How many have made it off Subox successfully!? Check out my recovery thus far.

[Jabberwocky]

I am on a 6 month to a year program w/ Subox. So far I've been Sober a bit over 3 weeks; will be a month this Tuesday! This is the LONGEST I've gone is quite some time! I truly feel I gave up on the drugs.. or so I think. Sure, I've had slight cravings over the last month or so but those cravings went away fast, or came up only because I missed my dosage purposely to see if I can spread the Subox out a bit and start to kick the dosage a bit.

I am currently in a program here in Boston and seeing a Dr. for the Subox and detox itself. My program ends in a week and from there I'll just be seeing my Dr. (my program is outpatient). I am not too worried about the program ending but just wondering how hard its going to be to get off these Subox even w/ a Dr. overseeing it all!? After all, I remember how hard it was kicking the opiates (even Subox is considered one). As of now I am on 16MG of Subox a day; I am sure after month 1 we will start to wind down and slowly get away.. and I am assuming many of you on this board has been through this before, so I am wondering how hard it was/is!?

Also, once off the Subox, did the thoughts of using come back? Because as of now, like I previously said, I hardly get any urge/feeling to use. Who knows, maybe its because the last time I did use I basically OD'd was was rushed to the ER and that FINALLY WOKE ME UP!

I'll also be honest w/ myself and the board.. sure, I've been clean from opiates for close to a month now but I've used benzo's to help sleep a few times (prescribed but trying to stay away since it's another highly addicting drug) and also smoked weed multiple times to help sleep (another drug I am offered to be prescribed since I have a brain tumor but have not taken the script since not shops have been opened to pick up yet). Do you guys think I am doing the WRONG thing by using these 2? These 2 things are something I NEVER/RARELY used when on my dope runs. At that point all I care was dope, dope, dope... NOTHING ELSE! but these 2 "drugs" have come in handy so far in my recovery when having a hard time sleeping or when the anxiety starts to build.. esp. the benzo during MRI's which I must take monthly - not easy to lay there for 45 mins w/ my head in a tube and unable to move!

All/any advice is always welcomed! I truly feel I am at the TOP OF MY RECOVERY RIGHT NOW.. BEST IVE DONE IN A LONG, LONG TIME.. but who knows, maybe I am seeing it wrong. So what do you all think?

 

[dopemegently]

First off, congrats for getting clean and onto your short-term bupe therapy. It would be very hard to say exactly what coming off is going to feel like for you, but I can guarantee you one thing: it will be much, much, easier than coming off the smack, although the detox process will last significantly longer, owing to bupes lengthy half-life. I once went 2 weeks without bupe, and the symptoms were unpleasant, but bearable. There are also ways to manage the discomfort; clonidine could be worth looking into for you, among other drugs.

As far as cravings go, I really couldn't say to what extent they'll affect you, it completely comes down to the personality; the hardcore, long-term addict is probably going to crave a lot more than the younger, lighter user, but as I say it's relative to the person. If you get urges (strong psychological impulses to immediately use), these are relatively easy to ride out, because they last on average around 20 minutes; you just grit your teeth and "urge surf". Cravings can last longer than this, and they can really wear at you after a while. It might be worth your while contacting a recovery support group; talking about your desire to use with like-minded people can really help with any cravings you may experience.

I wish you the best of luck, I only wish I had done it your way and got off the bupe relatively quickly; I've been on it for 8 years now, and will soon begin my taper.

 

[Tommyboy]

I was on it for 18 months and got off of it 3-4 years ago. It was the worst kick I ever experienced but that was in large part due to me not tapering down. It really does kill most cravings and dull down the other ones, so I find it pretty easy to stay off other opiates while on suboxone compared to while not being on it.

I suggest you try to stay off the benzos now because if you get in a habit of taking them then you will probably be more likely to use opiates again once you get off the suboxone.

 

[Jabberwocky]

thanks for the info guys. hey, we may be on Subox but at least we are far, far from the "bad" stuff. I'd rather take Subux for the rest of my life than go back to where I was. I have other meds that I HAVE TO TAKE in the morning, so adding a Subox is no big deal but I understand deep down its still an opiate and needs to be kicked; its just helped so much thus far and today is my 1 month since my OD and I havent touched SHIT! Very proud of myself. Maybe I needed my closest OD yet to wake me the fuck up. Also, since then I found a new job, apartment, got my car back, some trust back, etc. Things seems to be going great and the last thing I want to do is fuck it all up again over a bag. NO THANK YOU!

I agree w/ Benzo'z but sometimes I need them since I have a brain tumor/cancer which is only a level 2 but during MRI's I FREAK OUT and need to be fed the Benzo to CHILL THE FCK OUT, ya know!?