Methadone To Suboxone

[PAUL723]

Hello FLaddict, Can you answer a question for me? When you switched from methadone to suboxone how many mgs. of methadone were you taking? and how long did you wait between stopping the methadone and starting the suboxone? I hope you are ok and feeling good. thank you very much.

[marcoplo1527]

Hello all. My name is Marco, and i've been on opiates/suboxone for quite a long time. From my experience switching drugs or medication is not an exact science, and the results/outcome will change moderately depending on each person and their situation
. But, I see SOO many people curious about suboxone, so i've decided to share my experience with it, which is fairly vast. It is a wonderful SHORT-term drug. If you are looking for a way to weaken a WD from another opiate, suboxone is a great choice.
However, my Doctor told me I could take this drug for the rest of my life, 2mg's a day, and be fine
So, i've been taking 1mg a day for 3 years now, and recently tried to kick. (1mg mind you). But, I couldn't do it. It's not the WD was so bad, it wasn't. High anxiety, sleepless nights, NO ENERGY, but the real thing is, even after 4 weeks of not taking it, life just was horrible. I feel like suboxone has re-wired my brain DRAMATICALLY.I used to drink 200mg of methadone and SHOOT 1 gram of heroin EVERYDAY, so i KNOW what bad WD is. I am NOT Comparing the two, but i'm simply stating that MENTALLY 1 mg of suboxone is VERY VERY hard to deal with. So, please becareful if you are thinking about using this drug.
At the end of the day tho, im still grateful for suboxone; for I am not out looking for a way to get money and then shooting it up in my arm. I spend the 1 dollar it costs from my pharmarcy (per mg, roughly), drink my coffee, and go to work. Just be aware of the long term effects to your mind.

[FLaddict]

I didn't personally take methodone prior to Sub.  However the advice Hellc gave you above is right... about 48 hours they ask you to wait.. the longer you can go the better.. If you are worried about anxiety while waiting clonidine is a med that sub docs give that helps lower the blood pressure to help with restlessness and such.. Also the lower the dose of methodone the better.. they usually suggest weaning to 30mgs or 20mgs... can't remember which.. check out the suboxone.com... they may have it on there.... keep me posted on your progress..

[fishmeal]

KVMJ?  I think I remember you from before (6 months ago) when I was hovering around here?  Anyway, the Sub is working great for me too...  I'm just wondering Long term.

[hellc@mst]

hi Paul.I dont thnk Fla was on mdone b4 sub.Mayb i can help.

Im currently on Sub now(since Tuesday).I got my mdone dose down to 20mgs over many many months down from 155mgs.I went over 2 days w/o mdone b4 my first sub dose(4mgs total) so id b in withdrawals.
To give yrself the best possible chance:get yr mdone down 2 less than 30mgs:Go at least 48 hours w/o mdone b4 sub:Take the lowest sub dose poss to alleviate wds
regards J

[kvmj]

I was on 40mgs of done, then waited 3 days befor starting sub..

I have been on it now for almost a month and down to 2mgs a day....I rtarted at 12 mgs.

I wish i would have done this instead of done to get off pills....think it would have taken less time to get off sub.

Anyways it is the best thing to happen to me ( sub ).worked really well for me......but this is just the beginning of my recovery, because staying clean is the hardest part.

I have no problem keeping some sub around...just incase of severe cravings.

Good luck to you and god bless.............AJ