Suboxone experience

Not a question... just thought I would share my experience. Some of you have read my other posts, but anyway, I have been on 40mg of methadone for 3 plus yrs...My dr kicked me to the curb but I found another who was willing to help. But then I started thinking....do I really want to be chained to this insidious drug for life? The answer was NO! So I decided to detox using suboxone ( I was previously going to do this by myself, but you guys talked me into doing it the "right" way) So here is what happened...Took my last dose of M on wednesday morning...I was down to 2 mg a day...making that last scrip last as long as possible...had been on the edge of withdrawals for a few days...I was told to wait a minimum of 36 hours before taking the subs,but I went into heavy withdrawals last night around bedtime....I waited as long as I could but by 7 in the morning my score on the withdrawal symptom test was 28 (COWS) so I took one 8 mg sub....waited over and hour...could feel something cookin but not enough....so with my new drs knowledge and approval I took one more sub....within 30 minutes I literally felt the wds just melting away...no sense of being high at all...just such a peaceful relaxing feeling. The withdrawals were 100% GONE!!!! . My parents had spent the night just in case of a negative result and they both said that in a matter of an hour and a half I had changed back into my old happy self. I was even hungry! I had a great meal and then laid down for the first real sleep I had enjoyed in YEARS...I woke up refreshed...I was alive again. Oh its not perfect, I still have pain from my conditions, but I am gonna deal with that for a while as I experiment with alternatives to narcotics.If the pain gets to be too much my new dr said to call him day or night and he will send out a scrip...don't think I will need to though! I am happy as hell...I don't know what I expected from suboxone, but it DELIVERED! I am going to start weaning off in a few days I am very optomistic! Suboxone WORKS!!!!!

[jamajessie]

Yes suboxone takes away all withdrawals and cravings. It works and it works well. It's not a cure for addiction but it aids in recovery. It has a higher success rate than methadone if used as prescribed.


Sub saved my life.

[paintedangel]

Thanks for replying. How long were you on suboxone? Was it hard to stop using it?

[jamajessie]

I'm still in treatment. I've been on it for almost a year. I'm on a low dose 4mg a day was on 6 last month. I'm on a slow slow taper. I'm trying to have as few withdrawals as possible. If I have to I will be down to crumbs. If I have to taper down to a speck I will I'm not trying to feel any withdrawals. Life is too hard ... why suffer when it can be optional? you know? I could stay on it as long as I want my Dr says. I'm just ready to taper. I'm not craving and haven't used. I haven't even drank alcohol since I started Sub. It's just time for me to see if I can live life sub free.

[HenryS354]

Sub is quite amazing that first dose isnt it?  There are going to be all kinds of awesome things that you realized your life was lacking the further you get into your sub treatment.

I was on suboxone for 2 years, 16mgs daily.  All I can say is use this gift the sub is giving you as an opportunity to fix the things in your life that need fixing.  Fix those things, and the mind heals as well...

I came off sub from 3mgs 24 days ago.  There were certainly wd's, and I wouldnt wish to go through it again anytime soon, but it waqs nothing unbearable like oxy or hydro wd's.  No puking or anything like that, and no real pain... just a lot of discomfort and irritability.  Its certainly tolerable, by day 10 I wasnt 100%, but was able to work a 20hr work day, and head overseas for work for 15 days. (Im a flight attendant)

Sub wd's are manageable, but dont worry about all that.  Enjoy what the sub has given you, and take advantage of this time.  This is the way sub was meant to work for addiction... to be used in adjunct with other recovery care.  It takes away the cravings, wd's, and erratic behavior so that you can focus on fixing why you used in the first place.  Just stay on the lowest dose that alleviates wd's and cravings, and work your recovery plan!

Good luck
Henry

[sway1]

henry! that is exactly what i am doing. i have been spending time with my kids again. they like me again. i just got a new job. for the last few(or more) years i couldn't even work. not like i wanted to. my husband and i are having that good old loving like we used to. i am in NA and have a wonderful sponsor. making those life changes after so many years of failure. i feel great! yeah, i have pain. my arthritis is in my spine now. i just had 2 shots today, no opiates! i am so grateful! sway

[kittycat1433]

YEAH!!!!!!! IM SO GLAD TO HEAR THE NEW'S i take sub and isn't it great how it just seem's to take it all away,just be carefull abt the getting bored thing alot of people say thet get bored because they got so use to the high feeling and know don't know what to do and depression is setting in and stuff like that.Iam so glad you feel so good and yes the first day on my sub it felt so good to eat and not wonder where that next damn pill was coming from,i also started getting pissed off @the people who made a fortune of me and act like they just love you to death until the money stop's flying there way i hate thease people and hope they go straight toHELLLLLLLLLLLLLLLL REMEMBER TO PRAY TO GOD for your blessing's good job.stay clean good luck kitti.

