How do I know when its time to end sub maintenance

[cj]

I have been on suboxone for nearly 3 years with my dose dropping from 8mg a day to around 1 mg a day over that time. I have not been to the sub doctor in nearly 2 years as I was able to stockpile plenty of pills over the year I saw him. Over the time I have been on sub I went from a slowly transitioned from a thieving junkbox with a suicidal outlook on life. To a normal pothead with only minor depression issues. Im proud of the way I have changed my life. I have not used heroin in almost 2 months and I no longer have any real desire to be its slave. For me that is a huge deal for the longest time I just could not picture a life without heroin.

The question I have is when will I know its ok to quit maintenance. I think I am ready but I am terrified that a combination of the withdrawal and PAWS is going to destroy the stability I have so hard to achieve. On the other hand I know staying on suboxone for the rest of my life is not ideal and may not be an option due to cost. I trust you guys opinion my friends and family IRL dont really understand addiction so they are not much help. Do yall think I should go off maintenance? Or should I g by the mantra if it isnt broke dont fix it"

The reason I am ready to get off is a combination of things. Firstly it limits my options as far as what I can do career wise. I am currently in college and frankly this semester is going rather poorly my heart is just not into it. That said I have been considering joining the military. I have a decent score on there entrance exam. Also I have been feeling lethargic and unmotivated for quite awhile and I cant help but think suboxone may be the cause. Lastly I know the longer I wait the harder it it going to be to get off and I cant stay on it forever in the past my parents footed the bill I cant see that lasting forever nor do I want it too.

But if now is not the time when will I know its time?
PLUR

 

[theartofwar]

Why do you feel being on suboxone is not ideal ? If you are diabetic you take insulin around with you no matter where you go - it can save your life , slipping into a coma etc. Not to sound like a jerk but if you have used heroin within 2-3 months then that is a big warning sign right there. Addiction is SO cunning, and while you may not like the hastle of going to a doctors appointment and getting the script / haviong to take it etc - is that anything in comparison to your life in active addiction ? If there is even the slightest hint that you have a run in you , i would never risk it. This comes from 5 rehabs , 4 half way houses , 3 sub clinics , 2 methadone clinics and years at trying and relapsing bro.

I think you should stay a dose that is holding you and just continue to you work on your life in all the good ways you have been ! All that progress is terrific bro and I don't see why risk that at all so you can say to yourself, "I'm not on anything" - believe me that is overated after 7 months of nothing I relapsed and went on a run that nearly killed me and it did kill my close child hood friend. If i had stayed on bupe or methadone ... I really doubt that run would've happened.

Life or death in addiction bro, always chose on the side of caution. That being said, be proud of all your good work man !! I am for you !!! Best of luck.

 

[cj]

Thanks man I updated my original post to try and answer your first question. But I know what your saying. The last little run I went on I got so tired of heroin after 2 weeks that I deleted the dudes phone number and changed my number. So I feel like I have control right now. Or maybe im just fooling myself. Addiction is a bitch that is for sure.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Im proud of the way I have changed my life.

I am too man! That's amazing. %)

As for when it's a right time to jump off Suboxone: I think you'll know. If the side effects are becoming annoying and you really want to get off of it, that's totally understandable and a gradual taper off of it would be wise.

However if you are proud of what you've accomplished and have come so far, I would say that it is also wise not to risk a relapse if that is a potential issue.

I think some of us know we won't relapse even if we are faced with Suboxone withdrawal, others of us would have to get there and find out.

If anything, have Suboxone on hand in case you feel you'd relapse without it. In that case, you can prevent a relapse by simply resuming Suboxone maintenance. That is the best way to quit Suboxone. Also, if you get cravings after getting clean, you can resume Suboxone to prevent relapse as well - and you wouldn't have to resume maintenance at that point either.

Some might also advise you seek therapy if that is an option which might better help serve you in your recovery. Much peace and love from the Cpt.

 

[DooMMooD]

Honestly man, you've been on sub 3 years and just last used heroin 2 months ago.

I'd say you still should be on it for a bit longer. Maybe try 6-12 months without any opiates and THEN consider getting off. I'm down to 2mg myself, started last december, last time i used was Feb/March. I'm hoping to be off this dec, so a year on the subs and by then it'll be 9 months since my last relapse. For youd i'd really say give it longer man.

Best of luck.

