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Suboxone-want off Now-Please help

I have been taking Sub for 6 days now 8mg tabs twice a day and I want to stop taking them now. All they do is make me sleepy and moody.  After taking the last dose at 5pm today, how long will it take for this stuff to be out of my system.  I know the opiates or vics are now gone, but how long for the Sub to be gone from my body and can I take anything to speed up the process, like drink cranberry juice or something?  Will I feel horrible withdrawls from the Sub?-
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1801781 tn?1461629469
Hon, this is the right forum.  However you posted on an old thread and your support may be there.  Go up to the top and click on the orange ask a question button.  Copy and paste this post and it will start a new thead.  That way you wont be missed and will get the help you need.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I have been a user for the best part of forty years and about two years ago I was introduced to Suboxone and I must say that was an easy kick from The Big H(heroin). I have gotten down to a half a tablet(4mgs) daily and want to quit completely. My Doctor is a real taskmaster and is NOT REALISTIC. Just last week I dropped a hot U.A. on his office. I got busted for Pot and for taking Two Tablespoons of cough syrup. I deserved to be called on this, but he does not consider what damage 40yrs. of usage has done to me physically. My next move is to quit completely(ALL OPIATES) AND THIS INCLUDES SUBS.I have to quit as I an pushing 60yrs.old and NEED to stop using altogether as life is too short for this ********.
Helpful - 0
1406964 tn?1283203866
Hi,

Really sorry, but the site guidelines don't allow us to discuss drug testing issues. Serum and plasma tests are the same though. If you google drug testing, you'll soon find the info you want.

Best wishes
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
i have been a suboxone user for 2 years. i really believe its more difficult to stop subs than pain pills the half lie is tough and the mental addiction is worse than anything. the way i stopped was to go back to Loratabs 10 mg.
i took 1 a day for two weeks after subs and now i am scot free. you have to decide a you are ready and b you are willing. i tapered down from 1 8 a day to a crumb of a 2 a day to a crumb twice a week so on so forth.

Good Luck!
Helpful - 0
1285170 tn?1271675382
hey everyone I am a recovering heroin addict. life was horrible and I honestly thought I would die high on heroin.Started snorting heroin 2 years ago.Nobody starts off having a problem after a year and a half of snorting it I started to shoot it.Got to the point where i'd shoot at least 2 grams (by myself) a day.On a good day I would shoot as many as 4 grams a day.Thought I would die on heroin for sure.When i woke up in the morning I wanted to go from being sick to pukin and falling asleep high.Thats not easy though when you have a tolerance like I did.Just got on subs 4 months ago and at first I would eat up to 6 subs a day.Now though I am already down to half in the morning and a half at night.Subs definately have there downsides (constipation,sleeping to much,feel like a zombie,withdrawls) but this drug is a miracle and it saved my life.The withdrawls from subs isnt to bad.The hardest part is only sleeping for 2 hours a night.People need to understand that subs arent meant for short term use.You must taper down over a 6 to 9 month period.No less.You will relapse if you dont give yourself enough time.Also remember if your doing oxys or percs or vikes etc etc start off eating a half in the morning half at night or quarter morning quarter night.Suboxone has a drug called Buprenorphine in it and its 4 times stronger then morphine.So be careful and whatever you do dont mix other drugs into your sub use.GOOD LUCK
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Monday morning 7am and haven't taken any suboxone yet, I'm feeling ok so far we will see how the day pans out.  I've taken some B6 complex and green tea capsules, hope this helps with energy today. I will be doing the Amino Acids today. Thanks for all the support and advise.  i haven't been clean in years looking forward to a success story  
Helpful - 0
990521 tn?1311906308
Hi Always,

Check out the Amino Acid Protocol in the Health Pages at the top right of the page.  There are some good supplements that you can take to help get the brain chemistry reset - they will also help you to feel a little better.  The B Complex is great for energy.  I think you have a good plan by taking only what you need rather that the huge dose you were on, this will be over before you know it.  I hit six months off sub and hydro this past week and it feels great.  It took me about 5 weeks after detox to start to feel normal, but everyone is different - I did not feel crappy that whole time either, so hang in there.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Thanks for all the feed back it has helped me out tremendously.  I am in my middle 30's and don't want to be a pill popper the rest of my life, there is so much life to live without having to be hooked on this stuff. I'm looking forward to the rest of my life, just dealing with all this metal in my back, which by the way makes me feel bionic.  The rehab i went to was a complete joke, i mainly went in for the medical detox part, considering I had a bad experience trying to detox on my own cold turkey and haven't been strong enough to taper down on my DOC.  I didn't get much info on where to go for after care or AA/NA I will try looking that up during the week.  I just hate the way I feel right now, i feel like my blood is filled with junk it doesn't need.  I really just want to be "clean" inside blood, organs and all.  I didn't take any SUB today but then again it's only 11am sunday morning.  I wont take any today or 2morrw I will see have I feel then, If I need I'll take just a little bit (2mgs) 2mrw if I feel aweful, but my plan is to not take any at all.  Is there any vitiamins that will help me get my brain funct normal or back to normal, currently I'm taking B complex .  I know I've depleated some of those important brain chemicals I want to begin building those back up
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
It sounds like u have a greatplan..curious..how old r u?  I get the feeling u r probably older..not in ur 20s..just by the way u write and phrase urself in ur posts

