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
Thank you everybody for you support.
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30 Answers Page 2
Hey :)
I know this post is quite old but just in case someone else comes across it in the near future mind find it helpful. Just like Robert said, 16mg is one heck of a dose. Typically a good starting dose is usually 8mg and 12mg MAX. Too many doctors are giving ridiculous amounts that it just causes the "ceiling effect". There is a tapering program for any and all who finally want to slowly get of the subs. It's located in the "Need To Talk" forum. Everyone should head over there as it's so so so helpful! I'm currently 5 weeks off a 4-5mg sub jump. It was one heck of a roller coaster ride, but I'm great full I made it! With the support, right tapering regime, and a strong will you can kick the orange pill out to the curb! Good Luck!
You are totally right. My doctor started me off at 32mg a day; enough to kill a freakin' elephant. I thought my heart was going to pop out of my chest and I was having trouble breathing. My doctor would not return my phone calls, and instead delegated that task to the bully who runs her office. He screamed at me to take it the way she wrote it. Needless to say I fired her. Now I have it down to 1/32 of one sublingual filmstrip a day, which (if accurate) would be .25 mg buprenorphine. I want to just stop and to be totally clean and drug free, but I am scared. At .25 mg, can anyone tell me what the withdrawal will be like as far as intensity and how long the withdrawal lasts. I notice if I get close to 48 hours since the last little crumb, I begin to start thinking a lorazepam wouldn't be so bad. That's a huge red flag for me. Then of course there are the hot flashes and sweats. I hate trading one addiction for another, but I have to function; we all do.
If I knew how bad, and for how long this would last, I could face it. But, not knowing is too scary for me. I was completely clueless how bad coming off Oxycodone and Benzos at the same time would be. I guess a lot of it has to do with what you were taking, how much you were taking and for how long you were taking it. See you at "need to talk." Thanks.
Thank you. Trying to taper myself down fron 16mg sub daily. headed to "need to talk" to try get a plan together now.
I feel for ya, even if this is an old post. I have struggled with getting off of Suboxone for the past 4 years. I was a heroin addict for 13 years but now I'm a suboxone addict. It's better as far as not having to commit crimes or visit dealers but it's worse because suboxone doesn't last as long as heroin and the withdrawal is ungodly hell. Everytime I've stopped Sub's I'd be relatively ok for a few days (even able to sleep) and on the 3rd night BAM! it would hit me like a ton of bricks... no sleep... intense joint pain... chills... sweats... shits... all of it. I kicked Subs in jail at the beginning of this year. I was on 8mg a day for 2 years straight and went into jail for a b.s. probation violation where of course they don't give u painkillers.
Double whammy-I was also coming off of a 3mg Ativan a day habit for over 3 years..so I went through literal, unmedicated hell for 40 days and 40 nights before it even got a tad bit better. That was the worst experience of my life but I finally was off subs. Then I get out of jail and start up on em again..this time getting them through a street connection. For some reason I crave what they do-it's different from all other opiate narcotics and it gives me a sense of well being. For the past 3 months I've been taking 8mg everyday without fail and last night I couldn't score and won't be able to try again for 2 and a half days... ugh... I got 9 Tylenol 3's to help ease the discomfort but that will only help so much and then they're gone. I know in 60 hours or so my connection will be back on and I'll be scoring again so maybe that will make the next two days easier plus it doesn't get really bad until day 3 so I should be ok. Don't know what I'm trying to say... except that this stuff is no good. I want to get off of it completely and stay off of it but at this point I may have to check into a detox and be weened off to do so. That's probably what I'll end up doing after the New Year. I liked myself when I was off the subs... don't know why in the hell I ever went back. I traded a horrible heroin habit for a horrible legal suboxone habit...
I appreciate your struggle but what I don't understand after the 40 day worst experience of your life, why oh why would u go back to them, I mean that would have scared me straight? Also, why are you getting them off the street? I have been on subs for one year, i am at 12 mg, in Canada they do things real slow, and in 6 months I hope to be at .5, so why don't u get on a program and ween yourself down, or have the doctor do it. I don't know the street value of anything, even my doctor oxy issue was prescribed but for me here it is 35 bux every four days, and all urine tests, which are twice a week and doctors visits are free. Ya Canada but I really don't get why you went back on them, weren't you scared of going thru that again?
Good luck
Yep Sub is shi*Ty to come off of. Lasts about 10-14 days on average. I used 4mg. - 8mg. for 3 years. And let me tell you, today is day 12 and Im FINALLY off the couch! Yeeeaaaa! Im so excited and tickled, I even had the energy to do the dishes. BY HAND. ha. and I hadda dishwasher right there. So the worst w/d for me, were no energy, cold/hot flashes, sweating, and stinky sweat, hard to stay asleep. I could get there, just had trouble going back to sleep. Unisom suck, made me feel really weird, heaviness in my head but spinny. But thats only if I woke up on em, and had to go pee. I took 2 unisom + 1- 5mg. melatonin (natural sleep aid) on really bad days. Still wake up about 3 or 5 am. couldnt get back to sleep til like, 8 or 9am. Thank god i am unemployed right now. Now I am taking 2-3 Tylenol PM, and 1 5mg. melatonin. That makes it ok, no grogginess in morning for me. Finally started having the runs, but all green. GREEN poo = GOOD.
