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Weaning off suboxone, how long?

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xuser

Greenlighter
Joined
Jul 3, 2012
Messages
34
Location
Melbourne
I am just wondering how long it will take to completely wean off suboxone. I am currently taking 1-2 ml a day. I am predicting 3 days or so. I have previously tried without success and needed to take it again. Can anyone tell me the expected time frame? Any personal experiences? Advice?
 
I hate to be the bearer of bad news, but in my experience it'll take a lot longer than 3 days. Even though you're on a low dose (I'm assuming when you say 1-2ml you mean1-2mg), suboxone has a very long half life (wikipedia puts its average half life at 37 hours). It takes a long time for the drug to be completely removed from your body, so the withdrawals are prolonged. When I came off a similar dose of suboxone to you it took about a month for me to feel normal and withdrawal free.
 
Thanks guys.
Footscrazy, yes sorry I meant 1-2 mg. Was your withdrawal severe enough to stop you from working? I have a current employer that is questioning weather or not I a serious about a new job I have started. Because I am having days off etc. It's on call work for now so a few days here and there.
 
It depends xuser. Depends on how motivated you are, how long you've been on the suboxone, how long you've been at your current dose.

My withdrawal was enough to make me not want to go to work, but I still did. Just make sure you have some loperamide. You may be able to get a sick note from your Doctor for the very worst of it - I'm sure they'd be understanding especially for a new job. I think it does help to be doing stuff during the wd though. Tires you out and keeps your mind busy.

Depends what kind of work it is. Coming off 2mg wouldn't be good if you're a paramedic or something :P

Generally the lower you get the easier it is. Lots of it is mental. You could probably get a script for the 0.4mg subutex tablets, I think it's 8 weeks they give you on those for the last bit of tapering.

I'm currently on 0.8mg, going down to 0.4 tomorrow. It won't be much fun for a few weeks, you need to have your goal fresh in your mind and know why you're coming off - when you're feeling crappy remind yourself that it won't last forever.

If you suddenly stop taking 2mg - I wouldn't even expect the proper withdrawal to start for a few days. So yeah it's going to be longer than 3 days. Again - depends how long you've been taking it.

I'd personally try and taper a bit lower. If you have a bunch of films you can snip them into tiny pieces and very slowly bring yourself off.
 
In my experience with my fiancé a couple of weeks of hell then periodic peaks whether it's been 2 days or 2 months. 5 months later he just ended up back on it. You won't feel any withdrawals start until day 3.

I feel sad for people who are on this stuff.

How long have you been taking opiates for? At what dosages? What opiates? You won't be able to work. You honestly should clear your schedule. My fiancé could not work.
 
I highly suggest Clonidine (a blood pressure medication) it actually does help withdrawal symptoms. You do need to take a lot though.
 
^ agreed.
Clonidine is a wd godsend.
And i agree with christ! also that tapering lower (bupe is mighty potent) would greatly reduce your suffering.
Ive worked through withdrawals using these techniques.
Stick it out - you can do it!
 
How does clonidine work? Do doctors prescribe it for w/d? I am down to 1mg at the moment. Long story short I had a long history of heroin use. I haven't really touched it for years, but have been taking suboxone (from a friend) on and off for about a year.
 
Clonidine stops the awful restless leg and general twitchiness i experienced at night time.
Doctors will most definitely Rx it for WD. No problem there ime.
It is also a sedative, so for me (at least) it was the best thing i had for coming off opiates.
Youre doing well, keep it up :)
 
Crankinit said:
I found this article very informative regarding the process of coming off suboxone: http://www.pbod.org/detoxing-suboxone-fear-caused-lack-knowledge/

but the tldr version is that Foots is right - you're in for probably at least a fortnight of feeling pretty raw and another fortnight of still not feeling so great.
Click to expand...

That's a great article. Going to print it out and give it to a few people who've been struggling with their Doctors telling them there's something wrong with them for having issues coming off 2mg. Really hasn't been enough research into coming off bupe and the best ways to do it. It's a complicated issue with lots of factors and the 'training' they get is basically - no worries coming off it.
 
xuser said:
How does clonidine work? Do doctors prescribe it for w/d? I am down to 1mg at the moment. Long story short I had a long history of heroin use. I haven't really touched it for years, but have been taking suboxone (from a friend) on and off for about a year.
Click to expand...

If you're getting it off a friend you can just cut up the strips to lower doses. Will be way easier this way.

http://www.rxfilmcuttingguide.com/instructions.html

Some good information there. Have to pay for the cutting guide stencils and stuff but you can make do without those.
 
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