To answer the thread question, one can take subuxone as soon as you begin to feel your first signs of withdrawal. Each one of those signs is different, but for us long term users of opiates, we know when "normality" is wearing off, and that plateu becomes a quick slope into feeling lousy. For me personally, my stomach comes back to life (uncomfortably) and I begin to get chills. This happens about 18hrs after my last opiate dose usually. How severe will depend on the amount and time that I used. The more for longer the worse, and vice versa. Longevity is a big factor. If you go months and months without stopping. Regardless of how "little" your taking, the withdrawal will be worse. For those struggling and can't quit, a great way to minimize withdraw is the 2:1 rule. For every two days of use, take one day off. You're not going to go into severe withdraw in 24 hrs, plus the user's brain knows it will get more opiate the next day so user does not experience as severe W/D symptoms. In my humble opinion, you're giving your brain a recovery day. Not only does it allow you to clear some of the drug out of your system, it also lowers tolerance slightly. If you're an addict, take Xanax or smoke some pot on that "off-day." At the worst, if you did this an entire year, you would have 4 months of sobriety... I'm an addict. I have been since roughly 2010. Mainly Hydrocodone, but I did a year long stint w Oxy that was too much for me to handle and landed me in rehab. Unfortunately, rehab did not solve my addiction. However, what rehab did do was show me "why" I used... Especially, such out of control use. For all us addicts, there is a "thorn" (I like to call it) be it fear, insecurity, disappointment, depression...etc This "thorn" is the root of our motivation to continue to get loaded even though we A) don't want it to continue B) Hurt ourselves or the ones we love.
If one can confront their "thorn", they are curing themselves of the addiction. Not fully, but like any disease or virus you must diagnose it in order to combat it. Once one realizes WHY they prefer to stay on "cloud-9" rather than confront the reality of their own life, they must confront said "thorn." Until then, it's fruitless to just try and stop. We use for a reason (most of us) and we cannot expect to just quit and be fine forever. Statistics have shown that addicts generally have a higher IQ (intelligence level) than non-addicts. Personally, I think that we feel things (emotions/creativity)more so than non-addicts. While, this sounds like a "pro" I believe it can turn on us and in turn lead us to believe we're smart or strong enough to work/live/be in successful relationship AND use opiates. Which in the end is not possible and ultimately the reason we're searching the web for withdrawal remedies. I apologize to all about the verbosity of this "memo" but I felt like I needed to share this. I hope all my fellow addicts can find peace and that you all realize that your "heart/soul" is a million times more powerful than some stupid yellow/white/blue/green/maroon pill. Mind over matter my friends and Godspeed.
PS Immodium aka Loperamide is a miracle for the stomach ails. Also, consider eating mild foods and limited greasy/sugary stuff. Ginger ale or Ginger Beer is also quite helpful. Melatonin for sleep and Advil and Tylenol in normal recommended doses will help the aches and pains too. If it gets to the point that you think you are going to break and buy more opiates, Buy Xanex instead, it's last case measure but you're problem seems to be opiates not benzos and calming the anxiety will essentially nullify the craving. Clonidine is a non-narcotic that works well too. Even bananas and a big glass of milk can help. Best of luck bud.