Those are toxins leaving your body. Never had bad RLS - but I took potassium for that. All in all, the vitamins were a must, 1 multi vit+ 2000mg. L-Tyrosine, potassium, Calcium, Magnesium, Imodium+ Excedrin headach- the caffeine helped me after day 8 or so, Gatorade like its goin outta style. Tried to get some benzos, I found "1", swollowed it before bedtime, and then went to brush my teeth last night, and yacked 6 times. Damn it to hell. *Tip brushing your toungue makes you yack. Fo Sho.
Keep up the great work I took nuretin 150 mg twice a day and seraquil 50mg to sleep and lots of vitamins
listen the best advice i can give you is too stay strong and get some xanax it help the anxziety attacks. ive been off for 40 days now it was the best decision of my life. i was tacking .25 of a 8mg twice a day. the first week is the hardest but you got to make youre self go to work. once you get through week three you are home free. oh and by the way get some weed i could not have done it with out the weed
420 helped me too. Calms ya down for sure.
I agree, weed helps u sleep and gets rid of the cold sweats and helps a little with the kicks. I also agree withdrawals from suboxone suck worse than oxy. thay arent as bad but you withdrawal way longer. I've detoxed from oxys a couple times and suboxone a couple times years ago. couple years now been on 2mg a day and tried to quit last new years and it was worse than ever. probably cause ive been on them so long. i have 3 kids and cant just deal with the sickness cause i have no help and cant neglect my children. i keep saying ill quit but after the first hour of withdrawals i give in and take a pill. its a shitty battle ive been in for 8 years and im only 26. best advice is to wean off as quick as possible as long as you feel strong enough to stay away from oxys.
this is good to know! i have been taking .25 a day twice a day now for 2 weeks. my doc says i am screwing my recovery up by cutting the pill, although i've gone from 3-8mgs a day down to the .25 mg a day by breaking my pill up. it's been tough and has taken a year to do, but i'm doing it.
Just for an update been clean for almost a year best thing I have ever Dunn. Be strong and remember the worst drugs are the ones the dr gives you
I have also been on sub. for 8 years. I am down to 2 mg a day, skipping a day at least once or twice a week to prolong the script, and another $90 (cash only) dr. appointment. I also don't want to scare anyone, but also don't want to mislead you. I have tried to stop using sub. two time. The first time I was sick for 12 weeks (I had been told that was the longest the withdrawal would last). At the 12 week date, I wasn't feeling much better, and relapsed. Back on the sub, since I have a child and refuse to do any illegal activity. I ended up in a financial issue and was unable to see the doctor, and it had been over two months since my last appointment so the appointment would have been $250, which was completely not an option. This time I made it through two weeks, and have never felt sicker. I don't know how I continued to take care of my son by myself, but as a mother you do what you have to do to make sure they are safe.
At two weeks and not feeling the least bit better I was given a loan buy an angle in my life and went back to restart the sub. I want to get off, but even this doctor has now seen enough patients who have gone through the sub withdrawal that he admits how extremely hard it is to do. If anyone experienced the long withdrawal such as I did, please let me know. I am wondering if it was just my own unique experience. I am not a whiner and don't easily complain about physical sickness, but I honestly think that to get off sub, you need to go back to a low narcotic (if there is such a one), such as hydro, or codeine, for a few weeks and then go through the 7-10 days of withdrawal from that. Really hate to even contemplate such a thing, but really need some advice. Thanks and God Bless the two who started this tread, and I will pray for you both.
I have gone through withdrawls alot of times. I lost my leg in a car accident and have been on all the pain killers and now i'm on suboxone. I found that neurontin or lyrica will help take the edge off the withdrawls. It may make you a little tierd but will help the sick feeling and with the bad pain. Your doctor may say different but if I had one or the other the withdrawls were not half as bad. Good luck hope it works.
Just curious, i heard the same thing that neurontin will help withdrawls, i had a friend give me a whole bottle of neurontin but whats a good dosage for me to take?
I lost my leg 12 years ago and i totally agree with you. Lyrica is a life savor for me. Helps with withdrawl and sleep!
is the Neurontin gaba pentin if so I deff agree it would help with th w/d
glennyc: average dose would be between 600mg to 1200mg if you take approx. 2000mg I personally felt drunk like effects. but I also heard its pretty toxic on the liver not to sure cause I also heard tha your body naturally produces gaba pentin (Neurontin)
WoW! It is so hard when you have kids! The guilt ate me up. If you have enough tabs to break into 4 seperate pieces, cut yourself back and decrease your dose every few days as much as you can. I am not sure but call your insurance co. and let them know that you will need to check into a treatment/detox, would they rather pay for that or your suboxone. That is the very reason insurance co. started to pay for sub. because they did not want to pay the bill for treatment Good Luck. ... you can do this!!! Take care of those babies!!!