I just know that this can be done....playing it by ear will help..u may be able to jump off 16 mgs a day without difficulty since u have only been on it 6 days...then again u may not....ur dose may be a bit high even for 250-300 mgs of hydro as in the narcotic spectrum is among the weaker narcs..but it is very addicting due to its short half life/hits quicker than alot of drugs and is a 4-6 hour drug

A friend went on sub..she was an oxy user but when she went in she had been tapering alot a relapsing..altho at her height of use she would take up to 200 mgs of oxy, when she actually went on sub her dose was upp and down..anyway they put her on 16 mgs of sub...she was sick and couldnt hardly move...as the days went by she took no more and the effects were gone by 72 hours and she was ok...she didnt use anymore sub after that..I am not sure what happened as I havent heard from her..she was someone i met on here from fla.

Talk to ur dr..but u said the clinic/rehab put u on sub..do u have a "go to" person there? U r the one who knows how u feel...u will probably feel better for a few days as ur sublevel goes down cos perhaps ur dose was a bit high..after the 3 days u may feel a bit bad or u may not...again 6 days is not a long time...and if u were at a lower dose id say..let it go and stick it out since u have a plan to stay clean and it sounds as if u want this badly..at 16 mgs i would play it by ear...take a piece//small piece if u have to...2-4 mgs and if u dont have to then dont...but again contacting the clinic that put u on it is a good idea...if u have an assigned dr then he needs to know what is going on with u..he can also help with safe supps and meds to help if u r uncomfortable...

read thru the health pages..there r lots of articles on sub..read and learn...and it sounds like u have a PLAN!  u will do this come tide or high water..feel it in my bones..u r welcome to pm me if u want to

Laura
Helpful - 0
990521 tn?1311906308
You are in a challenging spot right now.  Suboxone is very strong and 16 mg does seem a bit high, but not at first anyway for the dose of hydro that you were on.  I took sub for years and you are right, it can make you very sleepy, especially later in the day.  It can make you irritable too.  Take the advise of worried and corey - they are correct.  Don't jump off the sub suddenly because you will experience withdrawal and you will have cravings too.  Take it slow - you can start by dosing only once per day - sub last a long time and there is no need to dose twice daily.  Work with your doctor on a taper program - you can taper from sub fairly quickly if you have not been taking it long term.  You  should be able to drop to half your dose fairly easily, then once you are stable on 8mg, you will want to start dropping a little slower.  Your doc can help you with this.  Get into an aftercare program - at this stage of recovery, it is so easy to get lost and relapse.  Keep posting, we are here to support you.
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
I really think finding a meeting near u will help..can u go to just one?  I depend on this site for most of my aftercare almost 2 yrs post..but during the crucial time i went to meetings whenever i could..they r everywhere/at all different times..and they r free..i urge u to find one..posting here is good...but meetings can be a bit better

at this point i would take only 8 mgws tomorrow...people take sub twice daily to substitue their habit for taking pills..in reality sub would last 2 days//maybe 3 once it is built up in ur system..16 mgs a day is definitely built up......then i would go on down to 4...then 2...then 1 and get off by a week from now..that is me but u need to ask ur dr..flush the subs u do not need when u make ur plan...did u get these subs off the street?  if u did just let us know...nuttin shocks us!  we all have been there and done that!
AND U CAN DO THIS!  COS U WANT TO DO THIS!
Laura
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I went on the pain pills cuz of back surgery had four levels done and got physically depen on the pills, but then again i liked the way I felt when i was high, but hated myself at the same time.  It was great not have to really "deal" with the pressures of life and when I lost my Job "do to the recession" (cut backs) it gave me an excuse to stay home and be high all the time.  A month ago i made the final decision to get off the vics and ended up in the hospital cuz I go soooooooooo sick, I was in the hospital for 3 days and they just pumped me up with moriphine and gave me a script of percs for pain.  I finally went into a med detox program stayed 2 days and they released me with a script of suboxone.  They left it up to me to find a aftercare program, which right now i am only coming to this site for help.  But I do want to seriously get off this stuff, I am starting classes here at the local University in Jan-10 and want to get my life back (have 1 year left to finish degree) been putting it off for years.  So far I have no major pain none that require the use of opiates, I just want my freedom back, my life back and myself back.  I don't want Subs a part of my life nor pain meds.  My plan to stay clean is keep myself busy, achieve my daily goals (every day no drugs) take one day at a time, writing in my journal daily of my daily success and keep posting and get support online.  I do plan on going to the gym daily even if its just to sit in the hot tub and keep myself involved with my church and talk over my weaknesses with my pastor and God. Thanks for all your advise and help---pray for me as well.  

