Suboxone and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 2)

• lif...
• March 6, 2008

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been taking Suboxone for ten months now, and let me tell you, if you are serious about wanting to quit your addiction and you follow your doctor's orders, you will not find anything better than Suboxone. I was taking 5 80mg OxyContin a day and quit by using Suboxone without withdrawals. After a week of taking it, I was really back to my old self again. It is true that the same dose is not for everyone. I only took 3 of the 2mg pills a day, and that is a low dose but it works. Now I take one."

• JJa...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 27, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "The name brand Suboxone works the best for me. I've been on 3 of the generic tablets and they worked just about the same, slight difference in the strength I would say. But the generic Dr. Reddy's films made me so ill. After two days, I felt like I was in full-blown withdrawals. Maybe I'm allergic to some of the fillers in it. Whatever the case, my doctor wrote me a new prescription for brand only. I felt a 180-degree change in me after one dose. I was on day 4 of the Dr. Reddy's and felt like I hadn't had any relief in those 4 days. Been on subs for a year and a half. I may go back to the tablets because the brand name subs are very expensive when paying out of pocket. I didn't care this time though, I felt so awful, I had to miss two days of work, I couldn't get out of bed. 100% something wrong with that manufacturer for me. Just use caution with those. Wish y'all the best."

• Wis...
• December 6, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "So Suboxone and equivalents hands down save lives. I've witnessed firsthand how it has helped people regain their lives from the grips of opiate/heroin addiction. From 2008 to now, I have been addicted to opiates/heroin, alcohol, and yes, Suboxone itself two separate times. I find myself again addicted to this amazing orange film that I legitimately cannot function without. The first time I got off of Suboxone, I replaced it with alcohol, which you can imagine just about ruined my life. So this is a two-sided question: yes, Suboxone helps get you 'clean,' and that's why I rank it a 10 on doing its job. HOWEVER, I PROMISE YOU THAT IF SUBOXONE DOES NOT MAKE YOU SICK THE FIRST TIME YOU TAKE IT, IT IS HARDER THAN ANYTHING TO GET OFF OF. I want nothing more than to quit. I have a family and a job, I'm a functioning member of society, but even with 'tapering' off of Suboxone, I cannot seem to quit without having drastic, life-crippling withdrawal."

• Tur...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2021

For Opioid Use Disorder "After 13 years on Vicodin, it started giving me stomach problems. My pain doctor put me on Suboxone. The first week was okay, but by the 3rd week, I was all over the place. I hadn’t eaten or gone to the bathroom in 3 days. I knew I had to check myself into detox. The second day of detox, I was shaking uncontrollably, but as the taper stabilized, I was feeling much better. After 5 days, I was off Suboxone. Then came the withdrawals at home. For over two weeks, I had the runs, hot flashes, and night sweats. For some people, this stuff may work well, but for me, it was the worst experience of my life. I wish you all well in getting off this stuff!"

• Giv...
• March 3, 2014

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to painkillers for about 8 years. I tried cold turkey and outpatient treatment. That worked for a while, but I found myself right back. I heard about Suboxone. I found a doctor (I had no insurance) and made an appointment. I won't lie to you, it isn't easy. You have to go cold turkey for at least 24 hours before you take the medicine, and then you feel a lot better. After a week or so, I felt great! With this medicine, I got my life back. It saved me. I was on it for about a year and a half. One warning when you do finally come off Suboxone: it's hard, it's about a month of withdrawal. Totally worth it in my opinion."

• Kla...
• March 6, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I started taking Suboxone 6 years ago because I was getting off of Roxy's. I heard, at the time, that it wasn't hard to get off of and was a way better choice than the Roxys. Little did I know that what I was told about getting off of the Suboxone was easy was a COMPLETE LIE! I regret the day I ever started taking them! I've tried numerous times to wean myself off, only to fail MISERABLY! I also have tried to medically detox, but of course, you know what happened... FAIL. If you are thinking of trying this or Subutex, PLEASE PLEASE DO NOT. It may take a week to a week and a half to get over the withdrawals of Roxys, Loritab, even Oxy's, but getting off of the Suboxone/Subutex takes at least 3-6 months."