I also agree with Robert325 were the f--are u,alot fans r asking ... me also my doc started me at 3 pills 24mg aday 15 days ago in 4 days i went to 8mgs and 4 days went to 4mgs half a pill now 15 days later starting to miss opiates,i was 275 to 300 mgs of oxycontin aday not worried about money ,i dont believe staying on subx for months or yrs is the answer,should i go to 2mg now ,quarter of a pill aday my doc has me on Xanax also to sleep take 1mg almost evernite but dont care about some people say mixing subx and benzos can kill u ,why did my doc prescribe it,,also says i should take zololoft ,never been depressed even in 2 wars,never had major pain just luv to get high... any answers ive already been banned from another site ,dont know why?
Sorry to butt in but I feel compelled to say this to Robert. First off though, you mentioned you fought in two wars, HUGE thank-u for protecting me and my beloved country! Now you mentioned you miss opiates,that is the very reason some docs will slowly take you down off the Subox. Sounds to me like you're just having your doctor wean you down just to avoid the withdraw of the oxys. Bare with me please at what I'm trying to say and how to word this. I think you're coming off the subox to fast. Sounds like you're just gonna relapse and go back on the oxys when your done with the Subox. If you stay on it longer you can get treatment for your addiction and use the subox as a safety net of sorts. When on it you can't cheat and pop any opiates cause it would make you get real sick. When I first got on it I had enough of a dose to coat my receptors that i honestly felt very little craving.
There are even specific support groups I've heard about,for addicted vets, you could check for in your area. You'd meet and make friends that have been through what only a war vet could relate to.Just a friendly, respectful suggestion from a grateful civilian! Best of luck to u sir!
Sealteam 4 sounds like you have a doc that does not know what the H he is doing. No disrespect, I am a nurse that works in this field, i am also on sub for my own opiod problem. Do not take a benzo with your sub. It sounds like you need some good support. You also need to ask yourself a few questions are you done with the oxys? Are yu ready to move forward and fight your own personal war?
Sealteam4, I am a nurse who is taking Sub for my own problems, and let me tell you, there are doctors out there who will tell you anything, prescribe anything, and don't care!! PLEASE, do not take Benzo's with sub, antidepressants, narcotics. You could die and that is just a fact!!Most doctors don't care a whole lot until someone comes to look at their files. Be careful about who you trust. NIK
i just wanted to kn ow how to email robert i dont see how when u click on his icon thanks
I agree with all the above posts. Coming off suboxone is one nasty experience and I don't say that to be negative, but realistic. Do not stop at 16 mg a day. I was taking three 4 mg pills a day and I tapered off when I knew I was running out within a week and it was f*ing hell. I would rather go through Vicodin withdrawals then sub withdrawals. Speak to a doctor or scrape up some money to get another rx.
My pharmacy is really nice about letting me get a partial refill on my suboxone. Sometimes I can afford 10, sometimes just 5 and this weekend they let me get only 2. They are really nice and that makes me feel better about asking for a partial fill. Times are tough and they know that. I hope that might help you. I started on only 8 mgs, bumped it up to 16 and am now at 4 mgs with no problem. I am under a doctors care and was going to a program, graduated and am looking for a new group because old group folded. It seems to stay in your system a good while, so, if you have to go down some,I think you will still be very comfortable.
I agree with Robert he gave me some GREAT advice with subs I tried stopping at 2 mg a day and it was hell, so I'm back one tapering down to .25 I hope. If u can find a way or it's going to be real rough! I was having a real tough time with stopping at 2mg so I can't even begin to guess what stopping at a high of mg as u are at. Best of luck with everything!!! Thanks for the reply to my question again Robet your input saved me from more sleepless and painful nights!!
my fiance has been an addict for about 7 years and he is taking suboxone. he has been for about 6 weeks and he he recently stopped 2 days ago from taking 2mg once a day. he is having a really hard time. he says it is worse than trying to quit oxi. i think worse mentally rather than physically from what he tells me. im really worried. from being addicted to oxi for so long how long is one normally on suboxone. him relapsing is my worst fear and im trying so hard to love and be here for him. does he need space?
I was wondering if suboxone was addicting and are the withdraws really bad. I have heard people say, there were taking suboxone to quit vicodine, but why quit one pill to take another addicting pill. What are the withdraws from suboxone? And is it worth taking the suboxone to get off of the vicodin, I'm also addicted to vics.
