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489042 tn?1211420377

Suboxone withdrawls

I am 20 years old and have been recreationally/medicinally using opiates for 4 years now.  I got addicted to them after totaling three cars in less than a year and a halfs time, no thanks probably to the pain killers I was prescribed.  But I got addicted to lortabs, then roxicodone, and oxycontin.  I was treated for 9 months on suboxone.  Starting a 8mg dose for 6 months and 4 then 2 then 1 mg the last 3.  Two days ago I took my last 1mg I had left.  The withdrawl isn't near as bad as it was when I ran out when I was taking 8mg...or when I didn't have opiates...but its still there.  Since I have no prescription for a control substance that is helping me get off of another controlled substance I can have my prescription of clonazeapam 1mg 3 times a day back.  It helps and I do smoke hydro to help with the leg cramps.  I can deal with it all day long and work through it but the only time it really bothers me is at night.  Are there any little things maybe I could or can do an hour or so before bed to besides take 3 kolonopins...which I don't.  I have depakote 500 extended release in my medicine cabinet and took one last night it seemed to help minisculy.  Any suggestions or advice would be greatly appreciated.
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489042 tn?1211420377
Well I took I.B. profen and melatonin last night and slept for 9 hours, a first in my recovery and it feels great!!! first time in more than week that my knee did not lock up on me.  I am so happy this morning and it is a beautiful day...i think I might go run for an hour it is simply to pretty.
Helpful - 0
489042 tn?1211420377
Also I was wondering would it be better to take tylenol p.m. or take I.B. Profen and Benadryl since the sleep aid in p.m. is benadryl...I have to have something for actual knee immflamation and pain for my damaged cartiledge due to the car wrecks, main problem I have is I was in a big growth spurt during 9-12 months I grew almost 4" and since cartiledge doesn't grow after its been damaged past point of repair it doesn't grow making my longer left leg be the victim of the leg pains the worst that are associated with w/d syptoms.
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489042 tn?1211420377
I have taken my melatonin for the night hopefully my sleep is good and my leg is bearable for the duration of 6-7 hours I pray for my younger days when I could make myself sleep for 14 hours of the day lol...I hope those days come back, I feel like a 40 yr. old man in a 20 yr. old body sometimes.
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489042 tn?1211420377
I know some people complain about the chills and feeling emotionally distressed during this time but I find it reassurring...it means that I am alive and feeling normal.  Normal feelings nut numb to everything as you said.  I went from tabs and percocet 10's to Roxicodone name brand (Oxycodone) its the Instant Release in a tablet pill form they are blue, green 15, 30 mg pills.  The only reason I describe them is that most haven't heard of them.  Its like an Oxycontin with no Sustained Release.  That started at 30-45 mg's a day to 60-90 to above 200 mg's on most days to some days I am too embarassed to tell.  I just read your post today about being on day 90 completely cold turkey as I am on day 8 cold turkey, I even quit  smoking cigarettes, quit one may as well quit all.  
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401095 tn?1351391770
Glad u r kicking anything that controls u...it is the control that narcotics have over me that I do not like...so u were on oxys then went to sub?  as far as PAWS goes...it is ost acute withdrawal syndrome...so if u can manage to get off sub or any narcotic and completely avoid withdrawals...possibley there would be no PAWS...cravings tho would still possible occur..taking sub for a month or a year is not going to make you never crave once you stop it..Aftercare is so important here...sounds like u r on track...congrats
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489042 tn?1211420377
I go to NA, but I decided to quit everything and that meant going to the phyciatrist for more benzo's, and possibly sleep meds.  Someone said a pill for a pill and I don't want that anymore.  
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459663 tn?1236000877
Good job man,I am going on seven weeks off sub now and feel great for the most part,still have some sneezing and leg pain but its so worth it I didint know it was this good to be clean I still have some temptation but my after care is great. Are you going to therapy or NA?
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489042 tn?1211420377
Well today is day 8 and I'm feeling better than I was certainly, my left leg though is cramping badly in the knee and the occasional sneeze or stomache cramp other than that just tired but I know that I have to keep doing what I am doing now to continue this time.  Longest day ever in my past 4 years without a pain pill.
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489042 tn?1211420377
Just wanted to say thanks again and another happy ending so far on this side.  Be strong everyone especially the young people I know where your at I know you can't imagine spending the rest of your life in this crazy situation stuck between dependency and addiction and trying to find a cure with other "medicines" it just won't work.  I'm also here for anyone that needs it I know its only a week sober but it already feels like a lifetime of accomplishment:)