72 hours and the Subs should slowly subside as well the opiate cravings?  I understand I will suffer from cravings for along time, but that is when I'll get on my knees and ask for strength and come here and post for support and help.  I know I can't do this on my own, but I know I can DO IT !!
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
Corey is very knowledgable as she has been posting here and reading for a long time...what about that new years bet corey?  LOL

WD from a dose of 200 to 300 mgs is substantial...16 mgs of sub may have been warranted..the tylenol itself in doses that high can be toxic...good thing u got off

A taper schedule from ur dr is the best way to go..some of them/the sub doctors/ are not near as interested in getting u Off of sub as they r in getting u On sub/many make alot of money off an addict's misery

It is required that a sub dr send u to some type of aftercare//any good su dr would be doing so..has he recommended a program or meetings for u as far as aftercare goes?

Sub can help u skip physical wd from ur doc..it can not make u clean..as corey mentioned,,the mental aftermath is yet to hit u..and that is w2hat causes relapse more often than physical wd....aftercare and hard work is the only way to make it to cleandom with or without sub ..AA has a saying/90 meetings in 90 days/there is a physical, mental theory behind this saying...90 days is the approximate time the brain needs to heal and begin making the amount of endorphins u mneed to combat the fatigue and depression that the mental aftermath can bring

The half life of sub is long...it will be 48-72 hours before most feel the lack of narcotics in their body post sub use..usually 72 hours..now as far as a blood test specific for sub ..this I do not know...but the effects will be gone within 72 hours as a rule..but we r all different

I have taken it off and on when using when i was out of pills//to avoid feeling bad tho...not for the right reasons,,,did so off and on for over a year/unlike some i got an nrg buzz off of them..I did notice my tolence grew...even tho i wasnt on them continously....maybe a week or 2 5-6 times a year..at first 2 mgs did the trick//even 1 mg really...the last time i used them for a few weeks 8 mgs was not a biggie..suboxone is a narcotic/tolerence will grow and they canbecome a new DOC

If u feel u will relapse then a slow taper to hold u thru wile u do work on staying clean may be a good idea..jumping off just to relapse is not a good idea..most do not feel much of a diff getting down to 4 mgs..many do not until 2 mgs...then it gets tougher for many//this is long term users//u r probably not addicted to sub yet....so it should not be hard to get off..but r u ready?  talking with ur dr is the best thing to do

what is ur plan to stay clean?

Laura
Helpful - 0
452063 tn?1324074916
Your withdrawal is not over when the drug is out of your system. It takes 4-7 days to detox and months to feel like yourself again. This is why it is so important to have support.  It is best to use Sub under a doctors care and get a taper schedule. Best of luck to you in your recovery.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I was on vics or hydros 10/325 for over 2 years and was taking up to 25-30 a day for the last 6 months. Yeah I went on the Subs to help with the W/D and to help stop taking these damn pills. The first couple days the Subs helped but the last two days I've been just real sleepy and moody. how long does it take for the Sub to out of my system?
Helpful - 0
401095 tn?1351391770
what was ur dose of vikes?  that is an awful lot of sub for vike wd.....up to 100 mgs of hydro a day can be covered as a rule by 2 mgs of sub....16 mgs is enuf to cober a bu11load of hydrocone...way more that I would think u were on

getting off now would be a very good idea..u are in the midst of getting urself into deep doo doo over a hydro habit....Your sub Doctor should help u with this..have u asked him/her?

6 days is well under the 21 day mark but 16 mgs is alot to just stop...but not sure as most who use it to ease wds take 4 mgs or less for a week or 2....ask ur dr and play it by ear....the sooner u get off the better so u do not have another wd to go thru while trying to avoid hydro wd....u r probably on way to high of a dose and is often why peeps feel sleepy....but always best to ask ur dr...be safe
Helpful - 0
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