Bupe Most Effective Suboxone WIthdrawal (need advice ASAP)

[JASS92]

Hello everyone. So I've had a 2 gram a day heroin habit for the past 3 years or so. Mind you this is very very high quality stuff. Back in July I did an anesthesia assisted opiate detox. Boy did I regret that, but the picture that was painted to me as to how it was going to be was incredibly inaccurate. Basically they knocked me out for 2-3 hours with versed and pumped me full of naloxone. I woke up kicking incredibly hard, puking and shitting on myself. I went through this for about 2-3 more days before the withdrawals became slightly more manageable. It took me about a month to feel completely back to normal.

I then relapsed, and have been back on the dope for the last 3 months or so at a dose of 1gram a day (of the same high quality stuff). I just went to a suboxone doctor saturday. He told me to not use any opiates for the 12 hours before the appointment. What a load of bullshit that was. I waited 20 hours and went in there. I was feeling sick, but not that terrible. However upon giving me the first 8mg he sent me into a precipitated withdrawal which was horrible, but not quite as bad as the anesthesia assisted precipitated detox.

Now this doctor gave me 24mg the first day, while I would say I probably only needed 20 to hold me. That being said I discussed my detox with him and he said he wanted to do it over a period of about 6 weeks or so. 1st week 24, 2nd week 16, 3rd week 12, 4th week 8, 5th week 4, and then the 6th week down to .25mg.

Now I don't pretend to be an expert on buprenorphoine, but everything I read seems to illustrate the efficacy of this drug when used for a period of at most 2-3 weeks. I am using the suboxone films, and just wanted to get everyones adivce. I expressed this concern with my doctor, and he stated that If I get off that quickly that my receptors will be so downgraded and starved that I will be bound to relapse.

What do you guys think about this. Should I discuss this again with my doctor? I am simply fearful of switching my dope addiction with a bupe addiction. If I know that I can get off within 2 weeks without any lingering unbearable symptoms, then that is something that I would really like to do. I also have ancillary medications on hand to help with other symptoms of withdrawal: xanax, soma, clonidine, lyrica, gabapentin, tylenol, advil, seroquel, trazodone, ambien, clonazepam, Hyoscyamine, Immodium, Zofran, Tigan, and Dramamine.

I took the 24 mgs yesterday (16mg by about 3pm PST and then 4mg at 6pm and then 4mg at 10pm). I have not taken any today and I do not feel any withdrawal symptoms whatsoever.

What do you all think that the best course of action would be for me?

Thank you very much for any and all responses and advice.

Kind Regards,

Stephen

 

[Opiated_Princess]

That's crazy you had PW after 20 hrs? You should have been safe by then I'd think. I guess it's different for everyone, how quick you metabolize, how good stuff is...
I'd stick with Suboxone, take it just once a day, and cut down 2-4mg a day until you are done. Don't mix with benzos, but seroquel, trazodone, or clonidine would be okay to help you sleep.

 

[JASS92]

That's crazy you had PW after 20 hrs? You should have been safe by then I'd think. I guess it's different for everyone, how quick you metabolize, how good stuff is...
I'd stick with Suboxone, take it just once a day, and cut down 2-4mg a day until you are done. Don't mix with benzos, but seroquel, trazodone, or clonidine would be okay to help you sleep.

Ok so are you saying take the 24 mg today, and then tomorrow 22, day after 20, then 18, 16 and so forth? Is that a good idea? Really what I am looking for is the method that will get me clean while having to deal with VERY minimal withdrawal symptoms. Thank you for your reply!

 

[Opiated_Princess]

Sounds good. Just take as little as possible to keep yourself comfortable, as long as you can stand the pain of withdrawals... you don't want to be on Suboxone for longer than a few months, because then you'll develop a dependence on that. but it is possible to detox from opiates using it over 3, 7, 10, 14 day periods... whatever you feel like you need. make a schedule and do your best to stick to it.
Use this, http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/Bup_Guidelines.pdf and the COWS sheet as guidelines. Good luck!

 

[sekio]

I suggest you consult the Suboxone Mega threads, see the OD directory in my sig

Really what I am looking for is the method that will get me clean while having to deal with VERY minimal withdrawal symptoms.

Take the minimum amount of Suboxone needed to keep you feeling OK, and decrease your dose slowly but gradually. Only take Suboxone as needed to prevent going into severe withdrawals.

Personjally I think 20+mg may be overkill, you should try taking less if you are feeling fine at 20mg.

Bear in mind that smaller doses of Suboxone under 2mg must be titrated very slowly because at low-dose levels more buprenorphine is converted proptortionally to norbuprenorphine, which is a stronger receptor agonist (read: more effective as an opiate drug). In layman's terms this means that for some people doses of 1 or 2mg may be equally as effective as doses of e.g. 10mg.

You will feel some discomfort but eventually you'll be off the Subs.

Closing this thread now, post in the Mega thread if you have further questions