Suboxone withdrawl...how long?

[bsksmomma]

I started 2 mg of Suboxone about 3 years ago, went to 1 mg / day for about 1 year, down to 1/2 mg / day for about 3 months...I have two questions:

     1. Has anyone experienced hair loss from Suboxone?  I have lost almost 1/2 of my hair and Dr. can't find anything wrong after all of the standard blood tests, etc.  The only thing I can think of is the Suboxone because it is the only medication I take other than Adderall.

     2.  How long does withdrawl normally last (HA! as if there is a "normal")  but also...am I just prolonging the agony by weaning down from here?  I just can't beleive that I feel this crappy because I am on such a tiny dose!  I'm wondering if I should just jump off the cliff and quit cold turkey...problem is, I still have kids to care for, college courses to get "A's" in, and a full time job!  I still need to function!  If I thought I could take a week off of work and be done with it I would, but from what I hear, it can take a very long time...any opinions?

Thanks for your reply in advance...

[Tom331]

ive been on suboxone for about 2 1/2-3 years i started taking 4 mgs. then jumped to 8 mgs. now for about 2-3 months i went up to 16 mgs. i tried cold turkey but half way through the second day i would crumble and end up getting one which helped. Ive been doing that now for a week.I am totally out.I took a half this morning and dont feel good at all.Does it get worse after the second day,and how long will i go thru withdrawl?

[worried878]

whichever works for u...if it causes u not to sleep...nights may be better..if u r taking tiny crumbs then even 2 crumbs can add up to only 1/2 a mg...mornings seem to be bext for most if sleep is not an issue///for many sub interferes with sleep so is not done late at night

[redrodeo]

I am pissed at myself, I should have none better. Given what my sepciality is.Ok just check my pill bottles I have1 and3/4 tab fro the orage tabs 8mg/2mg. Today I took 4 mgs What should take tomorrow. Nothing? So my grand total is14mgs Two milligrans Sat, None one Sunday, 2mondayI start a new job in a few months I wnat tofinished with this I really really like that drug company lie to use. And the pay big time.Do you thinks its better to take at night or in the morning.Red

[refusingbondage]

Hi and welcome. Many of us relate.  I was on subs for over 2 years and am now off subs for 70 days.  I think you should take the above advice and get yourself down to a crumb of sub everyday then every other day.  You will have to jump and I wont tell you that its going to be easy - because its not - but you CAN do it.  If you work a Mon-Fri work week, if you combine the weekend, Mon-Fri, and the next weekend you should be ok to go back to work.  That is how I did it. One full week off of work.  It will take a while to feel better physically but remarkably our bodies are capable of pushing through no matter how bad we feel. I have a child too and a full time job and a communte into NYC every day and a pretty intense job, but I returned to that on day 11.  Believe me, if I did it you can definitely do it.  Please stay on this site and let all the great people here help you through.. this site got me through the worst of it.  You need to hear that you can do it and you will make it.  And we say that because we've done it.  Best of luck!

[ochooked]

Hair will grow back--- Leaving the Sub will bite -- hard.   I tapered to only a crumb and still suffered W/D's pretty severely.  Avis told you right --- go down to a crumb -- then a crumb every other day.  Do this for one week and then jump.  I won't say it is easy -- in fact it is not --- but no matter what else you have going in your life --- this is still more important.   Everything else still be there when you complete the process -- the most important thing is to quit the drugs -- and Sub is a drug.  You will feel such a sense of satisfaction when you can finally say you are FREE.  All the best

[worried878]

...there is a comparison chart in my journal..stron drug and incy bincy amounts of sub add up to alot unfortunately...but ur close..perhaps go to every other day like mentioned then jump...if u r determined to do it then u gotta do it sometime and sub wd is a long one....but doable..very doable..the thomas recipe can help

as far as hair falling out..stress and depression does do that and it sounds like u may qualify right now...relax..go to meetings and know this is doable and u can do it  above all be positive,,i had a hair falling out episode recently...i was in a major pain crisis..no fun

FYI: adderall is continuing to stimulate ur dopamine receptors so will make it tougher as a rule for someone to quit..it is an amphetamine which dumps dopamine in a different way than narcotics...it could also be adding to ur stress..if indeed u r stressed

[avisg]

I would go all of the way down to a crumb then a crumb every other day.Your body has gotten very used to having the sub even in small doses if you go into the "Health pages" there are peoples sub experiences I would check them out.

[cathy5841]

hi and welcome to the forum.  even though you are on a "low" dose of sub that 2mgs is equal to 30mgs of hydros or 20mgs of oxy..it is a powerful opiate itself with a very long half life.  the lower your dose when you get off the better...but being on it for 3 years your w/ds wont be easy.  since you are down to 1/2mg i would go to 1/4mg for a couple weeks then to a crumb for a couple weeks then to a crumb every other day then every 3rd day and then get off.  maybe it will help....you check out our members stories about their experiences getting off sub in the health pages to the right...hope this helps.  keep us posted.