Buprenorphine and Withdrawal: What Users Say (Page 4)

• lil...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 26, 2016

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I was addicted to heroin for 9 years. A year ago, I decided I had enough, so I started off with methadone. Slowly, I reduced it to 15 ml daily and then started Subutex. 6 mg failed. After only 4 months, I tapered down to 0.4. That is when they decided I was ready to stop, and I happily agreed because according to my doc, such small doses wouldn't affect me. The first day after taking the last tablet, I was okay. But the next day, I started feeling awful. I went back and explained that I had withdrawal symptoms. They told me I could go back on script but have to wait 10 days to see a doc (ridiculous). So, back on heroin to keep me going till then. Of course, I'm only smoking a really small amount. Worried though after 10 days I'll need methadone again. Does anyone know if I can go straight back on Subutex?"

• boo...
• January 26, 2011

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was a miserable addict for 6 years. I tried white-knuckling it at least a dozen times. When I was introduced to buprenorphine, my problems were over. I stopped using and suffered withdrawals for about 12 hours, then was given my first dose. I was scared and depressed and already thinking about where I might find some dope. Then it was over. About an hour after my first dose of buprenorphine, I was laughing, eating, cleaning up my room. It was so easy. Thank you."

• Low...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 22, 2019

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I've had the Sublocade shot nearly 2 weeks ago. I was on 18 mg of Suboxone. I also take Lyrica daily. For most of the time on the injection, I've felt withdrawals, not severe, just general unwellness, anxiety, etc."

• 4sp...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 26, 2018

For Chronic Pain "This is the new norm, like it or not. Belbuca has a ceiling, meaning only so much hits your brain, and that's it. I've been at the same pain clinic for 18 years for diabetic neuropathy, followed by a horrific 70 mph car chopper crash in '03. Old folks don't cha know? So much for loud pipes saving lives. The doctor took me off 5-15 mg oxys, substituted with two 300 mcg Belbuca/day. They're not enough, I WD for 2 weeks before I settled in. They're okay. Not high enough from my oxy Rx, but they should work well if Rx'd correctly. My new doctor is out of family medicine, not a specialist schooled in PM. These are NARCOTIC-period. Not Suboxone and work as such. They have a ceiling. You can't double up for a buzz."

• Bar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 21, 2023

For Opioid Use Disorder "I hope someone reads this and helps them make the decision NOT to start using buprenorphine. It's a horrible drug. I was addicted to codeine. I wanted to stop, so I asked for help. I saw a social worker and a doctor. After explaining my drug history, they concluded I should go on this drug called Espranor (buprenorphine). I was told it would be easier for me. I started taking it back in 2020. Yes, I have stopped everything else, but I am still taking 12 g daily of Espranor (buprenorphine). When I miss a few days and I start to get withdrawals, it is the worst feeling ever, even worse than codeine withdrawals. I honestly think they get a bonus for getting people off other drugs to get onto Espranor. Pharmaceutical companies must make money. But believe me, it would have been way easier for me to stay on codeine and just taper my dose down. They told me that taking Espranor would block the effects of other drugs, but I think they had hidden agendas. Please just avoid."

• Cri...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• September 27, 2020

For Chronic Pain "I was on methadone maintenance for 7 years. Was titrating off but just couldn't get below 20 mg. The plan was to go on buprenorphine just to get off methadone, but the doctor talked me into Suboxone, said it would be better for long-term pain management. Did films for 2 months, switched to just buprenorphine tablets because films kept sticking to my dentures. Anyway, I am so miserable. I feel like I am always in beginning withdrawals, sweating at the time, feel like garbage. Worse when I try to do anything. Hate it."

• Anonymous
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I was excited about Sublocade after hearing so many success stories of getting off the Suboxone. I was on 10-16 mg a day. I had to supplement with 2 mg of Suboxone the first day after the shot. I had the 300 mg 3 weeks ago, now I'm supplementing 6-8 mg, which seems like a step backward. If I don't take Suboxone, I feel like I'm dragging, blah, and in mild withdrawal. I was going to get another 300 mg shot just to see if I needed a higher sustained dose, but I'm afraid I will feel worse."

• Spu...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• September 24, 2018

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I just got my first Sublocade injection. I'm praying it works. It is actually 6 mgs less than what I take daily, so I hope I don't start having withdrawal symptoms. It would really suck because I have been doing so well on Zubsolv."

• FFs...
• June 1, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I’ve been on Suboxone for over 20 years. Down to 2 mg per day. These days I just use it to take the edge off... but I’m really sick of it, TBH. Although I like the buzz I get from it, I’m tired of having to take it all the time. I don’t really get very sick from withdrawals, but it is uncomfortable, with the usual sweats, cramps, and headaches. I’m hoping this will make it easier. I saw all your success stories, so I figured what’s the worst that could happen? They started me on 64 mg Subudole. They said it’s similar to Sublocade but smaller doses for lower mg addicts. The dose definitely hurts (ouch!), but it goes away within 10 min. ATM I feel okay a few hours later. I definitely still have a buzz, so all good so far. I just want to live life free of this crap for once. Also, I’m on Effexor, which I’ve been able to get down to 75 mg, but I’m not going to lower that until I’m off subs completely. So far, so good."