[paintedangel]

Day 2 and all is well. Made the mistake of dosing close to bedtime and got NO sleep til daylight.My dr said that if I start to feel wds between doses to cut one sub into 4 sections and take one section...and I had to do that,but it kept the williesnots away! My doc says that he wants me to start tapering after the 3rd day by one quarter pill weekly..any opinions on this? Some have said that since I was using methadone for over 3 years that that is too fast and that I should be on subs for at least 6-12 months...guess I am gonna find out! See ya!

[salsinator]

Great news!  Glad to hear the sub is working well for you.  Sometimes the transition from methadone to sub can be a challenge.  I have read your other posts and knew that you were very frustrated, so I am glad that you chose to go the doctor route - nice job.  

I saw your comment above on taking sub before bedtime - that was a huge problem for me too - no sleep at all.  Work with your doctor on your dosing schedule, sub was really designed to be dosed only once per day.  Early on, your doc may want you to dose two times per day, but taper back when your doc says to do so and you will not find yourself in the same trap that you were with the methadone.  I was on sub for nearly 4 years and got off just over a year ago - have never felt better in my whole life!  Best of luck to you.

[paintedangel]

Hey salsinator! and all you guys...Yeah I originally was to dose only once a day, but by early evening I started having "those feelings" so doc said to take a bit more. It is now day 4 and I think I am stabilizing. I will let ya know how it goes and thanks again!By the way, I fully intend to be off the subs in 8 weeks. My mind is made up!

[Dump_Subs]

I think with subs, the wd's are just as long but certainly not as bad.  I'm on day 7 off of subs and it is no picnic when you have responsibility.  I would recommend a 10 day people hiatus/vacation.  Then go to aftercare.  Best of luck!

[paintedangel]

Thanx dump subs...the thing is my dr saya he NEVER prescribes subs for more than 10 weeks and as such there should be little if any wds. Were you on subs for long?

[paintedangel]

Ok day 5 ...went down 4 mgs of suboxone in the am...started at 8 now at 6...and last night instead of one full sub I only did 1/2 and feel absolutely great ...ready to slay dragons and rape bears!in 2 day goin down again!...T

[leeisgettingclean]

one day at a time----You seem to be doing good so just keep  doing your thing!

[ontheedgeone]

Newbie here. This is my first post. I am glad you are ready to take on the world but don't get impatient. Take your time and stay on it at the lowest dose that you can, while still feeling stable, until all other areas of your life are in order and there are no major changes or stressful events in your life. It is not a cure for the addiction but the most important tool in your ongoing struggle to beat it. There are many things to face and repair after a significant relationship with opiates. Stack the deck in your favor and put as many tools in your toolbox as you can before you take the final plunge. I researched opiate addiction for the last 17 years and got my masters in trial and error and crash and burn. I beat it umpteen times and it still bites back. Its unfortunate that there are Drs. out there that do nothing more than set people up for another kick in the nuts. Your post was the first one I read and really struck a nerve with me. good help is hard to find. I wish you well.    "THE JOURNEY IS THE REWARD"

[Dump_Subs]

Sorry for delay.  Was on subs for three years.  Today starts day 9.  Feeling better, going to work and will fake it again this week.   I'm no doc but I would stay off subs.  The high is average, and the wd's are just as long, def not as bad, but just as long.  My doc's plan was to keep me on it until he retired as I always paid cash.  Plus your doc never jumped off subs at any level so to say you won't have wd's is flat out wrong.  Day 3 and 4 I was just useless and could not find comfort anywhere.  Good luck dude.  Stay positive and focused.  Lots of good advice here.  Thomas recipe is a godsend, but not the great wd alleviator, still hurts but TR makes it more comfortable.  I am looking forward to this sat.  It will be day 14 and then I will work for day 30, 60,  and 90.  I am proud of where I am, I dumped any and all connections to pills, and look forward to a life of just weed.   Weed is all you need.