My husband was put on Suboxone when he voluntarily went to a rehab hospital to get off Vicodin used for a year after a spinal fusion. He asked to be weaned off the Vicodin, but the Dr. told him he would take his Xanax away if he didn't take Suboxone. He did not want to take the Suboxine, but had been on Xanax for about 25 years for anxiety and panic attacks. He accepted the Suboxone. Over the next two years on Suboxone he gradually lost the will to live. He went from an active AA participant (15 years recovering & sober alcoholic) to a man with almost no friends and no hobbies or interests at all. He lost interest in his children, grandchildren, hobbies and even sex. He took 16 mg of Suboxone and was taking 5 mg Xanax at the same time. He got to the point that I expected I would find him dead one day when I returned from work because he had developed Sleep Apnea and COPD during this time and looked pale, bloated and ill.
On 1/26/10 he was admitted to a program to take him off the Suboxone. Initially they tried to take him off the Suboxone and Xanax at the same time. They substitued Valium for Xanax, but he did not do well so they put him back on Xanax. He did not taper off the Suboxone, they took him off cold turkey. He was in rehab for 16 days when our insurance said "no more", so he came home. It is now 2/14/20 and he is still shaking, anxious and very ill. He's nearly 60 years old and I'm concerned for his overall health. He's taking Robaxin, Neurontin, and Clonidine for the withdrawal symptoms, 4.5 mg of Xanax each day and 150 Mg. of Seroquel to sleep. I've been giving him multi-vitamin mineral supplements, BFood Complex and Omega 3-6-9 as well as making sure he eats at least something good 3 x each day.
After two years of Suboxone use at 16 mg per day how much longer should I expect this to go on? I almost rushed him to the emergency room today. He is disabled, but I need to return to work on the 22nd after taking time off to care for him.
Thanks for any insight you can give. He isn't willing to pay for rehab, but I will be taking him to a recovery counselor starting tomorrow.
This discussion is related to
Physical side effects of long term Sub use.