to ibkleen

did you have a hard time coming off the suboxone? how long were you on it? any wd from it?

[allaboutmary]

Just wanted to bump your post back to the top. I don't know anything about sub. sorry.  

[IBKleen]

Hi Kim,

No, I did not. But remember, I was only on it for 16 days. I began tapering on day 3, so I was on a low dose when I finished.

I thought I remember you saying you have been on it for 6 weeks? If so, that is a big difference.

Are you tapering? Let me know. I may be able to steer you in the direction of people who can help.

[kimkim454]

yes it has been six weeks. my next appt is 2 weeks away and i am hoping he will start to taper me. i am fearful of wd yet fearful it i come off too soon i will crave opiates again. i wonder if i should taper myself if that is not in his game plan. thank you for your reply. did you have any wd at all? sleeplessness? cravings?
thank you all about mary.

[IBKleen]

Are you on the same dose that you began with? If so what dose is that? That may some bearing on what will happen after you come off.

You fears are justified. I have seen people come off of Sub and go right back to using. I think it is important to secure outside support and deal with the issues that caused you to use in the first place. If you aren't in touch with that, the chance of relapse is great.

As I said, I did the Sub short term and I had no problems coming off. The first day off I felt a little strange, but that was it. I had a headache pretty much..then nothing. Also, remember I came off at a low dose.

I don't know how much research you did on Sub before you went on the program, but now may be a good time to do some reading and make a decision as to whether you will stay on it for a while, or taper off. There is a member by the name of "wait2long". She has a bunch of information on her profile. I think it may help you.

Keep posting and let us know how you are doing. Someone is always here, and there are plenty of people who did Sub, or who are still doing it.

[kimkim454]

i am on the same dose as day one, 8mg twice daily. i did go to a na meeting as directed by my sub doc, i got blasted by people there for being on suboxone. they basically told me to not come back until i was off all opiates, including the sub, they didn't want a current user in the group. thank you very much for the support and info, it really means so much. i see your name all the time and you have been such a godsend to so many people here. i hope you realize that. thanx again.

[IBKleen]

One more thing, since it seems we are the only ones awake this freezing cold morning...LOL

It must have been hard when you walked into a meeting looking for support and you were told not to come back. Not every group is like that-believe me. I suggest that you try another one. They were dead wrong in telling you to leave. If they asked you to listen and not speak, I can understand, but if they truly asked you to leave--that is just wrong. The only requirement is a desire to stop using. You HAVE a desire. Please consider trying another group. Perhaps just listen for a while--it surely can't hurt. I have been in--and out--of the fellowship since 1988 and there are many different groups that will welcome you. For sure.

Also, have you considered counseling? If you can afford it, it is also a great tool to help you get to the core issues.

Back to the Sub: 16 mgs is a rather high dose. Whatever you do, do NOT come off of that high a dose. You will be sorry. I weaned down to 1 mg when I came off. I think that had a lot to do with the fact that I had no problems. So, make sure that you get down to a level that you feel comfortable getting off of.

I am curious to see what your doctor says.

[oxyaddict420]

For your DR to request, or suggest that you attend and AA/NA meeting then have you subjected to that type of treatment is just plain out BULL-SH!T*******************************************88

I have only attended AA once when I was 17yrs old along with addiction to cocaine in rehab.. I could only imagine if that had happened to me. Sounds like you handled it well!  As well as to be expected from a bunch of hypocrits(sp)

Don't give up though on the counseling. I very much agree that there are reason to certain things and we might not have the tools to figure thme out. Nothing wrong with getting a NEW SET OF TOOLS TO FIX AND MAINTAIN A NEW TOY(meaning your new found life) BEING DRUG FREE AND HAPPY

YOU CAN DO THIS--YOU ARE DOING THIS-- AND WE ARE HERE FOR YOU!!!!

[addictedme]

If that happened to you in an na meeting then you should go to na.org and send world services that info. I"ve been to about 2000 na meetings over the last 8 years and can honestly tell you I"ve never heard of anything like that. NO ONE in an na meeting can tell you to leave or not to come back. The ONLY requirment for membership is a desire to quit using.Yes of course we SUGGEST that you come clean but I"ve sat by many members that were on maitanance programs including methadone treatment.Like IB said,find another group or better yet go back to that group and remind everyone there of tradition 3,," any addict who walks into a meeting,even a using addict displays a level of willingness that cannot be discounted. While maintaining an emphasis on the importance of total abstinance,still using addicts are welcomed into our meetings with special encouragement to keep coming back". If this means people still abusing it sure as hell means people on maintanance programs,,,gl and keep coming back ( and arm youself with this info and take no ****,,youve earned your spot in na and dont let anyone tell you differant.

[GoingToMakeIt]

Unbelievable! You were wronged here. Look for a different group! And turning in that group is good advice. The national group needs to hear about this. NA is to help those wanting help. People amze me sometimes..totally unreal. Was this particular group mentioned by your 'sub' Dr? If so, they need to know about it. Well they should know either way.

[addictedme]

If you sensed anger in my post it was at the group that treated you like they did not at you. If you lived in my city I"d take you to meetings all day and at the end of the day you"d have a phone list a foot long with numbers of people willing to help you,,,much like this forum,,better yet I"d like to go to THAT meeting with you to explain the na program to them,,gl to you and I apoligize for the way you were treated