Bupe Buprenorphine Withdrawals

[cnote_propohet]

I was told it gets into your bones after a year. I did a stinit in rehab last october (Dumb mistake, I panicked about my job). Anyway, they gave me 2mg subutex twice aday for the first two days, 2mg subutex once a day the second two days. then one mg a day for two days, then.5 mg for one day and then done. After a few years of an over 500mg a day roxi habit, interspersed with suboxone when i was dry, it was not fun. the third day, as usual, after the .5mg subutex i was dyin. All the WD effects. And the whole month i was jumpy, pissed off, and terrible insomnia.
Also, after 30 days in the hole (well, it was in FL and like a country club, good insurance), I just picked off the night my plane touched down in dirty jerz. But that's another story.

Yes switching to other opiates does prolong withdrawal but it also can alter it to a less severe state.

 

[A4Anxiety]

Bupe detox

Hey all.. just thought I would chime in and offer my 2 cents..

My love affair with opiates started about 3 years ago when I tried vics for the first time.. The euphoria.. The warm fuzzy feeling.. the itching (lol) .. I loved it all.. After the vics became useless I switched to oxys.. all the same feelings of joy came back.. but after a shortwhile of abuse were also gone..

The habbit got expensive so I stopped using and started to feel withdrawal... So I got on suboxone.. I was on it for a couple of months.. and just realized I was substituting one pill for another (got to love the thought process of a dope addict eh?) lol.. So I relapsed.. and this time I relapsed on dope.. I had tried it before back in the day and loved it and since it was cheaper than oxys.. it became my drug of choice.. black tar heroin.. as it is the only kind you can find out here in LA.. Although I have never banged it I was smoking it everyday for the last 10 months.. about a half a gram a day habbit ($40 sack)..

again I got sick of beign dependant on the dope so again i switched to suboxone.. except this time I told myself.. fuck it.. no more maitenance program.. no more switching one pill for another.. Im going to use these subs for a quick week long detox.. I had a nice supply of subs at home so I didnt even have to go back to the doctor to get more..

my schedule:

day 1: took 6 mgs.. still sweating but most of the worse wd symptoms gone.
day 2: took 6 mgs.. still some sweating.
day 3: took 4 mgs.. still some sweating.. body aches.. tired as hell.. but no large wd symptoms
day 4: took 3 mgs.. still some sweating.. body aches.. tired.
day 5: took 1.5 mgs.. feel like i got run over by a truck.. mild sweating.

day 6 is tomorrow where I will take 1 mg or less.. day 7 will be 0.5.. then I jump off..

From what I have felt this passed 5 days the 7 days of detox will be enough to get the dope withdrawals out of me.. but not bring on the lingering long sub withdrawals.. This in my opinion is the best way to detox unless your on bupe for maitenance..

hope my post helps some people out.. this addiction is a mother fucker.. and the only way your truely going to kick it is when you wake up one day and say FUCK IT. Stay strong mentally.. keep yourself busy.. if you cant get out of bed watch movies.. surf the net.. read about other stories of people trying to get clean.. thats what I have been doing..

Good luck to all..

P.S. ... listen to every single word Captain.Heroin has to say.. I have read this board for years.. even before I signed up a couple years ago.. and this guy is full of knowledge.. all from his past experiences. This community is incredibly lucky to have him.. His advice has personally helped me very much to exercise the demons in my head.

Take care everyone.

 

[nicksndimes]

In all actuality, getting through any kind of WDs is a lot easier when you have some supplies to combat it with. Going to subs to kick does make it a hell of a lot easier to get off the big boy dope, but you do have to be prepared mentally for a two step withdrawl (First coming off the dope or OCs or whatever, then coming off of the subs). The first three days off of the strong stuff you will have chills and sweats, but the subs do make it tolerable and three days in, you begin to feel better, especially if you can get some water and vitamins into your body. Then when you come off the subs its going to seem like its not getting any better, but you'll start noticing a huge difference around day 20. Just remember, methadone withdrawls are a fuckload worse and you are smart for not going that route.

Honestly, I would never take more than 2 mgs of bupe at a time ever in any situation, so that should be the max you start out with regardless of your previous habit (Its strange how doctors push these massive doses.)

