I am getting ready to suffer from Suboxone withdraws. I have been taking 16/4mg a day for the last 2 years. Suddenly my insurance decided they were not going to cover my last rx. I have stepped down everyday for the last 5 days but tomorrow my husband and I are going to be out. He was taking 4 a day. What can I do to help relieve some of the w/d symptoms? My pcp told me to go to the ER but I have 2 small children and nobody to help out, not to mention my son is getting ready to start schoo, I am a full time student, and then of course my husband has to work. Any suggestions to help get through this? The dr. I was seeing was giving me xanax to help with the mood swings that Suboxone caused. Then we found out that it could kill me, so last month I kicked xanax and that was a rough detox but I was able to do it at home and have not had any in over a month. Is it going to be as bad as that?
Suboxone withdraw - what can I do to help relieve some of the symptoms?
Question posted by SecretAgentMom on 13 Aug 2009
Last updated on 25 July 2019 by Kathbar42
Thank you everybody for you support.
30 Answers
They make generic suboxone. It’s the same. $5.00 for a box of 30 8 mg.
I've been on sub for a long time, I want to come off so I can feel like myself again.
I take a 1/2 piece in the mornings and on my off days I take a very small piece and I'm fine.
I'm scared of the withdrawals but know I have to for myself and my husband because he's always telling me I've really changed since taking sub.
I was prescribed 2 strips a day and barely take a half a day, will this help with withdrawals?
My advice is if you don't do it for yourself do it for your family.
Any advice would be greatly helpful.
With Suboxone all you are doing is swapping one drug for another.
I've read all the marketing hyperbole which denies that a person is trading one drug for another, a practice I liken to changing seats on the Titanic. I have personally traded oxycodone pills for suboxone strips. That alone crumbles the industry's argument that you are not trading one drug for another.
You remain dependent on a drug, a prescriber, and a pharmacist when youre on Suboxone - you are NOT free in any sense of the word. You will still be associating with a criminal element when you sit in the waiting room of the segregated from mainstream clinic. As a sub patient, I'm still just as drug dependent as I was beforehand. There is no exit plan in a suboxone program. Most clinic operations are opportunists cashing in on the last administration's Medicaid dollars. When these funds are gone so will be the Suboxone clinics.
Hey my name is Ben and i been on the buprenorphine/naloxo 8-2mg tabs for the last 10 months and i lost my insurance coverage so i don't have the luxury of tapering off medically with the supervison of a doctor and i only have a few tablets left. When i first started i was taking 2 and a half tablets sublingually but i been gradually weening myself off and now I'm down to a half a tab a day but I'm concerned about what happens when i take that last tablet. Can someone with experience please give me some advise on what i can do to help my situation??
Someone help me. Girlfriend is going through withdrawels after 3 years and it is hell. How long before it is over?
I have been taking Suboxene for over 2 yrs, I have tried to quite cold turkey & I couldnt make past like 3 days. I also have a 31/2 yr old I'm raising by myself. We live with my parents, they work all day and r 65 yrs old. They couldnt deal with my withdrawing and her also. If there was any way that one of you could detox, than the other that would really help. Kicking the Xanax is awsome!!! But the suboxene withdraw is a little worse. Keep telling yourself mind over matter because thats about 1/2 of it anyway for me it is. I just wish there is a way to find the cash to wing yourself a little longer. Like 3 daily for 1 week,2 daily, 1 daily, 1/2 daily weekly than see how you do. I felt like crap because I couldnt function for my child
I wish you luck but I had to go back on the Vicodin because the withdrawls were so bad from the suboxone, The Dr did not recommend it but he wouldn't help me get off of it either. I think because of the money. I have a small child too so the only way was to go back the pain meds, but I am controlling it so far. I do not recommend the Suboxone.
I know this might sound crazy but it trully works better then anthing ive tried to get off suboxone... I tried everything trust me nothing worked besides smoking weed its completly gets rid of your withdraw syptoms when you start feeling your symptoms again smoke more its that easy it's not a thing were you have to do every 30 mins either trust me it helped me and it will help you please dont get offended because i know it works.
I have been on 16 Mgs of sub for a long 8 years. One day my doc just went Mia. I wanted to stop anyhow so I weaned down to 4 mgs a day till I was out. The first 3 days weren't bad. Day 4 however was nasty. Biting the sheets and hitting the head board. I am currently on day 15 and I feel GREAT. Wds will come in waves getting lighter and lighter. I fully expect to feel some kind of symptoms for maybe a month. The pain you will go through will be well worth it. GO STEELERS
Glad you got through wd,s. How long were you on 4mg before you ran out?
