What to do...

[Paulie320]

Good afternoon everyone! Well first off let me say that I feel great! I have no urges for anything and last week I asked my Dr. about lowering my suboxin intake. The first time I posted on here I had some great advice given to me and I appreciate it! Now I have another problem... My Dr. told me when he feels i'm ready is when he will lower the dosage (right now i'm on 24mg a day) But my question is, shouldn't it be when I feel i'm ready? I mean I am the one going thru this and honestly I feel i'm ready to start tapering off. I put my wife thru alot and I want to show her that I am changing back into the man I used to be before I got addicted to pain meds, But more importantly I want to show myself! Because in reality I want it more than anything, the feeling of being clean. And let's all be honest, if we didn't want that for ourselves..well what are we doing here? So if anyone can help me out I would appreciate it! Thanx and Godbless!!

[Paulie320]

Let me give you a rundown... About 20 months ago I messed up my shoulder..the doc put me on percs...about 14 months ago I cracked my kneecap..the Dr put me on 10 mg percs and oxy's 20 mg. I have been on them nonstop up until I found subs (around 1 1/2 months ago) I knew I was addicted because if I didnt have them I would get sick and so I started buying them off people. The more I took the more I wanted! Before all of that I have never been addicted to anything! I do want to be clean But I want to do it the right way..I talk to my church elders everyday and I am joining a 12 step program thru church to help with my aftercare.

[wait2long]

well a lot depends on this. i understand wanting to prove to everyone and yourself that you can do this and you have beat it...but my first question is, what have you done or what are you going to do for aftercare so you can look at staying clean for he long term? because thats what we want...long term success, and in my opinion, this cant be accomplished alone.  i dont know your history with addiction...so i am speaking in general here... but once your off the sub, it will still be difficult and you will need help more then, than you do now... in all honesty maybe your doctor put you on a longer term plan because your addiction was long term or on the severe side?   i dont know this as fact,...i transitioned from methadone to suboxone and was on 32 mgs a day, i am now down to 6 mgs, but i CHOSE long term because my addiction was severe and long running.  and my sub doc demands therapy and i have learned a lot about myself and how to deal with any triggers, cravings and most of all stress, and i have made changes for the better that are lifelong changes...but IF you feel your ready, then you should tell your doctor, be blunt and say i want to start my taper now...its been a blessing for me and i am confident i will be ok...if you ever want to chat, shoot me a PM.  and good luck to you...but def look into some aftercare to make the changes necessary for long term success, its a long road, but will be worth it and better than going it alone.

[Paulie320]

Ok now im confused lol. I have been on 24 mgs for about 2 months..NO ONE told me aabout this 21 day program! WTF! I am so tired of pills, I wanted to quite oxy's and percs cold but I knew I was lying to myself and I couldn't do it, so I found out about subs and decided to take that route. I wish I knew about that 21 day thing..but whatever, I want to start going down but my wife thinks I should listen to the Dr. Need some advice people...now my day went from great to what should I do?? ya know?

[ochooked]

Sub W/D is much better than W/D's from the opiates as far as physical effects.   Listen to the majority of people on this site when you do decide to get off your DOC and onto Sub.   You may still have some W/D's but the neat thing about Sub is it lets you choose when you need to be 'normal.'   The 21 day plan is by far the best way - although I recognize that since some have been on Heroin or Methadone, it may not be possible for them.  I highly recommend letting your own body decide how much sub you need - - and I think most doctors really over prescribe it  -- for your addiction, only about 2 mg twice a day should keep you out of W/D's and then start to decrease that to a crumb.  Best to you.

[vicopsycho]

What are the symptoms of sub withdrawal?  I'm pregnant right now and was advised to stay on my pain meds for various reasons (at least until baby is born)  But I'm seriously cosidering sub when the pregancy is over because It's been 6 years of bull **** and I'm just ready to have my life back!

[flmagi]

The sub doctors will try to keep you at higher doses for a long time. They all do it. More money for them.  You don't need your doctors approval to start coming down but you don't want to **** them off either or they'll throw you out of the program. So start to reduce your dose slowly and don't tell him. Stock pile your extra sub so that someday you can stop going to the doctor and will have enough to tapper off of yourself. Save money.  24 mgs is a high dose. You should get down to a maintenance level of 2-4 mgs in the first 21 days. If you have already passed that point, yes start getting down on your dose quick. It will be so much easier in the long run. If you don't get down to a low dose soon, you'll be on this stuff for years.

[ochooked]

Hi Paulie320;   I hate to disagree with your doctor but I totally agree that coming off of Sub should be when and as YOU can tolerate it.   I stayed on Sub for 3 weeks and finally got down to that proverbial 'crumb' - - - Let me tell you -   coming off of Sub is no picnic so I totally agree that you need to start descending as soon as you can.   O.K.  I know someone will disagree with me  - but I am telling you what I experienced - - Sub will kick your butt when you want off.   I saw a term for it the other day on here --- a doctor called it the "Suboxone Spanking" and it is rough.   All the best to you.

[Mandapanda17]

I would say that it should be when YOU feel like you're ready...24mg is quite a bit of sub, from what I've read.. how long do you plan on being on the sub? and then the question is how long does the doctor plan on having you on sub? glad you're feeling good!!