Anyways though, the regimen shouldn't last more than two weeks and will be more comfortable if shorter, I have noticed. The way that is working for me is 2mg for 4 days, 1mg for 4 days, 0.5mg for 2 days, 0.25 for 2 days.

First of all, it makes things easier to put yourself in a place that is peaceful and will have little little risk of uncomfortable events (if you are lucky enough to be able to go to such a place). Music can really take your mind off of using as long as you avoid depressing and drug related songs (This is a good time to explore the happiest music you can stand, you will be surprised how much of a mood booster it can be). Also, porn for certain circumstances is entertaining as long as that is not a habit for you as well.

A few other things to have on hand would be a few benzos, one emergency vicodin, clonodine for anxiety and sleep (No more than 5 days) loperamide for diarrhea, diphenhydramine for sleep if it doesn't give you RLS (Tramadol works well too, but you have to take it and go right to bed or it can keep you up all night)., Juices including OJ, Grape, and Grapefruit to replenish vitamins, Naproxen Sodium for pain, Tums or Rolaids for upset stomach, Cannabis of some form for relaxation and anxiety, Chocolate to fight off urges to use (works for me, dont know why), Alcohol for relaxation (Use sparingly since you don't want to pick up a new habit).

Also, I might sound like a perv, but masturbation, or I guess sex too for that matter, can ease the kicks, the general depression, and pretty much make you feel a shitload better, especially the first few days.
I've been through this too many times to count, so I know it will work to get your head back to where you want to get it, regardless if youre trying to kick for good, or just get your tolerance back down. If you use at that point, its on you. It is what it is, you know.

 

[cnote_propohet]

I'm day five from subs, but have been using hydrocodone, adderall and xanax, now i'm just goin to use adderall and xanax. I've met people who have binged out on crack or meth for like a week then crash. I personally can't stand uppers without benz or opiates.

 

[motiv311]

When I quit suboxone for good is was way way easier than I had expected.... Nothing like quitting a dope or oxy habit

 

[Phredom]

Hey guys I have been on SMT at 16mg a day for 1 and a half months. I recently have been taking 8mg ( last 3 days) and plan to stop completely and thus detox myself in just another day or so. I know this dose is considered high but ill cope with my family support and video games and lots of benzos and other meds to help the w/ds. My question is, based off this 16mg a day for 1.5 months - how long will my withdrawals last? and how severe or easy or intermeddiate will they be? any rough estimates? thanks in advance.

 

[opiatekrzy]

suboxone withdrawl is horrible, the long half life of this drug provides an ever lasting physical withdrawl that seems to expand over 4 weeks easily! Doctors are giving out way too much of a daily dose of bupe daily: some people are on 32mgs/ daily for years. imagine stopping that, i stopped 24mg daily for 3 years cold turkey, i swear i lost my mind, hallucinations. i rather be in heroin withdrawl then suboxone. this drug is SOO POTENT, even tho it helps people stay off of opiates and blocks the effects and lacks euphoria, it is soo addictive and really should be for short term use when coming off of opiates, not something you stay on for years at a time.WOW...i dont ever wanna think bout bupe W/D, so slow, agonizing, and long

 

[Phredom]

yeah I was on 24 mg a day for about a year - but that was 2-3 years ago, then I led a happy life that didnt need drugs, and now Im back in the same predicament! But now its 16mg a day , but iv only been on SMT for about 1.5 months this time around.

When I jumped off the first time CT from that dose, I was severely sick for 2 weeks before there was even a feeling of withdrawls subsiding, and even then it took another 2 weeks for them to reduce to a present but generally unoticable level, and another month of healthy eating and lots of excersice etc for me to feel like I did before I began using opiates/oids.