• Kyl...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 18, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "Life-saving! I'm so happy to have this drug. I was severely heroin/opioid dependent for 8+ years. I got pregnant and got off the dope, sought counsel, which led me to a methadone clinic. It was a way to maintain with a baby without full withdrawal/detox. Skip 2 years of maintenance methadone. Finally took the leap to Suboxone. 100% best decision I could ever make for myself and my family. Both my husband and I are addicts. Together, when using, we were going to either get a divorce, go to jail, or die. You cannot use narcotics on this drug. If you do, you will be very sick, or in my case, you spend enough money to realize that you can do copious amounts of dope and not feel any different! That's life-changing!"

• ac ...
• March 2, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone got me off of painkillers, but left me addicted to it, and my doctor wanted to keep me on it, so I had to stop cold turkey on my own after being on it for 5 and 1/2 years. Withdrawal was bad for about a week, but some symptoms lasted a couple of months, but it was worth it because now I am my normal self again and much happier. It's now been over a year, and I don't even think about it anymore. If I had known more about Suboxone, I would have just quit painkillers without it."

• Phi...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 9, 2023

For Opioid Use Disorder "So this medication is good initially, but I cannot stress the importance of discussing tapering off the medication the moment you start. There seems to be a total miseducation with doctors about how long someone can be on Subs. I was told I'd be on it for the rest of my life. Was on them for 9 years, and I lost my friends and my business. Finally had enough and stopped. It's week 6 of no Subs, and I'm still completely out of energy, and my stomach hasn't stopped being upset from day one. I've lost over 12 kg from diarrhea, and the withdrawals were worse than heroin. You have to get off these the moment your withdrawal period from your drug of choice is over. Taper over 2 months, and don't use Subs for more than 6 months to a year."

• ohd...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• September 7, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "This medicine can help many people for very short use. I've been on it for 4 years, and it rules my life, so please don't stay on it more than 15 days or you will be bitten by the dragon. I've been off it by choice for 5 days now. I've experienced severe withdrawal effects. I was only taking 2 mg at jump point with the doctor on call and my brother helping me through it, so please use this very short term. There are serious side effects."

• Car...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 23, 2025

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been a Suboxone patient for 13 years. It truly was a lifesaver for me. If I didn't end up dead, I would have sold my house and be financially destitute now. IIRC, I started on 16 mg per day. More importantly, I was quickly able to taper down in microdoses over the years. I am now on 1.75 mg daily for several years now. Would I like to be totally free of this drug dependence? Sure would. Do I have fears and tons of questions about that? Sure do. I am a senior now and was on the Methadone program for 2 years while still in college. It was the worst choice I ever made for my life. Even though I was tapered down to the lowest dose they could give me, I experienced withdrawals far worse than heroin, and it took 2 months to regain a restful sleep. Sheer torture. That memory is what frightens me about terminating Suboxone. They always say it's not the dose, it's the duration. Be that as it may, I still have hope."

• Nom...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 15, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been struggling with back pain for over 10 years. I have always tried to walk the line between managing my pain and becoming dependent. Over the past 6 months, I lost control and became dependent. I was highly overusing Norco and most recently methadone. I went into rehab last week, and after a night of my skin crawling because the doctor wasn't in when I was finally admitted, he put me on 8mg of Suboxone. Within 30 minutes, I felt much better. I took 8mg the 2nd day at 8am and felt some withdrawals at 8-9pm, so I was upped to 12mg. Not only has it stopped my need for Norco, it is helping with my back pain. Make no mistake, Suboxone is an opioid, and you will become dependent on it, but you cannot abuse it because it is not effective over 24mg."

