Comng off Subutex

[viauk]

I am doing a comunity Subutex detox at the moment which I started on the 7 of march 2010. So far I have been reduced from 16mg daily to 1.2mg. I am being reduced once a week and my last drop from 1.6mg to 1.2mg was the first one which i could feel a bit. Nothing major- total lack of energie, someone walking over my grave and getting cold easily and often. I am still sleeping alright - just wake up earlier than usual. I am being reduced to 0.8mg in two days and a week later to 0.4mg for a week and then off- so I have got just over 2 weeks of my detox left. I am wondering what to expect in the next 3 weeks or so!? My biggest fear is not being able to sleep. I have only ever come off methadone once and that was absolutely horrific. I would really appreciate if someone could tell me about their experience of coming off subutex.

[caliX3]

I have been taking 18mg Subutex for 5 months.  My doctor originally prescribed it as pain management and it worked great.  Whoever its time come off.  If anyone has a suggestion how to detox please let me know.

[worried878]

nice to c u 2 salsinator..has been a while  (:

[salsinator]

Worried  - you are right.  Nice to see you, it's been a while.

[worried878]

most go to crumbs..even slivers...sub packs power and most feel no pain til the final mg or 2...but if u go slowly like u r then u may do this relatively painlessly...i was never good at tapering so i know sub was not a choice for me as far as stopping narcs...u have strength so u can do this....dont think the worst..think the best..and u will have the best
when u start..if u start having a hard time..read the thomas recipe in the health pages..it can help u as sub is a narcotic so same rules apply
good luck to u and keep us posted  (:

[salsinator]

I live in the states and we use Suboxone more over here, but it has the same opiate - buprenorphine.  I took sub for nearly 4 years, so getting off was very difficult for me - I went through a detox plan in the end because I could not taper on my own.  It sounds like you are on a very good plan and tapering down to a very low dose before stopping.  At 0.4mg, you should do pretty well.  I tried stopping at 2mg once and it was terrible.  You will probably have some mild withdrawal for a few days and I would expect that it will take about a week or maybe a bit longer before you jump back.  There are some other medications that you doctor may be able to give you for a few days for sleep and the mild symptoms - otherwise you should be fine.  I was never on Methadone, but with the plan you described, I would not think that it would near as bad coming off the sub as the methadone.  Best of luck - keep posting here, there are lots who will support you all the way.