Hi everyone. I came across this forum today and wanted to see what advice I can get. After nearly a year of suboxone use, I've decided to finally take my life back. I was on 12mg a day. I bit off maybe more than I can chew, but have gone 2mg a day for the last seven days. I plan to do another week at 2mg and then 'jump the boat.' I'm feeling like hell and any advice as how to cope would be greatly appreciated.
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Suboxone withdrawal.
- Thread starter Subadeath
- Start date
A few months ago everything was going great. I mean, I had a great job and never expected the hardships of the months ahead. Me and my girlfriend had planned a vacation. I find it almost surreal that I'm actually on that vacation now. I had a new employer in the works, and felt like the time between jobs would be a perfect time for our get-a-way. As it turns out, I was diagnosed with stage 2 melanoma skin cancer. The doctors informed me that it was a fast moving cancer, they said that it had a "high mitosis rate" and that I had to go into surgery right away. I was lucky and the doctors were able to remove the tumor, but not after having a large section of skin and a lymph node removed. I had cancelled my health insurance only a few months before. That was a bad decision on my part to say the least. I was able to fork out enough cash to pay the surgeon, but owe thousands of dollars to the hospital. I've had to delay the start of my new job because of the surgery, but somehow managed to have just enough money to take my girlfriend on the vacation I had promised her. I wasn't going to let my situation stop this from happening.
So, here I am, with almost nothing in the bank, and I know it will be a few weeks before I can start my new job. Because of this I have no choice but to wean off the subs. I can't afford it anymore! So, I've got just a few left. Enough that I can attempt to prevent the withdrawal from being to severe. No one knows that this is why I'm sick. I told my girlfriend that I have a cold, this way I won't ruin our vacation. Sounds absurd I know, but I didn't want anything to take this time from us. I find that unhealthy amounts of ibeprophine helps a little, but other than that it's becoming harder and harder to mask the pain from her.
So, here I am, with almost nothing in the bank, and I know it will be a few weeks before I can start my new job. Because of this I have no choice but to wean off the subs. I can't afford it anymore! So, I've got just a few left. Enough that I can attempt to prevent the withdrawal from being to severe. No one knows that this is why I'm sick. I told my girlfriend that I have a cold, this way I won't ruin our vacation. Sounds absurd I know, but I didn't want anything to take this time from us. I find that unhealthy amounts of ibeprophine helps a little, but other than that it's becoming harder and harder to mask the pain from her.
pro re nata
Bluelighter
Hi.. congratulations on keeping your thoughts positive and focused with all you are going through! That says a lot about your strength and the ability you have to pull through this.
I have done buprenorphine tapering where I dealt with basically no withdrawal . Just a little sneazing and eye watering but that was really it. I would suggest that you do not just do the 2mg for another week and jump , you will hit the ground much harder that way. Break your doses up based around the half life of bupe and keep walking it down as low as you can with the quantity you have left. If you can get down to taking .5 -.25 mg a day for 3 - 4 days before jumping and stepping to that point in the same increments for the same 3 - 4 day period this will greatly minimize your symptoms. Since your body has already had somewhat of a chance to adjust to the dose your at right now this again will help you. Did you just jump from 12mg - 2mg suddenly tho?
If you want help setting up a dosing plan just say so but let us know how many and what mg pills you have to work with.
You can and will make it through this! Again congratulations on making the choice to take control of your life in a direction you so desire. Changing behaviours is the key and you seem to understand that. Welcome to bluelight!
I have done buprenorphine tapering where I dealt with basically no withdrawal . Just a little sneazing and eye watering but that was really it. I would suggest that you do not just do the 2mg for another week and jump , you will hit the ground much harder that way. Break your doses up based around the half life of bupe and keep walking it down as low as you can with the quantity you have left. If you can get down to taking .5 -.25 mg a day for 3 - 4 days before jumping and stepping to that point in the same increments for the same 3 - 4 day period this will greatly minimize your symptoms. Since your body has already had somewhat of a chance to adjust to the dose your at right now this again will help you. Did you just jump from 12mg - 2mg suddenly tho?
If you want help setting up a dosing plan just say so but let us know how many and what mg pills you have to work with.
You can and will make it through this! Again congratulations on making the choice to take control of your life in a direction you so desire. Changing behaviours is the key and you seem to understand that. Welcome to bluelight!
Vaya
Bluelight Crew
Congratulations on jumping that tumultuous ship, Subadeath!
