best way to taper off suboxone?

[Bigmon]

What is the BEST way to get off of Suboxone??
I need to try tapering oof.
Is it to keep lowering the dose but take every day.
Or also to take every other day?
I have nly been taking about 1/3 a strip each morning, and am now down to 1/4 strip.
But I just had to take some cause I had not had any since tuesday am over 4 days, and could not stand it any longer.
Please help.

[nursegirl6572]

That's fantastic buddy!  I justy love to hear when a doctor is open minded, and really LISTENS to their patients!

Let us know how you're doing, and PM me if you need anything!

[Bigmon]

Thanks everyone for all the help.
I have talked with my doctor regarding tapering off.
He says if I find out which drugs to use he will check them out and help me.
Thanks for everything!!

[Bigmon]

Cratitude

[Bigmon]

Oh yes, just got your reply of last night.
Thanks as always.
I realize you cannot give me official directions on how to do this.
But I appreciate your "opinion".
Take care

[Bigmon]

Thanks for the reply.
No, I will be seeing my regular family doctor.  But he is the one who helped me get off pain killers by using the suboxone.
He knows my situation well, heart issue also.  which though I now have two stents fortunatly was caught befor any heart damege.  So as far as that goes the heart is still good and string, no damage.
He is very helpful.  He knows I want off but cannot understand how such a small amount of sub can have such strong hold on me.
I am doing ok now with the 1/4 strip, but it is just enough.  Yesterday I had such a headache and even trouble keeping mny eyes open.
But as soon as I am used to that, I guess a couple weeks, I plan on reducing the dose a little more.
But no more big cuts all at one time
What do you think?
Thanks

[nursegirl6572]

I replied to you last night, did you receive it?

[vicki595]

Is it the same doctor who ordered your Cardiac Cath last week that you'll be seeing tomorrow?   He'll know what to order and what would be safe for you to take.

Hope you're feeling better-

[Bigmon]

Hi Nursgirl;
I tried to send you a PM?  Did it not get to you?
I have adrs apt tomorrow and I would like to ask him about those non addictive meds you mentioned, to help with the sun wd?
Could you tell me the drug names?
Thanks

[nursegirl6572]

That was just for reference sake, not a direct recommendation.  Some people need to go evern lower.  A little sub goes a long way, which is why so many think 2mg is a "small" dose then are shocked they have such a rough time coming off.

I would enlist the help of your doctor to help you with the w/d symptoms, there are some non habit forming meds he/she can Rx you to help minimize the symptoms.

Feel free to PM me if you need something.  You will get there, it can be rough for sure!  You're doing well, you've already gotten down that low, so that's great.  Try hard not to get discouraged!

[Bigmon]

Thanks so very much.
My problem started with prescrip meds for back, neck and leg pain.  A year at the most of morphine twice a day and oxycodone when that didnt handle it.  All prescribed by a so-called pain specialist.  After 8 months or so I was ruined.  Then I found a good surgeon that insisted I get off the meds.  So my family dr really helped me with the suboxone.  and I have not had anything other than the sub for around 3 years,
I have been trying to get off it ever since and pretty mquickly got down to a half pill, then a quarter.  But could go no farther.
Now it comes in a tape form and I had been cutting it into thirds for the last couple months.
But today after my failed attempt since Tuesday I too k the equivilent of a quarter strip and I am ok.for now.
The strip size I am cutting is marked 2MG / 0.5MG.  I understand the 2MG is the one that counts?
At a third strip that is .66?.  A quarter would be .5 mg?  Man that seems like a small dose!  But what power it must have?
Per your suggestion I will try and stick with the 1/4 for two weeks, then tryand reduce that?
You said the doc reccomended stopping totally at .5MG??  Thats just where I'm at and man it is terrible!
I have told my dr about my attemps but he cant believe such a small dose has such effect.  I am not working with any specialists.
Anything you could help me with, I would really appreciate.
Thanks

[nursegirl6572]

We are not permitted to give specific tapering advice, but the key to a successful Suboxone taper is a gradual reduction, WITH stabilization periods (2 weeks minimum) in between.  A proper Sub taper takes some time, and that's okay!  

If you keep dropping your dose every other day, even every few days, you will put yourself into a state of constant, dragged out w/d.  Buprenorphine has a very long half life, so your body won't even start to adjust to the new dose until about day 2 or 3 after dropping.  

The other key is to taper down to the lowest possible dose before stopping all together.  The Sub doc I worked for always recommended that her patients tapered down to a minimum of 0.5mg/day before jumping off, and most people did fairly well with their tapers there.  The people who tried coming off ay 2mg or higher had a significantly more difficult time.

You say you're on 1/4 of a strip, but at what dose?  2mg?  4mg? 8mg?  If you're talking an 8mg strip, then your dose is still significant.  How long have you been on the Sub, and at what dose?  What was your drug of choice, and how much were you using for how long?

The MOST important question...have you been getting HELP for your addiction, and seeking aftercare during the Sub treatment?  If not, your chance of relapse will be significant.  Suboxone is not a way around w/ds, and it it not a cure for addiction.  It is just one TOOL that can be used in recovery.  Counselling, meetings, plans for aftercare are all crucial to the recovery process.

Hopefully you're doing this with a sub doctor and not on your own.  If so, please discuss this with him/her.  Keep us updated!

[mike195400]

Are you getting the sub from a doctor? If you are, I'm sure that he would help you to taper down.