Subox is addicting, most drugs are.If you were to say you were going the Methadone route then yes,you're trading one addiction for another, why bother! Subox is SO different then vics,percs and all opiates. You(a)-don't get high from the subox (B)-It adheres to your receptors so you almost trick your brain into thinking you took your usual opiate of choice (C)-Most important! You are prescribed and monitored by a doctor who is trained to help you get off opiates, then eventually, slowly, the suboxone. Not to be flip but it's a no brainer choice. Especially if you're buying the vics and have no valid prescription. You can usually get an appointment pretty quickly. depending on where you live and how many docs are in your area certified to prescribe it.
It's not covered by most insurances but when you do the math if you're buying them on the street, you will save a fortune! You'll kick yourself when you see how easy Suboxone makes it to quit an opiate! I hear Subox is terrible to quit too but if you score a good doc, you'll should be weaned down slowly. Subox is the best thing in the treatment of opiates to date as far as I'm concerned! Saved my butt from a painful withdrawal or going broke by buying them in the street! I was on high doses of percs for 5 years! I was taking them the last 2-3 years just to feel normal! I was beyond useless if I ran out! Suboxone should be your choice. I promise it'll be the best choice you'll ever make! I went real far down the opiate road. It's dark, long and very expensive! As I said, it didn't even make me feel high, just subnormal after a while.Best of luck! Mark my words!Eventually you'll be forced into the choice, so you might as well do it willingly.
bull shit it just puts off the withdrawl subox withdrawl is just as bad as getting off the h or perks or oc. plus the withdrawl last twice as long trust me ive explored all of the diffrent methods
I agree with Salan; it's a no brainer. I've been on them for 2 years, weaning down. Our doctor said anything over 16 mg is a waste. 16 mg is the max. I am currently on 4 mg. I have been dropping 2 mg every 2 months for last little bit. Now I wait as long as I can before I take 2 mg. I doubt it'll even take me a month. It's just wrapping my brain around it. Maybe paying for the prescription will hurry you to come down quicker, but the withdrawl is nothing like from oxys. NOTHING!!! You get the yawns, maybe the hiccups. Your legs ache a little, but nothing ibuprophine can't get you through. It's getting past your brain that is the hard part. Good luck with it.
IMO I would not take suboxone to get off vics. because the withdrawal is worst, price can also be worst. If you want to stop just try and wean yourself off the vics. don't sub it for something stronger, I'm not a medical pro. only a past user of vics, heroin & oc, for 26 years, now I'm on suboxone (been on for about 4 yrs.) but weaned off slowly, now 2 days without it, worst to come off then vics. Best Of Luck.
Yes and... yes. Suboxone 8/2 means 8 mg buprenorphine (an
opiate... addictive) and 2 mg Naloxone (a partial agonist that keeps you from feeling high) which serves the function of stopping you from chasing the dragon for more more more. It has a long half life (37 hours for one dose) and builds up in your system, so you stop taking it and it could be several days before you begin to feel the clamminess and sweats. That's all I know. I wish you the best. I think this stuff is awful and I would do anything to come off it completely.
Me too. How do you get off this drug? In afraid of the suboxone now.
I clicked on your icon robert and was only aboe to figure out how to send a private messae. I sent you one.
I work with people daily using suboxone. If you guys stop abruptly at 16mg per day you'll be lucky if you don't end up in a psych ward in some hospital. Taking 16mg for so long is insane to begin with but you guys are facing literal hell.
Click on my screen name and email me. Tell me who you are when you send the email. You guys need some major help and stopping cold turkey isn't going to cut it. I promise you that I know what I'm talking about.
Go to the drugs.com forum. Ask around about me. I can help you. You're in my prayers. God bless.
i quit cold turkey and it was the worst decision of my life. i got through it with the help of manny other some legal some illegal drugs. but it has been 40 days with no drugs at all. i feel great and even people around me noticed a change in my behavior. my advice to any one on the same path is the wiseman method. they put u out so you wake up clean no symptoms at all. if you got the loot it is the best...
Robert325, a psych ward? really? now I am getting nervous about all of this. I thought I had found a great medication. Now I'm not so sure. I've been on it for a year now. I continue to take it because it actually helps with pain with migraines. Talk about a doctor who will tell you anything. mine said I could take it indefinitly. But why wouldn't he when he makes $250.00a mo. And the pharmacy makes $573.00? NIK
I too am weaning. 10 months on it, 2 -2/8mg a day. At first my doctor said we'd wean, and once off he'd give me a shot that would eliminate future cravings. I weaned down to 1.5/day, then 1 1/4 day, tried 1/8 and ended up pretty sick at work. I'm determined to get off these.You are a slave to it! I see doctor monthly, this last month they scheduled me 5 days AFTER script runs out. So I'm weaning desperately. Can't lose my job over this! *The program I'm on required monthly psychiatrist, and seeing psychologist for CBT. The CBT is drastically changing my life. Its a must in my eyes. Good Luck to all!
Hi Robert: I have read many of your responses and I have to say, well done! People start taking any form of drug to often numb the pain of so many things, and they need all the support they can get.
