10+ year sub detox

[KCrecovery]

Hello. Ive been on a suboxone maintenance for over a decade. I really need some help to get over the final hump. I’m currently taking 2mg which isn’t much but I used to be on 16mg. I have not used any controlled substances during this time. I’m only prescribed clonidine and suboxone. I tapered very slowly and it’s worked out well. I feel like the worst part is coming when I actually have days where I don’t take it. I’m hoping someone has some experience similar to mine that has got off completely. I’d like to know what worked for them and what didn’t. Is there supplements or meds I can take. The only thing I’ve noticed weaning down so far is not sleeping as good and depression are th big two things so far. I’m afraid the suboxone long term is damaging me beyond repair. Any advice I’m open to and if anyone and questions for me I’d gladly help also. Thanks for your time. Happy holidays everyone.

 

[Rio Fantastic]

Keep weaning down. Once you get to under .25 mg is when a lot of people jump off to nothing. I suggest you wean down even farther because people on suboxone have a 49% abstinence rate compared to just 8.9% staying clean from opioids after they discontinue suboxone.

Withdrawals are a bitch and a half and it takes a while for your neurotransmitters to go back to baseline. So understand that and be strong.

I agree with this. Your post made it sound like you're planning on jumping off at 2mg, which is way too high. If you google you can find horror stories of people coming off subutex and having horrific experiences and like 90% of them are caused by simply coming off too high a dose. Taper it down as low as you feasibly can with whatever type of pills you have before quitting. The clonidine will help - I hope you aren't taking it before withdrawals? - but I would highly recommend gabapentin if you can possibly get it. If you don't have any connections for it then if you go to a doctor and fake nerve pain most doctors are happy to prescribe it since the knowledge that it can be habit-forming & abused is only slowly filtering into mainstream medical knowledge. When I've used gabapentin (dosed correctly! one 300mg pill every half an hour with whole milk till the effects are felt) the withdrawals have been SO much easier. I even had days coming off subutex where I forgot I was quitting anything. I'd wake up in withdrawal and feel awful, but then a few hours later with gabapentin in me the withdrawals were far, far easier.

On top of that as long as you've never had a benzo problem before then a little diazepam or other benzo for sleep and the worst part of withdrawal can be a godsend, but be careful with these. You do NOT want to replace subutex with benzos! Other than that, you seem prepared & motivated, so just make sure you taper, have comfort meds and a firm plan in place and there's nothing for it but to take the plunge. I am also currently on 2mg of subutex and planning on coming off it in the new year, and I think we've got relatively low doses on our side. A lot of people have been prescribed way too high doses so then have the trial of coming down from 32 or 16mg ahead of them, and at least you've already done that part!

 

[RowdyMic]

have you had your gall bladder explode? people from the age of 18-24 shouldnt be on it for more than 2 years because it can make it explode. it did it to me. if i waited 2 more weeks to go the hospital i would have been dead. keep an eye out on your organs

 

[OpiateKiller]

have you had your gall bladder explode? people from the age of 18-24 shouldnt be on it for more than 2 years because it can make it explode. it did it to me. if i waited 2 more weeks to go the hospital i would have been dead. keep an eye out on your organs

suboxne? I’ve been having stomach pains extreme I’ve been on Suboxone and heroin / methadone for years... right side by my belly button it was horrible a week ago.
I’m 26

please answer because I thought I was gonna die the other day

 

[RowdyMic]

I’m 30 mine came out when I was 21 or 22. Really bad stomach pains pushed it off liie it was nothing, 2nd time it happened when to the er they said it was nothing.. happened a week later and went to a different hospital. I was omitted for 13 days and after 6 different tests (including eating radioactive eggs then watching it go through my body) a hysainth

suboxne? I’ve been having stomach pains extreme I’ve been on Suboxone and heroin / methadone for years... right side by my belly button it was horrible a week ago.
I’m 26

please answer because I thought I was gonna die the other day

no joke id get a HIDA scan if you get them a lot on your right side near your belly button to almost near your right nipple

 

[OpiateKiller]

