Hi everyone. I just came across these boards yesterday an everyone here seems really nice and helpful. My problem is Ive been on suboxone for about 14 months now at around 6 mgs. I have a new dr. now and he switched me over to subutex and ive tapered down to 3mgs. Today is my 2nd day at 3mgs. Its getting tough. Ive read horror story after horror story on other sites and Im really scared. Im afraid from being on the sub for so long that Ive done irrepairable damage to my brain chemistry and i will never feel happy or joy again. I do feel sub has its place in getting people out of the spiral of addiction, the addictive behaviour, but now i feel addicted to this. And Ive heard the w/d is just as bad as methadone. Very frightening. Is there anyone who had been on this and got off it with a positive outcome? Thanks everyone:)

Hello Roze

No, I didn't happen to choose Sub as my route off, but no matter because yes, getting off any opiate based drug is frightening! Undrstanding what is happening to us as we withdraw is very important because it helps us through the physically rough physical and emotional times. And those times, unfortunately are a reality.

HOWEVER, they do not have to be a hinderance to our successful withdrawal! I did a long slow taper from oxycodone, which is itself a pretty powerful opiate painkiller. Also came off Xanax throughan even slower taper. Tapers work for me and it seems that a taper is your choice, which it absolutley should be from sub.

Honestly? I think the doctor is bringing you down pretty quick. However, a fast taper is, I believe, what the scientists initially had in mind when trying out sub for detoxing from other opiates. The use of it medically, however, seems to be changing and evolving and this is not necessarily a bad thing at all. A very honest talk needs to be had with the prescibing doctor if you feel you can not handle the speed at which he is taking you down. Talk about your symptoms and talk about a slower taper if you feel you have the very needed discipline to handle a slow taper. Don't wait for the talk until everything is so out of control that you end up back on your initial drug which led you to using the sub route to detox!

No, I do not think you have done irrepairable damage to your brain. I am sure there has been a shutting down of some of the processesors in it that produce the chemicals we need in a natural way, but the human body has a wonderful capacity to restore and repair itself if we allow it. I was on painkillers for ten years before I began my journey off last October... and guess what? The old noodle of mine is pretty much restored already! Too long a story to start and finish here, so I guess you are just going to have to believe me by faith for now. Smiles.

Come back with questions, thoughts or feelings. I have to jet and get to a doctor's appt with hubby, but I will be around popping in and out over the weeknd.

Do not despair! Horror is all in the eye of the beholder and I know that their are some fanatstic eye repairers on this board!

With all hope
reach

Thank you Reach
I appreciate you taking the time to reply. I would like to share with you all what Ill be going through because i will and want support--if thats ok with you guys;) -- I go back to the dr. aug. 1st. and i will have just enough sub left to stay at 3mgs till that day. Ive been on painkillers for 5 years previously-- and I just want to be me again-- very scary though. Im hoping i know how to be me.
Hope everyone has a great weekend

rose,

hi !!! welcome !!! i would have replied sooner but im just getting back into the "groove" after a vacation. yay !! but anyway, i just want to share with you that i am currently on 2mg of sub and am trying to taper down as well. i understand your fears and concerns, i have them too. getting down to 2mg has really been fairly easy. i think now is when im in for a little rough going.... we'll see. im going to taper to 1.75 beginning tomorrow. please keep me posted on your progress, i would like to know how you're doing. and i'll keep you posted on mine, ok?
hope all is well with you and hope to hear from you soon !!!

michelle :)

Hi Michelle
How long have you been on sub? I'd say im going on 15 months. I go to my dr. tomorrow so Ill let you know whats up. thanks for replying!

Just since May. I started at 8mg. I went down to 1.75 yesterday. Seem to be doing ok so far except i've gotten this horrible headache. I thought it was a migraine but the imitrex didnt touch it. gonna go lie down and take a nap.
talk soon,

michelle

I was put on Suboxone back in May after a 7 day in-patient stay in detox for Oxycontin (40's & 80's) mostly, but I would take whatever I could get my hands on that was an opiate or benzo. I had been addicted to the opiates for 4 years before going into detox. So it was a pretty scary thing for me. My detox Dr. started me on 8mg of Suboxone on the first day and tapered me down every day by 1 mg. This was a very fast taper, but of course in detox, you're given all kinds of sedatives and things to keep you mellow. However, when I got down to 2 mg. in detox, I started freaking out. I was real emotional, crying all day. So he put me back up to 4 mg/day. I left detox on 4 mg/day and stayed on that for about 4 months. The 4 mg/day worked for me. Well, about 15 days ago, I started my taper from the Suboxone. I got a taper schedule from my Dr., but I didn't agree with it, so I pretty much made my own. And it went better than expected. The first day that I was on nothing at all, I was alright, but I was sure the sickness was in the mail. And sure enough, on the second day I started to feel pretty bad. Body aches, really tired, bad insomnia, diarrhea, nausea, restless legs and arms, chills, hot flashes, anxiety, sweats.... list goes on. But these wd's were so much milder than they would have been from a full strength opiate, I know that. And they did subside. Every day I started to feel a little better. Today, I am 15 days clean from everything, opiates, benzos, and Suboxone. I am SO grateful!!!
Before I went into detox, I never thought that I would be able to get off of opiates. I had accepted that the rest of my life would be controlled and consumed by this drug. Well, today, my mind is clearer than ever. I feel like a fog has been lifted. So for anyone going through the Suboxone wd's, you WILL get through it. You WILL feel better soon. The wd's don't last forever. And for the rest of your life to live sober, is worth going through just a little while of wd's. Suboxone does work, and I recommend it to anyone who wants to get off of Opiates. Some things that helped me get through the wd's from Suboxone were, Seroquel for sleep, Clonidine, and Rhovane, which also helps sleep and anxiety. Rhovane is in the benzo family, but is NOT a narcotic. I think that sleep is very important when you're getting off Suboxone, as well as trying to get out during the day, even if you're feeling really bad, to take a walk or something. Anyways, I pray for anyone going through what I went through, and I wish the best for everyone.

Autumn