Opioids Coming off Suboxone....lets see if this is the right place

[jeng1128]

So after writing this essay & getting no responses I figured id try another thread. Anyways....my long term bf is on 16mgs of suboxone for 4 years. Now I know there is wds so if you say there isnt it just isnt true...@ least at being on them at the 4 year mark
Hrres my dilema...I am currentlly on 35mgs of methadone. This is a consideral change since I was on 160mg in April(yes i know its high) anyways at his CONSTANT urging i am trying to get off. Its been hard...i havnt used in 3+ yrs but it really does take your cravings away. But its bearable I just wake up at like 3am sick....he seems to think i should just jump off from here. I know he knows the differance for the fact hes been telling me hed come off the subs as well. He takes 16mgs/day...4 1/2 strips a day. He cant seem to even get down 1/2 strip(4mgs)....is it that hard?? I feel as hes being a hypocrite bc every day I hear "when will u go down again." He got his dr to rx me subutex once i get to 20mgs to come off the meth. But in my mind if i cant tolerate going down from 35mgs if i just jumped to 20 quick would it even help?? Well i am really not taking the chance esp since I know I want to be off this for good I cant just start on a subs program bc ill be in the same spot dif drug. Any suggestions would be appriciated. Thanks Jen

 

[VerbumVincet]

I've been on Subutex since it came out around 2004-5. I've jumped at 32mgs. and I've jumped from 1mg. To be honest, I was sicker than hell both times for approximately a month and a half. I couldn't tell a difference either way, so my opinion is that you simply have to want to quit, and then prepare to embrace the suck...The longest I stayed totally clean from Subutex and everything else was 1.5 years. I started boozing again and, knowing where that would lead, I got back on Subutex. I currently take 12mgs. a day. It's been a lifesaver - I'd be homeless or dead without it, and that's simply the sad truth.

I've never been on methadone, so I can't comment on that. From anecdotal evidence, I've heard both have withdrawal's lasting around a month (craving and PAWS - Post Acute Withdrawals for 6-12 months.) To me, Subutex felt like one hell of a long case of moderate flu. Longer, but not as acutely painful as a full agonist like methadone or morphine. The insomnia was hellacious - I didn't sleep for 8 days and started losing my grip on reailty. When I did sleep, I had horrible nightmares that are as vivid today as they were when I experienced them in 2005. I can also tell you that I have undergone rapid detox under anaesthesia, and it was a cakewalk. Very minor symptoms (diarrhea, gooseflesh, bone aches, insomnia for a week, at most.) I've also done the Ibogaine treatment, with results easily comparable to RDUA. I bogaine comes from an African plant called Tabernanthe iboga. You need a sitter if you choose to go this route, preferably one with nursing/medical experience.

One thing I will say (and I mean this only to benefit your well-being) is quitting anything for someone else is a losing proposition. In my ample experience, it's never worked. You also tend to end up resenting the person if you relapse, suffer bad cravings, etc. You've already admitted that you feel he's being hypocritical by requesting this of you. Do an honest, private cost-benefit analysis, and seriously ask yourself if you are better off remaining on maintenance treatment or not. I know it's cliche, but you have to look out for number one. No one else will. You've accepted that you're an addict, and only you can ultimately decide how you will proceed. I assure you, there are lots of people who will accept you for exactly who you are, not who they want you to be.

I hope my answer helped you in some way. I'll check back, so if you want me to expound on anything, feel free to ask. Good luck.

 

[brutus]

Try jumping to a dose of methadone below 30mg if at all possible before switching to bupe. I was on 20mg of methadone when I made the switch to bupe and 2mg held me just fine. I know it's different for everyone though.

Another thing, I highly doubt your boyfriend needs 16mg of bupe, that dose is extremely high. There's no way I would even contemplate coming off of that much bupe at once. Your boyfriend should definitely taper down to as low as possible. I was on .125mg of bupe when I stopped and have been clean for 8 months.

 

[jeng1128]

Yes...I know if it comes down to it I HAVE to leave him. I told him about this site & Ive been reading up on the suboxone mega-thread. I told him its gonna be damn hard to come off at 2mgs & people say to go to .125mgs & this was his response "Jen, do you really think im going to go down to .125mgs? Ill just do dope & come off that...I WAS SHOCKED!! I asked him if that was really his plan & he said he dosnt make plans. Weve both been clean off heroin for 3+ years....& he ESP knows(im 29 hes 43 almost 44)-obv doing drugs way longer than I that that is a horrible plan! Weve worked soooo hard, he just started his own roofing business & were finally saving for a house. I KNOW the second either one of us goes the heroin route all our $ &shit will be gone.

Is it really that hard to go from 16mgs to 12mg/daily?? He claims its pretty much impossible to do when hes still in his busy season & says he has to wait until winter to do it,which i think is an excuse. How much is the rapid detox? It just might have to come down to that. Obv 35mgs of meth is not holding me since im up at 3:20! I still dont know.....my parents dont want me coming off! They know the addict side of me he dosnt. I keep making excuses why I wont go down any more(well its the truth its not holding me....but i dont know if it ever will. Its only been 10 days.
Thanks
Jen

 

[cook]

I can also tell you that I have undergone rapid detox under anaesthesia, and it was a cakewalk. Very minor symptoms (diarrhea, gooseflesh, bone aches, insomnia for a week, at most.) I've also done the Ibogaine treatment, with results easily comparable to RDUA. I bogaine comes from an African plant called Tabernanthe iboga. You need a sitter if you choose to go this route, preferably one with nursing/medical experience.

That is interesting that you found that rapid detox was helpful, I thought it was a scam. So you were coming off subs or heroin with rapid detox and ibogaine? But the ibogaine didn't keep you clean long afterwards?