I am a recovering heroin addict. I'm so proud of myself for it. i was put on suboxone about a year ago and managed to get a job and be promoted to assistant manager of a store. I'm doing so well, besides the fact that after about 6 months I decided to start shooting up my suboxone. The addict in me just keeps chasing some sort of high. My boyfriend and my daughter know nothing about it. I have no more veins left and I went in my neck the other day out of desperation. I know how dangerous this is and its definitely not worth my life. How can I stop this and still stay on my meds without getting sick or running out too early. I only get two a day and taking them sublingual won't do the trick because my tolerance is so high from shooting it. I have thought of plugging but don't really know how to do it right. How far or how much, etc.. I just want this inner junkie to go away. I need some advice... I'm not supposed to be a junkie. I feel like I'm worth more than to do this to myself. Not to mention I'm tired of being in pain from missed shots or poke marks all over myself
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H&R Moderators: streaM Freak
I need to stop shooting up :(
- Thread starter Nobody916
- Start date
T. Calderone
Bluelight Crew
- Joined
- Aug 1, 2010
- Messages
- 8,981
I've no experience with shooting subs but my understanding is the bioavailability is highest when taken sublingually. It may be a rough adjustment at first, but think of it like "this is my medicine to keep me well" as opposed to chasing the high. It's hard because for so many of us, the inner junkie never really does go away. I'm going to move this to Sober Living. Welcome to Bluelight!
N, I believe you are addicted to the ritual of shooting up, the whole ceremonial of it is just as addicting as the heroin. The only way of getting over this that I know is inpatient care. It is an obsession that is almost impossible to kick alone. Of course some people have defeated it but it is just overwhelming doing it alone and hiding it as well. Sorry but I have nothing else to suggest, Good luck to you sweetheart.
cj
Bluelight Crew
Just from a harm reduction point of view shooting non micro filtered sub into your neck is asking for a serious complication. Not a matter of if but when. If your still craving the high from opiates then the sub is not working. I went through something similar on sub maintenance except I started dabbling again with heroin instead of banging the sub. You have two viable choices IMO. One is to up your sub dose and administer it by snorting or under the tongue. two is switch over to methadone. Your already hooked on a long acting opiate so the withdrawal is going to be hell anyway so you don't lose much by making the switch. Methadone controls cravings 100 times better than sub and you wont be able to shoot it.
Whatever you do stop shooting the sub! Even if it means going back to heroin and I don't say that lightly.
Whatever you do stop shooting the sub! Even if it means going back to heroin and I don't say that lightly.
Concernedhypocrit
Greenlighter
Yeah needle fixation is a real thing. It's just as addictive as the drugs themselves sometimes
Ligaturd
Bluelighter
Sublingual buprenorphine only has a 30% bioavailability. Intravenous has a 100% bioavailability. You are in the thick of it and it will take a long time to get back down to your daily sublingual dose working for you. Just taper down with the needle, maybe by %10 every week or few days until the total blood plasma concentration from shooting is close to the concentrations that would equal your sublingual dose. It's a bit tricky as I believe you probably shoot a few times a day.
Less is more with buprenorphine. 8mgs can form a pretty effective blockade and still hold you. I am on 12mgs which is below what would have comfortably held me when I first got on it. It took awhile to get acclimated to this dose and there was a massive increase of anxiety and depression but it was worth it as it will be easier to come off of it. In this way I avoided further suppression of various hormones, especially testosterone. Having my sex drive back and also increasing my energy levels. It also allows a patient to be stable while not suppressing anxiety and depression so they can confront problems masked by full agonists. In this way Suboxone can be quite therapeutic compared to if one was to go on Methadone but this is only if the dose a patient is put on is not too high and doesn't push their tolerance level up.
If you want to calculate the intravenous dose that will achieve the same blood plasma concentrations as your sublingual dose just take your sublingual dose and minus 70%. I assume that you take 16mgs total a day so an equal IV dose would be approximately 4.8mgs or if done twice a day it would be approximately 2.4mgs per shot. So taper down to a 4.8mgs a day intravenous dose and when you are comfortable with that, the 16mgs sublingual dose will hold you again. You could also just start taking the 16mgs sublingually and ride it out until your tolerance goes down and that dose hold you again. The worst of the withdrawal symptoms shouldn't occur until you get down to 2mgs sublingual level, it'll be uncomfortable but that shouldn't be until 0.6mgs IV dosage. You will have anxiety, chills, sweats but i which you don't need to go down to. It should be manageable just take the taper slowly and you will get there eventually.