This process can be difficult; in fact, it's almost guaranteed to be. That's what makes your actions all the more admirable to me. Keep it up!
From personal experience, using suboxone to taper off of opiates/opioids carries its own pros and cons - the latter of which is comprised mostly of the fact that once you cease to use subs, you'll be in minor withdrawal from them for a few days afterwards. Please bear this in mind, for it would be the ultimate misfortune were you to get off of the suboxone, experience withdrawals from them, and revert back to subs or worse, your opiate drug of choice, in order to alleviate your symptoms.
Please remember to take plenty of hot baths/showers in order to relax your muscles, and get adequate sleep and nutrition. If you're able to exercise, I highly advise doing so, because it will release natural endorphins in your body. These will improve your mood and, because they act akin to opiates physiologically, they will act to alleviate many of the withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing.
Try taking the OTC medicine loperamide; chemically it's an opiate, but not one that you can get high from. It does a fantastic job, however, of alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
I hope all of this helps you!
~ Vaya
This process can be difficult; in fact, it's almost guaranteed to be. That's what makes your actions all the more admirable to me. Keep it up!
From personal experience, using suboxone to taper off of opiates/opioids carries its own pros and cons - the latter of which is comprised mostly of the fact that once you cease to use subs, you'll be in minor withdrawal from them for a few days afterwards. Please bear this in mind, for it would be the ultimate misfortune were you to get off of the suboxone, experience withdrawals from them, and revert back to subs or worse, your opiate drug of choice, in order to alleviate your symptoms.
Please remember to take plenty of hot baths/showers in order to relax your muscles, and get adequate sleep and nutrition. If you're able to exercise, I highly advise doing so, because it will release natural endorphins in your body. These will improve your mood and, because they act akin to opiates physiologically, they will act to alleviate many of the withdrawal symptoms you're experiencing.
Try taking the OTC medicine loperamide; chemically it's an opiate, but not one that you can get high from. It does a fantastic job, however, of alleviating withdrawal symptoms.
I hope all of this helps you!
~ Vaya
cj
Bluelight Crew
It's gonna be rough no matter what man. I kicked at 2mg and was sick for over a month with the first 3 weeks being super intense. In fact I didn't make it through. I relapsed on heroin and got a new sub script a few days ago. My best advice is too taper taper taper. Then use omfort meds to cushion the jump. If I kick again it will be after an extremely long slow taper.
Vaya
Bluelight Crew
easyfrantic said:
Good advice!
Thanks everyone for the advice. As it is, I'm in the mist of some serious withdrawal. I'm going to try everything you guys have mentioned. Maybe not eating shit, but the other stuff. The worst part for me is the chills. I can't tell if I'm hot or cold. I feel cold, yet I'm covered in sweat. This sux. What's odd is that going from 2mg to zero is way more brutal than 12mg to 2mg. I was warned about this. Pushing through.
cj
Bluelight Crew
2mg is still a high dose to jump off of
I have about 20mg on standby just in case. I could divide these up into .5mg doses. Maybe take one a day for a week and then stager it to one every other day. I'm thinking of using it this way.
Azure Cloud
Bluelighter
I've experienced the long hell of protracted sub withdrawals jumping off a too high a dose, breaking the 8 mg tabs in half or maybe even smaller, I don't remember exactly.
But the last -and so far final- time, I did it real slow. From 12 to 2mg over the course of a year+. I continued tapering for several months eventually cutting the 2 mg strips into 6 pieces and dosing once every 2-3 days before jumping off. I let myself stabilize at each dose for two weeks before adjusting my schedule. Also smoked a shit load of high quality cannabis during that time and for several months afterwards. I wanted a pain free taper/quit and that's what I got.
Of course I've developed a shitty stim addiction since then, so even a pain free taper isn't the end all if you don't stay vigilant in your sobriety.
Good luck!
But the last -and so far final- time, I did it real slow. From 12 to 2mg over the course of a year+. I continued tapering for several months eventually cutting the 2 mg strips into 6 pieces and dosing once every 2-3 days before jumping off. I let myself stabilize at each dose for two weeks before adjusting my schedule. Also smoked a shit load of high quality cannabis during that time and for several months afterwards. I wanted a pain free taper/quit and that's what I got.
Of course I've developed a shitty stim addiction since then, so even a pain free taper isn't the end all if you don't stay vigilant in your sobriety.
Good luck!
