Day 26 off Subs and things are improving

[sw9281]

I am starting to feel sharp again! I was on percs for 5 yrs followed by a 64 day Sub taper period. Not 100% but thinking I need to get out and start looking for work in about 2 weeks if this trend of improvement stays on track. For this success I thank so many of you who take the time to respond to others in need. I don't know you but you are my friends.

My continued advice is that Subs can and do work, but they are being sold by a consumer goods products company who only teach Doctors how the Drug works and how they should dispense it. The Drs. are not being taught much if anything about what we all go thru on w/d. Please take the time before you start Subs and know what the likely side effects are. That way they will not surprise you and you will have a plan of attack before w/d symptoms appear. Please take time and do research (on this board) and talk to your doctor their knowledge of Sub w/d. Try to find a Dr. that is well versed in the w/d process and will properly prepare you.

Lastly before you start with your Doctor, understand the taper period. Too many people walk away from the 1st visit with an RX in their hand and being told you can be on this for years or life.Sounds great at the time after what we have been through. Everyone is different but please have some plan of getting off these babies when you start. You may not know for sure how long you will need to be on them or what the exact taper period is when you start the program, but I believe the Drs are not being taught enough about getting us off Subs at the proper time. The longer you stay on subs........ you know the rest of my story by now.

I hope I have helped some folks over the last few weeks. Subs are going generic in America and it scares me as there likely be little or no education provided once the manufacturer loses its patent. There is not enough educution now. I hope the FDA knows what they are doing.   - Steve

[worried878]

great post..very informative and much needed on the forum

[rod05]

Hi This is how it worked for me. The short story...

Tramadol 4 years for back pain .Tried once seriosly to get off it had no plan no real idea just the doc said take a little less each week..

I was on 2 50mg morn and 2 50 mg at night so not a big dose but I won't go into the size of dose issue cause i dont think it matters if you put it in % the end result we all want is 0%...

Anyway.   I went and tried to taper slowly but it just wasn't for me i was just going to take 3 to 6 months and be in withdrawals the whole time cause i couldn't handle it the taper..

So it got to the stage where i decided I need help I can't do this myself. So found my local rehab place a out patient place and booked myself in..I didn't really think I had a problem but my partner did and she was correct i was too into my tram too see anything..

They took control of my durgs I had to go without Tramal for 20 hours which was crazy then I went to the clinic..

And they started me on Subutex i stayed there most of the morning.. I took a small amount at 9 am went back 1 hour later took some more then went back 2 hours later and my pain was under control so they decided that was the amount i was to start on and within 21 days i would be tapered of it and be on nothing...And thats what happened....

This is the short version sorry....

My point is they took control I could only get Subutex from the pharmacy once a day and i had to take it in front of them then home i went and just distracted myself with exercise reading and anything i could find to keep myself going..

I will admit if i had control I wouldn't of done it in 21 days more like 2 months cause my mind would of tricked me into saying I will taper my dose tmrw  and we all know tmrw never comes...

failing to plan is planning to fail.....  Sorry but that is so true...

And here i am day 24 now and I got 4 hours sleep last night I normally get about 2 but last was 4 so unreal maybe tonight will be 2 again but i know it will all pass ( there was a guy on the forum before 1 year drug free and reading that was really good for me)

Sorry I don't know your family situation.. But you need support maybe someone to come and live with you for 6 to 8 weeks and help you with everything...6 weeks is a very short time compared with the rest of your life..

1 year from now you could be writing your success story on here...

Remember this is just my story Everyone is different cause believe me I said to them many a time when will this end how long how bad will the W.Ds be and there answer to all my ?s was everyone is very individual we find no 2 people are the same..

There a light at the end of the tunnel and it's not train....That's what they said....another thing they had a 24 hr phone service and i could call anytime and ask for some advice and having that helped lots...

I still can't believe how serious this all is...You see it on tv and you think that looks crazy and thats how it is (For me anyway)  who knows you could be  a person who after 5 days is back on top of everything...

The bad thing for me was the 4 years of pumping tram into my body...

Good luck and send me any ?s you want going to bed now so will answer in the morning..

