I did a suboxone google search and stumbled across your posts from last December. U had just started on the subs. I have been on them since May. I am currently taking 8-10 mgs per day maintenance, and am feeling VERY ready to taper. Have even considered stopping cold turkey but that sounds like a bad idea.

Anyway like I said I read MANY of your posts, but was bummed that they were all 6 months old. I'm glad [For myself] that you're still around here, because I really wanted to find out if you have tried tapering/quitting and what luck you've had [Or anyone else out there!].

The posts from December were SO ominous. Like this stuff is impossible to get free of. Anyone else have a different experience?

I would like to add, for anyone else out there just starting suboxone...
Everyone pretty much feels like it's a miracle at first - and it is. We feel SO good and we have a new confidence which has been missing for so long, so we feel ready to get off of it asap, right?

The real blessing of the subs is that they teach us, remind us, how to live without our other opiates, and for this reason one shouldn't rush to get off of them, as more than likely you will fall back on your other drug..which by the way you're not as 'free' of as you might think.

That said, I AM now ready. But man I would sure love to hear at least ONE success story from somebody who has stopped taking subs.

thank you all.

Koffree,

You are at the right place. I am on day 14 without Suboxone. All you have to do is look at the first two pages of this forum and read the thread's about Suboxone. I have been walked through this ordeal by some wonderful people and I you will be no different.

All you have to do is start reading about all the post I have had and that way everyone will not have to repeat the same thing.

However, we are all different and you will have other questions that I did not ask. Please ask away.

There are several success stories in the threads that helped me so much.

I wish you the best and will try to help all I can,
Fisherman

Hey, I'm glad you posted... I've been 'thinking' about starting to taper as well, simply because of the weight gain. Have you gained weight? Anyway... I can't even find it in myself to go back and read those old posts... I was up and down all over the place until I finally got on Wellbutrin several months ago and now I am doing well.

You're right about Sub. I agree with you about staying on it if you absolutely cannot quit abusing opiates. Anyway, I'm on around 12mgs but the last two days have only had 8 and have had no probs.

Stay in touch... Also, not only has Fisherman done it... but also someone named 'OVER' and also John 3:16. She went cold turkey - but her doc gave her a stimulant to help w/the withdrawals.. which they have and from what I understand. She's doing extremely well now. There have been others... a guy named Spark-o-cet. I believe that was how it read... but he went through pure hell... worse than Fisherman. Although he told us later that he was also using while taking Sub as well and he thought that added to the mix... but, it's some tough stuff and you have to do it slowly. Although everyone I've heard from says it doesn't get bad until you go from either 1 mgs, 1/2 mgs, crumbs..... to nothing. They say even just a few crumbs keeps them from hurting so badly... so I believe your taper will be fine. Spark stayed at .25 mg for months before stopping completely.

Keep in touch and thanks for posting!!

Thanks VERY much for the quick replies. I will check those older posts today. I'd be VERY inspired to read some success stories.

Wow...using while tapering off suboxone? That would just mess with one's body & mind to such an extreme, I can see why there was trouble.

Banker I do understand not wanting to read your old posts, but man they are so helpful to us 'newbies'.

I will check in later. Thanks again.

Koffrey,

Why is it that you are ready now? Are you going through any type of program now? How will you handle the cravings when they hit for the first few weeks/maybe a couple of months but not so bad the longer you go... But you know what I mean.

Guys, I think I can handle anything. I've been through so much crap in my life, which most of us have but goodness.... I think I can get through the physical piece.... but just like Fisherman said... it's the emotional piece that scares me to death and makes me think I will relapse. I'll have to give them to someone or throw them away.

Anyway, also... WAY back when,... there is a thread called 'Calling all Suboxone Users' and it has lots of good info in there too. I just can't remember who started it. Keep in touch.

I just feel 'ready'. The subs have done their job, but I just really want to feel myself with no drugs. period. Plus it seems to be affecting my urges to have sex and poo regularly...two important and necessary urges to have!

in terms of how to handle cravings...i think there is only one answer to this question nothing can be more important than staying clean. if you have to miss work, lay in bed, go to three meetings a day, what EVER you have to do to keep your eyes on the prize.

in terms of weight gain, i lost so much weight doing drugs and not eating that i've been thankful to put on a few pounds, though still i have to work out in the gym a few time s a week to keep them on. i don't think the subs do anything to make you gain weight, if anything they just help bring back a normal appetite, but maybe that's just me. i'm a skinny drug addict but i know of many more fat drug addicts who just always look 'bloated'. either way i seem to need 10 lbs of fiber every day to stay semi-regular.

Thanks very much for the additional thread to check out. I will do so.

Koffree,

I understand your post so much. It hits home so much. You mention a couple of things that really I have not talked about because of the nature of the subject. However, Since you brought it up I think I will add to it because the men thinking of Sub need to consider this.

Ladies please excuse me for this( just skip over)

Suboxone totally killed my sex drive. I was so satisfied with the feeling of Suboxone that I never felt the desire. I know it was the Suboxone because before I started taking it , I had a healthy sex life. Thought I was still a teenager.LOL I went 100 to nothing in a week.

I did not mention this also played a role in my wanting off. This may not happen to every man, but it looks like I am not alone.

We all know about the constipation. I stayed on Mirilax sp for the entire time I was on the Sub. It cost me a week at Disney World because I got so backed up the first week , I could not go. I was so glad I bought vacation insurance.

You sound ready.................I say go for it..............you can always go back to the sub and regroup. That is my take at 14 days. You sound like you want to quit in a bad way. Never hurts try.

If once you don't succeed, try, try again. Your day will come.

Fisherman

It is something to consider for couples however.

thanks,
fisherman

hey fisher,
yes you're right. anyone in a relationship needs to think about this. my wife is patient but she's not going to be patient forever. i find it helps to take vitamin e and other male 'stimulant' herbs. i'm MUCH better than i was on the oxycontin, though. on that i felt nothing.

and yes yes - it's so important not to get discouraged after a failure to get off the subs or the thing we were first addicted to. i feel ready to taper off the subs, but if it's too soon i'll find out and take it slower. no big deal.

i gotta say fisher i stumbled across one of your posts from last week, and WOW you sound so much better now. you were definitely deep down in it there. i hope you are feeling as well as your posts sound. congrats again.

Koffree,

I do feel lots better but there is a reason for it other than time. I don't know if you read the thread I crashed on day 11 but take a look at that.

I added a little Ritalin that I once used in the mix. So of course I am feeling better because I have more energy. It soups you up a little.

Am I jumping from the skillet to the frying pan, I don't know. I took Ritalin for a two year period one time and quit it without any problems. But the situation is a lttle different now. I don't want to fall in the trap of trading my emotional tie to opiates to the speed of Ritalin. I am smart enough to know I am playing with fire. But for me on day 11 it was take Ritalin or go back to the Sub. I was battle weary and needed to regroup and was giving up. So I chose to add the Ritalin instead of the opiates. My reasoning for this was it would buy me a little time, I would not loose my job and give my recepters more time to go back to normal.

Was it a smart move? I don't know. The verdict is out.

I wish I had the time off work that I could have just been a couch potatoe for a few more days but was not a option.

Anyway I am going to be positive at least I have not used a opiate in 14 days out using everyday for 5 years.

so I am not the best example for you. Over quit the correct way and I think Wilkey is doing a terrific job.

best wishes,
fisherman