I understand it is a bit more complicated IV as it doesn't last as long and the withdrawal symptoms will be more pronounced but it is doable. Suboxone is what got me off of needles, it's been 4 months. I know how hard it is but once you get down in dose and back to sublingual dosing and comfortable, make sure you are busy and find other things in life to enjoy. Finding out what brings you fulfillment in life and embracing that for an extended period of time will encourage neuroplasticity and help rewire your brain away from the pleasurable associations with the needle. It is possible and you can conquer the needle fixation but it requires a lot of work and a good amount of time. I wish you the best of luck.
Less is more with buprenorphine. 8mgs can form a pretty effective blockade and still hold you. I am on 12mgs which is below what would have comfortably held me when I first got on it. It took awhile to get acclimated to this dose and there was a massive increase of anxiety and depression but it was worth it as it will be easier to come off of it. In this way I avoided further suppression of various hormones, especially testosterone. Having my sex drive back and also increasing my energy levels. It also allows a patient to be stable while not suppressing anxiety and depression so they can confront problems masked by full agonists. In this way Suboxone can be quite therapeutic compared to if one was to go on Methadone but this is only if the dose a patient is put on is not too high and doesn't push their tolerance level up.
If you want to calculate the intravenous dose that will achieve the same blood plasma concentrations as your sublingual dose just take your sublingual dose and minus 70%. I assume that you take 16mgs total a day so an equal IV dose would be approximately 4.8mgs or if done twice a day it would be approximately 2.4mgs per shot. So taper down to a 4.8mgs a day intravenous dose and when you are comfortable with that, the 16mgs sublingual dose will hold you again. You could also just start taking the 16mgs sublingually and ride it out until your tolerance goes down and that dose hold you again. The worst of the withdrawal symptoms shouldn't occur until you get down to 2mgs sublingual level, it'll be uncomfortable but that shouldn't be until 0.6mgs IV dosage. You will have anxiety, chills, sweats but i which you don't need to go down to. It should be manageable just take the taper slowly and you will get there eventually.
I understand it is a bit more complicated IV as it doesn't last as long and the withdrawal symptoms will be more pronounced but it is doable. Suboxone is what got me off of needles, it's been 4 months. I know how hard it is but once you get down in dose and back to sublingual dosing and comfortable, make sure you are busy and find other things in life to enjoy. Finding out what brings you fulfillment in life and embracing that for an extended period of time will encourage neuroplasticity and help rewire your brain away from the pleasurable associations with the needle. It is possible and you can conquer the needle fixation but it requires a lot of work and a good amount of time. I wish you the best of luck.
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w0w0mg
Bluelighter
OP, I know where you're coming from. I have had a problem with shooting suboxone strips REALLY bad...
Honestly, it's horrible for you yes, but it does hit you a LOT faster and you only need MAX 2 mg to get the same effects as a whole strip.
For the sake of Harm Reduction - I would not ADVISE to do this ROA.
But, I know what you're going thru on that spectrum.
A lot of it is in your head.
Literally, shooting any MORE than 2 mg deems its pointless due to the fact it acts as a ceiling effect.
So... IF you're going to IV suboxone just do 2 mg and taper down, whilst taking the rest under the tongue.
You will feel a lot better... trust me and try it..
much love.
Honestly, it's horrible for you yes, but it does hit you a LOT faster and you only need MAX 2 mg to get the same effects as a whole strip.
For the sake of Harm Reduction - I would not ADVISE to do this ROA.
But, I know what you're going thru on that spectrum.
A lot of it is in your head.
Literally, shooting any MORE than 2 mg deems its pointless due to the fact it acts as a ceiling effect.
So... IF you're going to IV suboxone just do 2 mg and taper down, whilst taking the rest under the tongue.
You will feel a lot better... trust me and try it..
much love.
w0w0mg
Bluelighter
NOTE* I am not promoting IV use for suboxone - there are so many risk factors.
and I am saying the ceiling effect is 2 mg of IV usage not any other ROA.
and I am saying the ceiling effect is 2 mg of IV usage not any other ROA.
Papaverium
Bluelighter
The truth be spoken. I'm just as addicted to the needle as I am to the drugs. I probably coulda quit by now if it weren't for the craving to see that blood register in the chamber before feeling that rush... dang.