 

[FrostyMcFailure]

been on suboxone for around 8 years now. even when maintaining 1mg 2x a day dose range the withdrawal i go through after hour 12 is on par with that of heroin. The time to wane off is asap. Im told now suboxone isnt suppose to span pass a one year maintenance peroid.. Woops, talk about a kick in the teeth, withdrawal from this is going to suck major HR

 

[cj]

I dont know what to do. On the one hand I would not mind staying on suboxone forever. On the other that scares me I keep hearing about receptor damage and the fact that no one knows what the long term side effects are going to be. I dunno I want to make the right choice. Luckily I have a couple more months of subs saved up before I have to make a final decision.

 

[cire113]

Why do you feel being on suboxone is not ideal ? If you are diabetic you take insulin around with you no matter where you go - it can save your life , slipping into a coma etc. Not to sound like a jerk but if you have used heroin within 2-3 months then that is a big warning sign right there. Addiction is SO cunning, and while you may not like the hastle of going to a doctors appointment and getting the script / haviong to take it etc - is that anything in comparison to your life in active addiction ? If there is even the slightest hint that you have a run in you , i would never risk it. This comes from 5 rehabs , 4 half way houses , 3 sub clinics , 2 methadone clinics and years at trying and relapsing bro.

I think you should stay a dose that is holding you and just continue to you work on your life in all the good ways you have been ! All that progress is terrific bro and I don't see why risk that at all so you can say to yourself, "I'm not on anything" - believe me that is overated after 7 months of nothing I relapsed and went on a run that nearly killed me and it did kill my close child hood friend. If i had stayed on bupe or methadone ... I really doubt that run would've happened.

Life or death in addiction bro, always chose on the side of caution. That being said, be proud of all your good work man !! I am for you !!! Best of luck.

Read this again; This guy said exactly what i was gonna say;

Stay on sub live normal function or Death by addiction....

Difficult decisions..


Man I'm sorry addiction is so underestimated when your doing well on Sub; Stay on sub don't be dumb

2 months? Jeez man you know the answer; Sorry to be harsh

 

[FrostyMcFailure]

just because one couldnt kick subs doesnt mean we all need to stay on.. Granted that is appealing given many years on it already.. I dont want to be a slave to any substance, living with an addiction is akin to the ball & chain..

 

[cj]

just because one couldnt kick subs doesnt mean we all need to stay on.. Granted that is appealing given many years on it already.. I dont want to be a slave to any substance, living with an addiction is akin to the ball & chain..

Not to mention the extreme financial cost my parents were spending 350 dollars a month between the appointment and script. I think i going to CT this habit when I run out if I end up back on heroin then so be it I am addicted to opiates either way.

 

[DooMMooD]

Not to mention the extreme financial cost my parents were spending 350 dollars a month between the appointment and script. I think i going to CT this habit when I run out if I end up back on heroin then so be it I am addicted to opiates either way.

You complain about the financial burden (which yes it is, I know all to well the cost of a sub program), but the in the next sentence say "if i end up back on heroin then so be it". If finances are your true concern, then you really have failed to crunch the numbers adequately of the cost of a heroin addiction. Such illogical thinking: "Oh sub program is expensive, so be it if i'm back on heroin". Yeah, like a heroin habits cheap.

And i'm just talking about the financial aspect. If thats truly youre reason for "getting off subs" and "so be it" in regards to back on heroin, you either do not know what number is bigger or smaller, or you're just looking for an excuse.

Either way to once again answer your question: you clearly are not ready to get off the subs.

 

[Hrubenstein]

All of these people saying that its okay to stay on suboxone for the rest of your life upset me. This is such bullshit that these big pharma companies give us another drug to be addicted to. I'm 19 months clean and sober from heroin and all other substances and it is possible. If you really hate suboxone that much then maybe you should consider getting off. That being said you should do so in the safest way possible. I've been a homeless heroin junkie, on methadone maintenance, on suboxone maintenance and let me tell you nothing compares to being clean and sober. Is it easy? No. I still get cravings but not all the time and I know how to deal with them. Go to a meeting for support. You'll have to get very involved with your recovery if thats what you want in your life. You can pm me if you need any help or support Im here for you man.

 

[bagochina]

not used heroin in almost 2 months and I no longer have any real desire to be its slave.

This part kinda caught my attention, for me I wanted to have a strong track record of not using heroin before I attempted to wean of the bupe but than soon as I decided to get off bupe, BOOM used heroin for the first time in 5 years. Towards the end of my use I desperately wanted off subs but like you I had a massive stockpile of subs staring me in the face. I couldn't bring myself to throw them out. In hindsight after getting off the bupe my biggest question was, "why the fuck did you wait so long to do this?" What helped me immensely with getting off the subs was to switch to Tramadol the first couple weeks off the bupe and then nothing. That made it much more gentle.

Good luck man you can absolutely do it. 8 years on bupe and almost 3 years off bupe for me, feels soooooooo good to get my life back and on track.