Hello Sammi
Yes - I did see your post but did not respond as I know nothing about sub! Sorry.
But - it sounds as if the sub route is the same logically as the benzo taper route via valium.............. so I will explain about the benzo taper and perhaps this will be helpful.
Xanax has a half life of 6 - 12 hours so that means you experience withdrawals at anywhere from 6 hours after dosage until you take your next dose. So - xanax has to be taken perhaps several times a day to keep blood levels contstant and to prevent withdrawals. Someone who is taking xanax in the morning and then at night - will suffer interdose withdrawals every day - a sort of see-saw effect. So very important to take it as regularly as clockwork to prevent this. So - for taper reasons - a switch to valium is suggested - it has a long half life of days and so a person may take valium just once a day and suffer no interdose withdrawals.......... and therefore its easier to make a slow withdrawal from benzos using valium.
Here is what is written in Ashton:
(2) Switching to a long-acting benzodiazepine. With relatively short-acting benzodiazepines such as alprazolam (Xanax) and lorazepam (Ativan) (Table 1, Chapter I), it is not possible to achieve a smooth decline in blood and tissue concentrations. These drugs are eliminated fairly rapidly with the result that concentrations fluctuate with peaks and troughs between each dose. It is necessary to take the tablets several times a day and many people experience a "mini-withdrawal", sometimes a craving, between each dose.
For people withdrawing from these potent, short-acting drugs it is advisable to switch to a long-acting, slowly metabolised benzodiazepine such as diazepam. Diazepam (Valium) is one of the most slowly eliminated benzodiazepines. It has a half-life of up to 200 hours, which means that the blood level for each dose falls by only half in about 8.3 days. The only other benzodiazepines with similar half-lives are chlordiazepoxide (Librium), flunitrazepam (Rohypnol) and flurazepam (Dalmane), all of which are converted to a diazepam metabolite in the body. The slow elimination of diazepam allows a smooth, gradual fall in blood level, allowing the body to adjust slowly to a decreasing concentration of the benzodiazepines. The switch-over process needs to be carried out gradually, usually in stepwise fashion, substituting one dose at a time. There are several factors to consider. One is the difference in potency between different benzodiazepines. Many people have suffered because they have been switched suddenly to a different, less potent drug in inadequate dosage because the doctor has not adequately considered this factor. Equivalent potencies of benzodiazepines are shown in Table 1 (Chapter I), but these are only approximate and differ between individuals
Looks like this is the logic with sub? Changing you from a short acting opiate like the ones you are taking to a long acting opiate like sub?
But always remember that this is a substitution - unless you plan on being on it for life - the you will have to face up at some time to tapering off. And this may be quite difficult. I have certainly heard others on the board talk of this - so why not ask them to come forward and tell you of their experiences?
Also remember this is a failry new drug - do you trust the doctors to tell you the truth? Do they know?? Do - ask plenty of questions before you go down that route?
I have heard Chef, Banker, Michelle and others....... I think someone has actually tapered off the sub......... Michelle will remember who that is......... Chef too has experience of this.
Whatever you decide - I wish you luck.
Y
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