Subutex and Insomnia: What Users Say

• bcp...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 15, 2012

For Opioid Use Disorder "I absolutely love this medicine. It helped my back pain and increased my mood. I have been on the 2 mg for about 6 months and finally after breaking the last three in half for four days (1 mg) I have gone cold turkey. WOW, first day is okay, second and third are the killers, no motivation, no sleep, however, on the 4th day I was feeling better and saw my doctor on the 5th day. He was expecting me to beg for more, but I turned him down, I wanted off the ride for good. He was so proud which made me feel better. I am now back at work and it is HARD but I am making it. Really, folks get the 2 mg and break them into halfs, and then half those until you are out... Within 5 days you will be FINE."

• Lov...
• May 5, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I had a $1,000-a-month heroin habit. Three days into withdrawal, I went to a Methadone clinic. I was on Methadone, 150 mg's, for 6 months before I started a 5-month taper to jump to Subutex. While Methadone kept me clean, it really slowed me down, I just kept going up & up in mg's. The taper off Methadone was brutal. I was induced onto Sub last October. The first 3 weeks on 16 mg's of Subs, I had a lot of speedy side effects, feeling really wired, insomnia. I was nervous it wouldn't go away because I *hated* being anxious, feeling fast. Third week in, the side effects just stopped. I could sleep, I was normal. I'm on 24 mg's of Sub, I had a big heroin habit, I feel 100% normal. I do not crave junk. It saved my life. Been off heroin since December 2014. I love life! Miracle med!♡"

• Arc...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 2, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "Day 5 off Subutex after a quick 2-week detox. Day 3 was the worst: upset stomach, aching legs, and the lack of sleep, but that's about it, nothing to be scared about, it's all copable. Hot baths and paracetamol. Just don't listen to the horror stories, if done correctly, it's doable. Good luck."

• Nun...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 22, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been on subs for ten years now, was the only way to stop 16 years of addiction to heroin without relapsing, but this drug is harder to get clean from compared to heroin. I tried for one week and it was hell, I've never been in so much pain. My bones hurt so much, felt like ants running in my blood, the sweat, the shivering, no sleep at all. It is hell 10 times worse than heroin. If you start taking subs, take it only for a couple of weeks. After that, you can’t stop taking it. I’m reducing it now to 4 ml a day. I want to stop taking it as I've been told the long-term use of subs is not good for your health. All the best to all."

• Bup...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• March 16, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "Don’t take subs for longer than a few weeks. Make sure you get down to about 0.25 mg before you kick. Have been on subs for 10 years. It only did ruin my stomach. Ruined my ability to sleep. But it did this under the supervision of a doctor. This drug is not meant for long-term use. I have gotten down to 0.25 mg, but because I have been on it for 10 years, the withdrawal was terrible. Worse than any opiate withdrawal. 13 days into it and I still can’t sleep. Can’t move because my body is so fatigued and the chills and body aches remain. Don’t take this medication longer than it takes to detox. It will ruin your life."

• den...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 28, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have swapped from 30 mL of methadone to Subutex. I waited 30 hours and took the first dose. Although I haven't had bad withdrawals, I haven't been able to sleep for the last 4 days. I even relapsed and bought a 10 bag of this just to get to sleep. Back on a 12 mg dose of Subutex, so I really hope I stabilize and feel normal soon. I can't handle not sleeping."

• jal...
• February 20, 2010

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have only just started using Suboxone/Subutex, and I have to say it works great for the cravings and the withdrawals. The only reason why I did not give it a 10 is because of the side effects. I had many side effects on the Suboxone, so my doctor moved me to the Subutex. The side effects have gone down except two. I have a problem falling asleep. I constantly pass out whenever I'm not focused on doing something. I'm standing in a company meeting, passing out and almost falling over, and driving is a challenge in its own. Secondly, it's causing stiffness in my muscles whenever I'm not moving for long periods of time. When I wake up at night or in the morning, I can't hardly move to roll over or get up. Other than these problems, it is great!"