[lcon926]

My son was taking Suboxone for his opiate addiction, and also Lexapro for the related depression. He has now stopped both approx. 2 wks ago. He is , of course, having multiple withdraw symptons, including diarehea (Immodium for this), stomach cramping, insomnia, and complete lack of motivation or desire to get outta bed. If anyone out there has gone thru this, and can give some advice we'd both appreciate it. How long does it last, etc. etc.
I told him that he should not have stopped taking the Lexapro the way he did, and also that he needs it now to help him thru the Sub withdraw, but he's determined to be completely drug free.
I do admire that, but "I" think that he may need alittle more help with the meds until hopefully, God willing, he becomes "Clean and Sober".
Please, any input anyone has would be great.

Thanks
Lisa

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by lcon926

My son was taking Suboxone for his opiate addiction, and also Lexapro for the related depression. He has now stopped both approx. 2 wks ago. He is , of course, having multiple withdraw symptons, including diarehea (Immodium for this), stomach cramping, insomnia, and complete lack of motivation or desire to get outta bed. If anyone out there has gone thru this, and can give some advice we'd both appreciate it. How long does it last, etc. etc.
I told him that he should not have stopped taking the Lexapro the way he did, and also that he needs it now to help him thru the Sub withdraw, but he's determined to be completely drug free.
I do admire that, but "I" think that he may need alittle more help with the meds until hopefully, God willing, he becomes "Clean and Sober".
Please, any input anyone has would be great.

Thanks
Lisa

Lisa .... Please understand that I'm no dr but Lexapro should NOT be necessary for use due to being on suboxone therapy. That is NOT clinical depression, it's more like taking antidepressants for being bummed out. To me that is a dr prescribing meds that a person doesn't need to start with. We don't need that kind of medication for sub therapy anyway if the sub therapy is done properly.

I suggest first that you read the following link. It explains how I've suggested using subs now for over two years on this forum and LOTS of people have gotten totally clean using this process, several who are on the forum helping others right now. NONE of them required any lexapro with their sub therapy. Here's the link.

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...apy-50887.html

Pay close attention the INDUCTION and tapering sections of the aforementioned link. It's important that sub therapy be done properly for it to be truly effective. Hope it helps.

I can't tell from your post how long your son was on subs but jumping off abruptly is NOT the way to do it. It's setting oneself up for a likely relapse especially a young person not following any kind of good program. He may be successful riding it out and getting clean but STAYING clean is something totally different requiring direction and focus. I wish you guys the best of luck. God bless.

[lcon926]

Thanks for your reply. From what my son tels me he did taper down, mostly due to the fact that he had no money to return to the Dr. He was taking 2mg for about 2 weeks until the meds were gone. It took a few days for the withdraw problems to set in and for the most part he seems to be handling it okay. He has become more active in his NA program and had gotten a good sponsor, but as I said he still feels really bad. Lack of sleep, motivation have been big obstacles for him. How long will a person feel the effects of withdraw? And shoud he start with the antidepressants again to help him thru it? It is my understanding that when you use opiates that you destroy certain cells??, or whatever it is, in your brain that allow you to feel joy, etc. It takes time for them to regenerate, so in the mean time will Lexapro help?
Again thanks for your help.
Lisa

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by lcon926

Thanks for your reply. From what my son tels me he did taper down, mostly due to the fact that he had no money to return to the Dr. He was taking 2mg for about 2 weeks until the meds were gone. It took a few days for the withdraw problems to set in and for the most part he seems to be handling it okay. He has become more active in his NA program and had gotten a good sponsor, but as I said he still feels really bad. Lack of sleep, motivation have been big obstacles for him. How long will a person feel the effects of withdraw? And shoud he start with the antidepressants again to help him thru it? It is my understanding that when you use opiates that you destroy certain cells??, or whatever it is, in your brain that allow you to feel joy, etc. It takes time for them to regenerate, so in the mean time will Lexapro help?
Again thanks for your help.
Lisa

Jumping off at 2mg is NOT a taper. He should be tapering down to less than .5mg and then going through a process of skipping days.

Stopping abruptly at 2mg could leave him in w/d for a month or longer easily. That's a fact.

Read around the forum and you'll see how others I've worked with have done this and are clean today following little or no w/d problems whatsoever. God bless.