 feel better but it started improving around them.. little by little..   I have it journaled but cant go back and read it now.. so I think 14 days of severe physical.. then it gets better, but anxiety sets in.. that lasts a while.. for me about 30-50 days.. then depression set in.. that lasted up till about 90 days..

Im not saying this to scare you but honestly as bad as the physical stuff was, the anxiety and depression FLOORED me cause Ive detoxed off of H, off of Oxy, off of almost everything and not had this particular experience.  Those were really really dark times and its by Gods grace I made it (and through the help of all the lovely folks here who kept assuring me I would).

All the usualy physical, but worse (in my case). The goosebumps hot/cold sweats lasted literally months and months.. gradually getting better after those first 14 days.. but I think I STILL get occassional (very occassional) goosebumps/hot/cold flashes and im 7 months post my last suboxone.  Goosebumps are a way of life - you will get use to them.

The good news:  I would say conservatively that it took about 4 months to "FEEL GREAT".. You just have to tough it out.  It was the hardest time of my life BUT it was the single greatest thing I have ever done for myself.  I did return to work after 14 days (and I have a hectic commute into manhattan).. again not easy and there were times I felt like I was floating down the subway station stairs, but I made it.  

Basically once your in your in.  Get your mindset that no matter what happens your sticking with it.. it wont kill you and it wont last forever.   I feel healthier and better today than I have in YEARS AND YEARS!! In fact, I cant remember a time feeling this good.  The pain and stuff is nothing compared to the joy of getting here.. Now, I would not have answered it that way about 6 months ago but wait it out.. in the end, its worth it..

Here anytime to talk ok.  Best of luck.



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Avatar universal
You cant live in the past so we have the here and now to deal with....I was lucky and didnt do the sub long enough for physical problems...but the stuff has interested me.  If you have the access it seems that a long and protracted taper is your best bet... even down to 1/4 pieces of pills and then a piece every couple days extending to every three or four days before quiting entirely.  Same remedies apply as to the other opiates....emetrol, immodium, ibuprophen, warm showers, hot pads. nutrition and vitamins ......  treat yourself right so you may heal more efficiently.......and good luck...
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Avatar universal
Hello taxboy welcome to the sub surprise club!! I have also been on sub for 2 long years and am in the tapering process as well. The majority of us have similar experiences as far as not knowing or expecting the reality that is the suboxone spanking... You said you believed you were on 2 mg pills... knowing for certain how many mg you were taking when you jumped off 36 hours again will be a good indicator as to how bad this detox will be. You've been on it for a long time so jumping off of anything other than crumbs... well put on that seat belt in your handbasket!! It's not impossible to do but it will be extremely hard. I believe RB also got down to a tiny dose before she jumped off. So far, she is the only one (that I know of) who has successfully tapered off long-term sub treatment so I value her advice very much. Read more posts on this site - there's a handful of us with long-term experience and we post often... you may want to reconsider your game plan or you may not. Either way good luck and keep posting.
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