• Dav...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• April 22, 2023

For Opioid Use Disorder "After a 35-year run with all the hard things, mostly except for opiates, I managed to stop all of it, including the weed and alcohol. I had battles over and over with prescribed small amounts of organic opiates that kept me in serious pain and trouble for taking the amount I needed or having to find other different pain management meds and running short in 30 days for a refill. After a 4-5 year run of buprenorphine, half my day is in hell due to waking up sick and in severe distress with pain because every brand I tried worked pretty well by the afternoon, but I felt like this was poisoning me. I finally got a brand that doesn't make me sick after about 1 p.m., but my bladder and guts have been on fire for 2.5 years, waking me in misery. My new doctor wanted me to go back on the naloxone additive, but I'll be going back to OxyContin. I had to put myself through 22 extremely hard withdrawal days last year because I couldn't take any more pills. This is the medical world in Oregon. I'm 64."

• Roc...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• November 27, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I had been on Subutex for 10 years, and around year 8, I was fed up with it but tried to wean off and stop taking it, but the withdrawals were horrible. My doctor retired, and a new doctor told me about Sublocade and how it’s a great drug to use in order to get off of the Subutex with little to no withdrawals. So I read a lot of the reviews, of course, a lot of people said they had little to no withdrawals, so I said okay. I didn’t want to be on the pills anymore, my mental state was already done with the addiction, but my body withdrew every time I tried to stop. So I got my first shot 3 months ago, 300 mg dose… Let me say that the peak got me high for three days, and I was scared to death. I also had horrible sleeping spells where my body would try to fall asleep at random. I am now on my third shot at 100 mg and will update on my last shot, then 3 months after I’m off. We will see."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2023

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I am a 31-year-old female. I have struggled with opioid addiction (mainly Norco) and chronic pain for the past 5 years. I developed severe pain in my neck that got increasingly worse with no help from medication, physical therapy, or surgery. I was taking Norco, which would mask my pain for an hour at the most but left me with horrible withdrawals, severe insomnia, and depression. My physiatrist prescribed me buprenorphine, and it was very helpful. It helped my pain and got rid of opioid cravings. However, the buprenorphine sublingual tablet caused horrible constipation. I couldn't use the bathroom for 8 days and gained 10 pounds in that time. I did some research and found that the patch called Belbuca (buprenorphine buccal film) had fewer side effects. I find the patches to be a bit less helpful, but if you suffer from horrible constipation from buprenorphine, please use Belbuca."

• Bil...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 28, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I've waited to comment to see what happened to me taking this after being on Suboxone for over 10 years. In that time, I tried to quit a few times and had such bad withdrawals that I couldn't quit while I was working and had severe restless leg syndrome. To make a long story short, I'm on 4 months with nothing after Sublocade for 4 months, then I stopped to see what will happen. I thank God every day I go without drug use. I hope I never need anything like Suboxone or Sublocade again. If you're done with taking any drug to get high, including pot or alcohol, this will take you there without being sick or withdrawing."

• Fle...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 29, 2021

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I had my first injection of buprenorphine yesterday after using every day for 23 years. I didn't really know what to expect and couldn't find much help for what would happen after having it. Well, I can tell you that the first 24 hours I felt like I was going to die. All of the withdrawal effects: stomach cramps, feeling sick, and the worst leg pains ever. I literally could not keep still. I had 4 really hot showers, which helped immensely. I finally went to bed at 11 a.m., and after tossing and turning, I finally went to sleep around 3:30 a.m. I woke at 8:30, feeling much better and those leg pains were gone. Unfortunately, not all was great. Since waking, I've been sick, bile, and had the sneeze coughs. I'm going to try to eat something for the first time in 3 days. I will let you know how my journey goes."

• Ban...
• August 4, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I was on Subutex for a little over a year for MAT. I wanted to stop taking it so badly but was terrified of withdrawals. I’m also a single mother, so laying in bed sick was not an option for me. My doctor recommended Sublocade, and it was one of the best decisions I’ve ever made. I went from 8 mg of Subutex a day to NONE. Did I mention I only got one injection? That’s right! ONE! And I’ve had ZERO WITHDRAWALS. This medication was truly a miracle for me."

