Help! I am getting ready to detox myself from suboxone!

[jazzy82]

I am a 27 year old single mother with little support in this area..i have been in a suboxone program for the last 3 years and have slowly worked my way down to 3mg/day. I made up my mind thru much prayer and desparation that i am going to quit cold turkey suffer the consequences that i have been dreading for the last 8 years, but i am really scared... my dr wants me to taper my dose atleast to 1mg/day but i feel like its now or never. I am reall into herbal remedies and am thinking of doing a complete body cleanse during my detox. Has anybody experienced the withdrawl frm suboxone? Ive heard alot of people say it is much worse than detoxing from vicodin or percocet because it take up to 72hours before u really start the withdrawl process which makesit seem so much longer and meanwhile ur mind is making hell the whole way! Has anybody ever tried and herbs or cleanses that really helped with withdrawal? Does anybody have any idea how long it takes to physiclly feel better when detoxing from subozone? Any advice is good advice..

[imrprod]

All I can say is that you would be better off listening to your doctor...after 3 years your body needs to slowly get off the drug.  You can do it. Just take a little less every other day.  Since it has a half life try to skip a day and see how you feel.  take a razor and shave off little bits until you are on a crumb and I tell you the withdrawal won't be a big deal. You have come this far don't put yourself in a position to possible pick up because of the withdrawal...you don't want to lose the life you have now.  Go to meetings AA or NA and get help from other addicts...You can do it don't be impatient you are almost there.

[salsinator]

Avisg - You are 100% correct.  Happy New Year!

[avisg]

I dont think sub has gotten a bad rap as much as it is being over used .If they were far more selective of who they where letting take it it probably would not have such a bad rap.It has become a cash cow and they will let anyone on it and most do not require
recovery care to contiue take Sub.Sub should  be used for HEAVY LONG TERM DRUG USE ONLY.With mandatory recovery care  .Not for the person taking 10 narcos a day.It's not really the drugs fault its the doctors peddling it like its a  miracle drug.

[salsinator]

Suboxone has really received a bad rap lately because addicts have gone on suboxone to avoid withdrawals - being told that it's much easier to stop taking because it's only a partial opiate agonist - not true.  

Fogmussher - you are going about it the right way.  Keep tapering down, but you need to go below 2mg before you quit completely - if you have been taking suboxone for more than a month.  Otherwise the withdrawal will be very uncomfortable.  

All said and done - suboxone does have it's place, but for short acting opiates, it usually is not the answer.  The secret to suboxone is to take short term for detox only or taper down to .25 - .5mg if taken long term - otherwise the withdrawal will be much longer and worse than the original DOC.  

[Ella789]

Suboxonezone.com/forums  and search the topics for detoxing off the sub.   Some really good info on that site.  Best wishes

Happy New Year !!!

Ella

[imrprod]

I have to say that staying on subs for more than a month is a mistake...rapid detox followed by AA meetings is the way to go..like any drug the longer you take it the harder it is to quit.  For anyone out there listening try to use the sub only for the immediate withdrawal and taper off within a month I have known people that have done it both ways and those that got off quickly were the ones that had little trouble getting off.

[fogmussher]

You are scaring now. Or maybe I am not understanding this right. I am an have been on 24 mg of suboxone. I have started a taper and I thought going down 2 mg every three days would be ok. Reading all this makes me think I am confused, but each of the tabs I take are 8 mg and I started with 3 a day. Am I reading you right?

[broknbck]

toche on wanting to get off that suboxone.
it is not good to stop cold turkey on that, especially after 3 years. really you need to wean off it as hard as that is going to be. i have always wondered if it was safe and maybe easier if the doctor switched a patient to a simpler opiate like vicodin. sounds like the suboxone is even harder to quit.
as far as detoxing while you are quitting. ahhh... i would really not recommend it. good herbs and foods and such but nothing extreme. you go through alot when detoxing. bathroom issues, rashes, all the toxins in your body get stirred up and make you pretty sick until they are gone. one thing at a time. but an exellent idea for after you are in the clear.

[salsinator]

I Jazzy, welcome to the forum.  Please listen to your doctor, he/she is right.  I was on suboxone for nearly 4 years and tried doing what you suggesting and quit off 2mg.  The withdrawal was pure he!! just from 2 mg.  Suboxone is very strong and has a half life of 37 hours, so the withdrawal is much longer and drawn out.  I personally could not even taper and ended up going through an 8 day medical detox that was quite expensive, but to me it was worth every cent.  Please taper down to below 1mg, it's best to quit suboxone at around .5mg for minimal withdrawal.  If you can go down by 1/4 - 1/2mg every few days until you get down to .5mg or less, you will be so glad you did.  You may also see if your doctor would prescribe you some clonidine - that really helps with some of the withdrawal symptoms.  I am sure that others here will respond with similar advise.  Keep posting, you will get some great advise here.  All the best for the New Year.