thoses who are/have been on suboxone

[BeyondScrewed]

I knew I had a question!! Now i remember. I did find 1 Dr who does suboxone therapy that i wouldnt have to take so much time off of work. I think i am going to make an appt to go speak with him next week. what scares me so much is that i have heard and read so many horror stories about suboxone W/D's being even worse than the drugs one needed to get off of in the 1st place. when i talked to the lady at the Dr office she said no way that was true. the only way she could think of that would be true is if someone was taking themselves off of suboxone and not following the Dr's directions. I would love to hear from anyone who is in the middle of tapering off or who has succesfully used suboxone for detox and then managed to detox from the suboxone itself. Please be truthfull. im hoping to hear more good than bad because at this point, i dont think i have many options left. ive managed to as of yet not COMPLETELY ruin my life, and would like to keep it that way. but if i keep going the way im going i dont see that happening.  Thank you all again. You all and this site has been a Godsend to me.

[LisaHarvey7]

To be completely honest, I try to not recommend Suboxone either, just becuase of the misrepresentation that it is a "miracle easy way out". But for me, it was definitely the change that I needed.

I didn't have a huge habit, but I was still an addict. When I first started Suboxone I questioned (too late obviously) whether it was the right thing to do because I heard alot of people say that unless you are on heroin, it wasn't a good move. I also didn't take Tons of pills per day, but my DOC was Percocet and an addiction is an addiction. To get to my point, alot of people said I was crazy to pass up a 5 day bad withdrawal for a drawn out "horrible" one of Suboxone.

I stayed on the Suboxone for two years. Sure I could have gone through the Percocet withdrawal, but I knew it wouldn't last, because I knew I wasn't in the place at that time to turn down a pill. But I knew I had the desire to quit. Suboxone allowed me the time to find my coping skills, my triggers, my true desire to be pill free and to really have a plan.  

Looking back, I'm so glad I went with my decision to take Suboxone. I have been off of Suboxone since November 19, 2010. The key to getting off of it was to follow a taper plan and to stick to it. When I compare it to the withdrawal of Percocet I would rather deal with what I dealt with coming off of the Suboxone, but again, it was a gradual taper. Without having insurance, it sure was VERY expensive from paying for the doctor visit each month to paying 11$ per pill. But that cost was nothing for getting my life back and getting the chase, the counting, the paranoia, the stealing, the lying, allll of that out of my life.

So after I've written a novel, what I'd like to tell you is that it isn't for everyone. But it is a life saver for some of us. I hope you make the decision best for you and I wish you luck.

[optimus22mac]

I was not aware that you had this post also, so I answered on your other post...so I hope you see it:)

[weaver71]

Hey, glad you found a good doctor. I usually don't suggest subs, but I think they will work for you. I, like you, tried everything to get clean. I was on street methadone and the withdrawal was so long, I just couldn't get out. I read all the sub horror stories and was scared. I decided I didn't have any choice. I took subs for a total of 20 days. The first 5 days I took a dose to stabilize and get my aftercare program in place. I told my family, friends, dealers, employer, banker, strangers on the street, I told everyone that I had a problem and was doing something about it. I tapered off during the remaining 15 days. I came off the subs without having gained a new addiction. Subs gave me a moment of clarity. I stood back and considered how I felt and decided that is how I wanted to feel naturally. I still had to deal with some methadone withdrawal after the subs where gone, but that moment of clarity put it all into a new perspective. I won't say it was easy to completely stop the subs, but it was doable, where my DOC had not been. I had forgotten what normal was and wasn't sure if it was even possible for me anymore. Subs saved my life and I believe they are a wonderful tool when used correctly.

Many doctors suggest a longer time on subs to build life skills and a support system. If that is the case for you, then you will have to taper very slowly. Coming off of subs cannot be a race, but the clarity of a partial agonist compared to a full agonist opiate makes tapering much easier. I personally feel that if you can avoid anything that gives you stress, then coming off subs is much easier. I'm confident you will do great.

I suggest you read the suboxone/subutex FAQs at the bottom of this page before your doctors appointment, so you can ask him informed questions.
Good luck.

[IBKleen]

Can you stay in the one post? The one you made  a few minutes ago..it is hard to follow like this.