Help -Coming off Suboxone - some Q's

[endoes]

Hi people. I've come here to ask some questions and get some advice.I live in Cali and am currently on Suboxone and am planning to come off it over the next week and a half. I've gotten myself down to 2ml, and feel a little seedy. It's definately bearable, but am generally cold, sweating, tense. Anyway to the questions
I'm down to 2ml and it's holding me, I'm not terribly uncomfortable/ in pain, it's bearable at the moment. I was wondering what I should go about getting to prepare for when I totally stop. Would people suggest I go to a doctor to get on a Anti-depressant? While I wouldn't say I'm depressed at the moment, I really am fearing stopping and was wondering if people have found anti-depressant's to help? If so which AD, there's so many. In the past I've been prescribe AD, but they really haven't done anything for me. I'm thinking of asking the doctor for an AD that is fast acting, not the type that take weeks to build up. Also, one of the worst thing that happen to  me is absolutely icecold sweating. The worst part of this for me is just after I finish a shower, the sweats just get totally out of control, to a point where it's extremely painful and cold and takes around 30-40mins to go back to the normal levels of sweating, hot cold flushes that I get on the meds. Do other people experience this? What can I do about it, it IS extremely painful, to a point where all I can do afterwards is lye down.


I've been trying to stay hydrated and have been getting reasonable sleep. But going on past experiences I don't see myself sleeping once I 100% stop. Benzo's really do not help me sleep at all, valium helps during the day, but I need around 6 to really feel the benefits. What has helped people get some sleep, besides benzo's or are they really the best opton? I guess I'm just going to have to tell my doctor that's how many I need.


I've recently moved so I'll be going to a new doctor, (my Sub doctor was and is hopeless, no help at all I feel). How would you guys suggest I explain my situation to a new doctor, so I get the best assistance? In the past I've gone to doc and immediately they refer me to Sub/ Methadone programs. I just want a doctor that will prescribe to help me get through the worst of it - 2-3 weeks I'm guessing is going to be the toughest.

My opiate use started around 15yrs ago and now the problem is Suboxone addiction. On the sub's I don't have any motivation and feel extremely lethargic. I just want to be drug/ opiate free, so I can fulfill a good life. Also, I have a prescript of Tramadol, I expect  they'll help me through the initial phase of withdrawals from the Suboxone. Anyone have any experience? Also, since dropping my dose from 4ml to 2ml, I feel very nervous and shy- even to my own father, is this normal? If not what could be causing it, I just don't feel like talking to much and feel as though I become distant. I'm glad I've written all this down, because it'll help me remember what to tell the doc that I go to see.

That's all I can think of at the moment asking, any responses would be greatly appreciated. It's difficult and painful, but it's got to be done. Any tricks, suggestions, meds, vitamins you guys can suggest would be great.

[TysonRed]

All the above information are good helpful tips on getting off the suboxone. I do think getting down to the lowest dose before quitting can help lessen the w/d's to a degree. I was on sub for nearly 5months,started at 8mgs and tapered down to a crumb (.25mgs?) for about a week and then quit. I did use clonidine when I came off sub, it really helped me relax and get some of that nervous tension out of my body. I also used 5mgs of melatonin to help me sleep, basicly followed the thomas recipe(minus the benzo) but I did take all the vitamins/amino's and it seemed to help some with energy. Really try and go into the process as positive as possible, realize its going to be tough but the end result is so worth the temporary discomfort. The best medicine with any opiate detox really is time, I think you will find as the months go on your overall mood and anxiety will stabilize as your body returns to its normal function. One last thing that was crucial for me was that after day5 I started getting some form of excercise,even if it was only a 20-30min walk, it really does seem to make a difference. Best of luck with your recovery, you can do it, take care.

[imanaddict]

I am currently on Sub and have been for about a year and a half. I don't know first hand about tapering from it, but I have been a member of this site for a long time, and I have read LOTS of stories about Sub and I try to keep up with it for my personal information. As refusingbondage said, you should probably taper down more before jumping. I know 2mg doesn't sound like a lot, but it is with Sub. Hopefully you have enough to do that with. I DON'T suggest using Tramadol either! Trams are addictive as well and you could end up with another addiction. Plus, it's self-medicating..something us addicts don't need to be doing..LOL!

[Shelwoy]

I agree with the above comments. I would get off the benzos- six a day is allot, and benzos are very hard to stop using. Tramadol- I would just not use it.Stay on Sub, taper down as much as possible and do not mix in any other drugs!

[outotown]

Ok i just stoped sub after 13 months i stoped in march taper to a crumb befor you quit. Get some vitimans in you now magnesium helps with the leg cramps. I did not have any benzo's for sleep, if you use benadryl it helps alot with w/ds gator aid you loose a lot of vit. and so on from the sweating it ***** i had it the whole time i was on sub., it took me a month to get my energy back then i relasp for 4 days on darvecet took about fourty in four days DONT DO THAT it wont help at all LOL sorry i find humor in everything. But keep reading on here there is alot of sub users. But the best advice i can give is taper to a crumb over bout 3 weeks. Good Luck I will be pullin for you!!!

[refusingbondage]

Hi and welcome.  Are you saying you dont have a suboxone doctor now?  If its possible to continue treating, I would suggest tapering lower than 2mg.  2mg is a lot to quit at.  I mean, you CAN, but from what I gather the more successful, not as painful dexot stories Ive heard are from those who quit suboxone at less than .25mgs.. You can shave down a 2mg pill with a razor to tiny amounts every day and then every other day... sounds crazy, but supposedly this will help.  I quit at 1mg and it was not easy.. but its possible.  It is going to take time to heal - mentally and physically.  You will feel shy, depressed, anxious, all of these things.. but most are just the aftershocks and will get better in time... as far as depression, it is recommended by some really smart people on this forum to try a AD for a short while after detox.. depression was killer for me in sub detox.. I did it without an AD but if you are willing to take one, its not a bad idea.  I have heard great things about clonidine - its a blood pressure med that helps with the hot/cold sweats skin bumps etc.. I didnt use it, but many have and said it helps a lot.  Check out the Thomas Recipe on the health pages (bottom right of the forum).. lots of good suggested vitamins, etc.  Suboxone detox is no joke and its not easy but you can do it.  You seem to be in the right frame of mind so try and stay postivie.  And remember, right now you body needs to heal.  This doesnt happen overnight.  Feeling lonely, withdrawn and uncomfortable is all part of it - it will pass.  Give yourself some love and some healing time.. you say you were an addict for about 15 years, so feeling 'GOOD' without your drugs will not happen overnight.. but it WILL happen.  Im 7 months of subs and feeling generally pretty dam GOOD.  Definitely better than I ever did on suboxone and while using.  Good luck.  Lots of other sub club members on this site (current users and post-sub people) who can offer up some advise.  Keep posting and hang in there.