Methadone withdrawal using Suboxone

[RickyJr007]

Hello everyone and thanks for reading my post.  I need some help.  I was in a methadone clinic for 7 months using 30mgs daily.  I decided to quit last Thursday after my last dose at 9am. Its now Monday morning and i have been on suboxone since Saturday, taking 8mgs daily.  

What should I do this week?  Keep taking subs at 8mgs.  When should i start to decrease?  

I don't feel bad at all right now just a little cloudy at times and feel like I'm sober i guess. I dont get the "high" from subs like i did on methadone.

The reason im seeking help is because the clinic i feel is about money and numbers.  I don't want to be on there payroll.  Please help me im in this alone.

[alexisann30]

Not yet, it takes 6 days. For me it did, & I went From Methadone 125mg quitting cold turkey. I felt that way after 2 days too, then again 2 days later. You will go in & out of doing good, to bad, then bad to good. The more you stay busy the better you'll feel. I'm still having issues, but I am strong then Iever thought I could be.  

[KLB84]

That actually sounds like a pretty good plan the Dr. has given you, but I know they cost alot. Are you getting the 8/2mg strips, 1 per day? If so, remember that once you get on a lower dose that 1 strip will last you several days. I stayed on the 8mg strip as long as possible instead of switching to the 2/.5mg one because it was cheaper. I stayed on the 8mg strip up until it would last me 4 days. I wanted to continue on those longer, but my dr. felt the pieces were getting almost too small to figure out the mg I was taking. FYI: the 2mg stip is almost the same size as the 8mg. One more thing, does his plan have you "jumping" from (example) 8 to 6 after 2 wks, or gradually throughout the 2 wks? Personally, I think gradual is easier. ANYWAY, just remember, the price will get better!!! I would give it a shot.

[weaver71]

Even a fast taper, a drop everyday helps some. Give yourself a break, start tapering with what you have, write it down and go for it. The doctors have the right idea, but I understand the money thing too. Remember that jumping off 8mg of sub is like jumping off 320mg of morphine, so do some sort of drop if you can. You weren't on them that long, so you'll do great. Keep posting here with concerns or questions.

[RickyJr007]

Thanks everyone for comments.  I talked to doctor and they want to do a long taper from 8mgs and drop 2mgs every other week.  I don't have the money for this long.  This is not good.  I guess I'll try to jump off next week and deal with it

[weaver71]

I was on a high dose of methadone, but I definitely felt the methadone withdrawal after 20 days on subs. If I where to do it again, I would have probably stayed on 1 or 2mg of sub for up to 2 months and then tapered down to .5mg. I say that so that i would have longer to detox and a little more time rooted in my aftercare program. Being on a lower, short-term dose, I don't think you will feel it like I did, but methadone detox and recovery is very slow. Just consider that 1mg of sub is similar to 40mg of morphine. A little goes a long way. I have a friend who was taking 1800 mg of oxy a day and is stable on 4mg of suboxone. Whatever you decide, educate yourself. In the health pages at the bottom of this page there is suboxone/subutex FAQs that gives a taper schedule with long and short term sub benefits and liabilities. The Thomas recipe and Amino Acid Protocol where helpful for me, also in the health pages. Knowledge is power, you are taking a huge step.

[gnarly_1]

Hi we have had several members do the switch from methadone to sub successfully slow tapering down to 2mg then jumping off with little to no withdrawals you may want to try tapering down the members I speak of were on it about 3 to 4 weeks total.................gnarly

[KLB84]

Oh yeah, Jenelle2020 is absolutely right. Though I said they sometimes use subs as a quick detox, I was only thinking about the average pain killer. Methadone & Suboxone both have a half life that make them different from the rest.

[Jenelle2020]

Hi there, I believe that if you only take Subs for one or two weeks you are going to still feel some withdrawal from the methadone when you come off the Subs, I am not telling you to stay on the Subs, but just saying that methadone withdrawals last usually about 2-3 weeks and then maybe some annoying lingering stuff like lethargy and possibly a bit of depression. It is hard to say what you are going to feel like, methadone has such a long half life and stays in your system for a long time. I think you will be fine if you stop the Subs but really this is something you should talk with your doctor about, since he is prescribing them.

[KLB84]

PS - I've been doing a slow taper with subs but I know sometimes dr.s use it for a quick detox...I was too chicken to do that, and my Dr. gave me the alternative option. I THINK the quick detox with subs is USUALLY done as an inpatient but I could be wrong.

[KLB84]

If your taking 8mg of subs a day you shouldn't go through methadone wd's (but everyone is different). Just remember, there too will come a time to get off the subs...so start talking to your dr. about a taper plan and set goals!

[RickyJr007]

Everything i read said methadone was worse withdrawal so i got prepared and got subs for week.  I may just take them tomorrow and that's it

[RickyJr007]

I got on methadone because of problem with oxy/roxy.  I was prescribed 8mgs a day to come off the methadone. I'll be honest im waiting for the withdrawals to come on hard.  Am i out the clear?

[atthebeach]

with subs less is better. is 8mgs the dosage the doctor prescribed?
dont take more than prescribed. many times your body needs to level out.
many people have done a 21 day schedule. any longer than that and then you need to do a slow taper.
7 months at 30mgs of methadone isnt that long and is a very low dose.
exercise,drink protein shakes, you can take a magnesium/potassium
supplement. look at the bottom right of this page, under health pages.
there is alot of great info there about methadone and suboxone detoxing.
why did you go on methadone?

[RickyJr007]

Today is day 5 with no methadone.  I have a headache but thats about it.  I am taking 4mgs suboxone in morning and 4 more at lunch.  I guess I'll keep this schedule for few more days

[RickyJr007]

@KLB Should i go on subs another week and deal with methadone withdrawals on week 3 with no subs?  What will happen when i am off everything

[KLB84]

I'm on here posting for help to get off subs so ... take it from me, DO NOT LET YOUR DR (or your own head) TALK U INTO MORE THAN 8 MG OF SUBS PER DAY! I started on that and it's been a slow taper for almost a year. I think that amount is plenty. Too often, more than necessary is given. I know what coming off methadone is like too. I did it in 2006 and was clean for 5 years. Withdrawls from Methadone can last a while - like 2-3 wks, but like I said, just be careful with the subs too. Start as low as you possibly can if that's the route you want to take. I will say that in my opinion (from experience) Suboxone is a better route than Methadone, because of the "no high" factor.

[RickyJr007]

Update× Its been 100 hours since my last methadone dose.  I have took 12mgs of suboxone today and feel normal.  Im just little scared of what to do the next couple days.  I go see my suboxone doctor Thursday.  I guess I'll get another week on subs and start a taper off subs.  Any suggestions

[RickyJr007]

I want to add... My worse day of withdrawal was Saturday,  48hrz since last dose of methadone.  All i had was restless legs from hell and lower back pain.  It magically went away in my sleep Saturday night.  Am i out of clear?