For me, I have been on Suboxone for exactly one year. I had never taken any drugs, except for weed before I was 33, and I met a guy *(yes you can chuckle at that line) who took Oxy recreational, and I tried it one day, and that turned into 6 months at about 50-80mg a day. After selling my 30 thousand dollar vehicle, and spending another 20-30 thousand on Oxy's for him and I, I knew I had a problem. I was also a high school teacher, and started snorting them in the back of class in between classes, oh if my students only knew. So i was on 24 mg of Subs, then 20, then 16, now 12, and I would love for your to help me create a ween down with little side effects, or WDs.
I have access to plenty of Subs, I live in Canada and doctor visits are free, and Subs are cheap, I think I pay $300 a month for everything. My only concern is that my doctor doesn't seem overly concerned if I EVER get off this medication, like he is a nice man, but he just thinks la-dee-da, stay on it for years, and although it did help with the Oxy's I just don't feel right on it. I have to take 24 hours at most apart, or else I start to feel sick, and I hate that control over my life. I want to travel to India, and Thailand for a year, and honestly Subs aren't in my life plan. Just to drop to 12, he was humming and hawing and I have been on it a year.
Canadian doctors make $$ every time we come to see them, not only that he is making $$ from the Sub company, and I think secretly wants me on this for life. I run my own dog hiking service now, and I hike outdoors 5-8 km a day, so I really need to feel myself, and Subs although did the trick initially, they make me feel tired, and a bit depressed so I need OFF. I am taking an Omega 3 fatty acid for depression, and Vit D, as I live in the land of cold and dark half the year, but I need a ween down schedule, and I will just tell my Doctor this is the way it is going to be.
Plus I could still pick-up 12 mg and take whatever I needed. I read one woman say she took a corner of 2mg, every three days at the end, only when the WDs would set in, and when she stopped eventually she felt nothing, that is what I am going for. :0)
Ok that is enough I think, please let me know what you think, and let's set up a slow wean down, I am ok if it is super slow, i have patience.
Anne
3 months ago I went cold turkey from taking my subs and I was only taking 2 8mlgram strips a day. Do not do it! Going cold turkey was the worst decision of my life it was just as bad as coming off K4's or boi. Thank God I had really good bud and my xanax or I wouldn't have made it. I recommend going to the ER, since you have 2 children you don't want anything bad to happen to either you or your husband. My prayers are with yall
~Jenn~
I'm sorry about your predicament. I'm on suboxone as well and it's sooo expensive and I am going to start weaning off of it bec. I can't afford it either. Thankfully, my parents help me with it some - I'm 29 and have a one yea old:)
Anyways, I would first see if there is someone who can loan you a hundred dollars so you can take it slower.
If there is nobody at all how many mg are you on? Don't read about withdrwal online because it just fills your mind with fear and it will be worse.. I don't know whole, whole lot about withdrawal from this bec. I haven't started it yet, but I did withdrawal of Vicodin. So if you can borrow, or just ask for money to help you wean slower do that - pray ask God for His help as He knows what you need. If you need to go to the ER let your husband stay home with your children and you go - and then he can go if he needs to. Hope this helps some.
I am sorry about her predicament too. I agree that it is better to borrow enough for a decent supply and wean over time. The doctors who know about suboxone are not very forthcoming about the possible situations, like this one--- what do you do if you can't get suboxone for WHATEVER reason? I think the pharmacy may be required to keep one supply on hand for you for emergencies. I couldn't swear to that, but I heard it from someone, and tend to agree with it. I have the sublingual filmstrips at the 8/2 buprenorphine/naloxone dose. I was putting 1/4 of a strip a day under my tongue and thought it would be easy to just stop, but when I ran out, 3 days later I was sneezing, yawning and knew another day or two and I would be miserable. I went to the emergency room, but left; I didn't want to pick up the flu that everyone was "sharing" on top of the misery I already had.
The next day, I marched in to my doctor's office w/out an appointment and sat there until someone showed up with a key. This is the same doctor who took SIX FREAKING WEEKS to return my distressed phone call... she is fired, and reported to the licensing board for a variety of reasons. That's another story. She gave me a scrip for a supply of 30 strips. I now have it down to 1/16 of a strip; a tiny tiny piece, and I still feel it if I skip a day. I am told I should just take a week and get through it. I live alone and have no-one to hold the suboxone for me. I was so close to death coming off Oxycodone and benzodiazepines that now I am afraid to get into something without medical support. The problem is that the insurance companies are such greedy bastards that my benefits do not include Rx, and I have a $1,700 deductible and pay a $300/month premium. The only reason I keep it is for catastropyic illness and I do not want to bankrupt my children. I am not employed and cannot afford to pay out of pocket until I get some income coming in. The insurance companies aren't paying the service providers, and they are getting rich off the patients. The money goes to their CEOs and I hope they burn for eternity for their greed. If anyone can share their experience about how they kicked suboxone for good, I would love to hear it. Thank you.
