Subutex used for tramadol withdrawal

[goldengrl_57]

Hi everyone,

I'm new here and wanted to get feedback about the treatment I received in-patient for Tramadol withdrawal (300-400 mgs a day), and Klonopin at 1.5 mgs daily for over 5 years.

I was using my prescription medications as prescribed, but was experiencing severe symptoms of anxiety, depression and suicidal ideation at times. My Dr's felt that the medications were a likely cause, and it was recommended that I be medically managed off the meds.

The in-patient treatment center stopped the Tramadol and Klonopin and gave me 8 mgs of Subutex daily throughout a 21 day stay. I felt very "loaded" on this high of dose. I also suffer from chronic pain and didn't do well with the rigors of in-patient, so I felt this high of dose was used to keep me in treatment and mask symptoms.

When I left in-patient, I didn't feel safe to drive or do much at all, so I spent several weeks watching movies and reading while I rapidly tapered my dose to 1 mg of Subutex daily over 3 weeks. I didn't feel very functional until I got down to 2 mg.

After 3 weeks out of treatment, I fainted and broke a rib. Outside Dr's felt it was caused by too rapid medication tapers and resulting medical instability.

The treatment center insists that the use of Subutex was appropriate, even though I feel I left with a worse narcotic addiction than I entered with.

Any feedback is very welcome.

[MaisieC]

I'm sorry you've had such a terrible experience. It does sound to me like you were on too high a dose of subutex. Unfortunately, that's a very common experience; some doctors would have had you on an even higher dose. Your dose of tramadol wasn't trivial, but it wasn't extremely high, either. You might have done better tapering off the tramadol rather than switching to subutex, although maybe your emotional state justified the inpatient detox.

So are you still trying to get off the subs? There are people on this board who can help you with that, if you're interested. Try posting a thread on the "Need to talk" forum, and I know someone will help you.

Take care,
Maisie