Began with 24mg suboxone, down to 8mg now...

[taperess]

Began taking 24mg Suboxone about 1.5 yrs ago (for maintenance from heroin addiction), and have gotten myself down to 8-16mg, depending on the day and whatever willpower i can conjure up. It has been a drag. I'm no stranger to w/d, have been an opiate addict for 10+ yrs and at one time i even had to rapid-detox off of 160mg of Methadone after a maintenance period of 4 yrs (no words). i have used suboxone in a clinical setting to kick as well and was successful after a 14 day protocol (combined with therapy, a full schedule, & of course no access to any opiates). I imagined it would be the same for me this time until i found myself on all of these forums, trying to figure out if anyone else in the world is in the same boat. Apparently there are plenty of us. Had i known it would be this difficult to taper after a long maintenance period i would have just kicked on my own or done it rapidly again. i have been having aweful headaches and massive cravings along with using dreams and some pain & discomfort. My mind is telling me that now that my dose is fairly low, i could try to go the 36 hours needed to feel a high-grade opiate (IV), go ahead and get rocked one more time and then perhaps after the reinduction period needed to get back ON the Suboxone, i could "re-program" or change my start dose to like 2mg to speed up this whole taper process. i am aware, of course, that this is crazy addict logic. ASIDE from the obvious reasons not to try this (ie: possible OD, bingeing, etc.) COULD THIS WORK??? COULD I HAVE MY CAKE & EAT IT TOO??? On the brink here, meaning on-the-toilet-excited about the prospect... Any suggestions?

[rizboy]

One last binge is never that!thats the addict side of your brain saying one more time.The thing with sub is it takes a week or so for your body to adjust to a taper. so if you go from X amount to Z amount.stay on Z a few weeks to give your body chance to catch up.ive been decresing myself and found that cravings came back quite strong,which can be quite dishearting but battle through the more you deneigh the cravings the easier it becomes next time.You can have your cake and eat it but the cake will give you food poisioning.take care chris

[vicki595]

Here you go:

http://www.medhelp.org/health_pages/Addiction/Suboxone-Subutex-FAQ-Part-One/show/14?cid=66

[vicki595]

Hi-  I don't think 8 mg is that low of a dose to come off of no matter what the plan is and I don't think you should do any of the above unless there's a medical staff around! Seriously.

I've never taken Sub but I know a little bit about it. The taper process needs to be slow, decreasing by tiny amts of the drug. I can't be more specific, due to forum guidelines, but I'll try to find you a link to a forum acceptable taper plan...