Switching from 9 months of Meth to Suboxone

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

HAS anyone ever used methadone for opiate addiction treatment and switched to Suboxone? If so, please let me know how your experience was....

I have been at my methadone Clinic since 4/20/2011.

I found a Specialist through my Health Insurance that prescribes Suboxone....I have my FIRST Intake appt at 11 a.m. Tomorrow-Friday January 20th....they want me to be 36 hours off my methadone so On Tuesday, January 24th  when I meet with the doctor I have to be 36  hours without Methadone!!!!..he will then decide what dose of Suboxone to put me on....I will get a script for 3 days worth of  Suboxone ....That will be tuesday then I have to go back Wed, Thurday,Then on Friday I will get what ever amount of days as i wont know until tomorrow how many days. They want to explain all that at my Intake tomorrow.....???
Right Now I am at 25 mg of methadone. I tried to taper but only made it to 20mg back in November. I didn't do well and had them stop the taper and up my dose of Methadone back to the 25mg....Where I AM STUCK and too scared to try again......

So basically I just want to make the switch to Suboxone and begin the detox phase but I don't know if the doctor will allow that?? but I have to do something I can no longer go to this clinic..
I have ALSO  been told Sub is MUCH EASIER to taper from.....?? TRUE? FALSE??
PLEASE let me know if you have been where I'm at now and did the switch from Methadone to Suboxone.....
Thanks in advance!!!!

[bmdad]

The morning seems to always be the worst time for anxiety and symptoms. I think it's because when we are sleeping we don't feel them. It ends up being a big shock to our body and mind once we open our eyes and start feeling again. If you lay there and let your mind adjust to what's going on, or get up and get busy moving, it will take your mind off of things. That initial shock will subside some.

You're doing a great thing here Kim and you will succeed. Remember, Mind Over Matter!

We're here for you whenever you need us.

Hang in there.




Brian

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

Just wanted to UPDATE you ALL....AS I posted I was beginning my taper AGAIN and so far the dose of  20mg Of  Methadone I am doing fine. YES I have Anxiety But  when I feel it as bad as I did this morn when I opened my eyes from a FULL nights Sleep ( yes I had to take a PILL in order to get a full nights sleep---An ambien)  but upon waking I was in a full body sweat, shaking and my anxiety was at an all time HIGH.....But instead of running into my cabinet in my bathroom to take my Xanax I layed in bed and PRAYED for him to lay his hands on me & take these anxiety feelings away or at least give me the Strength to handle them? I prayed from 8 until 8:25....
I wasn't paying attention to the time I just knew I woke at exactly 8 a.m. ....

I then got out of bed along with the wonderful loving greeting I get each morning from my rescue dog I adopted. he kisses me cuddles with me we play and then  we get up to wake the Guys up....
I was fully functional and didn't take my first Xanax until 9:30 and I usually take my afternoon one by 1:00 but I didn't need to until just before typing this up....

Each time I feel anxiety coming on I Stop and PRAY!!!

So there it is everyone....my update on my prognosis.....so far the only issue is Sleep......

Thank you all for your advice your kind words of Encouragement and for just BEING HERE for me......THANK U SO MUCH!!!!

I will continue to update and to all Have a GREAT-SAFE and BLESSED Weekend!!!!
God Bless,
Kim

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

Thank you for that inspirational reply!!! I can't thank all of you enough for such support I am and have recieved from each one of you!!
The old saying God puts people in our lives for a reason is so very true! Brian you are correct I have to stop allowing my mind to hold me back from accomlishing what I know I have the ability to do.....take control of my life just like I did when I began treatment for my addiction to the pain meds....
I "THOUGHT" or had this image of how horrific my intake on 4/20/2011 was gonna be and of course it wasn't!....
NOW I have to let go of the fear of tapering from the very medication that saved my life.
Its time....time for me to live again without the clinic or the daily dosage....
and re think my thought proccess about EVERYTHING just like a child learning to walk I have learned to crawl ...that is for sure......Now its time to get up and WALK!! Walk into this process with a positive attitude and then WALK AWAY.....
thank you ALL you have NO idea how much each one of you have helped me and get ready as I will be chimming in so I am counting on the ones that wrote: WE'RE here for You Kim.......
God Bless to you Brian and congrats on your success your words and your kindness in writting to me.....
Kim

[ricart70]

ditto to bm,what he said   and also it's great that they will let you go down less than 5 mgs.I hear alot of clinics will only let you down in increments of 5 mils.   You can do it.I know you have the strength .Let your faith allow you to use that strength!    Great attitude kim!

[bmdad]

I love your new attitude!! So much of this is mental so a positive attitude is everything. When I was in the Marine Corps one thing they taught us from day one is "Mind Over Matter" or the belief that the mind is more powerful than the body. Before the Marine Corps and before my addiction, I never would've believed. I no longer look at it as a belief but a fact. There isn't anything out there, within reason, that we cannot accomplish and I'd would bet my life on it. If you go into something with a plan of attack, a positive attitude and knowing that failure is not an option, you will succeed. Is it always easy? Of course not, but it is what you make of it. It's all too easy for us to make things seem harder than what it really is. It's often human nature but it doesn't have to be that way. It's up to us.

Have faith in yourself. We all have faith in you and know you will get there in due time. Stick to the plan you described above, stay positive and you will reach that finish line Kim.

Best of luck and if you need anything, please let us know.




Brian

[WantMyLifeBack2010]

thank you for your reply and YES you are so correct....I AM JUST DELAYING the inevitable...No more looking for the "easier way through this" as there IS NONE!!!!
I started the paperwork and I begin my taper once again tomorrow down to 20mg's....I will as Gnarly has EXPRESSED to me many times...to TAKE IT slow...I've come this far....just taper down slow n easy and STOP trying to RUSH through it.....
Which I did do back in November when I tapered from 30mgs after being at that dose for well over 3 weeks, then went down to 25mgs and I FELT SOOOO GOOD I thought "WHat the Heck if I feel THIS good at 25mg then 20 will be a BREEZE...so I tapered within 7 days to the 20mgs and Boy was I WRONG.!!!
That was my mistake....
So i will be on 20mg for at least 14 to 16 days provided I am doing fine I will then decide to go down to 17mg's.....then I  will make my decision as to STOP after being at the  17mg for 14 to 16 days?? AGAIN a decision to make once I am THERE......
for now I am relying on my faith my strength and YOU GUYS as med help has been the best website I have ever been a member of...no body looks down on me for my mistakes or makes me feel like a failure ( I do that all on my own-LOL) you ALL and my ANGEL Gnarly for always ALWAYS checking in on me.....giving me the tools the words of wisdom his experience he is my Guardian ANGEL

Again my thanks to you and all the ones that chimmed in on my post and gave such great advise and made me realize I am READY to do this to stop allowing FEAR to stop me.....and BELEIVE IN MYSELF!!!
THANK YOU THANK YOU!!
Kim -----is ON her Way to the finish line!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!