I’m 30 mine came out when I was 21 or 22. Really bad stomach pains pushed it off liie it was nothing, 2nd time it happened when to the er they said it was nothing.. happened a week later and went to a different hospital. I was omitted for 13 days and after 6 different tests (including eating radioactive eggs then watching it go through my body) a hysainth

no joke id get a HIDA scan if you get them a lot on your right side near your belly button to almost near your right nipple

ive been to the ER and hernia doctors and they said it was fine.

why the fuck do we have to tell the doctors what the problem is? God healthcare in this country is such trash. I’m better off using google and blue light then wasting money.

my stomach like twists and gets stuck in a horrible stabbing pain but it goes away and comes
Back

 

[RowdyMic]

Dude the hospitals are going to push you out. If I waited 2 more weeks I would have died from gang green. Go get yourself looked at I know it sucks but it’ll bring some peace of mind. I’d go next time and bring up a HIDA scan. Not something you want.. my scar makes me look like I got better by a great white or was in a sword fight.. either way I’d get checked.

 

[KCrecovery]

Ye

I agree with this. Your post made it sound like you're planning on jumping off at 2mg, which is way too high. If you google you can find horror stories of people coming off subutex and having horrific experiences and like 90% of them are caused by simply coming off too high a dose. Taper it down as low as you feasibly can with whatever type of pills you have before quitting. The clonidine will help - I hope you aren't taking it before withdrawals? - but I would highly recommend gabapentin if you can possibly get it. If you don't have any connections for it then if you go to a doctor and fake nerve pain most doctors are happy to prescribe it since the knowledge that it can be habit-forming & abused is only slowly filtering into mainstream medical knowledge. When I've used gabapentin (dosed correctly! one 300mg pill every half an hour with whole milk till the effects are felt) the withdrawals have been SO much easier. I even had days coming off subutex where I forgot I was quitting anything. I'd wake up in withdrawal and feel awful, but then a few hours later with gabapentin in me the withdrawals were far, far easier.

On top of that as long as you've never had a benzo problem before then a little diazepam or other benzo for sleep and the worst part of withdrawal can be a godsend, but be careful with these. You do NOT want to replace subutex with benzos! Other than that, you seem prepared & motivated, so just make sure you taper, have comfort meds and a firm plan in place and there's nothing for it but to take the plunge. I am also currently on 2mg of subutex and planning on coming off it in the new year, and I think we've got relatively low doses on our side. A lot of people have been prescribed way too high doses so then have the trial of coming down from 32 or 16mg ahead of them, and at least you've already done that part!sorry

I agree with this. Your post made it sound like you're planning on jumping off at 2mg, which is way too high. If you google you can find horror stories of people coming off subutex and having horrific experiences and like 90% of them are caused by simply coming off too high a dose. Taper it down as low as you feasibly can with whatever type of pills you have before quitting. The clonidine will help - I hope you aren't taking it before withdrawals? - but I would highly recommend gabapentin if you can possibly get it. If you don't have any connections for it then if you go to a doctor and fake nerve pain most doctors are happy to prescribe it since the knowledge that it can be habit-forming & abused is only slowly filtering into mainstream medical knowledge. When I've used gabapentin (dosed correctly! one 300mg pill every half an hour with whole milk till the effects are felt) the withdrawals have been SO much easier. I even had days coming off subutex where I forgot I was quitting anything. I'd wake up in withdrawal and feel awful, but then a few hours later with gabapentin in me the withdrawals were far, far easier.

