I have used Suboxone many times in the past to get off of heroin use. In the past, I would take one pill per day for 3 days and I would be fine. I have been using more lately (about a gram a day) and I don't think this will work for me anymore. I have to get off heroin now to avoid going to prison or losing my job... or both. About 2 weeks ago, I took a suboxone about 12 hours after my last heroin use. I got violently ill. I was vomiting nonstop... and I had nothing to throw up, so I was dry-heaving. I had the usual withdrawal symptoms, cold/hot sweats, restless legs, stomach pain, body aches, etc. It was horrible and I had never experienced this before agter taking suboxone. I had taken in the past the same amount of time after my last use and was fine. I fear that I took the suboxone too soon after my last use now that my tolerance and use is higher. I work 7 days a week and it is very difficult to withdrawal and work, but I know I am going to have to do it. I just need to know any advice anyone may have for me. How long should I wait after using before taking the first pill? Is there anythign i can do in the mean time... between last use and first suboxone to relieve some of the withdrawals? I am so scared of going through what I went through 2 weeks ago again. It was the worst withdrawal of my life. I have been battling this off and on for abotu 4 yrs (done rehab many times, NA, AA, groups, etc.) I am ready to take the suboxone again and get off it now, but I do not want to get violently ill again. Any advice, suggestions, etc you may have would be so very much appreciated, as I am more desperate than ever
I am in desperate need of help with Suboxone. Can anyone help me... my last attempt?
- Posted:
- 2 Sep 2009 by BRADY54
- Topics:
- suboxone, opiate dependence, heroin
Responses (5)
pattishan612 Sep 2009
You have to be in withdrawal for at least 24 hours for the suboxone to work. If not, it will throw you into severe withdrawal and make you very sick. You need to talk to a doctor, who can monitor you and make sure you are in the correct phase of withdrawal for it to work. Sounds like you are getting it off the street, and therefore recieved no information on it. I am not trying to sound judgemental, so, I hope that didn't sound harsh. Opiates fit just so on the receptor sites on the brain, suboxone will also, but, the site must be empty for it to sit there and work. When you take any opiate, you mess up the natural part of your brain that sends the signal to release your own opiates or endorphins and after a while, the signal part takes a vacation. That is why you go into withdrawal, it doesn't send the signal to release the natural pain killers the brain produces. If you go to a doctor, I am pretty sure he/she is going to want you to stay on suboxone for a while, to get you past cravings and keep you comfortable and active. Are you seeing a doctor?
3 Sep 2009
hi please 1st of all dont stop ur suboxone ask the doctor for something else? l know my cousin is trying to kick heroin too due to no insurance he got roche from T.J and l have taking him to church my pastor and ministers have help him like no doctors get ur self to a good church talk to god believe that MIRACLES can happen to you!!! give God A CHANCE WHAT DO U HAVE TO LOOSE I'll be praying for u remember IF GOD IS WITH YOU NOTHING CAN BE AGAINST YOU NOTHING gods over all!!!
healthful4 Sep 2009
I hope things are going ok for you. If you can get to a health food store, there is a magnesium drink (or if you have magnesium vitamins - they will help, but I LOOOVE the drink) it's called Natural calm... I just found a link: http://www.calmnatural.com you can buy it at most health food stores. The one I like is raspberry-lemon. I don't like the one with calcium... but that's just me.
BRADY54
4 Sep 2009
I want to thank you so much for your thoughtful response to my question. It is so refreshing to find someone that is sympathetic to us addicts. That is pretty rare. I am not your usual run-of-the-mill addict. I have a degree and a great job, but my life is in jeopardy because of my addiction and love of opiates (heroin). My mother is very much into using the health food store and their products. She actually has been buying me Milk Thistle for years to treat my Hepatitis C that I got from IV use. She does not know (I'm actually sure she suspects... she is a mom) that I am back on it, so I do not want to go to her on this one right now. It would break her heart again after all she has put up with and done for me. Actually my entire family, but especially my mom... she has done the most to help and learn about addiction and treatments. I will definitely try to drink you mentioned if the health food store locally carries it. Thanks again so much.
