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suboxone withdrawal-how much longer??

I guess what I really want to know after that long post is how long should I really expect this?  Like I over emphasized this is day 8, a Friday.  I missed an entire week of work and am expected back on Monday which will be day 11.  Will I be up to it?  I work in NYC and the commute in is very physically challenging as a 2 mile walk is part of my commute.  I know we are all different but could this really be WEEKS like ive read on here?  Or Months?  Really?  Is my doc lying?  Is he just uninformed?  I read this forum before I quit a week ago and it scared me but I didnt really expect it to be this bad and to last this long.... Im losing it mentally.  Feels good to be on here to see Im not along I guess
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707563 tn?1626361905
Hi everyone -

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Emily
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Avatar universal
Hello all, I have been on subs for about 3 years. Im 25 and 250 lbs. I started at 16mgs a day and slowly came down to 6mgs a day. I have been trying to taper down but I've just been stuck yooyooing between 4-6mg for a while. Monday I took my last 6mg dose and today is Saturday so it's day six for me. The first four days were pretty bad but nothing compared to last night (day 5). I feel a little better in the mornings but it gets really bad later in the day. I lost 13 pounds in the last five days. I know it's not a great idea to go cold turkey but being on subs has really took a toll on my life. My gf of almost 4 years left me a month ago and that was the last straw for me. I'm getting through this no matter what. Stay strong!
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Avatar universal
Suboxone-wonderful the Doctors say. Best characteristics about this drug is it relieves withdrawal symptoms and keeps you from using opiates. I was addicted to OxyContin and was taking 300 mg per day and 10 to 15 7.5 mg of Vicadon for break through pain. It took 2 years to get up to these mg's. I ended up having major neck surgery which was the original cause of my pain and prescription use. 4 months after my surgery I wanted off the pain medicine and couldn't do it on my own. I researched my options and chose a Suboxone Doctor. I haven't taken a narcotic since, it worked.  Now 12 years later I'm still taking Suboxone. Crazy. What is it doing to me, long term effects?? Nobody knows, not even my Suboxone Dr. It hasn't been out long enough for us to know what it is really doing to our bodies, both physically and psychologically. I've tried many times to get off of it, but failed every time. The last time I tried to get off I went from 24mg daily to a 1/4 mg a day. I tapered down over the course of 4 months. The last 4 weeks I took a 8mg film and cut it into 16 pieces, that's virtually nothing. I stayed on that tiny dose for over a month, then I went for the big leap and stopped. The next afternoon I was absolutely miserable. I continued another 3 weeks taking nothing. I was paralyzed. I couldn't leave my house, I had a hard time just moving around my house. Zero energy, felt sick, then the entire process caused depression. I took vitamins, ate healthier than normal, but I could not function. SAD!  So needless to say after all the work of cutting down over 4 months I lost. So after over 3 weeks of battling I went back on the Suboxone, amazing, almost instantly I felt normal, I had energy again, I could sleep, I felt like a person. So I've been on Suboxone for over 12 years and have accepted the fact that I'll most likely be on it for the rest of my life. I besides the pain pills for my neck years ago, did many drugs as a teenager and young adult, heroin addict, crystal, you name it I did it. It is my opinion SUBOXONE IS THE MOST ADDICTIVE DRUG EVER MADE-PERIOD. I also believe the original manufacture completely understood the addictive nature of this drug and didn't think about it twice because of $$$$$$. So not to sound like a negative Nancy for those who want to get off of this and I wish all of those much luck and love. My suggestion to anyone considering taking Suboxone is to use it to get off opiates and their withdrawal symptoms which should only take 1-3 months, then ween off. Make this clear to your Doctor before starting the Suboxone treatment or you may end up in my shoes. I hate Suboxone. In the beginning my original Suboxone doctor told me I'd be on it from 1-6 months and then he'd ween me off over a 2 week period. Yeah right. Good Luck to all of you.
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Avatar universal
thank you,im on day 56 and about to give up but you really help me see this threw!!!!!!!
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Avatar universal
im on day 56 feel the same way
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Avatar universal
im on day 56 feel the same way
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Avatar universal
im on day 56 feel the same way
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Avatar universal
Hi folks don't listen to all the horror stories on here lol yes commin off is hard but can b done trust me I kno the best things to do are
1.if ur using half or less a day just jump off a taper does not help cause of the half life doing 2 mg has the same half life as 8 mg because its built up in ur system so just go ahead and jump.the quicker u jump the quicker its over.
2.take a multivitamin daily.
3.drink plenty of fluids.water, gatorade,ensure  etc
4.be active at least 30.mins a day outdoors sunlight actually helps ur vitiman c
5.avoid caffeine as much as possible.