I just hope I can handle it again, im as prepared as one could be.... Im thinking 4g's of funky cannabis (im a very light smoker) , 2 cartons of american spirit ciggaretes, good food, all your basic otc meds, and 60, 1mg Ativan and 60, 1mg Klonopin and 7, 60mg vyvanse , and 30 Clonodines will save me from feeling that whole " Im loosing it feeling" and the " I want to kill myself to make it stop" to " I really wanna use" "this is the woooorst" kinda mentality . The worst part of sub drawls after bein ona high dose for over a year or even short term (in some cases) is when you (as in my case) get through the first 5-6 days feeling alright (cuz plasma level are stacked cuza bupes properties in halflife etc) then You begin to start feeling like ur withdrawling, kinda like a Lag on ur w/ds haha, then two week-3weeks of w/ds

 

[rsjack]

OK I'm new to this place but it seems great so far. Like everyone else i have been through the whole opiate deal, I'm not gonna get too in depth so in short i was using about 240mg oc daily. Got on subs last September, doctor is a greedy bitch so i just decided to quit.
To be honest from what i have read it sounded like i was really in for it. Like everyone else my doc told me the usual... "oh no withdrawal symptoms, it's a breeze to come off of..." Well i did a rapid taper because i made this decision very quickly and ended up dropping off at around 2mg.
Now i know everyone has read the threads everywhere about how horrible the withdrawals are but i have to say so far i have been delightfully surprised. The withdrawals are not that bad. I am on day 4 now, the withdrawals felt like they started day two with RLS, insomnia, bowel trouble, sweats, etc... however it's nothing like coming off of oxys. I really think a lot of it is mental. Withdrawal is a beast if you know what to expect, and just lay around thinking about how horrible it feels and how long it's going to last. However, I am a firm believer that a lot of it is mental and the symptoms can be greatly reduced with the right mindset and appropriate strategy.
So far i have made it a point to eat everything i possible can, emphasis on fruit, as well as water and Gatorade to replenish electrolytes. I must say a huge factor is the Imodium ad, magnesium/calcium/zinc tablets (do wonders for RLS... also potassium would be even better but i couldn't find K supplements so i have been munching bananas), Advil/aleve, and OTC sleep aids. I hear clonidine works wonders as well which i have access to, but prefer not to take. Exercise is a must for me, the endorphins really make you feel alive after and if you have RLS in your legs or in my case the legs and back, you can burn them out by over working your muscles. I know the lethargy and weakness make that hard, but once you just do it and realize you can push your body further than you think, and that you can rid yourself of the RLS, you begin to enjoy the pain from over working your muscles.
I know everyone is different, everyone's bodies and minds are different, however i had to post this to let some people know that there is hope with subs, it's not that bad. I'm only on day 4 so i will continue to post, who knows i may be in for some hell but i don't think so because i feel better now than i did on day 2 and 3. This can be beaten, if you have gone through full agonist withdrawal this is a cakewalk.
I wish everyone the best of luck and will continue to update, try to be strong guys it's worth it in the long run.

 

[motiv311]

you guys all take way way more than needed ^^

24mgs a day! holy fuck!

16mgs a day , jesus!

I swear 4mgs is the most your brain can uptake.... at some point your receptors are already loaded... the extra mgs are unnecesary .

you should all drop to 4 mgs every OTHER day, then weeks later, drop to 2mgs every other day... hold it at 2; then quit.

THats how I did it... and besides a touch of lethary, I had ZERO withdrawals. It even felt pleasant like I could actually FEEL again.

 

[Pegasus]

