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My Suboxone Treatment Insight
I was asked a question about my Suboxone treatment and speeding up the tapering process. Many on the thread appreciated the insight...so I thought I'd repost it since I have seen quite a few Suboxone questions lately.
Note - I don't mean to direct anyone to change there treatment, I'm not a doc. This was just my expierience...hindsight is 20/20.
My response to the poster's question about speeding up his taper...
"Ultimately, if you trust your doctor, you should probably follow his instructions.
However, I will also give you my opinion.
I started at 16mg (which in my opinion was way too high a dose for me, but at the time I was very committed to following the docs orders...so I went along with it)
As I said my whole experience took about 8 months...I went in on 1/2/08.
In hindsight, I wish I would have done a much faster taper or quit using the SUB as needed for acute WD symptoms.
My originaly pace was to drop 1-2mg per month. By the time I reached 8mg I felt like I was just addicted to SUB...no different than my other DOC. (sounds like you are starting to feel the same)
So during the month when I was supposed to be on 7mg....I tapered myself down to 2mg. I believe getting through this is 90% mental. I thought back to when I used...sure I wanted to take 80mg of oc...but could I get through the day comfortably with 20mg...yes. (FYI...1mg of SUB is approx equal to 10mg of oc...according to my doc atleast)
So when I told him I was at 2mg, he was a bit nervous....then I told him that I was going to do 1-2mg for a week...then take a week vacation from work and go CT. He gave me Clonodine and Clonazapem. I had some mild WD for about 3 days...by the 5th I was back in the gym, lifting, running, and swimming. The only issue that has stayed with me is my upset stomach and lack of appetite...but I feel like it was worth it.
The reason I did this is because I felt ready. When I started using I was really niave and never imagined that withdrawal could feel the way it does. It started with an injury and became recreational...which lead to the problem. Had I known...I never would have done it.
Ultimately, I know there is no way in hell I am ever putting my body and mind through the pain of withdrawal again. I made the jump because I knew I was not going to faulter no matter how much pain I was in.(which really wasn't much)
For me, the bottom line was that I had wasted to much time and money dealing with this issue. I realized that I could "get by" on a much lower dose...so I made the choice to do it....w/o consulting my doctor. Up until that point I had followed my treatment to a T, passed every UA, went to every therapy session, etc...so he trusted my feeling and helped me jump off at 2. We both knew I was going to be in some pain, we called it the "Suboxone Spanking"...sort of a last little punishment and lesson for being such an idiot. And honestly, I appreciated having to go through it... it burned that memory into my mind...which is why Ill never go back.
In conclusion...IM NOT A DOCTOR....Everyone is different, this is just my story.
Hopefully my story helps a bit... at least gives ya some insight"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So in hindsight I feel like my Suboxone treatment could have been much shorter. It ended out being like maintence rather than recovery...when all I wanted was to be clean ASAP. Which leads me to my next repost regarding my treatment center....another poster had responded about centers trying to draw out treatment for profit....
"I didn't really want to get into that(shady treatment centers) in my post about tapering....but I definitely began to feel like my treatment was more profit-oriented toward the end. At my last visit they handed me a bill for just over $600. This was after I had already paid my $500 deductable, at which point my insurance would be covering 80%. I asked for a print out of my bill...all the payments made my my insurance company we listed, but were not being subtracted from the total that I owed. I went to the owner of the center and he looked at it and mumbled some nonsense....and all the sudden I only owed them $230. I made damn sure that I got a reciept stating that I was paid in full through that date and made him sign it. And now the reciept lives in the drawer next to my bed...and will for a long time.
Clearly the billing practices at my center were a bit shady, disorganized at least. I feel bad for those who don't keep track of their stuff or don't stand up for themselves. Maybe it was a clerical error at my center, but there are definitly places that do take advantage of their patients for profit.
However, I will defend my doctor. I came to him from inpatient stabilization on 16mg...so obviously he was going to start there. With him I could tell that he was conservative about tapering because he really didn't want me to relapse. He told me that he wouldn't let me stay on it for more than a year. And he was supportive when I wanted to be more aggressive with my tapering. He made suggestions, but ultimately, I really had a great deal of control over my treatment."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So that was my experience with Suboxone and the treatment center. Hopefully it will be useful to some.
Ultimately, my best advice is to find a doctor you trust, be completely honest with them, listen to your body, and play a role in your recovery. The doctor doesn't cure you. They give you the tools, but you have to do it yourself.
Take care.
Note - I don't mean to direct anyone to change there treatment, I'm not a doc. This was just my expierience...hindsight is 20/20.
My response to the poster's question about speeding up his taper...
"Ultimately, if you trust your doctor, you should probably follow his instructions.
However, I will also give you my opinion.
I started at 16mg (which in my opinion was way too high a dose for me, but at the time I was very committed to following the docs orders...so I went along with it)
As I said my whole experience took about 8 months...I went in on 1/2/08.
In hindsight, I wish I would have done a much faster taper or quit using the SUB as needed for acute WD symptoms.