Suboxone is evil its not what the doctors say it is. Ive been on it for 3 years and i know that somday im going to have to get off. I know its going to be bad but im just going to have to battle through it. The only thing that helps is withdrawl meds like adovan or clonidine. Also somthing for diareah and sleep. I think when i'm ready to come off my doctor will have no problem with perscribing me those types of meds. I pay cash for my meds and my doctors apointments i have no insurance. Its like im working just to support the drug habitt that i thought would go away by taking the suboxone. I was buying it on the streets for 2+1/2 years. I didn't need a doctors apointment for that. But only recently have i started seeing a doctor. I needed to be away from the influence of the streets. I pay more going to the doctors to get the suboxone then when I was buying it off the streets its the doctors apointments that cost me so much.
The pills or strips go for about 10 to 15 dollars on the streets. I'm now paying about 8 - 10 dollars at the pharmacy not a big difference. Whatever wo is me. I just want to be clean from the suboxone and no matter what its cheaper than buying Heroin and oxycontins off the streets. Ive made 300,000.00 dollars in the past 4 years and have nothing but an addiction to show for it. DONT DO DRUGS!
wow, you're story is so much like my own, that I just had to comment. I have also been on suboxone for about 4 1/2 years. To "kick" a heroin habit, I never did take more then 8mg. even though the Dr. suggest I take 2 8mg per day, (which I said I will) to save $$$... playing their game, to even the cost but yes expensive and I have insurence that Will Not cover dr. visit. anyway, I'm SICK of it ALL both mediforically and literally. Here is what I'm doing to be DONE with it, I tapped off little by little, small peace of Xanex @ night, this is only my 2nd. day without Suboxone, and I FEEL Like Hell.
I'm so tempted to see the suboxone Doctor, I even broke down & called, they said sure come on in $400.00 office visit,Cash (Not including pills) when I say I don't have that they put me on hold, like a car saleman, the hole thing is bad and the price, is all the more reason the stop, but it's not as easy, feels close to kicking the hydro & dope. I don't & Can Not go back to using Illegal's, and suboxone in the end really is the same... (still a User) but I know my personality, feel like I need "Something" I have been an opedate user for about 16 years, stopping Everything will not be easy, this I Know, So, I found a natural opid called Kratom (Maeng Da Kratom) which is the strongest type, I just ordered some online, didn't come in yet, so I don't know if it's any good, I can report back, people do write that the effects is like hydro. and it' a natural leaf etc, can not wait to try, hope I can stay far away, from the suboxone Dr. before this Natural Stuff comes. hope this info. helps.
Stay Strong/No Choice.
This is a two-year-old comment, and I'm really just trying to give a general answer, but I'm obviously new to this, and it won't "let" me. It will only allow me to "Comment on This Answer!" Aaarrggg! Whatever - the info will still be out there. I hope that lady found a way that wasn't too painful. To the point: I started being prescribed 12mg per day, (coming off 60mg daily Methadone.) I immediately dropped to 8 (I just felt like I'd be ok, and I was.) Quick note - I know, everyone's different, and that's the key - find the weaning amounts/time-frames that work for you, and be conscious of the possible effects of your other meds, your likely addictive personality, and the fact that sometimes it's just life itself kicking your butt, not your meds or lack of.
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My goal the entire time on Suboxone was to get off of it - like most say, "it's just subbing one drug for another. My doc talked about a "2mg 5-year club," and I told him I wanted to be in the ZERO mg. club - now!
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From eight to zero was simple, but occasionally (when I dropped too much or too quickly) I got deeply depressed - unnaturally so. The essence is this: Stay daily, gradually reducing, until you reach 2mg (comfortable at.) Then, start skipping days (you may feel a little lousy, but shouldn't be "sick" at all - just like the very beginning of Vicodin (or whatever) withdrawal. That stopped for me within two weeks of every adjustment. What I did was essentially reverse the process by which I got addicted in the 1st place - and I paid VERY close attention to my dosing, and how I felt. I made a chart, tried to follow it, and adjusted it when I needed to. For me, skipping days was the difference, and I NEVER felt remotely as badly as I did if I skipped a day of opiods! Godspeed to all who find themselves reading this, and I must add that I drew deeply on my spirituality in the process, and have learned grown through it, To sum it up (finally) "It's NEVER 'JUST A PILL'!!! " Doctors are paid to write prescriptions, and other than TRULY necessary meds (blood pressure, heart, you know - ones that you could DIE if you don't take,) you should probably avoid anything and everything that will mess with your brain chemistry - which is just about everything these days. Sorry to get on this, but I have to: VERY FEW people are depressed because of a "Zoloft Deficiency." Just because Zoloft (take your pick) may help relieve the symptoms is not a reason alone to take it. Same with Benzo's - extremely dangerous and addictive - for a reason! They want our money. They advertise on TV for gosh sakes - for US to TELL our doctors what to prescribe! How backwards is that? And the worst part is, the docs usually will go along with it, because they want you to keep on coming. 5% of the world's population (the U.S.) consumes 90% of the world's tranquilizers and 95% of the world's anti-depressants. Why? Because we're stupid enough (myself included) to buy them. Don't turn to a PILL for answers - look inside your spirit, and you'll find them.
