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Seeking encouragement on my journey to FREEDOM - tapering from Suboxone AGAIN
I am in the process of tapering from Suboxone long-term use. I'm down to almost 1 mg. I've done this before but got scared when it came time to jump and made a bad decision to get some short lasting opiates to help thru the bad parts then got back on Suboxone and spent the last four years maintaining. But a lot has happened since then: a divorce from an abusive husband, moving to another state, finishing College, buying a house and getting a good job. I feel beyond ready now. Just tired of this monkey on my back. After reading my previous posts from 4 years ago I was discouraged to see how close I was to being free when I messed up and reading other people's posts about the horrors of Suboxone was also discouraging. No wonder I was so scared to jump! so I'm moving forward! No one in my life knows except my doctor so I thought it was time to join the community again. I felt good yesterday I took about 1.2 mg. today I've only taken 1 mg and I'm feeling pretty rough. I've been taking 1/3 of a 4mg strip, so 1.33 mg for about a month but it seems like the lower my dose gets the harder each taper is. From what I read this is normal I'm starting to try to work out and I've also started taking a nutritional supplement full of vitamins including B vitamins to help with the energy because that seems to be one of the worst things. I also had my doctor write me a prescription for Gabapentin (a low dose) which I know helped me tremendously before with restless legs. For the last few days trying to get down to 1 mg I feel my anxiety increasing. I'm not really hurting bad but I feel like I'm getting the flu. My life is pretty stable right now emotionally and spiritually so I feel like it's a good time to get off - that and I just hate being on this medication that has such a horrible stigma, that I have to keep hidden and that I'm bound by. I guess the one bad thing is I work a professional job and cannot skip work. I have to go (and perform well) even when I don't feel like it. Also this time around I've been on it almost 5 years not just one like last time. So anyway, encouragement is welcome. And if you have any insight into what may help with the flu like symptoms. I've read a lot and been through it once but your input and encouragement are still very welcome to me.
It's been another 20 days. How are you feeling?
3 Comments
I am down to 0.5 milligrams per day and planned to go to every other day for two weeks then every third day for two before I take the final step. Did you find that that prolonged the problem by tapering so low or that it was a good thing?
Tapering works best. I tried jumping off at 1mg and didn't succeed. Then I tried again at .8...I know it's not much lower but Im on day 6 and I'm not going back. Time is my emeny and my friend right now. I would have like to taper down to ,12 but I had priorities. Good luck!
Bsaved- I think every one is different! I was working 40-60 hrs a week so I think tapering to .125 was best since I couldn't take off but honestly I had the hardest time getting from .66 to .5 I think. so I believe I could have jumped there but it was nice that once I did jump it was no worse so I knew I could just keep going without day after day - now 3 and a half weeks! Sorry I can't be more specific I think you just have to listen to your own body and your situation. I often questioned if I was prolonging the agony which is why I say I think if I could have taken a few weeks off work I may have just jumped at .5 mg...or .25 but continuing my taper worked for me. Hope this helps. Whatever you do just keep moving forward even if it's slowly - as long as you're not going backwards you're still doing good!
Same for you suzy- keep pushing! If I can do this y'all can! Be patient with yourself.
Same for you suzy- keep pushing! If I can do this y'all can! Be patient with yourself.
72 hrs!
3 Comments
Congratulations! I’ve been sub free for 2 years now. It takes a good bit, but you’re going to feel so much better in the long run. You’ve done this in a much better way than I did. Tapering was not an option for me. I hope to see you having more and more success each day.
Ty ty! 5 days now! Falling asleep has been difficult, fatigue during the day and the stomach issues have started but I'm still moving FORWARD! Hoping symptoms last less time then some at such a low dose jumping - but if not it's ok - I'm realistic and celebrate each day as a little victory!
Ps. And the symptoms haven't been any worse than some of my difficult tapers so I KNOW I CAN DO THIS!
Stable on .125 mg per day. Been at this dose for about a month - been testing the water so to speak lengthening the hours between .06mg doses 12-24hrs - thinking the jump won't be any harder than some of my tapers at this point (based upon severity of symptoms). 2 more weeks and my crazy work schedule will ease up and then I'm jumping! Just wanted to check in.
3 Comments
Completely off April 7!will be a month feeling good
Completely off April 7!will be a month feeling good
This is awesome! You should be very proud of yourself and all your hard work. Just remember...you need some type of program in place once you're completely done i.e., N/A, A/A, Celebrate Recovery, counseling, something. This helps to ensure we don't end up here again!
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