OK I'm new to this place but it seems great so far. Like everyone else i have been through the whole opiate deal, I'm not gonna get too in depth so in short i was using about 240mg oc daily. Got on subs last September, doctor is a greedy bitch so i just decided to quit.
To be honest from what i have read it sounded like i was really in for it. Like everyone else my doc told me the usual... "oh no withdrawal symptoms, it's a breeze to come off of..." Well i did a rapid taper because i made this decision very quickly and ended up dropping off at around 2mg.
Now i know everyone has read the threads everywhere about how horrible the withdrawals are but i have to say so far i have been delightfully surprised. The withdrawals are not that bad. I am on day 4 now, the withdrawals felt like they started day two with RLS, insomnia, bowel trouble, sweats, etc... however it's nothing like coming off of oxys. I really think a lot of it is mental. Withdrawal is a beast if you know what to expect, and just lay around thinking about how horrible it feels and how long it's going to last. However, I am a firm believer that a lot of it is mental and the symptoms can be greatly reduced with the right mindset and appropriate strategy.
So far i have made it a point to eat everything i possible can, emphasis on fruit, as well as water and Gatorade to replenish electrolytes. I must say a huge factor is the Imodium ad, magnesium/calcium/zinc tablets (do wonders for RLS... also potassium would be even better but i couldn't find K supplements so i have been munching bananas), Advil/aleve, and OTC sleep aids. I hear clonidine works wonders as well which i have access to, but prefer not to take. Exercise is a must for me, the endorphins really make you feel alive after and if you have RLS in your legs or in my case the legs and back, you can burn them out by over working your muscles. I know the lethargy and weakness make that hard, but once you just do it and realize you can push your body further than you think, and that you can rid yourself of the RLS, you begin to enjoy the pain from over working your muscles.
I know everyone is different, everyone's bodies and minds are different, however i had to post this to let some people know that there is hope with subs, it's not that bad. I'm only on day 4 so i will continue to post, who knows i may be in for some hell but i don't think so because i feel better now than i did on day 2 and 3. This can be beaten, if you have gone through full agonist withdrawal this is a cakewalk.
I wish everyone the best of luck and will continue to update, try to be strong guys it's worth it in the long run.

Hmm, day 4 is pretty early to be claiming it is a cakewalk! Hopefully for you it is, but for many people, day 4 is just the beginning.

I'd like to hear your update if you stop back by...

 

[rsjack]

day 6- so far still a lot better than full agonist withdrawal. Really only symptom is RLS at night which causes insomnia, showers are a temp fix but that's about it.
Everyone is different and everyone's bodies react differently but as of now it's working well for me. I think the key is exercise and as much K, Mg, and Zn as possible to combat the RLS. Also the lope has helped quite a bit.

 

[Ashley]

I'm 8 days clean off the bupe, 16mg daily. How does one know at what point withdrawal is over and a shot of a dope will not result in a new habit? 2 weeks? A month?

 

[cire113]

^^^ um any addict will tell you 1 shot will get you back to where you started lol not smart...

Honestly im gonna stay on bupe for a lonnngg time sure beats the altenrative and fuck yah its addictive but its way different than dope

 

[Ashley]

^^^ um any addict will tell you 1 shot will get you back to where you started lol not smart...

Of course I know that one shot will set me back. But how long off the bupe until I no longer have a habit? That was my question.

 

[A4Anxiety]

16 mg daily user of bupe and you quit ct? ouch.. that must be hell.. a couple things come into account in regards to your question..

How long were you using bupe?
Were you always using 16 mg daily or did you taper down ?
How many times a day did you dose?
Did you abuse any opiate prior to being on bupe?

If you were a long term user of bupe at 16 mg.. your kicks can last upwards of a month if not longer.. This is because of bupe's long half life. PAWS can linger on for upwards of a year even afterwards... I would say you can cleanly use some dope after your physical symptoms have completely gone away... You can use dope while you are in PAWS without developing withdrawals again if your very careful and space out your use.. You would never want to use longer than an 8 hour window and to be completely be on the safe side I woudn't do this more often than once per week AT THE VERY MOST...

If you use as little as 2 days in a row you run the risk of your withdrawals starting again.. An opiate naive person would take about 2 or 3 weeks of using straight to develop withdrawals for the first time.. but once your body has felt withdrawal before it will only take a couple days of using in a row for you to start feeling withdrawals again...

Source: ME... I have been through this vicous cylce far too many times... I am speaking from experience but I am only one voice as opiates react differently to everyone.. If you cannot trust yourself to use dope once a week then I would completely stay away from it.. it is very easy for you to fall back into the habbit.. Im personally powerless against dope when it is in front of me.. Even if I knew the most horrible withdrawals are in store for me I would do dope in a heart beat if it was in front of me.. This is why I just stay away.. far FAR away.

Best of luck to you.