6.take as many showers or hot bathes as need it helps I promise.
7.have support and someone to help u that's another major part of recovery.
8.cut all ties with ur friends who use if not u will never recover.
9.use imodium for the bowel problems..
10. The most important of all and the best remedie of all PRAY and god will help u .
So hopefull this will help jus remember to b active outdoors for at least 30 mins and avoid caffeine because u will have enough problems sleeping as it is and keep ur head up and pray.one again I hope this helps ..god bless
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Avatar universal
Keep tying I hope I can too
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Avatar universal
Agree agree agree I've detoxes Oxys dilaudid herion and methadone...... Was completely sober 3 yrs 7 months with the help of aa.  Usual story stopped going to meetings working with sponsor.... Yada yada ya.  Well now going on year 4 of subs 3 treatments 1 detox ama'd from 2 of the 3 rehabs when sub withdrawal hit.  WEIRD *** PYCHOLOGICAL  aspect to this **** really can't shake SLOWLY SEEMS to be the best advise I've heard problem is I no longer have a doc.  I actually got a dope habit again a) cuz I lost the doc b) thinking it would be 5days instead of months to w/d.  NOT A GOOD OLAN COULDNT HACK IT!
Now what??? Find a new sub doc just to detox SLOWLY???
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Avatar universal
Hi im on day 12 off subutex and guess what, I feel fantastic today. I felt every emotion and pain you speak of. Yes of coarse everyone is different but in my case I have 3 children 5 and under.
I was on heroin for 15 yrs then subutex for 21 mths. In my experience I was on efexor for the depression, 3 cups of white and 3 cups of green tea everyday, water in between, superfood smoothies, goji and acai berry powder to mix as well into smoothies, epsom salt baths, probiotic yoghurt drinks from coles called vaalia, 2 tablespoons of 99.7% aloe vera juice on an empty stomach every morning, b12 supps, vitamin d supps, saint john wort supps for anxiousness, multi vitamins, magnesium supps and coq 10 supps for energy.
Sounds like a lot right, I stand here today and feel awesome in my opinion because of this long list of superfoods tea and supp, I believe this helped me. I couldnt be bothered exercising or cleaning and I think taking what I did to get all the toxins out has been the best decision I made to get healthy again.
You need to buy stuff loaded with potent antioxidants and probiotics.
We are parents and have priorities, sometimes it *****.
I felt the same way as you till today. You can do it, day 12 for me and I felt like I never touched a sub or ever used heroin.
Most people, not all, say around the 10 to 14 day mark, they take a turn for the better and your thoughts wont race much anymore. Mine have completely stopped. Just my story so I hope your success will be alike. Well done, great job, good luck.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi im on day 12 off subutex and guess what, I feel fantastic today. I felt every emotion and pain you speak of. Yes of coarse everyone is different but in my case I have 3 children 5 and under.
I was on heroin for 15 yrs then subutex for 21 mths. In my experience I was on efexor for the depression, 3 cups of white and 3 cups of green tea everyday, water in between, superfood smoothies, goji and acai berry powder to mix as well into smoothies, epsom salt baths, probiotic yoghurt drinks from coles called vaalia, 2 tablespoons of 99.7% aloe vera juice on an empty stomach every morning, b12 supps, vitamin d supps, saint john wort supps for anxiousness, multi vitamins, magnesium supps and coq 10 supps for energy.
Sounds like a lot right, I stand here today and feel awesome in my opinion because of this long list of superfoods tea and supp, I believe this helped me. I couldnt be bothered exercising or cleaning and I think taking what I did to get all the toxins out has been the best decision I made to get healthy again.
You need to buy stuff loaded with potent antioxidants and probiotics.
We are parents and have priorities, sometimes it *****.
I felt the same way as you till today. You can do it, day 12 for me and I felt like I never touched a sub or ever used heroin.
Most people, not all, say around the 10 to 14 day mark, they take a turn for the better and your thoughts wont race much anymore. Mine have completely stopped. Just my story so I hope your success will be alike. Well done, great job, good luck.
Helpful - 0
5347058 tn?1381188426
Hi there and welcome! I don't have any experience with subs, but there are a lot on folks on here that do.This is an old thread that you are posting on. If you go to the top of the page and hit the 'post a question' link, you can start your own thread and tell your story or ask a question. That will help more people to see it and you can get all of the encouragement, support, and advice that you need. Please stick around. This is a great community. Good luck to you!
