Starting suboxone on Monday - can I take?

[JENN5]

Something to help while I go through the withdrawal period - the time before I see the doc.  So I'm talking Sunday night and Monday.  I have Ativan and I also have Valium.  I talked to the nurse briefly and tried to call today but they are closed.  I asked her if I can take a sleeping aide and she said yes anything that does not contain opiates.  However, I've been reading and reading about suboxone - withdrawal - you name it (the past few days - ever since I was brave enough to make the decision to get off my norcos) and it says see a doctor and be careful about taking these other meds.  So now I'm unsure.  Maybe I can take them but just not once I start the suboxone.  Not sure.  So my first question:  CAN I TAKE ATIVAN OR VALIUM OR SOMETHING SIMILAR TO HELP ME THROUGH THE WITHDRAWAL PERIOD?

Also, the nurse said I have to wait 24 hours before I come in and see the doc and take the meds - so that I'm in withdrawal.  Know what withdrawal is like I am TERRIFIED.  So I was thinking I'm supposed to stop the meds at 2pm on Sunday for my doc appt at 2pm on Monday.  I'm wondering if instead I can stop at around 6 instead. Meaning I would be off for 20 hours instead of 24.  My thinking - research shows the methadone and heroin etc stay in longer but norco not as long.  So maybe they are just being safe by having the 24 hours directions.  I wonder if I can get away with only being off for 18-20 hours.  It would be so much easier I think and anyway I would still be going through withdrawal by 2pm on Monday cuz I start feeling bad after only a few hours of not taking anything.  But I dont want to get really sick either if I take the sub and it's not been long enough.  SO GETTING OFF NORCOS DOES IT REALLY HAVE TO BE A FULL 24 HOURS OR CAN IT BE A LITTLE LESS TIME FOR THE WITHDRAWAL?

[Gobig]

Methadone - longer half life - learned that the hard way.  The "dolph" comes from Adolf - twisted roots that drug has - but it certainly helped the week I needed it before getting a sub. doc.  12 hours or more off of Norco, and you'll be fine.  The Dr. will look at your eyes and be able to tell where you're at.

[JENN5]

What is dolphine?  that's what I'm afraid of I dont want to take the sleep aids go there and have them say no!  The nurse said you can take sleep aides if it's not an opiate but I wonder...I'm hesitant.  I've been looking online for hours now..

[Gobig]

I went to the doc. 12 hours, like the said, after my last dose, and when I got there, after telling them I was on dolphine for a week, then made me wait one extra day - ouch!

[JENN5]

I have taken ativan in the past but only once in a while.  the valium I got 5 of them from a friend in case I needed them.  So i'm not used to taking them.  Iknow the last time I went through withdrawal I took ativans to help sleep.  So I'm thinking it's not safe to take them while I'm on sub but to take them before I hope would be safe...

[kyjobr]

I don't know about the 16mg minimum to take away cravings.  I was fine with 4mg and many people take way under 16mg.  I think it all depends on the person and the goal is to take the smallest amount that takes away w/d and cravings.  

[notmenow!]

HELLO JEN, I am on suboxone. When I started the induction about 12 hrs after my last dose as my pain management dr was putting me on suboxone maintenance as I had back surgery to alleviate 70% of the pain. Prior to that I was on 120mg of Oxycontin and 80mg  of Norco a day. So she told me not to use anything after 9pm. The induction was done with subutex which has no naloxone in it. This way I would not have a reaction just in case there was too much opiates on my receptors. I used the subutex for 3 days then switched over to suboxone which comes in 8/2mg which contains 8
mgs of suboxone and 2mgs of naloxone which is a opiate antagonist. It's in the suboxone as a safety feature in case someone is crazy enough to try and inject the drug they would go into instant withdrawal. When taken the correct way very little gets into the blood. Did the Dr's office ask if you took benzo's as the combination of the two can cause death. That's what the literature claims. I asked my dr about this claim and she said only if you have no tolerance to benzo's otherwise less than 2mg of xanax is safe or 10mg Valium twice daily. So find out if this dr allows benzo's. Don't volunteer any info. Do you take a benzo every day? You need at least 16mg of suboxone to take away the cravings. You may have mild headaches and mild nausea for the first week until the body adjusts to the drug. I going on six months and every day has been like the old days.
Good Luck--Noah