Advice? Trying to come off both heroin using subutex and tapering from benzos.

[kace]

Hey there. I'm trying to quit heroin. Last week I started taking 6mgs of subutex a day, I took it the correct amount of time but still got pretty ill. I stuck to it anyways, but have slipped up twice by smoking on top of it, which immediately stopped the sickness. I'm so annoyed at myself, but to get my script and not lose it I keep having to pick up as the subutex just isn't holding me or getting rid of the withdrawals.
Also, I'm addicted to benzos and have been tapering off them for years now. I'm down to 10mg a day, technically.. but to be honest misuse my script by taking 40mgs (4 days) at a time, then wait till they wear off after several days and take the same. What should I do?

Sorry.. :/ My brain isn't functioning properly. I'm really tempted to up my dose and maybe try meth to come off heroin.. The pain is really unbearable on 6mg of subutex, I don't understand why as that used to work perfectly. Any advice?

 

[THECATINTHEHAT]

Yes, go back to your prescriber and tell them that 6mg isn't enough and isn't holding you. There's no reason for them not to up you until you are comfortable otherwise it's pointless them having you on a script. Pick up the phone and ask to speak to your key worker now, tell them exactly what is going on. Tell them that you want to stop using street drugs but 6mg just isn't enough. I don't know why, but if it isn't enough then ask for more. I would avoid methadone if you can, it's easier to use on top and it's harder to come off in the end.

In the meantime, when you are taking the subutex.......under the tongue and squeeze down on the pills. DO NOT SWALLOW any of the saliva that will start being created in your mouth. Keep it held in your mouth, it will contain buprenorphine from where it's being washed out from under your tongue and if you keep it in your mouth it will be adsorbed sublingually/bucally. It used to take me about an hour to take my subutex, maybe 45 minutes if it was brand name. Either way, keep that saliva in your mouth for 30 minutes after the subbies are gone to make sure you soak up every last bit. This might be an issue if you have a pharmacist who wants to keep you in the chemist throughout the whole process. Everything that you swallow is being wasted though due to the oral bioavailability of zero.

I've said it once before and I don't know what the status of your benzo script is but imo your goal has to be getting stable on your scripts and be able to cut out the street drug use before you're attempting to come down in dosages otherwise you're kind of just shooting yourself in the foot. I don't know what your drug worker is like but really they should be aiming to get you on stable and comfortable dosages of benzos/opiates and then allowing you to stay there and stabilise for a couple of months. Get stable on your scripts (including starting to take your diazepam properly), get yourself some clean time off street drugs, and then use that foundation of stability to deal with one of the dependencies at a time.

If I was in your position that's what I would be trying to do. Good luck, keep pushing.

 

[Azure Cloud]

^^^^^great advice. Put serious thought into what Omen-owen wrote.

Um, when you mention "meth" do you mean methadone or methamphetamine? Regardless, either substance will only lead to a worse situation.
Good luck!

 

[Smoky]

MMT is an option but one can use with it... I would up your dose of subs slightly via prescriber, and don't feel bad about it. Perhaps you can decide after stabilizing to taper off of those if you wish to. It seems you were not matched appropriately. I'm almost a month of H myself and it has been grueling, but worth it. Don't beat yourself up... you slipped up, but that's done now. Your brain wants what you were used to.

You have come a long way... tapering off the benzos over the years... Congratulations! Those are the worst to come off of as the original symptoms are presented.

Best of luck to you ! !

 

[kace]

Yes, go back to your prescriber and tell them that 6mg isn't enough and isn't holding you. There's no reason for them not to up you until you are comfortable otherwise it's pointless them having you on a script. Pick up the phone and ask to speak to your key worker now, tell them exactly what is going on. Tell them that you want to stop using street drugs but 6mg just isn't enough. I don't know why, but if it isn't enough then ask for more. I would avoid methadone if you can, it's easier to use on top and it's harder to come off in the end.

In the meantime, when you are taking the subutex.......under the tongue and squeeze down on the pills. DO NOT SWALLOW any of the saliva that will start being created in your mouth. Keep it held in your mouth, it will contain buprenorphine from where it's being washed out from under your tongue and if you keep it in your mouth it will be adsorbed sublingually/bucally. It used to take me about an hour to take my subutex, maybe 45 minutes if it was brand name. Either way, keep that saliva in your mouth for 30 minutes after the subbies are gone to make sure you soak up every last bit. This might be an issue if you have a pharmacist who wants to keep you in the chemist throughout the whole process. Everything that you swallow is being wasted though due to the oral bioavailability of zero.

I've said it once before and I don't know what the status of your benzo script is but imo your goal has to be getting stable on your scripts and be able to cut out the street drug use before you're attempting to come down in dosages otherwise you're kind of just shooting yourself in the foot. I don't know what your drug worker is like but really they should be aiming to get you on stable and comfortable dosages of benzos/opiates and then allowing you to stay there and stabilise for a couple of months. Get stable on your scripts (including starting to take your diazepam properly), get yourself some clean time off street drugs, and then use that foundation of stability to deal with one of the dependencies at a time.

If I was in your position that's what I would be trying to do. Good luck, keep pushing.

Hey omen, sorry for the late reply. I read your post and took your advice. I spoke to my key worker and am getting the subutex upped from 6mgs to 10mgs, starting from Thursday. I can't wait, I hope it will help me.

Also thank you so much for explaining the technique for dissolving them- I think I was definitely not doing it enough, just letting it dissolve for a minute and then swallowing. I've done it your way, taking 8mgs and I didn't half as sick and ill! Thank you. I am worried this is about to die, on about 2% so will reply later when charged..

One question- I have lots of slightly dissolved subutex pills. Are they bad? I've heard they are, just want to check. Sorry, I'm sure that question may be answered and will try and find the answer.

 

[Freaksh0w]

Hey there. I'm trying to quit heroin. Last week I started taking 6mgs of subutex a day, I took it the correct amount of time but still got pretty ill. I stuck to it anyways, but have slipped up twice by smoking on top of it, which immediately stopped the sickness. I'm so annoyed at myself, but to get my script and not lose it I keep having to pick up as the subutex just isn't holding me or getting rid of the withdrawals.
Also, I'm addicted to benzos and have been tapering off them for years now. I'm down to 10mg a day, technically.. but to be honest misuse my script by taking 40mgs (4 days) at a time, then wait till they wear off after several days and take the same. What should I do?

Sorry.. :/ My brain isn't functioning properly. I'm really tempted to up my dose and maybe try meth to come off heroin.. The pain is really unbearable on 6mg of subutex, I don't understand why as that used to work perfectly. Any advice?

I'd recommend a SHORT subutex/suboxone come off. That, and nothing else. But don't take it longer than 14 days, MAX, because then you will be having long, withdrawals from it, too, but nothing like the W/D's from Methadone.