BRADY54
5 Sep 2009
I just wanted to let you know that I did stop by the local Health Food Store and purchased the Natural Calm Raspberry Lemon drink mix, per your request. I tried some last night and I could not believe how amazing I felt. I don't think my anxiety pills have even helped me that much sometimes with anxiety and restlessness. Thank you so much for the reccommendation. I was glad that my local store had it. Thanks again... keep helping people on here. You are an inspiration.
pattishan6120 Oct 2009
i have read many responses regarding how long to wait between using and taking the first dose of suboxone. I can say that i am fine when i wait around 9 hours after taking my last opiate pill... in my case it is lortab 7.5. i generally use 10-15 pills per day ..so when i know im going to run out of lortab i take the last dose and wait for 9 hours as by this time i am usually in moderate withdrawl from the lortabs and then i take a very small dose of suboxone..usually about a quarter of a pill 8 mg pill that is. This is very effective for me, as it stops withdrawl symptoms in about 20-30min after disolving the suboxone under my tongue. It seems to me that most people are taking to much suboxone..a larger dose than is needed to supress the withdrawl symptoms.If i take too much of a dose it makes me sick and gives me severe headaches. the lower dose seems to be the key for me. each person is different but i would recommend error of the side of a lower dose at the start. thanks ...
12 Dec 2011
my dr made me wait to take my first dose of suboxone i waited for 36 hours from my last use to my first dose. he and his staff warned that if i took a suboxone too close to my last opiate use i would have a precipitated withdrawl so just try your hardest to wait at least 24 hours i know from experience that its very hard but if you dont wait then your withdrawl episode will be much worse.
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Actually, you are correct that I am getting the Suboxone off the street right now, but I have been prescribed them from 2 doctors before, so I am not totally unaware of the drug. I did not know all of what you informed me of, however. I started buying them from people because it is much cheaper than the pharmacy. It is going to be rough to go 24 hours with nothing before starting the first one this time. I will do it though. I am not currently seeing a doctor, as I have no insurance and the ones that accept a sliding scale fee are not willing to help... they like to refer to specialists that are expensive. I have been through this before many times so I know I can do it... it is just going to be about the long term care I choose. Thank you so much for your answer and help in this matter. It is very much appreciated.
i sure hope that you are far enough into withdrawal to start your suboxone now. I thought I would die during that 24 hour period. If you can, start with as small a dose as you can and wait at least 2 hours after you have started it to get maximum benefit. I have learned from reading this forum, that I was inducted on too high a dose and all they gave me was one 8 milligram tablet. I had a major panic attack the next day on that same dose and dropped it to 4 milligrams in the morning and 4 in the afternoon. I said some prayers for you. Robert_325 and mvpt are very informed about suboxone. Read some of their posts if you can. Best of luck getting your life back together.
Thank you for your concern. I am actually waiting for tomorrow to start the Suboxone, so I am going through the withdrawals right now. I have a few days off work for the holiday, so I decided to get through the worst part of it all during my time away from work. I will keep you posted as best I can. I know how i usually am during withdrawals, however, and I usually don't feel like talking or doing anything physical, even typing. People tend to annoy me much easier than usual :). And since I will be without my Klonopin, I will be extremely anxious.
It's called a "precipitated withdrawal" and it's horrible. I was away with my wife and daughter at a function. The same guy who got me started on opiods told me he could get me off. I bought a bunch of Subs and took FOUR 8 mg tabs the first morning I woke up in the hotel. I was the sickest I'veever been in my life TIMES 1000. You have to do it correctly or you can have some real problems.
brady so did it work for you i am going throught the same thing right now i want to know if i ttake suboxone for like 4 days if it will help me get throught the withdrawal symptoms from the heroin please help