• LAP...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• November 28, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "Started with Percs, moved to straight oxy at 100-120 mg/day. Never beyond that. Tried a half dozen times to go cold turkey. Not much luck. Closest I have ever gotten is with Sub. The problem is that with Sub, you are still just taking opiates in a slightly different form. That's why it 'works so well.' The problem comes when you stop the Sub. The hardest jump is from some opiates to NO opiates. No matter what, you're going to experience withdrawal. You have to pay the piper at some point, even though some methods (like a taper) might make it a little easier. Anyone who says that withdrawal is just a weekend on the couch is selling you a bill of goods (or is the doctor encouraging you to take the pills). Be prepared for 10 days."

• Bud...
• June 22, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have a love/hate relationship with this drug. Subutex, Suboxone, Zubsolv-I've been prescribed all of them. It most definitely works for heroin/opiate addiction. No question. Personally, the tablets have always worked much better for me. That's just my opinion. My issue is I've been on this medication for 13 of the last 15 years. I quit cold turkey twice, didn't wean down or anything. I do not suggest it!! As we see, I'm back on it. I went one year off and then another six months or so. I just never felt the same. I'd rather withdraw from heroin, at least it doesn't last 30 days (for my experiences, both times the physical withdrawal was a month). Now I'd love to come off, but I don't have it in me right now. I'm too old to keep paying $500+ dollars every month. Tell me, wtf do you do??"

• Tre...
• October 13, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I tried Suboxone about 3 weeks ago. Thought I was sick enough already, but went into the worst withdrawals of my life. I also took the whole strip, 12 mgs, because my Dr. said to, which I think was too much to start with. Just did my last bag of H, and I'm not getting anymore. I'm gonna wait till tomorrow at 12:30 p.m., hopefully it will help. I'm only gonna take 1-2 mgs, wait, and take a little more. I need this to help. I do not want to use anymore, it's ruining my life. I'm really looking forward to getting my life back. I just want to feel happy again."

• Joh...
• November 15, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone is the best drug ever for withdrawing from opiates, but beware of its own withdrawal! Average doses range between 6 and 16 mg, but 0.2 mg (!) is already a very potent dose of buprenorphine as an opiate painkiller (Temgesic). Withdrawal can be long and brutal after being on subs for months to years. Most Suboxone users will feel good while being on Suboxone because they still are on opiates, but also because buprenorphine is a potent antidepressant. Because of the massive doses people take in general, it will take some years to build up tolerance, and instead of a blessing, Suboxone slowly but surely will start to feel like a burden that will be very hard to get rid of, so please be aware! Just Google the long-term effects of Suboxone use and you'll see what I mean."

• Mrs...
• November 10, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "I am a 30-year-old woman that has undergone approximately 20 knee operations, including a total knee replacement, and the other replacement is right around the corner. I have given painkillers a try, and lo and behold, I'm hooked, taking up to 25 a day. I have felt the deadliness of withdrawal, and I'm terrified. I can't go cold, as I have a family and a very demanding job. I've heard of Suboxone and want to try it, but I am so scared. I'm the goody in my family, and no one has a clue what I'm doing. I have changed, and I just want my life back. Someone help me, please!!"

• Joh...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• October 5, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I just took it for 3 months and want to rid myself of it, but its withdrawal is worse than heroin. I advise please don’t take it. For the last 8 days, I just take 1/8 of 2 mg Suboxone, but when I want to stop, it feels like real withdrawal and is very tough. The doctor and company also said its withdrawal is not like a heroin withdrawal, but it's worse than heroin. If you have any opioid dependence, I suggest just go to rehab with detox. Please don’t take this medication, it's the same dependence, even worse. Thanks."

