stopping suboxone after short time

[Christel21]

Hi everyone,I'm new here...I have a question,I've been addicted to opiates for over 3 years now,
and last week I was put on suboxone by my pain dr. He gave it to me for chronic pain,but said I could
take as needed and also it's helping me with withdrawls. He gave me 2 mgs twice a day for 3 days(this
was last thursday)and then upped me to now being able to take 8 mg. twice per day,but he said I don't
have to take it every day,just as needed,anyway...I've been taking the 2 8s the last few days to help
with withdrawl,but from all the research I've done I decided I don't want to stay on suboxone,so my question is
should I taper down even though it's only been 1 week?Or just stop it? I guess I didn't realize when I got
it that it was addictive and I could go through worse withdrawls from it later on. Also knowing myself well,
I can see myself just switching my addiction from lortab percocets ect. to suboxone.
Thanks in advance for any advice,this is an awesome forum!
Christel

[mr.lucky66]

It sounds like a tough situation. Sub could work for PRN pain as it doesn't give a high put the problem is if it can be taken PRN by an addict who  get's easily dependent, as you seemed to allude to earlier. I understand what you are saying about pain and a few times a year I may take Rx narcotics (perscribed for a few days), for cervical pain but mostly just do exersizes and streaching and will start chrio. adjustments. As a rule I avoid strong pain meds but sometimes it gets too much. there are no easy answers. all the best

[Christel21]

I guess I'd like to keep the suboxone for as needed,but I don't want to  be on it on a daily basis where I get addicted/dependant and would go through withdrawl without it. I've been taking it daily for a week now though to help with withdrawls.Does that sound like a good way to proceed?
I have facial pain(maybe fibromyalgia)but no cat scan or mri or anything has determined what my pain is from.

[mr.lucky66]

So the question remains, do you need  to take narcotics for serious pain and why do you want to ween off?

[Christel21]

My doctor knows my history of addiction,I would get opiates and take 20 to 30 a day,and could not control myself,so he felt that suboxone was the only option for pain(that's what he said anyway). I go to a pain clinic and that's what they do for people who can't take opiates is suboxone. I've also tried non-narcotics like fiornal and ultram and abused those too,so he just didn't see any other safe choice for me.

[mr.lucky66]

It's a strange situation going from oxy to sub for pain. Do you want to get off all narcotics?or just off oxy or sub? There is no right answer. all the best

[tommm70]

You definetly want to taper. The schedule Faith_hoe_love listed would probably work well. I am surprised your doctor gave you Suboxone for pain. Did he mention his reasoning for doing so?
Good luck to you, and I hope your tapering goes well!

[Chi708]

I would taper if i was you. In my experience i didn't even get that far. I was able to take one quarter of a pill after 24 hours and it would help wd for 2 days then i would take another one and be done with phsyical wd. I am curious and if anyone knows please explain why do doctors prescribe sub like this. My boyfriend is supposed to be on it for 5 months... THat confuses me we were both addicts me stronger than him quit c/t i mean i used suboxone day 2 and 4 then that was it. I am on day 9 now with weakness in the legs but i am doing good. I can't imagine why people have to be on sub for that long ESPECIALLY if it causes dependency. Someone please explain... I was an addict for at least 3 years taking 6-9 norcos and 2 xanax per day... Its day 9 for me and i only took a total of 1/2 suboxone and i am doing okay not great but definately ok.

[faith_hope_love]

Hi Christel,

I am on Day 8 of a short term sub detox and I will post my taper plan below.  Keep in mind with me, I am NO expert, I just made up my plan of getting off lortab 10mg habit of 7 yrs. within the past month.  I am really happy for you that you are dealing with this now since you only want to do short term...seems like from what I have learned that you should be ok if you taper now. There are many on here that can help you with all the questions you may have and I truly wish you the best.  I am like you, I don't want to be on anything at all, period.  I keep wanting to speed things up and skip down a few mgs. but I am afraid too, afraid I will mess something up.

Here is my dosage plan -

Day 1 - 8mg
Day 2 - 8mg
Day 3 - 8mg
Day 4 - 7mg
Day 5 - 7mg
Day 6 - 7mg
Day 7 - 6mg
Day 8 - 6mg
Day 9 - 5mg
Day10- 5mg
Day11- 4mg
Day12- 4mg
Day13- 3mg
Day14- 3mg
Day15- 2mg
Day16- 2mg
Day17- 1mg
Day18- 1mg
Day19- .5mg
Day20- .5mg

Keep posting, don't be afraid to ask as many questions as you need.  Like many on here have said, educate yourself, it makes all the difference in the world.  All this stress that I have caused myself makes me never want to take a pill again...just gonna keep taking one day at a time.  Hugs!

PS> Also go to worried878's journal (click on her name and that takes you to her journal and there is another taper plan there and an article.  Also, she has some interesting information on what vitamins, minerals and stuff like that are helping her with her recovery.)  

[Christel21]

Does anyone have a tapering idea?Please help,I don't want to get into withdrawels or anything.....anyone?

[road2recovery]

Also, so to fladdicts profile, and then go to journals, go to the 3rd page, and there is a great taper, and lots of info.
hope this helps u, if u can't find it , let us know , we can help
r2r

[road2recovery]

WOW--i have never heard of a doctor giving it that way...But i am no expert in sub...
I just know it is very strong...And the best way is a taper...Someone who knows more will help u....
good luck
r2r

[worried878]

I do know it is a stronger opiate than lortab or oxys...so each mg u taper is alot...there is an example of a taper from suboxone in my journal that my pain mgt doctor gave me...i personally have not taken sub but do know it is best to taper off slowly...u have not been on it but a week so maybe you could go down quicker than most people...i think it is a good idea to get off now if u think it will be a problem for u to get off of it later as i am sure the longer u take it the harder it is to get off of it...I see people tapering by 1/4 mg or 1/2 mg at a time...i guess it also depends on what level of wd symptoms u can tolerate as everyone is different....keep posting and someone on the drug will post and help u...many here are tapering off

[Christel21]

Can anyone suggest a specific tapering plan/schedule?

[avisg]

christel , I would taper down .... From what I have heard that is the best way to limit WD symptoms

[Christel21]

thanks guys. Bumping for the morning people

[cathy5841]

hi christel, i have no sub experience, so i cant help you with that.  there are many on the forum with lots of experiece though.  i think they are all in bed. lol  please, bumo this post to the top in the morning and you will get plenty advice.  i have read many say you need to do a taper with it.  good luck to you.
cathy

[mr.lucky66]

Christel, yes you don't want to switch from opiates to sub. I would suggest tapering down fast in 5-7 days to see how you do. all the best