On Suboxone since 4/1/08 starting to taper off

[wantmylifeback335]

So I have been off the Oxy's and Perc's etc and on Suboxone since last tuesday. I can honestly say that I feel great! Now I know the Suboxone is the real reason why I feel so great...But after seeing so many changes in my life over the course of this week I can honestly say that I really think I am going to beat my addiction. I know an addict is always an addict but I have no problem being a "retired" addict. Kinda like a retired Doctor...he will always be a Doctor but he just doesn't work anymore.

At any rate...I started with 16mg Sub per day (8mg A.M. and 8mg P.M.) this week I cut it on Monday and Tuesday and Today to 12mg. (8mg in the morning and 4mg and night) I will also be taking 12mg tomorrow.
From there Friday, Saturday, Sunday and Monday I will be taking 8mg (4mg 2x daily) then 6mg for 4 days, then 4mg for 4 days then 2mg for 4 days then 2mg every 2 days...then 2mg every 4 days then 2mg once a week for 2 weeks.

I do not know much about tappering except that trying to taper off of percs and Oxy's has always been impossible for me...

I am confident and determined to kick this habit that has been ruining my life, my quality of life, my finances, and most importantly my relationship with my wife. I will NEVER allow myself to fall off the wagon. It helps that I am doing this with a friend who is equally determined.

While I have not been super active on this forum...I would like to thank everyone on here for giving me the motivation and support to beat this beast.

It is comforting to know that I am not the only one who is going through this...And I am always here to help anyone who needs it.

Thank you all for being here and listening...Stay strong and thanks for helping me stay strong.

Goodnight.

[TJack]

I agree with wait 2long about 2mg being too much to jump off at.  If you can break them as you need to and go from 2mg to 1 and then a half that would be better.  I was off after 2 mg for 2 days and that for sure was NO GOOD. Withdrawals for 2 weeks.  So stretch it and go as low as you can.   Of course consult your dr. for his or her imput.
Good luck to you.  I could not believe how normal i felt on the suboxone.  it was great.  You are determined so you can do this.  You will be so glad to have
it behind you and your life back.  Be careful after that and do not do like i did and let another thing come into your life to be addictive about.  Mine has changed to wine now
Where i use to drink a glass or two a day or 2 a week, now that has turned into a bottle or 2 several days a week.  So i have a new demon to battle.  I am working on that and to stay clean from the alcohol.  My sub dr. told me most, not all, go to another addiction.   I must have had blinders on.  Hang in there. TJack

[tinaisdone]

Tell me more on suboxone....i wanna know everything-my mind is just soooo curious at this point!  Congrats and good luck on your way to sobriety! I am on day 3 1/2 of hydro w/d cold turkey and while yesterday was horrible, today is not soo bad....maybe I'm a lucky 1......i sure hope so! Thanks, Tina

[flmagi]

I agree with Wait2long and Mary, 2 mgs is to high a dose to jump off at.
Best senario is to taper to .05 mgs, then do that every other day then every 3 days for a little bit. then hopefully you'll just forget to take your dose and be done.
Sounds like you're doing great and I'm happy you have someone to go thru this with.
Good luck

[allaboutmary]

You can go to www.naabt.org and read all the posts about tapering off sub.  It's great these people are getting off  sub with hardley any withdrawal symptoms at all. I am on a maintenanace dose of about 1 mg to 1 1/2 . Wait2long is right jumping off at 2 could be very difficult.

[JayDiddy]

Hello Friend,

I was on just a small medicinal dose of 40-50 mg of Oxy a day for several years before I started abusing in in my last year. I actually was emotionally and physically addicted at just this low dose. I wanted to get off of it so I started a 11 month taper.

Well I was dry from off of it for 5 months then I needed something because I was truly addicted. So after 5 free months I started smoking pot nightly and drinking often. I have never been a pot smoker or a daily drinker. This went on for 6 months then I quit the drinking/pot for about a month. Next thing, I just had "one" Oxy. That "one" led to getting back on it but at a greater level of consumption. Over the next 6 months I started snorting it (400-500mg per day) and started doing coke with it too. I had only done coke one other time in my life then all the sudden I went from being a medicinal user for 4 years to a total addict.

MY POINT TO ALL OF THIS IS, I WASN'T WORKING ANY TYPE OF RECOVERY PROGRAM. I NOW KNOW I CANT STAY OFF THIS **** OR ANYTHING ELSE WITHOUT WORKING AN NA/AA PROGRAM.

It is a progressive disease and studies show we cannot do it alone. It sounds like you are totally determined and it is my hope & prayer that you can get involved an a solid program which is more than just this website.

The odds are against us. I had to totally emerge myself in AA and do everything they told me to do. We haven't "tried" it until we work the steps. THE BEST PART IS THAT NOT ONLY AM I SOBER NOW, IT HAS MADE MY LIFE BETTER THAN BEFORE BY WORKING IT.

I am not trying to preach but state what worked for me in order to help you & others.

Good Luck,
Jay

[10356]

I'm happy for you that the decision has been made, You sound so positive and it sounds like you have wonderful support I'm pulling for you and your wife, take care of each other.

[wait2long]

i would taper lower than 2 mgs...people are maintained at 2 mgs...thats too high to jump off at...if tapering is done properly...your wd's should be mild...and some people DO have no wd's...
i am sending you a PM now...

[malillasjr]

I am not sure if is even worth taking them up to the point when you said "...then 2mg every 4 days then 2mg once a week for 2 weeks. " I mean you could prolly just stop...but one thing is for sure is that there is a withdrawal stage after taking suboxone....