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pro re nata
Bluelighter
Hi... .. you have more then enough to set up a plan that will work you just need to set it up and stay with it. Look at all of these things you have going on as motivation to help gain some balance you are looking for. You can do it. Sounds like you have some really solid love around you with your job and family coming these could be part of your own rehab plan. Where is your dose at right now , for how long has it been there? It's hard to get a feel with only knowing you cut from 12mg to 2mg but again do not know how long ago that was. The half life of that 12mg /day dosing is probally what is kicking your ass now.
Your getting their! Sounds like building your plan up might help with that .5 - .25mg reductions and remember to try and base those reductions around the half life + some. Keep up the good work with your eye on the prize and get in a warm shower!
Your getting their! Sounds like building your plan up might help with that .5 - .25mg reductions and remember to try and base those reductions around the half life + some. Keep up the good work with your eye on the prize and get in a warm shower!
Quantz
Greenlighter
Wow well I'm sorry that's an unfortunate start to your vacation , thankfully it seems like you caught it early *clapclap*
As for your bank . don't even stress about that , you'll get money again , and right now you just need to get better . As fr your taper , you should start feeling leveled out at 2mg pretty quick , within a few days by now . Do what you can to get the natural endorphins flowing . I don't know how your energy level it but short sprints are the best for this , or atleast a brisk jog until you work up a nice sweat.
Next , I would use all your subs to taper to as low a dose possible . I would go down to 1.5 mg for a 4-5 days , then 1 mg for a week , then .75 , 5 , .25 , then even lower if you have enough sub left , it's all about doing a proper taper with subs , and you do need patience .
Also this isn't very much my business . I would tell your girlfriend the truth . I'm sure she would be supportive , but most importantly to make sure you stay in the habit of being honest . The lies and deception are what got you in a situation where you needed to be on subs in the first place . Change that behavior man , you're not that dope fiend anymore .
And lastly , I know you don't have health insurance , but if your girlfriend does , AFTER you told her what you're going through , I'd reccomend her going to see a doctor and getting Lyrica or Neurontin ( pregabalin or gabapentin ) both of witch are very easy to get , and Propranolol ( works amazing for keeping the anxiety down as well as RLS . It also blocks the adrenaline in your body . And when I detox my heart rate always goes up and I can literally feel the adrenaline spikes from anxiety from something as little as the phone ringing or someone knocking at the door . Then go to CVS and get immodium ( loperamide ) and you can take some hefty doses of that if you're really hurting .
With those 3 gems add ibuprofen , melatonin , and hot baths + drink a lot of fluids , it won't be too bad and your detox should be relatively painless . Best of luck to you my man.
As for your bank . don't even stress about that , you'll get money again , and right now you just need to get better . As fr your taper , you should start feeling leveled out at 2mg pretty quick , within a few days by now . Do what you can to get the natural endorphins flowing . I don't know how your energy level it but short sprints are the best for this , or atleast a brisk jog until you work up a nice sweat.
Next , I would use all your subs to taper to as low a dose possible . I would go down to 1.5 mg for a 4-5 days , then 1 mg for a week , then .75 , 5 , .25 , then even lower if you have enough sub left , it's all about doing a proper taper with subs , and you do need patience .
Also this isn't very much my business . I would tell your girlfriend the truth . I'm sure she would be supportive , but most importantly to make sure you stay in the habit of being honest . The lies and deception are what got you in a situation where you needed to be on subs in the first place . Change that behavior man , you're not that dope fiend anymore .
And lastly , I know you don't have health insurance , but if your girlfriend does , AFTER you told her what you're going through , I'd reccomend her going to see a doctor and getting Lyrica or Neurontin ( pregabalin or gabapentin ) both of witch are very easy to get , and Propranolol ( works amazing for keeping the anxiety down as well as RLS . It also blocks the adrenaline in your body . And when I detox my heart rate always goes up and I can literally feel the adrenaline spikes from anxiety from something as little as the phone ringing or someone knocking at the door . Then go to CVS and get immodium ( loperamide ) and you can take some hefty doses of that if you're really hurting .
With those 3 gems add ibuprofen , melatonin , and hot baths + drink a lot of fluids , it won't be too bad and your detox should be relatively painless . Best of luck to you my man.
pro re nata
Bluelighter
^ that is a pretty heavy duty list of items there. Methadone hcl, the pills not the liquid used for mmt has activity as a nmda antagonist falling into that dissociative arena. It is no where near ketamine but still something for you maybe to look into in your search to refine your list. I think a very good thing! Best of luck to you!