Remember everyone is different

you Can you send me some more info about everything if you like... hope to hear from you and in 6 months time this will be all old news

[wings444]

I was saying in another post that Ive suffered from RLS for 20 years weather Im on other drugs or not. My doctor had no idea about it which made me so mad, so she sent me to a specialist and Im now on Mirapex, I never ever get RLS when I take even a small does of that. I cant believe Im finally free of that. Its one thing to withdrawl and detox, but when you cant lay still its makes thing so much worse. Trust me this works and Im pretty sure that its not anyway connected with any opiots or anything like that. Im not a doctor but this has worked for me.

[sw9281]

Subs work - make sure you have a dr that has expeience getting you to the finish line, not only writting the rxs, The 8 hour course that the Drs must take is not enough for them to go beyond basic knowledgeand dispensing the Subs. There is no finanacial interest for the manufacturer for you to get off subs sooner than later so do the leg work and start with a Dr. that can talk intelligently and detailed about both the taper and w/d periods. There are some out there, and they should be congratulated for taking the extra steps in learning the full cycle, not just getting you started on Subs.

I did not do this and unfortunately I learned 1st hand and from this board. I want to help as many as I can avoid what I went thru becuase my Dr only had partial knowledge of the cycle we go thru. If I had cancer the dr would not administer chemo and walk away from me. But I am afraid that is what happens with this way too often. DO THE LEGWORK UPFRONT AND GET THE RIGHT DR and or PROGRAM TO GIVE YOU THE HIGHEST CHANCE TO BE SUCCESSFUL.

[candothis247]

Thanks for sharing your success on 26 days off subs that is awesome that you're off of those. I'm still on the slow wean off oxycontin; I think I will reduce my dose every 21 days. I'm trying to do this without suboxone. Like lifespercs said, I’ve read so many horrible things about getting off suboxone (some good things too), but, I don’t want to trade monkeys.... IF, I do suboxone, I have decided to do 1 mg, slivers and pieces towards the very end of my taper for 1 or 2 weeks and be done with it... Or not use it at all.   So glad you peeps are here!

[lifespercs]

So, this is one of the few that I have read that actually promotes the suboxone program, in moderation is the drift i'm getting right??  Here's the deal, I would much rather have a better way than pretty much c/t.  But after I read all of the negative things about suboxone on here, it kind of freaked me out. The whole new monkey on my back didn't sound so appealing. I had a close friend who went to a suboxone program in our area, who didn't seem to have too much withdrawl. It seems to me that if you don't get sucked into the idea that it takes as around the same amount of time to get off suboxone as you were on the opiates, one would prabably  be okay??  So I'm toally trying the Thomas Recipie but with little luck.  What are your thoughts??  Should I make the call to the suboxone Doc that I know of?? I have three young children.  Folks on here say I should ship to the inlaws for a week, but not possible, they have a life too.  Hmmm day too and just curioius. Good for you for making it this far.   Keep up the good work.  Hope I can do the same.:)

[cattalina]

Completely agree with you - sub does work, it's the medical community and lack of appropriate knowledge that provides the interference. You gave great advice, hopefully people take it. Big congrats on 26 days!! That's awsome, and it gives people hope that there is life after sub. Keep doing what you're doing!!

[mom_of_two136]

I just wanted to give you a shout out. Thanks for sharing your experience. I agree that one of the main problems with this drug is how little information is shared with the patients. I am very fortunate in that way. I started out with a good doctor ( I thought) but he basically told me that under 6mg any symptom I had after stopping is all in my head. Fortunatley, I found another doctor who I have been with for the last two months. She is awesome with tons of experience with suboxone. I feel like I am in good hands but I will continue to learn as much as I can. I am really glad you are doing well.
Best Wishes and God Bless

[rod05]

hi well done I am on day 23 clean was on tram for 4 years and last night was the first night i got 4 hours sleep all in one go..I have been getting about 2 hrs a night did you have trouble with RLS cause that's been my big problem it happens in my arms sometimes too..

.The rehab place i went to they were really good with the taper and started me of at a real low dose then worked at reducing it over 21 days I can't believe some people are given such a massive dose of Subutex at the start then they go oh I think thats too much.. Wouldn't they be lots better to give a little and then a hour later a bit more to they work out what amount they should be on...Or is this not possible...

Good luck with everything especially the finding work part..

well done