Tapering off Percs and Suboxone

[gottilee]

I have been going thru getting off percs the last few days and just had a question. I was taking 120-150mgs a day of percocet and Sat night at 11p was last pill then started suboxone at 9am Sun morning. Its been now 82 hours since my last perc. I took 20mg of suboxone Sun 16mg of suboxone Mon and 14mg of Suboxone Tues. I have taken 4mgs so far today this morning. I have 22mgs left is that enough to finish weaning off and avoid bad withdrawals. I am hoping to get to Fri with the Subs then have the weekend off of work to go cold turkey. I am just wondering how it will be this weekend if I take 10mgs of Subs today, 8mgs on Thurs then 6 on Fri. Then nothing for Sat and Sun. Thanks

[JTizzle]

Not to scare you or unmotivate you but as of Friday I was down to 1/4 of a 2mg pill. I am now struggling with the W.D from the suboxone. I am SO THANKFUL that I used them because they got me to 70 days and I have a clear head. So, my only advice is to get off of them ASAP. Don't prolong the inevitable. Use the subs for the worst of the perc withdrawl and then give it a few days maybe a week and you should start to feel some relief. This is per my boyfriend who did it for 5 days in a detox. Unfortunately, I triec to take the easy way out and now I have substituted one addiction for another. That's why they call it subs. LOL. They are a great tool....just try not to stick on them for longer than a couple weeks.

Now, I have been chatting with Iwant2beclean and she had an awesome result with the subs. So I guess everyone is different. I relapsed last week because i was so tortured from the sub w.d.....i had 70 days clean at the time.

I hope it works out and all of this is easier with a doc, NA, a support group, and this chat room

Best of luck and a big healing hug!

[gottilee]

Thanks for the input. Yeah I have attended 2 NA meetings this week plan to keep going. I got a very supportive family around me and 2 small kids to keep me motivated. I just feel my best option is to get off this quick and deal with the pain. I do have degenerative hip disease and 2 herniated disks in my back which got me on these pills to start with so I got to also get a program for that to. Anyway I am now at 126 hours without a perc took 6mg of suboxone yesterday going to shoot for 2-4 today then try to cut off during the weekend. Even if I have to take 2mg Monday I feel 2 days without anything is a good start. Thanks

[gnarly_1]

HI.....so your doing a fast taper self prescribed....but you went to a doctor to get the sub
well the whole Idea behind getting on a program is to put some form of aftercare in place
wile on the sub to build up your foundation so when its time to get off it your strong enough to stand on your own 2 feet and lead a clean and sober lifestyle..so your plan has flaws in it
yes some people try to soften the blow of withdrawals doing what your doing but you wont quit being an addict just because your not on the pills.....addiction has deeper roots as addicts we need to change the very way we think....like thinking we no more then our prescribing doctor...right now you need to focus on aftercare getting clean is the ez part a week of discomfort will get most of us threw the physical withdrawals but it is the mental aspect that sinks most that try this....both N/A and A/A offer free programs and im sure there is consloing with your sub doctor...it would be wise to plug in somewhere and start treating the illness of addiction as for you plan with the doses you been taking its probably going to be a few days b/4 you feel any withdrawals but they will come
rarely is there a get out of jail free card doing what your tring to do keep posting for support....im no one to judge I self tapered off methadone in 1/2 the dr suggested time but I also went threw withdrawals....good luck to you and God bless.....Gnarly      

[janet19]

I went to doctor today and he said he did prescribe suboxone but that several doctors are doing tapers on and off in 21 days. I am way pass that I have been on suboxone 16mg 2 months. He wants me to do a 9month plan and the 2 months I have already taken will count in those 9months. Not sure how he is going to do the taper, he had to talk to my suboxone doctor first and get back with me. He wants the sub doctor involved since he started me on it.

So there are other options for you, if you come off too fast it might hit you hard. However you decide good luck and let us know how it worked.     God Bless

[Iwant2Bclean]

In Feb I started on 16mg of Suboxone a day. Every month my Dr would cut me down by 2mg. I was on them for 8 months. I have been off them for 15 days now.The WD's were nothing like I heard they would be. The 5th day I felt some anxiety and restless legs. Took some Geodon and went to sleep and slept for about 24 hrs. Woke up and felt like a normal person. Still to this day I feel GREAT. Don't let others horror stories keep you from doing what you feel you need to do. If I had listened I would be back on my DOC!!!! Best of luck.
Krissy

[gottilee]

I got a script from a doctor. I dont want to follow his plan though he wants to wean me down slowly for a few months starting at 24 mg a day. The stories I heard coming off suboxone are worse than percs. So I want to do it in a week. I have had people tell me thats the best way and when I get down far enough and get a couple days off work stop. So thats what I want to do. Its been another day without percs. Took 8mg of suboxone yesterday going to try 6 or 4 today. But at least now its 102 hours without percs. Thanks

[Suz1122]

I have not had the Suboxone but tried tapering off percs and did pretty good but as I was tapering, where I used to get them was GONE. You wanna know panic LOL I mean that is sad, I never thought I would. I even was going to purchase from the internet.  I obviously had no luck and had to deal with it and it really sucked.  I had to work and ran to the bathroom for two days straight and could not go to the gym as I normally do and good lord, no sleep, and chewing people's faces off don't you know it!  
And I felt so bad for my kids!  I took it out on them which was not fair.  I admit I took melatonin and gravol to sleep and even some cough medicine as I ended up getting sick with a wicked sinus infection which did not help.  The aches and pains too were not fun but took Tylenol or Advil for it.  I still am only like two weeks and still get the cravings and wish I had them but am doing my best to keep busy.  And trying to get the energy level up again.  Good for you and keep posting as many people here are so helpful and give you the courage to keep going.  Which at times is really difficult!

[dominosarah]

Are you getting the Sub from a doctor?

[IBKleen]

Since you started the Suboxone on Sunday morning, my guess is you are not doing the program through a certified physician. I hope I am wrong and I do wish you success both in getting off of the Suboxone and staying clean.

[feohmoon]

That is some seriously high dosages of sub.  My fiance and I used sub to avoid withdrawals from our doc in the past, the most we ever used was 4mg to avoid w/d from appx. 300mg OC daily.  Sub was never meant to be used in such high doses...it is an extremely strong drug that I feel many doctors are not familiar enough with to give acceptable doses.
Best of luck to you...

[gottilee]

Wasnt really asking for tapering advice just curious how I will feel this weekend. I have my plan and know what I am going to do. I was just wondering how bad I will feel this weekend that is all. Thanks

[IBKleen]

I'm sorry but we cannot help you with this. You will have to taper through your prescribing physician. Please call him/her and let them know what your plans are.

In addition, since you made the decision to do the suboxone short-term, I hope that you have a good, solid support group in place.

I wish you the best.