Difficult, but not impossible. I was too chicken to suffer anymore. I got it down to the point that I had to cut tiny slivers and stretch it out. I am finally off everything, and it wasn't easy, but I sure do feel connected to anyone who has an addiction they want to unload. Stay around this site. You will never find any drug/alcohol counselor (unless he/she is in recovery too) who can help as much as the members of this community. Happy Mother's Day
Cleansgood, What ia your problem the er is not going to do a thing for anyone uless your very lucky and odds are your not. And I think I must have heard the insurance story a hundred times "greedy basterds" you say there out to make money thats what they do. People like you will find any excuse to find fault in somone else. I've never had the pleasure of being elagble for insurace. I pay cash and work for my money that pays for my suboxone and drs apointments. You blame your addiction on your dr. You say she dosn't answer your distressed calls. Its not your drs fault you got an adiction. And why tell lies about your dr getting fired. Ive never even met you and can tell your a pthalogical liar. Oh and if you think the pharmacy is going to carry extras just in case you mess up with your scrip well your wrong. People need to be serious about getting clean if there going to be sucsesful. Your not helping them by telling stories and made up lies. you cant get enough of the lifestyle its kindof pathetic.
Cleansgood, What ia your problem the er is not going to do a thing for anyone uless your very lucky and odds are your not. And I think I must have heard the insurance story a hundred times "greedy basterds" you say there out to make money thats what they do. People like you will find any excuse to find fault in somone else. I've never had the pleasure of being elagble for insurace. I pay cash and work for my money that pays for my suboxone and drs apointments. You blame your addiction on your dr. You say she dosn't answer your distressed calls. Its not your drs fault you got an adiction. And why tell lies about your dr getting fired. Ive never even met you and can tell your a pthalogical liar. Oh and if you think the pharmacy is going to carry extras just in case you mess up with your scrip well your wrong. People need to be serious about getting clean if there going to be sucsesful. Your not helping them by telling stories and made up lies. you cant get enough of the lifestyle its kindof pathetic.
To LFI - Wow, that was a harsh response, and definitely disrespectful, even if what you say is 100% true (which it is not.) My pharmacist HAD the authority to "prescribe" me emergency doses - HE told me this. So if you've "checked that out" with a pharmacist, the problem may be in: differing regulations state to state; that particular pharmacist being unaware or wrong; mis-communication; etc. It's remotely possible that my pharmacist was wrong or lying to me, but why would he do that?
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And with all respect, if you don't/can't see the incestuous relationships between manufacturers, Doctors, and the FDA - through the docs and TV ads - then you're just not looking closely enough. Do you know that there are multiple pending lawsuits against the original manufacturers of ALL of the common addicting opes and the FDA? They are ALL for "cheating" during the addictiveness studies done by the makers, and APPROVED by the FDA in the 70's.
I'm not saying it's ok to "blame" our addictions on anyone but ourselves, because we all (should) know that taking responsibility for our actions is key to overcoming addiction. BUT... to not recognize (or turn a blind eye to) the truth that opioids ARE ridiculously and quickly addicting, and can grab ANYONE (Rush Limbaugh, e.g.) is also counter-productive to the overall greater good that I like to believe people on this site are trying to accomplish together. I (think I) understand your apparent anger at what seems to you to be "dishonesty," but I see no compelling proof that this is the case here - only your most disrespectful speculation.
To conclude - the entire medical industry has been focused primarily on "TREATMENT," and not "CURE," FOR DECADES! We have not "cured" a major disease since Polio. If I "cure" you, you pay once - if I "treat" you, you pay FOREVER! Many drugs are deliberately designed to be addictive. Their goals are NOT to cure us, but to keep us "treatably" ill! It will serve us all well to stay aware of that, and remember that most if not all effective meds just help our bodies do what they can and will do on their own anyway.
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David wrote over 3000 years ago, "We are given 70 years to live - by reason of strength we are given 80." How long do we live today?
I guess I was disrespectful with in my post to cleanzgood. I do agree that pharmacists from state to state may differ. The truth is I don't know. But when I read something based on someone’s assumption I guess it aggravates me. Sorry for that. What you say about incestuous relationships between manufacturers, Doctors, and the FDA. I’m no expert but is that true I mean aren’t they all actors in the drug commercials. I guess what I am saying is no I don’t believe it’s a conspiracy. That is what your saying correct? Anyway it’s funny that you mentioned a cure for polio because my mother suffers greatly from post polio. I look at her and consider us all lucky to have been vaccinated when we were children. She is on high doses of morphine and roxycontin the rest of her life. No way out for her.