Captain.Heroin
Bluelight Crew
manboychef
Bluelighter
Yes the needle fixation....well lets call it what it is, a needle fetish is extremely hard to stop. As crimsonjunk said, you are risking some terrible complications when you shoot suboxone, or subutex. The only inject-able bupe is buprinex, and I don't think it is available anymore.
Something I learned in rehab that was helpful is waiting. Just wait a little while for the desire to shootup passes and then take your dose. As time goes by, it will get easier and easier. I know it is easier said than done, however it is up to you to start changing your addictive behaviors. It took inpatient rehab, and lots of therapy to help me to stop. Basically, you need to figure out how far you need to go to beat that behavior. It takes 28 days or more to stop a habit, or start a good habit. The first thing I would do is get rid of all your paraphenalia. That will trigger you to want to shoot your meds.
If all of that fails, I would highly suggest MMT. I had the same problem on subutex that you have. I was always looking for something more. The bupe kept me from getting sick, but did not scratch the itch to use one bit.
Something I learned in rehab that was helpful is waiting. Just wait a little while for the desire to shootup passes and then take your dose. As time goes by, it will get easier and easier. I know it is easier said than done, however it is up to you to start changing your addictive behaviors. It took inpatient rehab, and lots of therapy to help me to stop. Basically, you need to figure out how far you need to go to beat that behavior. It takes 28 days or more to stop a habit, or start a good habit. The first thing I would do is get rid of all your paraphenalia. That will trigger you to want to shoot your meds.
If all of that fails, I would highly suggest MMT. I had the same problem on subutex that you have. I was always looking for something more. The bupe kept me from getting sick, but did not scratch the itch to use one bit.
cj
Bluelight Crew
Manboychef makes an excellent point about getting rid of paraphernalia. If you don't have any needles you cant shoot up.
Papaverium
Bluelighter
I find that to be one of the hardest things though... throwing away my rigs and pill crusher and the like... I mean all it takes is one motion, from my hand to the trash.... but something holds me back every time. The thought that maybe I'd just do it one last time... that thought that has fooled us on many, many occasions. there is no last time if you say there's a last time. Just don't say it. lol
manboychef
Bluelighter
So true. I have actually gone back into the garbage to get rigs because I wasn't ready to stop. That was an incredibly bad low for me.
Papaverium
Bluelighter
Ive definitely done that too...
Captain.Heroin
Bluelight Crew
I always suggest people Hold to clean ones.
Harm reduction for those of us who might be tempted to use a used/dirty rig if we relapse.
Znegative
Bluelight Crew
I don't know I understand that it's "abusing" your medication, and surely a sign your heading in the wrong direction, but at the same time, it pisses me off that our culture stigmatizes drug use, particularly IV drug use, when really, if they just gave us the shit as injectable in the first place, its the cleanest, most effective way of administering drugs. But instead your forced to dissolve a strip and slam that up, then feel guilty, then relapse. Fuck guilt, get some micron filters if you can't somehow manage to get some buprenex. I've been where you are, I understand the pressure and the guilt, but really, its all a perspective. The only thing truly wrong is that pharmaceutical companies are purposely putting binders and flavoring that make there pills dangerous to inject (all the while knowing addicts still will)
Be careful slamming subs that led me back to a 2 yr relapse costing me 125,000 and now basically hideing out from the irs! I know I gotta deal with it and will soon. Been on mmt since Oct! But that really was the beginning of my relapse. I get it. I love the needle and that wonderous sight of blood when u hit! But the urge will fade. Just gotta fight it
LonglostJbird
Greenlighter
- Joined
- Feb 23, 2016
- Messages
- 9
idk if Ive got serious hero worship tonight on Captain.Heroin or whatever but i just joined this, and I feel like he knows everything I want to know when I search a thread, boom,he's answered it.
Also, I quit this same whole process as mentioned above some years ago. So idk maybe I'm saying hi and I wish we were friends but if we were, I'd embarrass myself in 5 minutes or I'd be so awkward no one could stand it.
Life without the spoon... All my awkward spills everywhere just like right now posting this
Also, I quit this same whole process as mentioned above some years ago. So idk maybe I'm saying hi and I wish we were friends but if we were, I'd embarrass myself in 5 minutes or I'd be so awkward no one could stand it.
Life without the spoon... All my awkward spills everywhere just like right now posting this
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