Trying to detox myself off oxycodone with subutex....Help??

[Tasha3]

I've been taking oxycodone on a daily basis for about 2 years now, at my worst I was taking 90-120mg/day. In the last few weeks I've weaned myself down to 30-60mg/day. Took my last oxy at 2am yesterday (Apr. 18) and took a total of 7 Tylenol 3s later in the day, my last dose being at 10pm. Due to me having no insurance, and no job at the moment, it's impossible for me to get into a suboxone clinic. I managed to get my hands on 4  8mg Subutex pills (white pill 8 on one side, arrow on the other)...and although grateful, I know that there is no way for me to get more. So my questions are:

1) How long do I have to wait to take the Subutex since I took the tylenol 3s at 10 last night?

2) How many mgs of Subutex should I start with?

3) Does anyone have recommendations on how to detox with only the 32mg of Subutex I have? Is it even possible?

4) Any suggestions for a tapering schedule to make these last?

5) What are the effects going to be?

6) If I am still going through withdrawals after my last dose of Subutex, what can I do? How long will they last?

Any help at all would be appreciated!!

[msdelight]

Just a thought,  I was taking the same amount of percs as you for 5 years. I detoxed off cold turkey and the physical issues were over in 2 weeks.I am almost 56 and have been on one drug or another since age 14. If you use the sub you're kind of just postponing and dragging out the process of getting the chemicals out of your body. Subs are great for folks coming off heroin and methadone, b!ut for your situation maybe not. Like Weaver said its meant to be part of a holistic program.  There is no magic cure. It comes from inside of you. Be brave and take the leap! Godspeed!

[Tasha3]

Happy Easter! Hope you had an excellent day. Not feeling the greatest today, so I didn't make it out of the house. But I did participate in TEN different online chat and video AA and NA meetings (an hour each), and joined a couple of online support groups. :D :D :D It's a start at least. I just can't allow myself to get complacent, and I need to continue putting just as much effort into kicking this as I did into using. Thanks for being there.

[weaver71]

I only used subs for 20 days, but they gave me a moment if clarity and a chance to get active in aftercare. I was still sick after subs, I was on high dose methadone, so it takes months to detox. Oxy will be much faster to get through the physical. You are on the right track and know the drill. Tell me about a meeting and church when you get back. Tomorrow is Sunday, do some praying today. We can beat this thing.

[Tasha3]

I really appreciate the response. Unfortunately, I'm a seasoned addict-started smoking crack at 15 until I was 18, tried ANYTHING I could get my hands on until I was 18, then went through treatment, and sobered up long enough off the hard stuff to graduate valedictorian from college...and here I am again. Never thought anything would take over my life again like the crack, but I honestly feel like oxy's are the worst thing I've ever tried to come off of.  

Fortunately, because of going through treatment I do have knowledge of addiction, and know what I should be doing. I actually live within walking distance of an Alano club, and was thinking about going back to church even before realizing I had yet again hit my rock bottom. I've tried to get off of these things cold turkey multiple times in the past year, and have never made it past day three, even with the support of family and friends...which is the only reason I'm even considering trying to detox with the subs instead of just going cold turkey. I also have a crap ton of vitamins, melatonin, tums, and a weak muscle relaxer.

I've looked into going to a sub clinic, but it's just not a financial possibility right now...I had to leave my job about a month ago when my mom had two heart attacks, which forced her to have a minor heart surgery, and she needed extra help. So I have no medical coverage right now, and as she's physically disabled, after rent and bills we've got about $100 to last us the entire month.

Seriously though, thank you so much for taking the time to reply. It means a lot to me...and it's awesome to know that I have some support from someone who knows what it's like.

[weaver71]

There is always a healing period from opiate/opioids, Subutex is an opioid. Subutex is trading one drug for another unless used in a holistic way. Aftercare support and gaining knowledge of addiction and how to cope with life on life's terms are the most important parts of a sub program.

So, subs at as low as 1mg a day over a couple weeks block up to 80% of emotional centers in the brain. 4mgs at once has the same emotion blocking effect. 1mg of sub is approx 40mgs of morphine, so at 30mgs Oxy, your dose would be pretty low. A doctor really should be helping you dose and stabilize. There is a 3-14 day stabilizing period, where the bupe builds up in your system. Getting stable is the key, then you can work on your mental/emotional detox as you taper. Too much sub can cause an odd high, headaches, virago or lack of balance, and nausea. If taken at the proper dose, I couldn't feel it really, only right before dosing I felt some withdrawal.

If you quit the Oxy, in a week or two you will be okay. If you can get into 12 step meetings, counseling, church, and whatever to inspire you to heal from the inside, you could skip the subs and progress from here. Hope some of this helps. Be careful with the subs, they saved my life, but without more support, I'm not sure I would have ever gotten off them.