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Avatar universal
Its crazy I was on subs for 6 years now n I've tried to get off several times n failed miserably. But here I am once again the end of day 3 without n SCREW THIS BS IM DONE!!! For the past year I only took a quarter super small amt. Its still hell to get off restless legs the worst is in my finger tips I constantly feel like I need to move my hands nd my legs n sleep wtf is that? Diarrhea stomach cramps muscle n body aches!!! But u know what I AM STRONG I WILL GET THRU THIS
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Its crazy I was on subs for 6 years now n I've tried to get off several times n failed miserably. But here I am once again the end of day 3 without n SCREW THIS BS IM DONE!!! For the past year I only took a quarter super small amt. Its still hell to get off restless legs the worst is in my finger tips I constantly feel like I need to move my hands nd my legs n sleep wtf is that? Diarrhea stomach cramps muscle n body aches!!! But u know what I AM STRONG I WILL GET THRU THIS
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I'm on day 16 without suboxone... i was on 16mg to 32mg a day for four years & just went cold turkey... day 4 was the wrost, but actually wasn't even that bad... I had about 30 8 mg strips left & just threw them away... Positive thinking & recognizing negative thoughts & counter acting them with positive encouragement to yourself has helped me Big Time!!!

I've taken 2 ibuprofens about every 4 hours... Imodium for digestive issues... Vita Bs & C & listening to my favorite music for energy... Try to eat as much as I can as healthy as I can, but also eating lots of candy too, exercise & work as much as I can & socailize  whenever I can... also deep breathing meditation helps me sleep...

Looking forward to the future when I finally feel normal, whatever that is... I know I don't want to be a slave anymore to some stupid chemical... What if the Zombie Apocalypse or some other disaster happens & no one can longer get their meds... I want to be strong & survive & not be all withdrawn, weak & get my brains eaten along with my family because I couldn't protect or provide for them because I was so out of it because of the lack of my meds...

Believing in God helps a lot... I used to be an athiest & everything seemed so hopeless & insignifigant... Believing the most all powerful being, who actually created us for a purpose really loves you & your family gives you so much more of an uplifting attitude & makes the withdrawl process so much easier... I've tried so many times before & failed, but I have more confidence & determination than I ever had before & am really excited about being drug-free for the first time in twenty years...

I love you all & wish nothing, but the best for you all... The act & choice of loving makes you feel a lot better too...
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Avatar universal
i went cold turkey after taking at least 16mg a day & even up to 32mg a day for four years...  i am on day 16 without suboxone & its really not that bad... uncomfortable, yes, but doable for sure... I just keep casting away negative thoughts & look forward to when I am finally drug- free for the first time in my life since i was 12, I'm 40 now... I take ibuprofen, B vitas, imodium, try to excercise, work & socialize as much as possible... I try to eat healthy about at least 4 times a day & i'm always doing research on the internet... take everything you hear with a grain of salt though because i totally believe a lot of people are possesed with negative demonic thoughts, which makes them feel like there in Hell... i think thats more of a spiritual thing than the actual withdrawls though... also listening to my favorite music makes me feel better & more energized & deep breathing medatation helps me sleep... If you believe in God it helps a lot... I was an athiest before & everything seemed so hopeless & insignifigant... so far, this time, has been so much easier with a positive attitude, hope & envisioning a awesome future ahead as long as i never go back to those or any other stupid drugs...
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Avatar universal
Suboxones definately no joke. I milked it when theynfirst put me on it I had a real bad heroin addiction 5 to 10 bags a day for 3 years. Before that id been doin pills since I was 15. I kept tellin the doxtors I needed more when I didnt. I would sell some andntryngettin high offnthe rest. They had memon 20 mgs a day. 2 1/2 8mg strips a day. Before I new it I was taking those intravenously by myself. It was the worst decission of my life to start takin suboxone. It just seemed like a joke at the time you know tryin to make my family happy n get um off mynback a little bit. I hadnt felt withdrawals since december 2012 a week n a half through my september prescription I ran out. 5 days into it I thought I was dyin. I couldnt get out of bed and when I was there I was either pukin in a trashcan or crawlin to he toilet to ****. There was nothin that really made it go away. I tried sleeping pills they dont work. The only thing i could do was drink water eat a few crackers and take some hot baths. Baths made me feel the best but that still wasnt great. I relapsed after 2 weeks. It seemed like he last days before my apt. Were years. Needless to say I just went baxk to the drs for my scheduled apt knowin I had failed my drug test wih flying colors hoping that heyd understand. This last month is the first time ive realized how serious this stuff is. I took my last prescription and have been trying to taper myself off. The doc basixally lauhed in y face when I told him that. Wouldnt even give me advice. I have been takin the bare minimum. Started with 4 mgs now im down to 2 a day. To be honest I feel good I mean I notice the withdrawal its definately there but if I can take 2 weeks of steaight up cold turkey withdrawals I can deal with months of wd's after tapering down. In the end all you can do is keep your head up and take the stuff as serious as you can. I see it as a godsend that I started taking subs. I mean its rough but my eyes are open I see how I ****** up my life the effect everythings had on my body my relationships and I wouldnt trade any of it for a sober life. Feel like if I had stayed sober I never would have really lived. Im takin my mistakes in stride and all of you should to, maybe a little pride and positive thinking is all it takes to get through this hell. Good luck again to everybody like I said keep your head up its easy to lose sight of what your tying to do. Stay busy and be safe.