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489042 tn?1211420377
Thought I would update everyone...First I would like to say that I have learned a lot about myself in the past 2 weeks.  When I first came on here I had not had my daily dose of suboxone at the time 1 mg in a day or two.  I had been on the suboxone for almost 10 months on a 8mg tapered to 1 in a months time, which after doing research was too long...in my opinion now I should have never started taking the medicine.  It certainly is a pill for a pill.  I went to south carolina in very intense w/d's...good or bad in the end, only the future can tell.  I bought 25 30 mg roxicodone's hours after arriving...and did them all in the period of 3 days.  I went home monday last week to North Carolina cold turkey, nothing all my prescribed 1 mg clonazepam's gone eaten and sold to buy roxy's in SC...I was very alone.  I fought through the first 3 days tooth and nail trying every possible way to get out of my house and find some pain pills, but everytime I almost did it I stopped myself, somehow someway...I did it while the devil tried harder and laughed as I lay there thinking how good a pain pill would make me feel. I am not a extremely religious person but this just pissed me off so much that I took some words to heart that my dad had said to me.  He said you know you've always been tough with other people but never yourself and that just pissed me off to no end, I did not yell at him I took it to heart to fight this battle.  I used the only thing I ever have to get what I wanted and that was force.  I forced myself to not satisfy the devil while he just laughed as I went though complete sleepless nights 4 a.m. mornings with tremors racking my body...It is now Monday a week later and I am getting back everything I missed, my emotions, real feelings, it is incredible...so for those of you who think it is completely hopeless I beg and I pray you read this and take it to heart as I did.  I did not mean to make this post so long but it is something I felt I need to get out because if anything I hope you made it this long to read this.  You can do it, I promise I used to laugh at other's when they said they cold turkey'd it and quit I said no way no how I'm not going through that hell, but all the things I have just learned in one weeks time outweighs all others.  Thanks all I hope this really gets to some people in the same way I used it to get to me.
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489042 tn?1211420377
I'm going to a friends party...I quit drinking...quit taking pills...but I know they will be there.  I have had them put in front of me while on suboxone and didn't want them at all...But as I said this will be a true test.  I dont have any cravings for them and I DO NOT want to w/d again even if it isn't as bad to w/d of of oxy or roxy.  And I found a half a 8mg suboxone last night while I was w/d'n and I flushed it I think the reason I couldn't sleep is because after I found it all I could think about was how easy it would be to just go in the kitchen take a 1/8th of that pill and everything would be all over.  But I flushed it.  After I flushed it I felt so much better and went to sleep.  But still I feel great today on day 3 off of a very very small dose of sub.  Will I still get w/d simptons as in tremors shakes chills???
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Avatar universal
I am so happy 4 you that you have done this.You say you are going back to sc and the pills are easy to access please be strong you dont want to have to do this all over again♥
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489042 tn?1211420377
Well got some sleep...slept from 3 a.m. to 11 a.m. so I got 8 hours, the twitches finally went away long enough for me to sleep.  I woke up this morning feeling like I had taken suboxone yesterday...happy...energetic...and ready to go...Is this still because it is in my system or am I coming out of w/d's this is day 3 off sub.  I put myself on a .25 mg dose for a week and a half before I stopped taking them.  How much longer should I expect to w/d?
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489042 tn?1211420377
Well it is 12:37 A.M. and I am still awake...I have very slight tremors and chills but just cannot seem to go to sleep.  I have taken 320 mg of magnesium for my aches and 9 mg of melotonin and the magnesium seems to only work for the aches a little.  I guess I am going to have to ride this one out...and the worst thing (its actually good I need to get out) I am going back to SC on Friday where I can get all the oxy and roxy I want...it will be a true test.
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Avatar universal
I copies and pasted this from the Bup forum. I hope it helps.
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Avatar universal
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Hello everyone, AS I PROMISED TIM ,I'm back to share my tapering experience. As of today, I have been off sub for 2 weeks AND I feel GREAT! My doctor had said in the begining, if you taper right and jump at 2 mgs, ( I started at 32 ) I would feel NO withdrawl, and he was right. I just want to give hope to all of you that are agonizing over the thought of being completley off subutex. YOU WILL BE OKAY! Staying at 2 mgs forever is like holding on to the lifejacket, you just don't want to let go, of the medicine, of the whole way of thinking, of feeling in the safety zone. Before I continue, I would like to clearly outline my taper, as it was completley succesfull for me.