• Mrs...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• June 21, 2022

For Opioid Use Disorder "Just wanted to share my experience so far... I was taking perks for about a year and became dependent on them. I was taking probably around 10-15 per day at the end. I started Suboxone, which took away my withdrawal symptoms. I decided to try Suboxone on a low dose. 1 pill is 8 mg. I stayed on that dosage for less than a week and then did half a pill - 4 mg for a couple of weeks... I then lowered it again to 2 mg for a couple of weeks, which was a quarter of a pill a day. In my last 2-3 weeks, I split those quarters into 2 dosages. I am now 7 days free of Suboxone!! I started with them and had next to no withdrawal symptoms!!! Yay!! Unless of course it hasn't hit me yet, but I doubt it. Also, I'd like to add --- you're supposed to take it every single day, but I wanted off of it, so I would purposely let some withdrawals happen in between doses (that's when I would lower my dose, and it worked like a charm every time. Started my Suboxone Nov/21, ended June/22. I'm very proud!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 14, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "My husband was given this medicine for opiate addiction after back surgery. He took opioids for years and went into rehab to get off pain meds. They gave him Suboxone. He was only supposed to take it for about a month, but the doctor kept giving it to him for over a year and a half. He became just as easily addicted to Suboxone as he did the opiates and then went through terrible withdrawal. He should have been admitted for rehab, but with the help of a psychiatrist, his willpower, and myself, his wife, we managed. DO NOT EVER let your loved one take this medicine. It will keep the addiction in process. It won't make it better, it will give them something else to be addicted to."

• Jim...
• November 1, 2009

For Opioid Use Disorder "Had OxyContin addiction, went to methadone for 2 years, tapered from 150 mg to 25 mg, then switched to Suboxone for 2 years. Tapered from 32 mg to 0.5 mg. Initial taper was quick, and I was at 2 mg and below for the 2nd year. I was on 0.5 mg (a quarter of a 2 mg pill) for 2 months before I stopped. I stopped Sept 1309 (7 weeks ago). Withdrawals are not as severe as OxyContin's but long. The first week was hard, and the 2nd week was better, and by week 3, I was much better. Here is the thing: I am still not sleeping well (5 hrs/night), not solid. My motivation and energy are low, skin still crawls, and Jimmy legs are the worst! (7 weeks). After research, it looks like I will be dealing with this for 6 months to a year."

• Cor...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• March 31, 2021

"DO NOT START SUBOXONE for chronic pain. It is a narcotic for a reason. Your withdrawal symptoms will be 1,000 times worse than any other opiate besides methadone. Maintenance may work for a lot of people, but getting off of it is the biggest issue. You will experience some of the worst withdrawals of your entire life."

• LaN...
• March 25, 2018

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been addicted to opiates, opioids, or anything like it for the past 8-10 years. I recently was addicted to poppy seed tea, which I had a good supply of high potency seeds, so I was extremely dependent on the tea for the last 7 years or so of my life. I was spending $20-$30 a day on it, and it took 1-3 hours a day of my life away from my family to get and make the tea. Not to mention the embarrassment. After losing my good supplier, I switched back to codeine, which wasn't doing the trick. Needless to say, I was hooked and had no easy way out. Anytime I tried to quit, I went through horrible withdrawals, crushing depression, and anxiety. Even after a week of not taking, the depression was getting worse and worse. I had to use, just so I wouldn't kill myself, it felt like. Totally trapped. I made the decision to start taking Suboxone last week. Best decision of my life!!!"

• WOO...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• July 13, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "This is great for getting off any prescription meds. I was addicted to painkillers, then started Suboxone. Wow. Works great. Still a little discomfort coming off the Suboxone, but nothing like trying to stop straight from painkillers. If you really want to get off painkillers, this is it. But don't be a fool and use painkillers and then use Suboxone as a backup, you will never get better. You must be willing to stop all painkillers for good. One year later, I took a painkiller and threw me into withdrawals."

• BrU...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• September 5, 2017

For Opioid Use Disorder "I am neither a drug nor Suboxone user. However, very unfortunately, my husband is. It's been 6 years he has been using this stuff called Suboxone. He is like a serious drug person, like those who use heroin and so on. He cannot live without it. Even though he no longer uses opioids, he is still an addict and a sick person. Once, he tried to stop it after minimizing his dose to the minimum. But you cannot imagine what I saw that time. He was not himself, he got such terrible withdrawals. It was terrible. So he failed and started to use it again. He was suffering for 9 days and couldn't stand it anymore. The doctors just make money, but are not thinking about other people's lives who have to deal with it."