Going on Suboxone TOday!!!

[CAliGirl888]

So today is the day, at 12:30 I go see my Suboxone Doctor..... I ran out of Norco on Wensday but I managed to get some to hold me over so I took my final one last nite... I must say Im so excited to go get help, but then another part of me is like "Oh my goodness no more pills, How am I going to Function?" So please if anyone has advice on how to stay clean let me know...:)

[kyjobr]

I think we're on the same page, probably just saying things a little different.  I completely agree that people go on sub thinking all their problems are over and that it is sent from heaven (I was one of these people).  I always knew I would have to go through w/d's from it but didn't realize there was still so much work do to while on it.  15 months sounds like a great amount of time to be on it and even 1-2 months sounds very reasonable.  The 1-2 week thinking makes me nervous and is not what the research suggest and I think that's because that's enough time to even get stabilized, much less take care of the underlying issues before having to deal with cravings and all the other things that go with being "clean".

You dropped off sub from 2mgs?  Isn't that a really high dose to jump from?  Did your dr recommend that?  I plan on going down to slivers if I have to.  

Thanks for your post.  I always try to thank people who reply to me with respectful feedback as there is obviously very strong opinons and feelings about addiction and especially suboxone.  So it's so refreshing to maturely discuss the subject.  Congratulations on your progess.  You are truly an inspiration to the rest of us still working through our issues.

Sandra

[livingthelie]

i read your profile and i think you have done GREAT !.......but please remember i was on this stuff for over 15 months and decided to take myself off...YES it did kill my withdrawal symptoms at the time ..and it also killed the cravings the last 15 months...but only because i was ingesting another opiate more potenant than morphine...it was trading evils if you will..( IMO)..i think if i could have been placed on a 1 or 2 month taper or less i could have benefited more...i am NOT TRYING to scare anyone away from this treatment..its a much more healthy way of coping with your  ( addiction)problems but its not the cure..i  feel because of my past history with sub over the last 15 months i want all new sub patients and older ones that are coming off or wanting to come off what to expect....you will not walk out of the sub program w/d free.....as i am sitting here with trembling hands ( but able to sit today  :) ..i am a testament to this fact...i went from 16 mgs daily down to 2 mgs of sub over 15 months and 24 hours after my last 2mg...it (w/d) was all over me..was it as severe NO...but it was w/d's in its puriest form..no w/d's are great but the gateway to freedom......i just want to share my run with sub and be honest so people know what to expect..if i had to do the sub program all over again..i would try a shorter taper...and do not be nieve as i was in thinking my drug problems were over..little did i know i had to stop SUB...NO-ONE told me what that was gonna be like.....its a pay me now or pay me later fact when it comes to w/d's....I DO HOWEVER agree with the sub allowing for the brain to heal for being a partial antagonist  ( i cannot spell or type..lol).
Please use it and benefit from it but PLEASE understand you are still dealing with A VERY POTENT NARCOTIC..that will collect its due in time.....this is from my experience only....i understand different people have different situations,,,by the way i really like this board..
and good luck to all..

Brian

[kyjobr]

I agree to be careful with the sub meaning do your research so you know what to expect but the one thing I would disagree with livingthelie is that sub is not meant to be a short term solution.  Take a look at my profile or a post I did a little while ago and you'll see the research shows that sub is most beneficial when used longer term or even sometimes indefinite (I would assume this is for the very serious addicts who are high risk lifestyles).  Congratulations on making that first step and I understand your reservations.  It's kinda like leaving high school.  You're excited about the new life you're going to have but the old life was comfortable even if you did get your butt kicked sometimes.  :-).  