• Anonymous
• August 23, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I've been on the shot for 13 months. It’s good and all, sure. But I have experienced brutal, horrifying, gut-wrenching withdrawals from the injection when I have stopped taking it in the past. I don’t understand why. No one seems to have experienced this. It has happened twice now. The first time something happened with the pharmacy, and my injection was 2 weeks late getting delivered (COVID), and at like day 10… I was doing my damn thing, going about my damn business, and all of a sudden I felt a little chill down my spine with a rush of heat, and BOOM I just started projectile vomiting and legit pooping myself. This wasn’t a gradual come on, people. It didn’t start with a yawn, a teary eye, and then HOURS later you start puking and pooping. No, no, no. This was something like PREcip withdrawals, people. I went from 0-100 within 10 minutes. It took three 8mg strips to get me back to normal."

• Sub...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• September 20, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "15 years on Subutex in the UK, now have a job, family, house, big motorcycle. I have been stable for many years and have noticed that different batches of Subutex can be slightly different, but this last batch, B.N. 023103, is the worst. I feel so bad I even feel like quitting my job as it has been a huge struggle for 2 months. My symptoms are like withdrawals. I can function, but it's very hard, I haven't used in many years. Trying to get help is almost impossible, so I had to contact Indivior myself, which was not easy. Now I'm hopefully getting a different batch sent to my pharmacy, but will they be better, and how long will the batch last? I don't know. Have tried generic Sandoz, but in the past they were inferior to Subutex. Don't be fooled into thinking all buprenorphine is made the same. Hope this helps someone to not be in my shoes as it seems there are no real forums in the UK or support of this kind."

• G28...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 28, 2023

For Chronic Pain "Once you're on it, it is the worst thing in the world to get off of safely because most doctors will not taper you off of it correctly or at all. They usually think they should just cold-turkey you if you say you would like to get off, and that is wrong and very uncomfortable for a very unreasonably long period of time. Withdrawal with the cold-turkey method lasted 21 days for myself, and it was hardcore almost every one of those days, then stopped."

• G28...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• March 28, 2023

For Chronic Pain "Once you're on it, it is the worst thing in the world to get off of safely because most doctors will not taper you off of it correctly or at all. They usually think they should just cold-turkey you if you say you would like to get off, and that is wrong and very uncomfortable for a very unreasonably long period of time. Withdrawal with the cold-turkey method lasted 21 days for myself, and it was hardcore almost every one of those days, then stopped."

• Abb...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• September 21, 2021

For Opioid Use Disorder "After reading some of the reviews here, I decided to share mine from the other part of the world, Beirut, Lebanon! I've used drugs for 11 years, between here, Dubai, NYC. I have done almost every single drug, but of course, when it came to heroin, that was my drug of choice. I've been in and out of rehabs a lot, I've attended many NA meetings. I've done Subs before and stopped. Now I'm back. It has been like 5 months back on a 3 daily 8 mg Buprenorphine. I'm not going to lie and say I'm not abusing it. But the thing about this whole opioid substitute is 'a cover-up.' The main differences are that it's legal, and you don't have to pick up from a dealer. My opinion is that people have made it seem like that. That's the whole messed up human being perspective. You're still using if you think about it. I'm not even trying to stop it because of how bad the withdrawals are. I guess that is me, an addict. To whoever is reading this! Lebanon is way too different than what you think or see. So many addicts."

• Doe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 20, 2021

For Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "After 30 years on methadone and many unsuccessful rehab/detox, I switched to Suboxone for a while, then the generic buprenorphine. I’m able to get by on 4 mg a day, any less and I go into withdrawal. I’m prescribed 8 mg twice a day, but I feel fine at 4 mg a day, and I don’t feel any difference between 16 mg a day and 4, this stuff doesn’t get you high."

• Ger...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 31, 2020

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "I've been taking Suboxone for 2 years now, I'm down from 24 mg to 12 mg, and my counselor suggested this medication. I obviously don't like the whole no eating, drinking, or talking for 15 min before, during, and after taking the sublingual, but it works. I told my doctor no way on this stuff. I don't know if some of these positive comments are fake, but all my friends at my clinic who have tried this stuff said it was awful. And after 2 years of keeping a needle out of my arm, I'll stick with Suboxone. I'm done with going through withdrawal, so why risk this medicine? Look, if it works for you, awesome, but if you're taking something else that even remotely works, don't switch. We are drug addicts trying to stay clean, there is no magic pill, shot, or strip that suddenly changes who we are. We will struggle for the rest of our lives, so if you're having a hard time with Suboxone or methadone but it still works and you're clean off heroin or oxy, stick with it. Better the devil you know!"

• Tma...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 22, 2019

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "On opiates for twenty years, put on Butrans and now 4 days of withdrawals with no pain control. This is so hard."

• Sob...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• August 25, 2018

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "Got the shot about a week ago. At first, it was weird not taking anything, but now I don’t even think about it. No withdrawals or cravings. So far, so good."

• Mar...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 21, 2012

For Opioid Use Disorder "It is good when it comes to controlling urges to use heroin. A very good medication, I have not yet gone through withdrawal symptoms."