I appreciate your taking my comment in the spirit it was intended (it shows humility,) and choosing not to take offense where none was intended. "Conspiracy" is not the right term, that's why the closest I can come is "incestuous" relationships. Let me explain (factually) what I mean by that. There is pretty much a "rotation" of FDA officials and pharmaceutical lobbyists. One year, a guy works for Merck - the next, for the FDA - a year later, he's at Pfizer, then back to the FDA for a two-year stint. This is widely-known in the medical community. On a smaller scale, have you ever seen the incredible hotties that bring the samples to the docs? That's no accident - they want the Doc to give out more samples so they get to see the girls more often. I've actually seen it the other way around with female docs - handsome dudes bringing in boxes of samples of whatever. I used to have Dr.
friend who referred to the "sick" number of commercials for meds as "Dr. Television," implying what I said about that piece - we have commercials telling US what to tell our DOCTORS to prescribe us. Combine all that, and I guess I'd have to say it doesn't add up to "conspiracy;" more like "unspoken agreement" in the financial interests of everyone concerned - except the patients. Think about this part: insurance companies WANT drug prices high. That sounds stupid on the surface, but if you know anything about the insurance biz - you know they make the vast majority of their profits by investing money, not by paying out less then they collect in premiums (not that they don't try to do that too.) So, if drug and medical care prices are higher, they can justify higher premiums, and have MORE money to play with and profit on. That's why the largest recipient of the TARP money was AIG (the biggest insurance co. in the world,) who by the way are the only ones who haven't paid that back yet, and are in court right now trying to get out of it - like $20 Billion or more - what, 2.5 years later? D.O's and P.A.s are paid to write prescriptions - that's their main job. "What brings you here today?" "Here's your pills, have a nice day." Draw your own conclusions, man - it's right there in front of you. I'm sorry to hear that your mom has to deal with post-polio stuff, and that's the whole other side to the story. She NEEDS that pain medicine. I just can't help but wonder if effective meds can't be developed that AREN'T addictive.
I know I'm going long here, but one more point I just thought of. A study was done a few years back (I don't know what it was called or more importantly, who funded it) that supposedly showed that people in true pain did not have withdrawal symptoms after stopping long-term narcotic pain therapy - IF they stopped taking the meds when the pain stopped (after corrective surgery usually.) See why I wonder who funded that study too?
It's my general observation that, if you want the truth, follow the money. I can find very few historic examples of that not being at least partly true. Why any difference in the case of the "business" of medicine? All respect, and thanks for the honest reply. Steve
YES suboxone is expensinve but i have medical assistance and i only pay 4 dollars for 30 days of script..and my doc visits are free... have you tried any resources to help pay for the meds??
I once ran short because my Dr was on vacation. The Pharmacist gave me 9 8mgs for 3 days... He said "we can't have you suffering"... Hope this helps. I don't know about withdrawal as I haven't gone through it yet.
You should not have taken it for three years though. That's too long. No wonder you re scared of .withdrawals.
LFI,
maybe you should have been dealing with your problems for the three years on subs. Subs puts addiction in remission, its up to you to face your problems, do therapy, group talks, whatever you need to get to the root. If you just take subs and ignore that fundamental issue you are the one messing up not your doctor.
The withdrawl is just as bad if not worse than from Vicoden. You will feel like you have the flu and it doesn't get better. Had to go back to the vicoden just to survive. Don't take the suboxone if you can just wean off the pain meds.
Hey tony, how short was your taper and what does did u stop using at? I'm finally to 2mg and looking forward to getting to a microdose... has anybody had a taper that resulted in minimal or no w/drawl? Just curious, I am determined to keep tapering and stop subs but man we all go in this drug to avoid the ups and downs of opiate addiction, it sure is a kicker that to get off the treatment one has to suffer w/drawl onw llast time. Hey at least it'll be the last time if you are committed to recovery. Congrats tony, how is life without subs? Anything positive is sure to help people motivate going through the w/drawl many of you have described.
First, address this all with your doctor. There isn't a total lack of help out there for a smart person who knows to ask for it.
Each doc who prescribes suboxone is allowed to manage a certain number of his patients using free supplies of sub based on economic need.
If your doctor claims his slots are all full and he'd have to bump someone without warning, then you must immediately contact the company. Roxane Laboratories produce the drug for the U.S.. They must be obscenely rich by now. Tell them your story and how much of your money they already got through suboxone.
As stated the company does have a system in place which offers economic assistance by Roxane but its up to the individual doctors to decide who gets the drug for free. Maybe either you or your Dr. can convince the drug company to allow just one more slot to be created for you so you might fulfill your college dreams this year.
Then work very hard to get off by increments before you hit whatever time limiting factor they use to be sure the same people don't get free sub all their life.
Don't wait on any of it. Once you run out and can't get more, you will not be able to manage any of it. far simpler things will be overwhelming you them.
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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