MONTH 1- 16mg in AM 8mg pm
MONTH 2-4 SAME
MONTH 5- 8mg am 8 mg pm
MONTH 6-8mg ( can be split and taken at different times, but best to completley eliminate 1 dose altogether )
MONTH 7- First week, 6 mgs a day, second week 4mgs a day, 3rd and 4th week 2mgs a day.
MONTH 8-OFF SUB FOR GOOD!!!!

I would like to say that without sub I could have never learned to live clean. But to get off drugs and medication you will absolutley need WILLPOWER and DESIRE to live clean. My doctor prescribed me 1mg clozepam in case I experienced restlessness or disomfort, I only used one on the first two nights to ensure I could sleep. Of course, you will ALWAYS be an addict, there will always be temptation and that mental craving that you will have to live with for the rest of your life. I went to my first ever NA meeting last night, I can't tell you how nervous I was, but it was such an uplifting experience to be around people who totally understand, support, and don't judge you. I reccomend if you are having a hard time staying clean after getting off sub because of cravings or otherwise, try NA. I am also seeking counseling to seek the true root of my addiction, as I have been depressed most my life and depression and addiction go hand in hand, You must face your addiction head on, with all your strength, and battle it to the death. DON'T be afraid to ask for help. The best thing I did in going off the last 2mg of sub was to have a positive attitude and instead of dreading it look forward to it as a new chapter in your life. Don't think you are going to withdrawl or feel miserable, at 2mgs it IS mind over matter. PAWS is a experience you have when going off DRUGS such as heroin or opiates, NOT sub. The point of sub is that it gets your brain working and producing the right chemicals, it is fixing you so you can eventually be in a better place, as before the drugs had made your brain stop producing chemicals it needs to naturally be happy. Simply put, YOU DO NOT GET PAWS FROM SUB. And to all that are abusing sub, you are A) taking the place of someone who wants to get better and B) You are still living the life of an addict so what is the point?


I just want to send a message of CELEBRATION, and HAPPINESS and most importantly SUCCESS! I have succeded in my treatment and am now celebrating two weeks with no sub, life is a good thing. I never thought I could go off sub, but I did and you can without PROBLEMS or WITHDRAWLS if you taper correctly. I just want to wish everyone luck and support and if you need to talk or have a question, please feel free to email me emma_love_84***@**** GOOD BYE AND GOOD LUCK TO ALL! peace and love

P.S. THANK YOU TO ALL THOSE WHO HAVE HELPED AND SUPPORTED ME, NANCYB AND TIM ESPECIALLY, SUPPORT IS SOOOO IMPORTANT IN RECOVERY, DON'T GO IT ALONE!
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401095 tn?1351391770
There is a liquid mixture of melatonin and tryptophan that works wonders for my neighbor...i googled it under liquid sleep medications and there are several brands with this mixture...I dont have any problem sleeping and when i do i take a small dose of ambien...never have abused that, tho some do...i would think it is safer than klonopin tho as far as habit forming...try the natural stuff and see if it helps...theanine helps anxiety as well...cold temps help slow your metabolism so i would turn my ac down to subzero and bundle up and take off blankets as needed during the night...be careful with benzos(klonopin) as the wd is hard....i know someone right now who is withdrawing from them and it is tough...any medication that affects the central nervous system should be used with caution....good luck to both of you
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489042 tn?1211420377
I've been of the suboxone for 2 days now and for the last 2 weeks I've been cutting 2mg pills into 4th's so I've only been taking a .25mg for the past 2 weeks.  I've been reading and heard that these have half lives and stay in your system longer than oxys or roxys therefore making the w/d's last longer.  I went to the vitamin shoppe and got some magnesium for my aches and rls.  I took it over an hour ago and the aches in my legs and body have subsided...for now.  I also got some melotonin to help me sleep at night because I have been having bad tremors for the past two nights.
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397118 tn?1219762250
how long have you been of the sub?
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459663 tn?1236000877
at the pharmacy in the vitamin ilse try getting som magnesium to it really helped my leg cramps
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489042 tn?1211420377
Where did u get the melotonin...?  I have epsom salt too.
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459663 tn?1236000877
Hi there iam 5 weeks off 2mgs of sub i took up to 15 mgs of melotonin befor bed and layed in really hot baths with epsoms salt that seemed to help alot good luck
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