Opiate to Suboxone and Back

[RD808]

I could not find my answer to this question anywhere online, so hopefully I can get some help. I was addicted to percocet for over a year and went through the W/D cold turkey. After being normal again for another year... I started taking percocet on the weekends recreationally. I was able to take them one or two here or there and be fine the next day, but eventually i took a lot one weekend and was feeling withdrawals during the week. They aren't bad and I don't get dipressed like I did when I first went through them. As a reult of work, I would take the suboxone Monday and Tuesday to alleviate the W/D symptoms. To prevent myself from getting REALLY hooked again, I didn't take more than 8 over the weekend, which was enough to make me feel not so good during the week.

I guess my question is this.. If I switch between suboxone and percocet, will I become addicted to opiates anyway, because regardless of the two they are still both opiates.

Also, how long does it take to get addicted to suboxone itself? I will stop everything now but I am curiouse. And how do I get the mood lift I get from these drugs naturally? I love how productive I am on them and well it stimulates my mind when I write music.

THanks for the help.

[kolo13]

It is effective at the level you have left in your bloodstream. It will stave off withdrawal and block other opiates to the degree that you still have it in your system.

[RD808]

I took percocet on the weekend and took only half of a quater of suboxone on Tuesday.

Even though the suboxone has a half life... is that the effects? Or just how long it stays in your blood stream?

[RD808]

Well the last does I took and the only dose I took within those hours was half of a quater of an 8mg. So that would mean it was 1mg I took.

[kolo13]

The half-life of suboxone is 37 hours. So when you take one in 37 hours half of it is left and in another 37 hours there is one-fourth and in another 37 hours one-eighth.. You add up the fractions from each dose you've taken times the milligrams to get an estimate of how much is in your system. ----------.   By the way, here is an example of the math on that if anybody is interested:  Let's say you take four 8mg tablets, one every 12 hours. How much is in your system three days after you take the last dose? Well there is about one-eighth of the first pill, one-sixth of the second pill, one fifth of the third pill, and one fourth of the fourth pill. This adds up to three-fourths so you still have six mgs in your system. This is why suboxone blocks the effect of opiates for so long even after you stop taking it. You can see that if you took it all weekend and stopped 27 hours ago you would still have quite a bit in your system. I'll calculate this for anyones specific situation if they want.  Good luck.

[RD808]

Another question then. How long does suboxone effects last.. or block withdrawal. Because I haven't take anything since Tuesday morning. Roughly 27 hours ago. And I only feel a little tired. I don't feel high or really mortivated as I do usually when I take suboxone. Is it the suboxone still working? Or am I just not physically addicted.

Thanks by the way for all the answers. I am certainly not messing with my body anymore like this. I'm done with all this pill stuff. I'll probably just stick it out.. just curious if I'll have to.

[kolo13]

The main purpose of suboxone is to get people away from insanely destructive consequences of addiction; stealing, whoring, shooting up with dirty needles, etc. Suboxone is long-acting and only a partial agonist so an addict can get away from the huge ups and downs of an out of control addiction. This allows the out of control addict to get some stability in their life. They still have to withdraw from the suboxone eventually. It's purpose is NOT to make it easy to be an addict and avoid withdrawal.

[RD808]

"Sub is an opiate. All you are doing is going from 1 drug to another. If you are addicted to an opiate drug already than you are addicted to sub as soon as you take it. Its like saying I am addicted to hydros but not oxy. An opiate is an opiate no matter what you call it. Sub doesnt take wd away its just puting another drug in your system to replace the other. Dont mess with the sub. Its harder to quit and is a much stronger opiate than percs. you are better off taperring down the percs and then jumping off."

If this were true, then what is the purpose of suboxone? It's supposed to be easier to taper down from, less W/D and also isn't it supposed to mask the W/D while your body detoxes?

[MickisGirl]

If you want to get off of all drugs then you have to just make up your mind to do it. You are not using the suboxone as it was intended and what you are doing is dangerous and is not helping.

[BIKERDAD1963]

Sub is an opiate. All you are doing is going from 1 drug to another. If you are addicted to an opiate drug already than you are addicted to sub as soon as you take it. Its like saying I am addicted to hydros but not oxy. An opiate is an opiate no matter what you call it. Sub doesnt take wd away its just puting another drug in your system to replace the other. Dont mess with the sub. Its harder to quit and is a much stronger opiate than percs. you are better off taperring down the percs and then jumping off.

[LoandTansMom24]

It takes about 2 weeks to get hooked on the subs. I have been on them for 4 and a half yrs and I am trying to taper down so I can get off them completely. I can tell u this....the longer you are on the subs, the harder it will be to get off them. If your wds are mild right now, your best bet would be to stop now! GOOD LUCK!!