Opinions please: how does tapering effect opiate withdrawal & PAWS length/severity
Did a rapid taper and jumped from 1 mg suboxone 7 weeks ago (was on suboxone roughly 10 years, various doses, but for the last few years mostly @ 4mg/day). Problem is that I'm still really struggling with ridiculous insomnia and akathisia/RLS and it hasn't gotten any better. It's at the point where I feel like I'm going to go insane. I'm a complete basket case.. it's affecting my work, my relationships, and my faith.
My old sub doctor as well as my family is telling me to go back on and do a slow taper. My big fear is that even with a slow taper, I will be miserable and just prolong my agony as well as having to start over and potentially be going through this exact same thing for even longer. It's just so frustrating because I think if I could sleep, I'd be okay.
I've tried multiple natural supplements. I've tried occasional benzo use, which works sometimes, but I'm terrified of dependency and refuse to take them more than once or twice per week. I'd love to try gabapentin, but my doctor wrote a script for a ridiculously low dose which does nothing but build up my tolerance. The only thing my sub doctor would give me is phenobarbital, which seems crazy excessive to me and obviously causes physical dependency.. not to mention that no pharmacy wants to fill it because my dog who is epileptic is on it, so they all think I'm scamming them.
I've heard people say that a rapid taper was no different than a slow one, but I've heard the opposite as well. I will say that years ago I did a very slow taper and jump off subs and it was nothing like this. I had virtually no physical withdrawals at all, just psychological ones. But, I was also on a bunch of psych meds at that time and my suboxone dose was much smaller prior to tapering. I will also say that in the recent preceding months, I have come off cymbalta, remeron, and seroquel. I know, not the smartest plan.. if I could go back, I'd do it all differently....
Any feedback is appreciated!
Did a rapid taper and jumped from 1 mg suboxone 7 weeks ago (was on suboxone roughly 10 years, various doses, but for the last few years mostly @ 4mg/day). Problem is that I'm still really struggling with ridiculous insomnia and akathisia/RLS and it hasn't gotten any better. It's at the point where I feel like I'm going to go insane. I'm a complete basket case.. it's affecting my work, my relationships, and my faith.
My old sub doctor as well as my family is telling me to go back on and do a slow taper. My big fear is that even with a slow taper, I will be miserable and just prolong my agony as well as having to start over and potentially be going through this exact same thing for even longer. It's just so frustrating because I think if I could sleep, I'd be okay.
I've tried multiple natural supplements. I've tried occasional benzo use, which works sometimes, but I'm terrified of dependency and refuse to take them more than once or twice per week. I'd love to try gabapentin, but my doctor wrote a script for a ridiculously low dose which does nothing but build up my tolerance. The only thing my sub doctor would give me is phenobarbital, which seems crazy excessive to me and obviously causes physical dependency.. not to mention that no pharmacy wants to fill it because my dog who is epileptic is on it, so they all think I'm scamming them.
I've heard people say that a rapid taper was no different than a slow one, but I've heard the opposite as well. I will say that years ago I did a very slow taper and jump off subs and it was nothing like this. I had virtually no physical withdrawals at all, just psychological ones. But, I was also on a bunch of psych meds at that time and my suboxone dose was much smaller prior to tapering. I will also say that in the recent preceding months, I have come off cymbalta, remeron, and seroquel. I know, not the smartest plan.. if I could go back, I'd do it all differently....
Any feedback is appreciated!