My originaly pace was to drop 1-2mg per month. By the time I reached 8mg I felt like I was just addicted to SUB...no different than my other DOC. (sounds like you are starting to feel the same)
So during the month when I was supposed to be on 7mg....I tapered myself down to 2mg. I believe getting through this is 90% mental. I thought back to when I used...sure I wanted to take 80mg of oc...but could I get through the day comfortably with 20mg...yes. (FYI...1mg of SUB is approx equal to 10mg of oc...according to my doc atleast)
So when I told him I was at 2mg, he was a bit nervous....then I told him that I was going to do 1-2mg for a week...then take a week vacation from work and go CT. He gave me Clonodine and Clonazapem. I had some mild WD for about 3 days...by the 5th I was back in the gym, lifting, running, and swimming. The only issue that has stayed with me is my upset stomach and lack of appetite...but I feel like it was worth it.
The reason I did this is because I felt ready. When I started using I was really niave and never imagined that withdrawal could feel the way it does. It started with an injury and became recreational...which lead to the problem. Had I known...I never would have done it.
Ultimately, I know there is no way in hell I am ever putting my body and mind through the pain of withdrawal again. I made the jump because I knew I was not going to faulter no matter how much pain I was in.(which really wasn't much)
For me, the bottom line was that I had wasted to much time and money dealing with this issue. I realized that I could "get by" on a much lower dose...so I made the choice to do it....w/o consulting my doctor. Up until that point I had followed my treatment to a T, passed every UA, went to every therapy session, etc...so he trusted my feeling and helped me jump off at 2. We both knew I was going to be in some pain, we called it the "Suboxone Spanking"...sort of a last little punishment and lesson for being such an idiot. And honestly, I appreciated having to go through it... it burned that memory into my mind...which is why Ill never go back.
In conclusion...IM NOT A DOCTOR....Everyone is different, this is just my story.
Hopefully my story helps a bit... at least gives ya some insight"
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So in hindsight I feel like my Suboxone treatment could have been much shorter. It ended out being like maintence rather than recovery...when all I wanted was to be clean ASAP. Which leads me to my next repost regarding my treatment center....another poster had responded about centers trying to draw out treatment for profit....
"I didn't really want to get into that(shady treatment centers) in my post about tapering....but I definitely began to feel like my treatment was more profit-oriented toward the end. At my last visit they handed me a bill for just over $600. This was after I had already paid my $500 deductable, at which point my insurance would be covering 80%. I asked for a print out of my bill...all the payments made my my insurance company we listed, but were not being subtracted from the total that I owed. I went to the owner of the center and he looked at it and mumbled some nonsense....and all the sudden I only owed them $230. I made damn sure that I got a reciept stating that I was paid in full through that date and made him sign it. And now the reciept lives in the drawer next to my bed...and will for a long time.
Clearly the billing practices at my center were a bit shady, disorganized at least. I feel bad for those who don't keep track of their stuff or don't stand up for themselves. Maybe it was a clerical error at my center, but there are definitly places that do take advantage of their patients for profit.
However, I will defend my doctor. I came to him from inpatient stabilization on 16mg...so obviously he was going to start there. With him I could tell that he was conservative about tapering because he really didn't want me to relapse. He told me that he wouldn't let me stay on it for more than a year. And he was supportive when I wanted to be more aggressive with my tapering. He made suggestions, but ultimately, I really had a great deal of control over my treatment."
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
So that was my experience with Suboxone and the treatment center. Hopefully it will be useful to some.
Ultimately, my best advice is to find a doctor you trust, be completely honest with them, listen to your body, and play a role in your recovery. The doctor doesn't cure you. They give you the tools, but you have to do it yourself.
Take care.
.25 is a very very small dose...equivalent to less that 5mg of oxy. I really don't think you are going to feel much pain. Let me know how it goes and if you have any questions.
Thanks for taking the time to comment and I did read your post...I feel hopeful. I just want to live a clean normal live....free from any kind of dependency. I am almost there but afraid at the same time.
I am down to .25mg and I feel okay....I don't think I can break it down any smaller. So I am just going to stop....I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm happy for you and you sound great....I want what you got!
Take care
I am down to .25mg and I feel okay....I don't think I can break it down any smaller. So I am just going to stop....I'll let you know how it goes.
I'm happy for you and you sound great....I want what you got!
Take care
Another suggestion....
If you are going to do SUB treatment....find a center where mandatory addiction counseling/psychotherapy is required in conjunction with your medication treatment. Just being handed a decreasing amount of pills every month will help, but isn't a solution. Figuring out how and why we ended out chosing to abuse drugs is essential to staying clean. Addiction therapy WILL really really help with that.
If you are going to do SUB treatment....find a center where mandatory addiction counseling/psychotherapy is required in conjunction with your medication treatment. Just being handed a decreasing amount of pills every month will help, but isn't a solution. Figuring out how and why we ended out chosing to abuse drugs is essential to staying clean. Addiction therapy WILL really really help with that.
What excellent insight and a great post. Thanks for sharing and all the best to you.
To avoid shady treatment clinics, contact a reputable hospital in your area and ask them to suggest a doctor or center. The "Suboxone Directory" on the Suboxone website is filled with a number of questionable offices. I tried almost all the offices on that list in my area, and the majority of them accepted no insurance and cash only...a pretty telltale sign of a less than legitimate practice.
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