High Dose Baclofen for weaning off Suboxone. I was on Buprenorphine/Suboxone for over five years. I was able to wean myself down from 12mg day down to 0.5mg/day. I tried many methods trying to get off of it when I deemed I no longer needed it. I tried cold turkey, accupuncture, and hypnosis. None of it worked...the dope sickness was always too much for me. But, I was always doing research to find other ways of getting off.
My therapist knew of my struggle and asked me to read a book he had recently obtained. It was called The End of My Addiction, by Dr. Oliver Ameisen. Dr. Ameisen was a severe alcoholic who discovered that Baclofen cured him of his desire to use alcohol. In his book, he also stated that he thought Baclofen could be used for other addictions as well. My heart did a little jump!
I started researching Baclofen which was being used frequently in Europe. It is actually a mild muscle relaxer that is mostly given to people with MS (Multiple Sclerosis) for muscle cramps. It was now being tested for Alcohol cravings. It was having huge success.
I compiled my research and took it to my physician. He agreed to let me try it the same way in which Dr. Ameisen used it. It is called Off Label use. It is off label because we are using high doses of it. I started @ 20 mg/day and upped it 20mg every third day. I took it up to 200mg day but the side effects were too much. I weaned myself back down. After finally resting on a dose of 120mg/Baclofen (20 mg every 2 hours), I started testing myself to see how long I could comfortably go without a dose of Buprenorphine. I was only on 0.5mg/day of Buprenorphine/Suboxone. I was able to stretch it out for two to two and a half days. Then I began to have restless leg syndrome severely. That was my only complaint but one I can't stand. There was no upset stomach, no diarrhea, no shakes... only restless leg.
I went back to my physician and told him the problem and asked him if he could put me on Mirapex. My therapist used it for severe chronic restless leg and said it worked wonders. My physician wrote me a script and I started taking it. I settled on three mg/day.
Two days after starting the Mirapex, I took myself off of Buprenorphine. I felt really tired but I believe I was overusing my Clonidine which my psychiatrist had prescribed for anxiety. I quit taking the Clonidine and within 24 hours, I felt much better. I had no significant dope sickness (withdrawals) during the entire time after stopping the Buprenorphine.
The only problem that I am having is being extremely tired. It seems to be good one day, then terrible the next. But, I haven't had any Buprenorphine in almost a month. I am ecstatic about being off of the Bupe.
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