Wow. My first question is why have you been on subx for two years! The longer you are on the stuff the harder it is to get off of it. You have to be weined off that stuff. Honestly, you are going to to withdraw and it is not going to be pleasant. What dose were you on, and please tell me why you have been taking it for 2 whole years! A good treatment plan would be to take your prescribed dose for about 6 months and then start tapering off SLOWLY.
there is no one size fits all approach. Most recreational users after six months will go back to there old ways and problems and drugs. A lot of programs encourage the quick taper. REmember we are on the front lines here, this is all new stuff nobody really understands.
If your original problems that led u to use are solved, sure taper.
But giving a set "six month" program is very very naive and could set many people back on a druggie path.
This is the exact story I needed to read ! I am a new suboxone patient; took my self to detox for a week to come off 4-6 ,30mg oxys per day that I had been prescribed since my disc replacement and cervical fusion. This is the exact thing I didn't want to have happen... (be on suboxone for very long) to me since my new doc put me on them 2 weeks ago. I have read so many stories, profiles, etc so I can learn from everyone else. I believe knowledge is power and I am thankful to have this site to obtain just that. Thank you everyone for posting all these experiences and questions about suboxone so I can get help as well. Jabug, sounds like you could be of help to this person, as well as myself. :)
Well to update I believe if I would have tapered after 6 months I would have been back to abusing drugs. It has taken me a long time in recovery, therapy, and group treatment to become committed to becoming clean and to be ready for a taper. I was on the typical 16mg for almost a year. After 16 months I am down to 2mg per day and can't wait to taper off of subs completely. But it took me longer to get here than some people, there is no one size fits all approach to brain chemistry or drug addiction. You are correct however that I will probably have a worse withdrawl when I taper off than if I took six months. But this is what it has taken ME to be commited to sobriety. p.s. I also switched to subutex which took me out of massive depression I believed caused by narcan, which would be another good reason to taper in six months if you can (a lot of people are experiencing negative effects after long term use of suboxone with naloxone).
I appreciate your perspective and everybody who gets on any type of subs should be aware that yes, in general the quicker you can get off the drug the better. But it takes some of us a long time to deal with the issues that lead to drug use and can permit us to safely quit subs.
in my experience the withdrawals from suboxone wernt terrible it was mostly in my head the need for something. the pyhsical symptoms wernt to terrible a little fatigue legs kinda ached anxious but nothing even remotely close to H withdrawal i wanted to die . i was on that filth for about two years discoverded suboxone as an alternative but thats exactly what it was replacing one with the other so the other day i decided to quit taking the films well honestly couldnt get em anymore. the first three days were pretty crappy but nothing even remotley close to H or oxies if you can find something to occupy yourself i think you"ll be okay
you know what i did?i took a xanax & a 25 mg. serauel.if u weened yourselof down u should be fine wow u wereon alot of saboxone.i didnt realiaze u could withdraw form thm cause i didnt.i also was taking xanax with mine & it was cool.but nthe last time i took it the dr dismissed me cause the drs n the er kept giving me my xanax cause i was having panic attacs from the saboxone.i think u will be ok.u will haveanxiety unless u get xanax or klonipin.yea get u something so u wont haveanxiety... let me know how things went!Oh u know what?i was taking up to three 8 tabs a day... thats not a bad dose.u will be just fine like i said.just get on the xanax.ull be alright!!
I know what that is like. Took sub 4 1/2yrs ago to get off oxi and perc that was prescribed to me like tick-tack's, than like an idiot went back on perc 10, opana(oxymorphone), valium and soma for the same back injury from a car accident 10yrs ago. Again went on the subs, 8/2 and started at 32mg per day, 2am, 2pm 6mnths ago. DO NOT listen to your DR., don't stay on for more than 6mnths.(most of the prescriber's will keep you on it for way to long and it WILL be that much harder to quit! money maker for them) The key to an easy transition off the subs is to taper for 6 weeks, get down to the smallest dose, .12,1/2 of .25. for about 5day's to a week. F.Y.I .25 will cause you to have a harder withdrawal! Make sure you have a few if w/d gets bad, but shouldn't be.
