ran out of sub, how long before the mightmare starts

I had relapsed after 5 months of sub treatment, anyhow last week I decided to get back on the subs. Well needless to say, I ran out before calling me dr. I took my last 8mg yesterday afternoon. I know sub has a long half life, just would like to know how long it takes for the wds to kick in. I'm not crazy about being on sub, so I'm trying to decide if I should ride it out or call and get more and try to taper the right way. Thanx for any help

[Jen1101]

Hello,
I can not answer you on personal experience, however I can share the fear of running out with you. I had just moved from VA to NJ and had one hell of a time finding a doctor here that would work with my insurance, and thanks to the help of a very special individual here on med help I was able to continue my treatment with out going through major withdrawl (withdrawal) and relapse. All I can really do for you, is suggest if you have a prescribing doctor and have access to recieving the meds then DO IT! I have been told by many many others not to ever suddenly stop taking the sub. You should be tapered down slowely so you do not relapse..I mean all do respect here the reason you started sub treatment is to get clean and prevent yourself from going through withdrawl (withdrawal) and relapse, so suddenly stopping the medication you may not experience withdrawl (withdrawal) right away but IT WILL happen, and chances are you will be right back where you started with your addiction problem. I would see your doctor and maybe discuss lowering the dose and continue to lower the dose until your weened completely off of it and out of the dark with withdrawl (withdrawal). I was terrified when I was close to running out of my meds, I was told by several doctors not to suddenly stop taking the meds, but they never told me exactly what would happen if I did, and like I said luckily with the help of someone I met on here I never had to experience bad withdrawl (withdrawal). talk to your doctor, and see what your options are, I wish you the best of luck and stay strong. You have made it 5 months clean, dont waste all your hard work. It is so much harder to get back on track if you end up relapsing..just dont beat yourself up over it. Realize your mistake and learn from it, and stay strong :)
Jen

[slapperman]

from personal exp. and mistakes. call the Dr., get back on the program and taper down.
been there done that. not 6 days not 2 weeks, months of WD. You need to ween down slow to a crumb and then start your battle. 8MG will be a world of hell that does not go away for a long time.

slapperman / joe

[slapperman]

just to confirm you been on sub for 5 months, party, then back on sub
-or if you were clean, party then sub then that is a different story. meaning the sub has been out of your system and you are WD from DOC and quick fixed with SUB. then you should be able to ride it out. but i think i got it right the first time.

either way good luck and godbless
welcome to our hell
joe aka slapperman (2 days clean) 2nd NA meeting tonight, trying to work it....

[1234betterlife]

a very dangerous detox to ride out. as said above detox is to be months....literally down to a crumb then off. half life and withdrawal will be 72 hours and will intensify daily. i would seek some help to get you back on. if you relapsed you obviously are not ready to be off....unless you are planning to continue using. good luck to you.

[salsinator]

Hi Sid,
Suboxone is a very strong opiate and 8 mg is much to high to quit cold turkey.  The withdrawal will be severe and will last much longer than a regular opiate.  I was on suboxone for nearly 4 years and ran out once while only being on 2 mg.  The withdrawal from 2 mg was intense and I went back on the medication for nearly another 3 years before finally going through a medically assisted detox this past June.  Talk to your doctor, get back on the sub and then work out a taper plan - otherwise you will be very uncomfortable.  The half life of sub is 37.5 hours, so you will start to feel withdrawal on day two after stopping.

Slapperman - congratulations on day 2 - Keep going to meetings and moving forward.  You can do it.

[sid3]

Thanks for all your replies.  I ran out because I had some left over from my last appointment. Since then I spent the last two months waiting until tomorrow to get back on it. I'm a full blown addict, I stopped kidding myself during this latest relapse.  I would'nt be in this position( haven run out) had I called my doctor and fessed up to having slipped up. I was hoping that because I had only been taking the sub for a week, that the wds would be as bad. I'm not planning on just using again. I know that I failed because I had no aftercare/counsling. I'm guilty of replacing one opiate for another. I will have to call tomorrow and try and get back in, if not I'm sure there are plenty of other drs that will take the little money I have. I have very mixed feelings about sub treatment.