help I want to quit taking suboxone! :(

[Crystal26_shorty]

I am 26 years old and I have had a problem with addiction for some time now. To make a long story short I have always had problems with my back so I started taking pain pills then pain pills stopped working and unfortunatley I started taking suboxone. I have been taking suboxone for a year and 4 months and I buy it from a friend bc I have no insurance. I want to quit taking it bc I don't want to be dependant on it for the rest of my life and I have noticed that I have become a totally different person since I have started taking it. I can't afford to go to a doctor bc I don't have a lot of money and I have no insurance. I have tried to stop taking it but the withdrawal symptoms are almost unbearable and I feel so alone because I am afraid to tell my family and friends. I don't know what to do and I desperately need any advice to help me to stop taking subs without having to pay for medical help :(

[akitagirl11]

Also, if you don't have insurance, you could always go to an emergency room & see if they would keep you for a few days to detox.  At least to get through the first few days.  You would still be billed for it, and it may be expensive, but you could make payment arrangements later on to pay it back.  Your health is more important right now.  

[akitagirl11]

What are the W/D symptoms from Suboxone?

[Luckytwice]

I really have a hard time understanding  why you would take Suboxone for pain in the first place.
It's not a very good pain reliever to start with, as it is only a partial agonist and has a limited effect on pain, plus a ceiling effect. That means at a certain dose point, it can do no more.

Buprenorphine  has peculiar properties,  it's use as a method for pain management is best at very small doses, not in mg's but micrograms.  In Europe, it is available in patches similar to fentanyl where it is available in up to 50mcg patches. Buprenorphine in higher doses just isn't a good pain reliever, it's properties as a partial agonist blocker becomes more pronounced.

Nevertheless, Buprenorphine is a powerful opiate partial agonist, it has a long life and a very strong bond to opioid receptors, which is why it is good for blocking the effects of full agonists like heroin, and is used to help people to stop using these type of opiates.

The bad thing about subs (Buprenorphine) is that it is very addictive, just as bad as methadone, and if you are on it a long time, the wd's are not nice at all.

Suboxone is simply Buprenorphine plus naloxone.

The only way off subs for you as this point is to taper down to a very small dose and just quit. Because you have been taking it a long time you will get wd's, but hopefully tapering down to 1mg or even less will make them tolerable.
I don't know how much you are taking,  but generally when you go on a taper program they taper you down in dosage once a week, or longer depending on how long it takes for you to become comfortable on the reduced dose.
It takes 3 days to feel the full effects of a taper, so tapering any faster can get you into trouble especially when you get to small doses.

Since we cannot give taper doses here, it's best you go to the clinic and discuss your situation.  
There are also discussions on tapering at the bottom right of this page.

Trying anything else like methadone is really just switching one bad thing for another.  You sure picked the wrong opiate to self medicate with. It's best use is to get off other opiates!!  

Naltrexone-  yet another opiate derivative, and a dangerous one at that. It can be used as  a preventative measure against opiate usage. But  any abuse can be fatal. The implant is the the only form which it is available as far as I know. I've read about it, but I've never met anyone who's actually been given it.

Again, your best bet is to go to a official Buprenorphine treatment center or at least call and discuss your situation. Any tapering has to be done properly.

[gnarly_1]

hi welcome to the forum.....I really hate when sub or methadone is scored from the street it leves us with messes like this one where not aloud to discuss dosing where not doctors but for sub and methadone tyou have to taper off slowly to avoid or at lest minimize withdrawals thats about all im aloud to say and stay in the guidelines ......you might try googling free clinics in your area most citys have them they could help you with a proper taper plan if you must do this yourself go as slow as possible its ok to take a couple of months to get off this stuff if you go to search button on top and put in sub you will get a lot more info just know you can do this it will take some discipline and pacents but in the end it will be worth it good luck and God bless.......Gnarly  

[IBKleen]

Hi Crystal,

I have been trying to get this post moved for hours but to no avail. Since you are her to discuss treatment centers, I think you would get a lot more help in the Substance Abuse forum. Here is the link to that:

http://www.medhelp.org/forums/Addiction-Substance-Abuse/show/77?camp=msc

I hope you stick around and I hope you get through this. Please don't give up.

[spanky595]

    You may have to get on a sliding fee program then go to the health department. They will let you to see a doctor to get help.  Sounds to me like you are addicted to sub. it can happen if you get them on the street.  This med is like a narcotic you need to lower the dose 5mg then taper off.  There is another way to go its called Naltrexone implant this can keep you from physical and psychological cravings.  Hope you find help just don't quit go to NA they will help you.    You can do it.