 

[adicabrady]

Ashley,by now you should be able to do some dope and feel it fine.Watch out for O.D. though.If you are clean 9 days there is a good chance of that.I agree with Cire113,one shot always gave me a habit again.Sometimes,I would do a shot and not even want it for a week.I would think "Aha,I have this figured out now".Sooner or later,I always had a habit again.I'm sticking with the subs for now because I still want to be high.Sometimes very badly.There is not much point doing dope or getting pills since the subs block them.I have to say being an addict,it sucks not getting high.It sucks more though to be homeless,starving and sick.

 

[euphoricc]

no matter how u taper how low/l0ng ur still gonna be sick i was on suboxone for 3 years got down to like .025 and came off and i was sick i was amazed depression hits really hard with bupe DOPE AND OXY NEVER had that effect on me. The suboxone was crazy it gets in ya bones and when u are on the bupe it helps anxiety and depression when its gone i had crying spells omg the rls wass the worsssseeeeeeeeeee and u WILL NEED BENZOS. trust me unless u wanna looose ur head i recommend getting a bundle using heroin to detox risky but long term bupe use is hell trust ,me im still on .5 mg cant get off

 

[Kewlwip]

What I don't get is how people cut a 8mg octagon sub into .1 or .2 mg. Are they crushing it and measuring out the powder? At that point I might think its mental because if you drop .2 mg of sub powder on your tongue you'd prolly swallow the shit before it got absorbed.

I dunno.

Fractional dilution is the easy way.

But I never took my bupe sub-lingually. I make a nasal spray with a pump type sprayer.

But, each sprayer sprays a little different even with the same brand, so I would re-calibrate every time my changed spray bottles(the pump/atomizing thing wears out after a couple refills). You can either measure the water, then count the number of sprays until empty. Or, what I do, is measure the bottle on digi's, then spray like 50 shots into the air, measure again, do the math to see how much water is missing and divide by 50. But make sure you do it with water, not the gel stuff that comes in all the "no drip" sprayers at the store.

Then just change the strength of your solution going in to the dose you want. Filter the bupe with cotton, then if you want it totally clean run it through a micron filter(I got some from Captain.Heroin). When I first started I made my sprays .10 per spray then got it down to .025.(I never dosed this low though, always did .25/day)

And as people have said, dosing every other day works great when trying to taper down or taper off. Hard to do at low doses though, .5 just won't last 2 days like 2mg will.

Also, unless you had a heroic dope habit going I really don't see any reason to do more than 4mg for more than maybe your first 2 days. If you are doing 16+ you shouldn't be. I had a 300mg of oxy/day habit and 8mg the first day then 2mg from there kept me well just fine.

I couldn't imagine stepping off at 8mg+, hell when I tried to step off from 2mg/day it was hard enough, but stepping off from .25 mg/day every other day isn't bad. But I've never stayed on bupe for more than a month or 2 at a time, right now still going back and forth between low dose bupe/sobre, really just don't see any reason to quit for good which is what makes it hard, there were always other factors besides health/sobriety for quitting pills/dope(you know, the lifestyle) but my bupe just makes it a little easier to get out the door in the morning.

 

[Yabbadabbado]

Suboxone, not as bad as you may think.

I was on 8 mg of suboxone and I think the worst part of it was taking it. I was sweating got hot and cold I was sleeping the whole day. I only took it for 2 weeks but once I came off it I felt so much better. (It was night and day) Even looking at the pills make me sick. You should be ok!

Hey man


I can understand your experience with subs to be bad and a lot of what you say is true. But, don't discredit how many lifes it has changed for the good. My brother has been on 8 mg a day for almost three years now. He started with percocets, and lower streangth painkillers to oxy's then to heroin. Over many years he tried to stay clean and successfully did so numerous times for long periods, but I guess it's that insane compulsion he would talk of that always got him back on the herion. After 4 times of getting clean then going back he found his solution. Yes, he is still drug dependent, but at this point he doesn't even get a buzz from it, can't even do strong opiates if he wanted, due to the blocker making it usless and he no longer has that jones anymore. I really do feel like I have my brother, my best friend back. Yes I would rather he not be physically dependent on anything, but I no longer fear for his life and I would imagine that he would just go back to some heavy shit without it. I am glad you had the strength to get off it so soon and hope you are able to maintain.

Best.