[ModeMan101]

Hello Friends,
I started taking Vikes about 10 years ago to help me cope with alcohol withdrawal. My wife gave me an ultimatum to quit drinking or get divorced. I stayed off alcohol for 3 years, but of course got hooked on Vicodin (5x 10/500 per day) because my addicted brother was giving them to me. After my mom died 5 years ago, my thirst for opiates grew to numb myself and my emotional pain. I went to Mexico and was able to purchase 80mg Oxys for $40 each. I got up to about 4-5 a day and was making weekly trips to Tijuana to feed my $5,000/month addiction. The euphoria began to taper off and I needed the Oxys just to function at my stressful bond trading job. So I decided to go on a Suboxone treatment plan. I started with 32mgs a day 2 years ago, and now I am down to 2mgs a day for 3 months. My doctor is on vacation(stupid me) and I have not had suboxone for 4 days. It doesn't seem as bad as the Oxy withdrawls, but I still feel like ********(headaches, little sleep, all-over body pain, angry, apathetic). I mind as well get off this stuff for good. Given my history, what kind of hell should I expect?

[ddosher]

Originally Posted by ModeMan101

Hello Friends,
I started taking Vikes about 10 years ago to help me cope with alcohol withdrawal. My wife gave me an ultimatum to quit drinking or get divorced. I stayed off alcohol for 3 years, but of course got hooked on Vicodin (5x 10/500 per day) because my addicted brother was giving them to me. After my mom died 5 years ago, my thirst for opiates grew to numb myself and my emotional pain. I went to Mexico and was able to purchase 80mg Oxys for $40 each. I got up to about 4-5 a day and was making weekly trips to Tijuana to feed my $5,000/month addiction. The euphoria began to taper off and I needed the Oxys just to function at my stressful bond trading job. So I decided to go on a Suboxone treatment plan. I started with 32mgs a day 2 years ago, and now I am down to 2mgs a day for 3 months. My doctor is on vacation(stupid me) and I have not had suboxone for 4 days. It doesn't seem as bad as the Oxy withdrawls, but I still feel like ********(headaches, little sleep, all-over body pain, angry, apathetic). I mind as well get off this stuff for good. Given my history, what kind of hell should I expect?

I am on day 25 off of 8mg of Suboxone and my advise to you would be to call the Dr. office and see what they can do for you...get some more and then follow the taper recommended on this site by Robert_325. After what I have been through (you can go back and read my journey...I have posted nearly every day) I would practice more self-love and don't put yourself through it. Just my 2 cents..whatever you decide I wish you the very best.

Donna

[Robert_325]

Considering your sub history you had better get more or be prepared to feel like run over road kill. I'm serious. Don't have any idea who was telling you to take sub like that in such large amounts for so long but they were a moron. I mean that with NO respect for any professional who would RX sub like THAT. Now you're in a bad place. You need more subs. I can help you get off these if you really want to but you have to go along with me to be successful and without pain. The w/d are just starting to hit you with the very long half life of buprenorphine. Hold on tight! God bless.

[Cats Meow]

If your doctor can't prescribe you any then tough it out, don't even look to score some other opioids and repeat the cycle, even with the intent of getting off it once your docs back in town and you back on the Sub, it's too risky, a recipe for disaster.
You're probably in the worst part of the W/D right now, so you know what to expect, it shouldn't get any worse, only better, and after another 4 days feeling pretty good and human again. Now is the tough part, abstaining, I hope you can make it. I know you feel like hell right now, do your best and be tough, it's going to get better soon.

[brndout]

I am by no means an expert but I have only been on Subs for three months and there is a struggle when you get below 2 mg. Feon everything I have read the withdraw can be very long not like w/d from pills or heroin If I were you I would get more and follow Robert's taper plan .At least you are down to 2. I guess in the sub world thats alot though .Take care and I wish you the best Linda

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by brndout

I am by no means an expert but I have only been on Subs for three months and there is a struggle when you get below 2 mg. Feon everything I have read the withdraw can be very long not like w/d from pills or heroin If I were you I would get more and follow Robert's taper plan .At least you are down to 2. I guess in the sub world thats alot though .Take care and I wish you the best Linda

Linda ... when we get down to 2mg or less it is more difficult with subs just as you have learned from your own personal experience. Detoxing from buprenorphine is a different ballgame than with other opiates like hydros or percs. That's especially true when someone has used subs for too long or in too high of a dose. This is why I try so hard to get people off these things in a couple months or even less time if at all possible. Subs are good when they're used properly. They are negative when NOT used properly.

I've had people continue the taper right down to zero just like you were asking me about on another thread. I have NO PROBLEM with someone doing that (including you) if that is what you want to do. For me it's about doing whatever works. As long as you make across the finish line clean it's okay whichever route you want to take. What works for each person is the way I say to do it.

It does get SO difficult cutting an accurate dose when you get down so low. I mean how do you determine less than .25mg unless you have an enclosed digital scale that weighs .001mg at a time? Other than weighing it I don't know how you can get 100% accurate on a micro dose. That is why it gets to a point where I just say skip days between doses as that is so much easier. We have to do what works for us individually as we're all different.

When it's more of a hassle than it's worth to cut the pills ... for sure it's time to jump off at that point and deal with the consequences like Cats mentioned above. There does get to be a time when it's just as easy to "go for it" and just jump off. That point is different for each of us. I personally think 2mg is too high for that but that is my opinion. Again this is why we do this differently for everyone based on their specific symptoms. There is NO stock answer for everyone. God bless.

[dschmitta]

Hey everyone. Good to find a place to talk about this stuff.
I have been in methadone maint. program for almost six years. I have gotten my dose down to 5 mg. and have had enough of this crazy train!!! The clinic I go to has the option of switching to sub. to come off of the 'done. I know it's just another money grab, but it is covered by insurance and the only way for me to do it. I want to stay at the absolute lowest possible dose and get off of program after a month or so. Is this a good idea?, how would I do this? If needed, I'll just get some off of streets, but do not want to call old contacts and tempt fate. I just can't handle the W/D's and don't want to lose my time without my street drugs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by dschmitta

Hey everyone. Good to find a place to talk about this stuff.
I have been in methadone maint. program for almost six years. I have gotten my dose down to 5 mg. and have had enough of this crazy train!!! The clinic I go to has the option of switching to sub. to come off of the 'done. I know it's just another money grab, but it is covered by insurance and the only way for me to do it. I want to stay at the absolute lowest possible dose and get off of program after a month or so. Is this a good idea?, how would I do this? If needed, I'll just get some off of streets, but do not want to call old contacts and tempt fate. I just can't handle the W/D's and don't want to lose my time without my street drugs. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Thanks

Subs aren't a "money grab" if you use them correctly. Lots of people here have switched from methadone to subs and gotten off successfully. The taper down with the subs is much easier than stopping the methadone unless you titrate VERY slowly to zero after six years. Here's the sub link again. I can help you with this if you want to do it. God bless.

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