arm pain from withdrawal?

[wantoffmeds]

I need some advice! I'm new here. I decided to sign up because I feel so alone in all of this and have no one to talk to about it.  I have been on suboxone for almost four years now. Taking 4 mgs a day now. Started at 8mgs. Well, today, I decided that was it. I would never touch another sub. I made it until 8:00 pm (a full 24 hours) but had to take one for the w/d, mostly because I was at work. The w/d was uncomfortable but not horrible- mostly just sweats and some back ache.So at 8 pm I took approx. 1.5 mg of sub. Felt fine at first- it eased the withdrawal. But after about four hours, I was in withdrawal again. My main symptom this time, was severe right arm pain, with mild cold sweats, and discomfort. What scared me was the arm pain. I thought it could be from high blood pressure, which I believe increases during withdrawal (I do not have a blood pressure problem).

So I am wondering, was my arm pain caused by increased blood pressure due to the detox? Or is the pain from a condition, like carpel tunnel, that I never felt before because I was on the subs? I should mention, I've had wrist problems for several years now, but that pain was never this bad before.  And why did the withdrawal begin after only one day off the subs? Everything I've read suggests withdrawal doesn't start for days after stopping this particular drug? And was 4mg to 1.5 too large of a taper?

I'm scared I will never be able to kick them, especially now after reading all of these horror stories of 31 days of excruciating withdrawal.  

Any help would be great, thanks!

[mom_of_two136]

I can only share my experience (do not want tell you what to do, need to talk to your doctor). I would stabalize on a dose (sometimes a week, atleast four days) before I decreased my dose. I found I had minimal problems. Of course, you may want to talk to your doctor about other options to deal with your pain. I too have chronic pain and found suboxone helpful. I jumped yesterday from a crumb and will see how my pain is. I may stay on a small dose for a while if my pain issues become a problem. Best wishes with your taper. It does not have to be painful as far as WD symptoms if you take your time.
Again, best wishes

[wantoffmeds]

thanks for the taper advice. so i tapered to 2 mg, but only took 2 mgs for one day, then decided since i felt fine i'd taper to 1 mg today. I had horrible back pain all day, and about 2 hours ago, i could stand no more and took another 1 mg. After about an hour, I feel much much better.

If I stay on the 2 mgs/ day for about a week before tapering again will I have a better result next time?

[mom_of_two136]

I have been on suboxone since aug 08 and am taking 0.25mg (a crumb) every other day. A jump from 4 to 1.5 is a big jump, IMO. My taper was 4 to 3 to 2 to 1 to 0.5 to 0.25. I stayed at each dose until I felt comfortable. I am not in a hurry since I get the added benefit of pain relief for my back. It does not have to be painful if you take your time. Also another important aspect is making sure you are ready. Hopefully you put into place a support network and worked on your addictive nature so that you do not relaspe later. My life is so much different now and I know I am ready. I may get back on if I have trouble with my back but so far so good. You can do this! Best Wishes

[avisg]

With pain in one of you arms I would go an get a blood pressure cuff and keep track of you BP threw WD. If it gets to high you will have to seek medical attention

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

It is important to use the percentage (%)  instead of a pill measure (.5 pill) - - Very important when you get to the lower doses.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

Valium is wonderful, but also can present a problem itself.  Be very careful with it. Very.

Sub requires long taper to quit with least discomfort. Most schools of thought say to drop the dose by 10-20% per week to 10 days.  And when approaching the low end you need to get toward only a very very low dose to jump off. And when you get to that jump point you need to go to that smallest dose and then take that dose every other day. Then even every third day to end the ordeal.  Learn as much as you can about sub if you are on it. Especially when your desire is to quit.  And good luck to you.........

[wantoffmeds]

thanks for the comments. It's so strange. Up until last week, I wasn't even worried about the subs. I was functional and figured I'd take them for a long long time, and then get off of them easily when I was ready to stop. I don't know what changed, but all of a sudden, I want off. And now would be the time, before I finish my last year of college.

I know someone on subs who said that the withdrawal wasn't too bad. But he tapered alot before quitting cold turkey. At the end, he was just taking crumbs. But he also used for as long as me, if not a little longer.

I definately have time to taper. Would you recommend tapering a little bit each week?

Right now, I'm going to try to just take 2 mgs per day. And if that is working well, will take only 1.5, then 1, then .5, then .25, and so on. Will this help with the withdrawals when I finally stop? And how effective is valium in easing withdrawal symptoms?

Thanks everyone

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

First of all forget about all the horror stories from other people. You are doing this alone and each situation is unique unto the individuals anyway. Sub is a very powerful drug that is active in microgram amounts. One that you need to educate yourself on. And one that you also need some form of counseling to stop. Pro's call it "the suboxone spanking" when you quit. Uncomfortable unless you taper very long and slowly. And one that doesnt really even start until days 3-5. And one that may last for months. Your "taper" of reducing your dose from 4 to 1.5 mg was not a wise decision. Thats well over 50% of the dose. IMHO you need to get the sub reestablished. And you need a plan to quit. And you need to change the way that you have done things in the mid-range.   Best of luck to you though - - - -

[ihateOC]

yea u been on subox for a while.. not to scare u but the withdraws from subox could last up to 2-5 weeks. you can try to taper, but thats on u. i was on subox for 8 mth but went back and forth with oxy. relapse after relapse. I would feel the pain the day after. but sub has 36 hr life. It will be hard and a while but there is a better life once ur off.. hang in there u can do it..