You will feel a little crappy but that is mostly mental, you will be sensitive to cold (like any after opiate effect) a little sweaty,have the shit's a bit, RLS which I get in my arm's also, and insomnia. All these effect's are not that bad and bare able, immodium tylenol/tylenol pm(will prob give you 5hrs. sleep better than none) will help, also potassium even just a banana will help with the RLS. 8 day's without and I am fine. Day 4 you will feel run down, but try to stay active, sweat it out, literally, will release endorphins and will make you feel better. The fear of getting off is worse than doing it! Try not to listen to all the posts on the net will freak you out, if you try to get down to next to nothing wont be as bad. I have gone into full withdrawal and it suck's, this isn't bad if you do it right, and if you are following a taper don't rush it try a week at a time don't jump from 8 to 2 in a week you will feel it, general rule 37hr half life so it will take your body that long to recognise the lower dose don't drop more than 2mg a week or you will feel every bit of it! Good Luck!
Thanks for the encouraging words. I do get a little freaked out by some of the posts, and the "Street advice" I sometimes get at a 12 step meeting. I love the steps, and the whole program, but everybody has their own idea of the way things are. Now, here's my question. I have been taking .25 mg Suboxone daily. Toward the end of the 24 hours, I start with some sweats, and a little rapid heart rate. At .25 mg how bad will it get if I just stop now, and how long will it last? To give you a time line about how much I took... Dec. 28th doc started me on 32 mg daily; WAY too strong. I experimented and found that 2 mg a day was effective. I ran out sometime in the 2nd week of February and 3 days later, went into full on withdrawal. On Feb.14 I got a refill and got it down to .5 mg. A friend of mine talked me into flushing all but one for emergencies. I have a few little crumbs, approximately .25 mg each; probably enough to stretch out for a week. Should I just throw the rest out and go underground? and for how long? Any wisdom would be appreciated.
i disagree. It depends if you came to drugs for pain management or emotional management. It can take years to get over emotional issues and get to the root. Everybodies path is different, I'm on a two year taper, having no problems, down to 4mg once/day, every step down has been easy. By two years in I want to be off. I'm in therapy, etc. because there were a lot of issues driving my use.
I really do not like these blanket statements about how long to stay and how to taper. Keep your addiction in remission by staying on subs until you've dealt with your problems, then taper.
I've been able to taper quite quickly from high doses to four mg no problem.
The final step is harder and I'll be ready soon.
Everybody fine your own way and pat yourself on the back that you didn't wuss out and go for methadone or your full antagonist, anybody trying subs is awesome and on the start of a positive path if they follow through.
Humboltlocal I'd be curious to know how smooth your taper continued once you got below 2mg. I think going from 32mg to 4mg can be done overnight and hardly be felt. It's easy to get cocky and think you've got all the answers when you're receptors are still almost completely saturated. The actual work behind when you get to 2mg and below. The years spent going from 32 to 4 are a joke and a waste. If it took you that long to get to 4 then you'll never get off all together. I'm not trying to sound bitchy but you literally have no idea what you're talking about and no clue what sub wd feels like yet.
SecretAgentMom,
I hate to tell you that the withdrawal symptoms you are going to experience will probably be worse than the Xanax withdrawals you have recently been through. having kids makes this process even worse. Your situation is a tough one. coming down from 4 mg of suboxone is not as bad as 8 mg though. The first week will be the worst. Its mostly physical aces and pains you will experience along with hot flashes and diarrhea. You also may experience depression and anxiety. Thees mental and physical feelings will be at there worst for a week then you will find yourself feeling better in the second week towards the end of the second week you will start to feel normal again. you may experience some of theese feelings for up to a month or more but not common. there are however a few things to aid your symptoms your doctor may be able to prescribe you some bloodpresure and anxiety meds.
I know you said you have no insurance so there is also some natural remedies you can buy at any drug store. A detox tea is helpful look for a tea called every day detox for healthy liver function. Its not a cure all but it will reduce the amount of time it takes to get through the withdraws oh ya and it tastes bad to. you have a challenge ahead of you but you are strong you can make it through this its time to look towards a better future the best of luck to you.
Secret Age Mom, I can't even begin to imagine what it would be like if my husband had my problem too. Xanax? Really? What is wrong with that doctor? Yes, you could have died from that mix, thank god you didn't. I had to fight for my insurance to pay for me. It's just not right. Like everything, it's a money thing. I believe Sub tx is the best way to go, however, I'm starting to get a little nervous about all of these horror stories about getting off of it. Hope they are not true!!NIK
Related topics
suboxone, opiate dependence, withdrawal
Further information
- Suboxone uses and safety info
- Suboxone prescribing info & package insert (for Health Professionals)
- Side effects of Suboxone (detailed)
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