TAKING SUBOXONE AND WANT TO GET OFF! What is the best way and how bad will I feel?

[KC617]

I have been on suboxone for over 7 years.  before suboxone I was taking zanax, prozac, and oxycotin for at least 3 years. I tried detoxing on my own and it was the worst thing I ever went through.  I heard of suboxone and got into the program and now that is all I take. no more prozac, zanax, or oxy of course.  My life has been normal ever since but in this 7 years I have been constipated and gained a lot of weight.  I now have started a change of life for myself working out at least 4 times a week and eating right but i still only go to the bathroom twice a week if I am lucky.  It is a little better than once a month.  i just know that suboxone has something to do with it. I am just affraid of withdraw again.  I have substituted 3 different pills many times a day to one pill a day is how I am feeling now. I don't want to go back on prozac for depression or zanax for anxiety and definitely not oxy! please help with how you felt getting off of suboxone and the best ways it worked for you!

[KC617]

Thanks for the boost! I am staying strong and working the program!  Also keeping on track with my change of life eating,drinking water, and working out! It just seems like I really have to push myself to continue on. I know my addictive thing is wanting the easy fix but in the long run it what has got me in this position anyways!  Push push push

[EvolverU]

Listen to your Dr.! It takes a while for your body to adjust to the drops -- to stabilize. You have to give the Suboxone time to leach from your tissues. If you drop too quickly without stabilizing, the withdrawals will be more severe. Please, hydrate, hydrate, hydrate! Take your vitamins. Try to stay away from sugar, alcohol, caffeine, fried & junk food. (They tend to slow detox & impede healing).

Btw, constipation is most Definitely a side-effect of the Bupe! It should get better as you withdraw.

Keep up the great work! You can do this! :)

[KC617]

i am taking 2.5mgs my doc wants me to stay at this mg for at least 2 months but i just feel if the dose isnt too bad why not go a little lower, but i am listening so i have been on 2.5 mgs for almost a month so one more month and i will go down to 2mgs then i guess .5 less every 6 weeks to 2 months.  i guess it is a slow process and hear the success rate with the slow process is better than the quick taper.  i am hanging in there and happy with my success so far!

[motye51]

It is a beast....but you must keep pushing!  So your at around 2.5 mg x3 or x2?  Keep hydrated, keep EATING (even if you have to force yourself), keep taking vitamins and don't drop too fast!  The longer you can space it out the better!  Glad to hear you're still on target!

[motye51]

A little tired is to be expected, but keep pushing yourself forward....don't try to jump too soon. Remember, it takes a couple of days for sub w/d to really kick in, so keep that taper slow and steady!  Keep checking in and letting us know how you are doing.
Best of Luck...

[KC617]

It has been a bit since i checked in i am now cutting 8mg strips into thirds instead of half.  I am finding watery eyes and yawning too much. keep wanting to go back to half but am pushing through as of now.

[spookyxmulder]

It is a nightmare. I have been on it for 18 months at 8mg and I got cold sweats and hot flashes and nausea and crazy, vivid nightmares. Be careful

[Smalltownmom]

Im not sure about the steps and your sponsor. You will have to find out about that. I read on here that you can work the steps as many times as you want. I saw my doc every two weeks. When I first started tapering we did 4 mgs every month until I got down til about 2 mgs. That's when I would really feel the drops. I tried stopping at 2 but couldn't handle it. Then he dropped me .5 every two weeks. Something on that idea. How much are you on?

[KC617]

4mg

[KC617]

I have went from 12mg to 4mg in about 6 weeks. I am now trying to split the 4mg to twice a day and only take the second 2 mg if I really need it. Today is my 1st day doing that. I am starting to feel more tired but I still am working out 3-4times a week and trying to stay positive.

[atthebeach]

Hello and welcome. How many mgs of suboxone are you on?
Slow and steady is the best way.

[KC617]

right now 4mg started at 16mg was on12mg for a long time.

[Smalltownmom]

I would say about three weeks i could notice a difference. The lowest you can go the better. I prob could've gone down to .25 but I just wanted to be done with it. I had the 2mg strips so after cutting those into tiny cut slivers i was all set. Half the time I don't even think it dissolved under my tongue. Probably got stuck to my back tooth or something. The physical part will be over before you know it but around here they push aftercare which i agree is key to keeping up your recover. NA/AA meetings things like that. I see an addiction counselor twice a week. Shes great! Feel free to ask anything you want!

[KC617]

Thanks again. Also how long between each drop of mg did you go? I only see my doc once a month. I do go to meetings and have a sponsor and worked all the steps I am wondering if I will have to start that all over again.

[Smalltownmom]

Oh one more thing. I lost 30 lbs in the first two months. My primary told me it defiantly was the suboxone.

[KC617]

Thanks for sharing your experience... how long did you actually feel like complete crap? my doc said we would taper all the way to .08 is that possible that just seems like a too little to even bother?

[motye51]

Finally, maybe you have a sub doctor that knows his ****? You must taper off subs slowly and yes, get to less than .25mg to avoid long w/d. You might still feel a little uncomfortable for a couple of days, but long, slow, steady taper is how you get off of subs.

[Smalltownmom]

Hi I'm a little over four months from a sub taper. Was on16mgs for a years. I couldn't go c/t from oxy. I did slow taper for about 9 months down to .5 mgs. My doc assured me I would have no wds. I mustve been one of the unlucky ones... After the last dose it took a good 10-14 days for my symptoms to get bad. Probably not as bad as someone stopping at a higher dose, but it hurt. I ended up getting emergenc, magnesium and potassium supplements used immodium and drank as much water as my stomach would take. I did end up in ER because of dehydration so please make sure you drink drink drink! I took Epsoms salt baths which helped and also kept my legs lathered in icy hot with a heating pad for chills and RLS. A lot of people have different ways to help with they symptoms. Everyone is different. I would definitely talk to your doc about a very slow taper. Looking back four months ago I didn't think I could handle it but here I am. Keep posting and when you decide to get off the sub for good you will be so much happier. Suboxone has it'd downfalls and I agree it should be used as an aide for those that can't c/t. Your sleep will probably be interrupted as some people cant sleep at alI. I take trazadone so that helped me fall asleep but I woke up off and on all night. I sleep fine now. You will have to be strong, have lots of patience, and give yourself time. It's not going to go away over night. I hope this helps you. I hope others add some other things that worked for them.