[livingthelie]

huh ?..where do i start ?....here goes..i was on hydro's for 8 years..how ever i could get them....kicked the habit for a few days but gave back in..18 months ago i went to a shrink for the sub program..for 36 hours i was in the worse pain ever...got to the shrink...got my 1st dose..i felt instant relief after 30 minutes to 1 hours after letting it disolve under my tounge....he prescribed me #2 8mg tabs twice per day..i did this for 15 months..i started reading up on the sub and found out it was more potent then the hydro's i was on..after learning more i found out many people were using sub for shorter term use,,or detox etc......well here i am 15 months taking 2 per day..i said to myself i am gonna be a junkie forever..cause the doc was only interested in getting my 200 per visit check..anyhow i stopped going to the shrink..i got down to my last 30 pills and cut them in half,,then came down to 1/4 until i ran out last Monday 10/22/07...my withdrawels started in later Tuesday...the normal stuff..sick to stomach ,cramps,aniexity.elevated heart rate,elevated body temp, cannot sleep.etc.etc.etc...i had 3 days vacation left at work and took them giving me 5 days to battle this......today is Sunday my 6th day off sub..i am still not feeling 100%..but much better then earlier last week..i am looking for the 14 day..thats where i hear good things happen with the phyiscal part...i carved out a pumpkin for my 2 yr old today :)...then had to lay back down....

i guess what i am trying to tell you is becareful with sub...stay on it as short as possible and be preapred to have some w/d.....l luv ya girl and be strong..

Brian

[goingdown]

Good luck at the doctor today!  I just went on Suboxone Monday evening.  It was about 23 hours after I took my last pills.  As soon as I started taking the Suboxone I noticed that I had no craving for vics whatsoever and haven't since.  I felt a lot like you did though - very excited to be getting off the vics, but scared to be without them at the same time!  You are going to make it, you have a lot of people who will support you and help you through this!  When I was on the vics I noticed I had this pattern down pat of what I would do each and every day.  As of Monday, I've tried to break that pattern and do things a little differently so I wouldn't think to myself "how am I going to do this without taking pills?"  It helps to experience new things or the same things but in a different way, so I don't think about the pills as much.  I hope that makes sense!  I know what I'm thinking but having a hard time putting it into words!

[imanaddict]

They will be able to tell by your blood pressure and heart rate...if it's off the charts, you are in the state of withdrawl they need you to be in. Man, it sucked a$$ being in that state, but it was well worth it! When I went in the first time, I had had some pills the night before. I was in withdrawl, but it wasn't bad enough. They told me to come back the next morning, and I looked right in his face and said "NO" I'm not coming back! LOL! I was so mad, I was seeing red! It was my own fault, but of course, I wasn't thinking that at the time. The usual time they ask you to be in withdrawls is 24 hrs. and I had to wait 36. Needless to say I managed to do it, and I even had some pills at home that I could have taken, but chose not to. that is when I knew I was done! I'm SO GLAD I did too, and you will be too!!!

[Gobig]

As long as you're 16 hours from your last norco, you'll be fine.  Actually, you don't need to be in severe withdrawal - just moderate.  Docs. can tell how you are by looking at your pupils.  How will you function - much better!!  Also, sub is a very strong opiate, so you're going to feel just fine.

[imanaddict]

If you took any pills last night, they won't be able to give you the subs today. You HAVE to be in SEVERE withdrawls because if you take the subs with pills in your system, it can throw you into some sort of crazy withdrawl, WAY  worse than regular withdrawls. (This is all coming from my sub dr. by the way). They told me that some woman lied to them about not taking anything in the past 24 hrs. and she went into that state, and landed herself in the ER. He said she was literally trying to climb the walls, and couldn't stop vomitting, and had to be carried away by ambulance.

On a better note, once you get on the subs, OH MAN!! It's a MIRACLE DRUG!! I'm going on week two now, and I feel like a totally different person!!! I have absolutely NO craving whatsoever, and I have never felt better!!! I wish you all the luck in the world with it!!

[moms1]

Don't look back.  You are on the right road to recovery.  The only experience I have had with suboxone is through my son.  He has been on it for six months and has completely turned his life around!!  Working full time and school three nites a week.  He says he has never felt better and was just told he is 1st in his class.  So look forward to a new life.  You will function fine...at least a lot better than being on pills!!  good luck!