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Avatar universal
I forgot, you should start your own thread, just click on the orange button, "post a question" and you'll receive so much more help and support. I wish you well!
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Avatar universal
Hey my friend, you will start to feel it all slipping away in a week or so, so it's not long now, that much I can promise you! The sleep and motivation will take time to return fully, but you will start to feel better and more able to cope. I would strongly suggest you getting rid of you leftover pills, this will play on your mind and send you straight back to the start, not the way to go especially as you've come so far, I promise you if they are there you'll take them! I am nearly 5 month clean from Subutex now, I'm starting to feel great now, every month gets easier, you do have a lot of ups and downs. As long as you keep pushing and keeping yourself busy you'll get through it! It is so worth it my friend, and your so worth the effort, don't give in! Way to go on your 17 days, I know only to well what a struggle it is, be proud and be happy! You got this, ;)
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6541568 tn?1382412751
Glad to hear from someone that has like myself been on subox for a long time.  I have been taking some type of opiate for ten years...and then went to rehab and have been on subox for approximately 6 years.  I was at 16 mg of subox for approximately 4 yrs...no clue why I wasn't tapered sooner...but then went down very slowly over 2 years to 2 mg/day.  I'm on day 17 and my w/d's are quite bad.  The worst is I can't sleep at all.  I might get 1-2 hours of sleep throughout a day, have hot/cold flashes all day long and the rls/twitching is in my legs, arms and everywhere it seems.  Mentallly I'm exhausted and all I can think about is how long the day is and if I can keep going.  I still have a little subox left....I quit at near the end of my script...but can't get anymore due to loss of job and insurance.  I'm just not sure if I'm strong enough.  The nights are the worst.....and at first I was encouraged reading this forum by the folks that like by day 11 or so started feeling better....I'm still getting worse daily.  Any expectations as to maybe when I will start the upward slope of this because right now I'm mentally in trouble and scared.  Anyone have any ideas.  And yes...I'm living minute to minute right now and almost failing.
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Avatar universal
Hang in there, you can do it! I was on subs for 5 years, then had had it with the constant reminder that if i didnt take my 1mg sliver of my 8mg film, I'd become sick. Well, I just said f it 24 days ago and stopped. I'm not going to lie, it has been hell but after the 21st day I started to see the light at the end of the tunnel. I lost my job, missed important functions and have been in hell the entire time. However, day 24 offers me hope, most of the physical symptoms are gone, a lil anxiety and restlessness remains. Exercise, Exercise, Exercise! Drink lots of fluids, talk to ppl, don't try to isolate yourself bc you will go crazy!! If you have access to a hot-tub, go in it several times a day, it helps ease alot of the symptoms. DON'T GIVE UP, it's going to be hell, it might take a cpl tries, but you can do it..I DID!!
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Avatar universal
After reading all thses posts I am starting to think switching to subs from the methadone is just trading one nightmare for another, Is the withdrawl as bad as if I tapered down from the methadone? I was thinking it was easier to come off the suboxone then the methadone. That is the impression I got from here but after reading all this I am not so sure. Any advice would be appreciated. To all of you that are doing so well I am so excited for you, great job I hope I will be as strong someday very soon.
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Avatar universal
okay, so I am on my Fourth day of suboxone detox and i was literally climbing the walls all last night. This morning I feel much better with less aches and pains but it seems as though the longer as the day goes the worst the symptoms are. I have been keeping very hydrated and trying to stay active to keep my mind off of things but behind it all the withdrawals seem to break through from time to time and totally make my life a hell. I've kicked heroin years ago and it was much easier than this. maybe not the first 2-3 days but they definetly taped off quickly after. The best advice I could give is to try and do a bit of exercise every day. now I'm not talking about joining a triathlon but A nice walk or a couple of pushups will help your natural endorphins to start kicking some asshearing bless all of you and anyone else who is going to this terrible ordeal.
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