opiatefree
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Mar 15, 2014
- Messages
- 1
Firstly I apologize if this may seem a bit long-winded. I have to talk to someone about this, even if it's just on the internet.
I've been on suboxone now for about 4 years (I'm ashamed to say) after having a codeine/dihydrocodeine habit. It has pretty much put my life completely on hold and I seem incapable of doing anything productive while on it. Four times now I have started a semester of university but then postponed due to studying being out of the question, and today I just postponed again after not being able to keep up with the work (memory like an old man, *constant* lethargy and sleepiness, etc). I can't even describe how much of a failure I feel like right now.
I was so upset at screwing another semester that I can honestly say today was the first time in my life I genuinelly wanted to kill myself, I was/am just so ridiculously fed up and would like to just... sleep forever and not wake. The thought of continuing like this seems far too great a task. I haven't even had a social life or a friend in many years, as I just walk around in this convenient somewhat comfortable coccoon created by the Suboxone. Life seems to just pass by and time goes ridiculously quickly, like it just falls from your grasp.
Anyway I've gotten to the point where it's all or nothing. I desperately have to get off this shit, life really isn't worth living in such a state. Problem is that my doctor who presribes it refuses to decrease the dose because he knows of my depression; but he's too stupid to realize that what is making me miserable is the Suboxone itself! In fact he often tries to make me INCREASE the dose!
So what I am planning on just stopping taking the 12mg/day dose altogether, cold turkey. Here are my questions:
- Has anyone ever heard of this being done before (withdrawing from such a high dose)? I did a search but the highest I saw was 8mg.
- Is it dangerous to withdraw from this dose?
- Does anyone have any tips or advice on how to successfully accomplish this?
Thankyou.
I am new to this forum, so you will have to excuse me if I am not really following procedure very well. Also being on 12 mg, I can relate to that, but not much else. I do not go through the drowsiness or depression, and my doc is very understanding and really allows me to be proactive about how I want to run my recovery. I am in my 3rd term of school because of the suboxone, but am going to start my taper, because I feel I am ready. Going off of this medication cold turkey, especially the dose you are on, is definitely a terrible idea. There was a point where I went off of 8 mg cold turkey for a month and I could not get off the couch....literally. It was a dreadful experience. The withdrawal was actually worse than the opiate withdrawal. I ended up going to see a new sub doc and getting back on it. This time I will be doing a slow taper. It sounds like you are on way too high of a dose if you are experiencing those types of symptoms. If possible, maybe you can find a new doctor that is more willing to work with you and listen better to what you are experiencing. It is miserable to be tired and depressed all the time. My recommendation from experience though would be to absolutely NOT go off cold turkey. It will be a lot like hell. I hope this helps.