Suboxone Withdrawals- HELP!!!

[GirlTrying2GetOffThisScenicRoad2Nowhere]

I have been on suboxone for over 2 years, 2 8mg strips once a day for the first year & 1 8mg strip for the past year... I went from one 8 mg. strip on Monday, Oct 28th (11 days ago) to 2  2.5mg strips for the next 2 days. The jump from 8 to 2.5's gave me WD symptoms even though I was still taking very small amounts of suboxone, Then, after the 2.5s, I didn't take anymore & have not put any suboxone in my body since Monday AM, and today is Saturday... So I I guess that puts me around Day 5???

I keep reading that weeks 1 & 2 are the worst and bc I jumped from to 8 to 2.5 strips & had awful WD symptoms all last week & this week (week 2), I haven't taken any suboxen whatsoever.  My question is: Do I consider myself in week 2 of the detox/withdrawal process with the worst part almost behind me?  Or do I not count the first week because I was still taking a tiny, weak dose? I just want to see the light at the end of the tunnel...

You said in another post that withdrawal symptoms last 4-5 days. So is the worst behind me?
I am shocked at the severity of suboxone withdrawal. I honestly don't know how much I more I can take-- I am so tired of being feeling so weak & sick. I am exhausted, but cannot sleep & wake up at 2 AM every day & then have to work, I am dizzy and nauseous all the time, and when I stand up, I feel very lightheaded and like I'm going to faint... It also hurts to walk, stand, or even move -  every muscle in my body is sore & achey. I have tried every OTC medicine I know of & am taking lots of vitamins supplements, Tylenol, aspirin, sleeping aids... Also tried exercise & hot showers/baths & nothing works... If you could give me any ideas to suffer through the withdrawals? Also, if you could give me an idea of when WD's may subside. Thank you!!!

[killerwds]

bump for all those coming off suboxone...I just didn't want to regurgitate what I wrote above...but I hope it helps

[Im_an_overcomer]

Hi there, I'm on day 22 from 4 mg a day.. I can promise u the first two weeks is the hardest. I didn't even start Wd till the 3rd day of quitting.. The next two weeks was terrible. This 3rd week I turned a corner. I been having to work and take care of my 3 teenagers.. I understand. I've done all the things you mentioned and it's only temporary. I did take b12 and it helped a little. Aleve helped with restless legs for a few.. I'm not quit a 100 percent but real close. I'm exercising, working and making myself go. I promise when you start improving it gets better everyday. Everyone is different but don't stay down.. Make yourself go even if you don't want to. Easier said than done, I know. God is my strength. He is my only dependent. You can do it.

[digger1976]

Truly my friend, great post!!! :)))

[EvolverU]

Great post!

[killerwds]

Hey Girl,

Just wanted to welcome you and give you what I've been through and done to help myself.  First off...I was on opiates for 10+ years then subs for over 6 years, I jumped at 2mg/day and I am at 30 days clean today and things are definitely on an up swing.  From my experience it will take approximately 21 days for you to start feeling much better.  I know I suffered terribly at night during days 7-18.  I went over 2 weeks without sleeping.  I'm sure I did sleep, but it was literally in 2 minute increments a few times a day.  I had rls, insomnia, diarrhea, vomiting the whole gambit.  There are a number of OTC things you can do for them.  
I'm sure you have seen in other posts about Thomas's Recipe, about taking vitamins, drinking water like no tomorrow, Epsom salt baths and super hot showers.  Eating healthier and staying away from fatty foods and processed sugars will help also.  Deny yourself nothing if it is going to get you through the next 5 minutes and will NOT compromise your clean time.  2 o'clock in the morning and time for hot shower number 3...do it.  A couple of Epsom Salt baths a day - done!  Go for walks outside, even all you can do is stroll....do it.  Try not to stay couped up and focus'd on how you feel.  Distraction for me is the key.
I said this somewhere else, but late at night I put on my headphones, put on some old 80's music (I'm old) and I play it loud, sing it badly and endure.  Sometimes that is all you can do.  Don't be shocked either if around day 3-15 or so your libido goes crazy.....all normal.  
If things get too bad, try and consider calling in sick with the "flu".  I know some may say this could be construed as addict behavior - lying, but I'm more concerned with you staying clean and not relapsing because so much has been heaped on you at once.  You jumped pretty fast and hard from a fairly significant dose, but you've come this far...keep going.  One thing I kept telling myself during the worst parts was that if I relapsed and ever wanted to get clean again I would just have to repeat this again and right then I knew I could keep going.
Also, you need to tell your doctor that you have "tapered" and are done.  Get rid of any extra subs you have, they will torment you when you are at your worst.  I promise...they did me.  When I quit I had 4 8 mg strips left and was only taking 2 mgs/day.  So theoretically I had enouth for 16 more days at my current level and more if I tapered down further.  IT'S ALL I COULD THINK ABOUT UNTIL I THREW THEM AWAY.  It is very difficult imho, for addicts to throw away our drug, but it can be done.  And it is very liberating to do so.
I wish you all the best and come here often and always.  This site and the great folks here saved me numerous nights.  I was so messed up that some nights all I could do was read, I couldn't even post, but even that helped.  This site will truly help you along with the advice.  Believe in yourself, we already do.

[brandiroars386]

Subs are hard... More than we thought. I am 46 days past them. I still get tired and hurt and think about the euphoria i miss from the pills. BUT I KNOW ITS WORTH IT!!  You will believe it too. And its true one minute one day at a time. You can do this. We r here for you. Dont give up

[EvolverU]

Hi there & Welcome! Thanks so much for posting. You're definitely in the right place & although Subs are rough, rough, rough, they are Absolutely doable if you want it bad enough. (You're already almost half way through so don't turn back, my friend!)

I heartily second everything my buddy Digger said above. You may feel like you can't take another day of it & that you're going to die but I assure you that you won't. Somehow, we make it through & once you have that under your belt, you'll feel SO much better about yourself. Fight that fear & those whispers that tell you it's impossible!! You deserve better & you're much stronger than you realize. The best thing besides surrendering that you can do is to not think about hours or days or weeks. All you have to do is get through the next second, the next minute without using. Don't look down that tunnel! Don't psych yourself out.

This site is an incredible resource. I truly believe that I wouldn't be 10.5 mos. clean off of 30 yrs of Heroin, Methadone & Subs if it weren't for the incredible folks here. So, when you can't sleep or feel close to the edge, stay online. There are plenty of people here who'd be honored to share their hard-won wisdom & experience with you & support you through your acute w/d's & beyond. Hold Fast! We're here & we're pulling for you!!

[digger1976]

Hey, subs are so much stronger than a lot o people realise, I'm sort t inform you of this but your in the first week. Even a tiny bit Sub is still Sub right, i think you already knew this but in your struggling state you were just hoping for better news, sorry again! I'm proud you've made the decision to grab your life back. I'm on day 159 from Subs, it is a wild ride, not easy! I do feel for you, the best piece of advice is surrender to the process, it's the only way! You need to prepare yourself for 3weeks of feeling rotten, that's usually the time frame for subs to leave, I know your sitting there saying I can't handle 3 weeks of this. Everybody says the same, but we somehow struggle through, and I believe your no different. Keep reminding yourself, it's 3weeks vs the rest of my life in misery, I know which I'd choose! I truly hope you will give exercise another go, it will help if you can. I never wanted too, but once I started and got gong it's amazing how much of a lift it will provide. Keep yourself well hydrated and start forcing down food! All those combined will pull you through the worst a little easier and hopefully quicker! Way to go on your clean days, you got this my friend! Keep it up, remember surrender!!!