Home withdrawl or Suboxone

[bodhigirl]

I have the need to go off pain meds. I have taken them on & off for years for a back condition and intractible migraines.
I have gotten to the point of addiction. I have been able to go off them by myself in the past, but restarted when pain flares-- then its bye bye Bodhi

I take: Tylenol 3, 4 per day OR 3 Vicodin ED 7/7.5 and soma 350 4 per day.

I know this is not a lot and I have good self control where I can space out a script as long as possible BUT I am an addict.  I know that I am using them for the euphoria rather than pain and I have gotten scripts from multiple sources so I am afraid of having charges brought, etc.

My question to you all- should I try to do the home withdrawal and NA or do you all think it's time to try Suboxone? I hate to think that I am substituting one for another but if I keep going back to the pills obviously my way is not working. I need to keep a low profile for my work and family obligations.

I know home withdrawl means at least 5 days of misery if not more....

Also, any one with drug trial experience? I found a local one that I could do...I would like to keep this off my insurance radar....

Thank you all for reading and may you all be well.

[bodhigirl]

Thank you all for your comments....I am trying the home taper. I have cut my Vicodin EES 1/2 and take 1/2 doses instead of whole. Now I am out of Vicodin.  I have about 3 days worth of Tylenol 3 which I will also wean slowly, take a dose an hour later than I woud etc...

Normally I would be panicking about no meds left but I am hopeful right now. I am grateful for not having to script-shop and having the guilt & fear with me. I watched Intervention last night. That always helps LOL.

I can feel the lovely lower GI symtoms starting already. I bought 2 boxes of immodium.

Pain? THAT is a good question. I use muscle relaxers (soma) which I am not giving up- for migraine & back. Motrin 800s are my best friend although they do make me sick at times.

For back pain have you had epidural injections?? Have you tried Flector patches? They do reduce the pain. Migraines- if you can get approval BOTOX works wonders - for about 2 months- then BOOM....But if you can try Topamax for preventattive and perhaps Fioricet for breakthru pain (its a barb, not an opiate).  That way you can also minimize rebound headaches.

So my thing is opiates- I have a longstanding script for klonopin  which I take as directed and NEVER overuse. They do nothing but knock me out and reduce anxiety. Barbs do nothing for me either except kill my migraine. I dont' drink at all. I HAVE TO STOP TAKING OPIATES. So...if you are somewhat of a same pickle, perhaps you can look at alternatives to opiates for your back & headaches.

Question to you all--- if I am an opiate addict but I never abuse benzos or barbs (fioricet) can I still take them as prescribed?  When I say never I mean never. No early refills, no desire to use recreationally...

Just a thought. Day 2 of taper. Hopeful. Thank you, thank you all for sharing your lives with me.

[whattodo10325]

In my opinion, given the small amount ( I know it doesn't seem small, bu here me out) of pills you are currently taking, I would strongly consider going c/t or a fast taper plan at home. I do not think Sub is a good alternative in this (your) situation. I am currently taking Sub myself and after doing weeks of research on it, talking with those who have been on it and with those who are still on it, I decided that it was the right choice for me and her is why. I was taking 65+ of the Norco 10/325 a day everyday, and sometimes more. My doctor told me I was in REAL danger of having my body/liver shut down, plus I ended up in the ER about 2 months gao from aking to many pills in one day (about 80 of the Norco 10/325) I was not trying to hurt myself, I was just chasing that "high" and not thinking about what I was doing. Anyway, I do not consider myself 100% sober (my opinion) until I am offf the Sub as well as  IT IS a drug in itself. It is also highly addictive and most people that have taking have had a HARD time coming off of it. The only reason I went on the Sub was to save my life. Being that you have quit in the past, I KNOW you CAN do it again and you defintely dont want to quit you DOC and then have to quit the Sub to a few weeks/months later and go through all of that again. Sub was my last resort and I know I am going to have HE%% to pay coming off of it and I am trying the 21-30 Sub plan and have already begun to taper down. I stongly urge you to do this "home detox" (as you say) by quiting c/t or a FAST taper plan. I am not try to minimalize the amount of pills that you are taking as each person is different, I am just thinking with thant amount you CAN do this without the Sub. I am not "anti" Sub if you will, I just don't think it is a good choice for most people and I do think it is a good choice for a select few. The BEST ways are c/t or Taper, just one mans opinion. I am also keeping this off of my Insurance "radar" as well and the Sub treatment with Doctors visits is costing me right around $700 a month, it is not cheap. If you are concerned about being able to carry on with business as usual around your family and friends, I would think a taper plan might help with that part of it. But you have to TRULY WANT IT to make that work, (taper that is) as it is hard to do. Hope that helped

[sickntired08]

I too have intractable migraines and sever back pain...but am also an addict to pain meds.  I have been tapering over the last two weeks under my doctor's care and I did ask her about Sub...she advised me not to do it, to try the taper plan first.

I am doing fine on it, yes, I have had 2 migraines which i ended up in the ER with, and my back is constantly aching, but I feel like a light inside of me has been switched on, the light that the pain meds invariably switch off.

So, I feel better overall without the meds.  What to do about pain? Not sure, it is a question I will be asking my doctor when I see her next week.

I think if you can get off the meds on your own, that's your best bet.
This forum has helped me immensely, yoiu can do this!!!

[liscamdave]

If you go the sub route, you will be trading one addiction for another. It seems that you can get clean, but you just can't stay clean. Which is most of our problem. It a tough decision. I would think what you are saying is that you need sub long term to keep you from relapsing. But the same will ultimately happen with the sub if you are on it long enough and coming off of it will be a nightmare if you stay on it for a long time. \

Don't get me wrong. I used sub and think it can absolutely be beneficial in getting clean. I just don't know about long term use. Long term use in MY eyes and MY eyes only, is trading one addiction for another. You will still be dependant on an opiate.

If you can go without it, then do that. Get your behind in meetings and stick with this forum. You need motivation. Is there anything non-narcotic your drs can give you to help you with your pain?
Good luck whichever you chose.