Sounds like your current dose is working well for you. When you feel it's the right time to cut down then I'd recommend it. But have a well-planned out tapering schedule, regardless of what your doctor will recommend. There's plenty of the support you would need here on BL with this specific topic. Don't rush yourself tho, withdrawals from subs can be some of the worst. Not to mention PAWS are theoretically more apparent in drugs like suboxone and methadone.. be safe and be well my friend
I would definitely second this advice. It is good you are on a dose which you find effective, but as you, the OP, said you do realize it is a higher dose. It is a fairly firmly held belief of mine that doctors in the trade of prescribing buprenorphine often times really prescribe far too much in terms of a given patient's daily dose. Now, it sounds like you have played with your dose more and have found you require your current dose of 24 mg/day to be well and comfortable, and that is fine, for the patient knows his body best. I do think it is a good idea that you split your daily dose up a little more to make your days and nights even more comfortable based on your particular situation; I am thinking, though, if you have tried 8 mg three times a day, dosing every eight hours, to be even more even in the amount of buprenorphine active? But, for you a larger morning dose and two doses, each half the morning dose, in the afternoon and evening may work better, as you are taking right now. Again, the patient knows his body, and mind, best. One thing I might add, not knowing your situation in all that much detail, is that, as the above poster recognized, your doctor will not always be the best judge of how and when you should taper, when you decide to do so. Buprenorphine is much more forgiving, in wd's, than methadone, so you are luckier in that regard when you do decide to taper. And, a slow taper is almost always the better way to go with buprenorphine, if your prior opiate use was large in quantity and if you need a higher dose, as you seem to, with the buprenorphine. I am speaking of when one is on maintenance therapy, which you seem to be, having been on buprenorphine for the past month and a half. Anyhow, I hope all continues to go well, and again, the above poster is right in that BL will offer much support and information, whenever you need it.
