day 4 off suboxone. ...

[skrilli]

Wow, day 4. I've been on this drug for about 3 years and tapered until I got down to about .5 or .25 mg. I've been taking gabapentin and clonidine at night to try and help with the rls and sleep. Well, I woke up today feeling "normal". Is the wd over already....? I don't want to get to excited but I haven't felt like this in a long time. I like it....

[skrilli]

Thanks! I've never made it this far on my own free will. I guess the stars were aligned when I chose to quit last week. I'm still feeling good. Sleep ***** but at least it's about 4 hours a night. I can't express how great it feels not to take something to feel "normal" anymore. I'm free.

[ScarrieAnne]

Hello, Im happy to hear you are not feeling really bad. Everyone is so different when it comes to getting off of subs, My story will not necessarily be your story. Ive heard of people having very little problem jumping at .25. Don't let the fear set you back! Suboxone has a really long half life of 37 hours, so it takes a while to get out of your system, that is why the w/ds don't start right away. I jumped at a higher dose, and I knew it wouldn't be pleasant, but Im almost at 60 days and feel so much better. The sleep is an issue, but the rls will pass soon enough, or it did for me after 2 weeks. Natural sleep aids have helped me immensely with the insomnia. I stayed on subs because I had the fear of the long w/d and this is my 4th and last attempt to be rid of them. Now? I wish I had done it sooner, it ***** but you live through it. I didn't think I would ever feel like myself in the beginning of w/d, but now I feel really good, have some energy, and I sleep.  Focus on recovery, and think of the w/d as your body and brain healing, a positive attitude went a long way for me. I hope you have a happy holiday, keep us posted.
XO. C.

[skrilli]

Thanks for the info. I was wondering why at about the 4 or 5th day I was feeling worse than day 2. I feel pretty good other than sleeping is hard and sometimes the energy isn't there, but I know I've felt 100 times worse wd. My diet is usually good but my rls is still hanging around. My taper was only about 2 or 3 month's from 2mg. I've been on suboxone for a few years now after a 5 year hydro street habit. This is the best I've ever felt after trying to quit. I know it's never easy and I'll feel horrible for a while, but does it really last week's after quiting.....? Thanks for the support, this forum has helped me out countless times over the years

[ScarrieAnne]

lol. Your sleep will come back! 30 days is amazing, and whether is was in my head or not, 30 days was a big turning point for me.It will be 2 months 12/27, so from what I hear I am really lucky! I am not questioning it, bring on the sleep! Have you tried melatonin or Super Snooze? Its all natural and helps me get sleepy. the super snooze has valerian root and chamomile,also,  that helps with the anxiety. xx C.

[Krissy_123]

**Almost all night** typos. You think I'd learn to proof read by now.

[Krissy_123]

Awe, you won't jinx it!! I know 6 hours isn't very much,especially being a mama to small kids. Deff better than what you were getting though! I really thought my sleep would be better now. And it's not that same feeling like at the start of the month,now I just toss and turn Almost night almost. I'll feel myself start to doze and then it's like my eyes just pop open and I roll over the other way and try again. These goes on most of the night. The times I do fall asleep though I'll stay asleep for a good 4-5 hrs. I'm so happy for you though,after almost 3 months,you deserve these 6 hours like nobodies buisness!! xoxo

[ScarrieAnne]

Yes Krissy! I didn't want to mention it until I had a good 4 or 5 days sleeping 6 hours a night, last time I mentioned I got good sleep I think I jinxed myself, lol. I can function on 6 hours, and feel somewhat human again. It started to slowly improve for me around the 6 week mark.

[Krissy_123]

Scarrieanne you've been getting 6 hours asleep a night?? :o that is AWESOME!!! I'm so so glad it's finally started to get past that 4 hour mark for you! xox

[weaver71]

Just as a frame of reference, with the long half life of sub, it takes approx 21 days for all the bupe to leave your system. It is common for withdrawals to peak at 5-7 days and most feel a turning point at 21 days. Then there is the slow return of energy and sleep that really different for everyone, but most synthetic opioids seem to take about 90 days for many to feel like it is behind them. This is not a fear post, just keeping it real. You have done awesome so far, and I have seen people quit subs with low or now symptoms, I hope you are one of them. Where you in a sub program?Any aftercare or therapy with it? How's your diet and general health? So many things play a role in recovery time and severity, but even the worst of withdrawals are always followed by people saying, "It was totally worth it." Take care of yourself and keep us posted.

[ScarrieAnne]

Welcome! It is awesome that you did a slow taper to .25mg. from everything Ive read and heard about Sub w/d that is the absolute ideal way to come off of it. I didn't start feeling my w/d to day 5, but I was on it for 3 years and jumped at 3mg, you being at such a low dose holds a lot of promise for you! How long did you taper? Sleeping, by far , has been the hardest part for me, but Im at 53 or 54 days, and am sleeping about 6 hours a night now, and it helps to take melatonin and valerian root. I also couldn't turn my brain off, but with the melatonin, I dont remember falling asleep at this point, I just do. it gets better, and I hope your w/d is not that bad. It tends to last longer than most. Im really interested in hearing how you are doing, keep posting. C.

[Cricketk92]

WOW!  Great job getting off of them!  ANd if your WDs were mild and quick thats great for you!!!!  I had a pretty easy WD also so I feel very lucky!  It still wasnt fun but not as bad as I had built it up in my head to be!!! I hear you about turning the brain off!!!  Its hard to do!!!  Sleep will come back...or so everyone says it just takes time!  Keep posting and great job!!!!  

[Krissy_123]

Hey skrilli!! Awesome!! So glad you're feeling better. If it's ok,I'd suggest maybe checking out scarrieanne's posts. She's been clean almost 3 months off subs and she leaves some amazing posts. She may have some advice for you :)

[skrilli]

Thanks. It was a slow taper. Took a lot of will power to get it so low. I still feel awesome but having a hard time falling asleep tonight. No rls, just can't seem to turn off my brain now...

[motye51]

Just like Jugglin said....if you did a nice, slow taper, you might have succeeded!  If that is the case....MY HATS OFF TO YOU!  You are my new hero, lol!  I totally hope that the above is correct and you have escaped the w/d with as minimum effects as possible.  CONGRAGULATIONS on a job well done!  

[jugglin]

Awesomeness on the taper!  How long did you taper?  A nice slow taper - if able - helps eliminate the horridness of the cold turkey withdraws.  If you tapered down that low and have not had any really, really nasty symptoms (rls and lack of sleep not considered awful) for 4 days then you may be off the hook,  Don't get too excited yet but definitely count your blessings.  You have done an amazing job!  Have you started or started to look into aftercare?
Keep rocking it!