On top of that as long as you've never had a benzo problem before then a little diazepam or other benzo for sleep and the worst part of withdrawal can be a godsend, but be careful with these. You do NOT want to replace subutex with benzos! Other than that, you seem prepared & motivated, so just make sure you taper, have comfort meds and a firm plan in place and there's nothing for it but to take the plunge. I am also currently on 2mg of subutex and planning on coming off it in the new year, and I think we've got relatively low doses on our side. A lot of people have been prescribed way too high doses so then have the trial of coming down from 32 or 16mg ahead of them, and at least you've already done that part!

yes I apologize it seemed that way. I’m def not ready to jump off 2mg. No way lol. I just wanted to know if anyone could give advice for someone who’s been on it for over a decade. I really want to be able to use marijuana but I get drug screens once a month. It’s ridiculous. I could easily have marijuana assist me in my recovery but while being tested I can’t because my doctor won’t allow me to have marijuana in my system. Has anyone been allowed to or have knowledge of that? Thanks everyone for your advice. I will continue to taper lower especially to 1 and then .5. The only issues I’ve had is high blood pressure and afib. Clonidine I’m taking daily I have to cuz it keeps my blood pressure in check and helps withdrawal. I’m always getting withdrawal symptoms when I taper down cuz it’s such a big adjustment for my system. And I wait until it levels off some then I taper some more over time. I just haven’t taken anything else to aid me in this taper process. Good luck to everyone trying to get off these and live a better life. I’m just worried I’m damaging myself or what I’ve done is permanently hurting me like my liver and stuff too.

 

[KCrecovery]

I appreciate the kind words and advice everyone. Thank you

 

[Pokerfish]

I was in 8mg subs for 3 years.
Felt like it was going to be impossible to get off.
Dr recommended sublocade last year.
It’s completely out of my system now and had zero withdrawals.
The only negative side effect was I would sleep way too much for the first couple months bc I think the dose was too high.
My Dr said I was the only one who had this side effect tho and it was def a lot better than sub WD.
GL

 

[KCrecovery]

Thank you for that info. My question is how would you taper down with the Sublocade since it’s much higher then where I’m at now on 2mg. I’d have to go back up. Does it come in smaller doses so I can lower it as I go. That’s the big advantage of the films is I can dose myself less and less as I go down. The shot sounds interesting. I’m glad it helped you that’s awesome. How you feel now and how long before you felt somewhat normal again? Thanks

 

[RowdyMic]

Thank you for that info. My question is how would you taper down with the Sublocade since it’s much higher then where I’m at now on 2mg. I’d have to go back up. Does it come in smaller doses so I can lower it as I go. That’s the big advantage of the films is I can dose myself less and less as I go down. The shot sounds interesting. I’m glad it helped you that’s awesome. How you feel now and how long before you felt somewhat normal again? Thanks

The monkeys always gonna be on your back. But once you fall into a nice routine of work eating a good sleep schedule you’ll early get an itch for it. Never had probs with drugs and I’ve done all the common drugs. It gets easier and you def do it. Are the subs you have the ones that resolve on your tongue? If so I’d just start tapering by cutting them into smaller and smaller pieces. I’d al advice your doc as well. Good luck man you can do it, life’s much better off of it but you’ll be ok. I kicked it but now I just smoke do k every now and also drink but it’s never led to even a thought of roxys. You got it dude.

 

[Pokerfish]

Thank you for that info. My question is how would you taper down with the Sublocade since it’s much higher then where I’m at now on 2mg. I’d have to go back up. Does it come in smaller doses so I can lower it as I go. That’s the big advantage of the films is I can dose myself less and less as I go down. The shot sounds interesting. I’m glad it helped you that’s awesome. How you feel now and how long before you felt somewhat normal again? Thanks

There are two doses of the sublocade shot.
300mg and 100mg.
I got the shot two times. First month 300, second month 100.
I’m not sure if the 100mg would be overkill for 2mg/day sub.
The makers of sublocade recommend getting the shot 6 times. After the second shot, still feeling sleepy I told my Dr I didn’t want 3rd shot and he was cool with it. I don’t think there is much point to getting six shots if you’re not worried about relapsing. If I had to do it over again I would just get the one shot.
Although he did say that if I wanted he could give me half of the 100mg for the 3rd shot. My Dr is pretty cool tho, I have a feeling most Dr’s wouldn’t alter the dose for you but not sure.

So yeah I can’t say if the 100mg shot would be too much. Hopefully your Dr can give you a more concrete answer. My feeling is that if 100mg is too much it is probably only slightly too much and the side effects you will feel will be a lot easier to deal with than sub withdrawal.