How Long After You Stop Suboxone Do You Have Withdrawal Symptoms? (Page 25)

My 63y/o mother survived chemo and radiation for throat cancer but was unable to stop the morphine 15mg twice a day without horrible withdrawal symptoms. Her MD put her on Suboxone 8mg/2mg once a day in June. She even took half the strip on most days and the doctor was very pleased and anticipated that she would be able to stop altogether in November. She unfortunately had a stroke 14 days ago and has been in the hospital. The first 7 days she was confused from the stroke but now she is weak and forgetful but is no longer disoriented. She told me tonight that she thought she needed her Suboxone. She said she thought she was going thru withdrawal. I was floored. She is not having any outward signs of withdrawal: no back/stomach pain, no nausea/vomiting, no sweating or tremors. Isn't 14 days long enough for the Suboxone to be completely out of your system and for withdrawal symptoms to have come and gone??? Any answers will be greatly appreciated.

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When using suboxen directly after opioid/opiut use your only delaying the withdrawl effects. Though using sub's for 4-7 days can lessing the initial and most severe WD symptoms you will still have a period of WD.

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Anyway, I've was on suboxone for about a year exactly. I was being prescribed 24/mg of strips a day but would would only take 12-16/mgs a day. Over 3 months I tapered myself down from 8mgs a day to 1mg a day. I'm on day 8 of my detox and the most severe WD symptoms have subsided. Day 2-5 were the worst. Couldn't eat much of anything for the first 5 days. Coudlnt get more than 40 minutes of sleep at a time if I was able to sleep at all. Going into day 9 I don't feel sick anymore but the depression and anxiety haven't really gotten any better. Also the lack of energy and interest in anything you is just horrible. I have numerous friends who've been on and off dope/pills/and sub's and I know its not easy. But anyone considering getting on a maintenance program be aware that the longer you're on suboxone the longer your WD symptoms will last. You'll hear some people warning you to never touch it and others advocating life long use. Though everyone's situation is different the answer is probably somewhere in the middle. For sure suboxone kept me out of prison while I was on probation for a possession charge. But I made a very conscious decision not to take I for more than a year. I know I still have weeks and weeks before I feel semi-normal but Im confident that my taper and decision to not take sub's long term are going make my detox easier than some of the horror stories I've read and heard. Good luck to anyone trying to kick. Its a b**** but its possible. Stay strong people!

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I took pain killers for a couple years I quit for 8 months and relapsed. I was able to stop myself again after 3 months between pills and suboxone and its been 11 days and I have really bad RLS and insomnia how long will these w/d symptoms last?

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Hi Tammy, if you're already 11 days into detox it should start to ease up any day now. When I quit subs I had RLS and insomnia as well and that lasted for about 2 weeks. After that it lessened and I was able to sleep a little better but I still had bouts of insomnia (not as bad) that lasted almost a month. One thing that really helps is gabapentin (neurontin). It's a non narcotic nerve pain medication that they prescribe for arthritis. Most Drs will not have a problem prescribing it because its not controlled and doesn't really have any recreational value, but it does help with the RLS and insomnia. It also helps with the achy joints and overall defeated feeling of detoxing. I've also heard that clonodine works for all of these symptoms as well but I've never tried it. Other than RLS and insomnia, how are you holding up?

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I've been on suboxin for two years and 1 8mg strip would last me 2 days.. I did not miss a day in 2 years. I kinda tapered of in 5 days lol. But today is my 12th day without anything and I still feel crappy and skin crawling..how much longer will this last?? Someone please get back too me ASAP.. THANKS AND GOD BLESS..

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Hello Jason, how are you doing? 4mgs is a pretty high dosage to jump from. I quit at 2mgs a day back in October. It took me about 3 weeks to physically start feeling a little better and almost 2 months for my energy to come back. If you've made it 12 days, that's great. My wds peaked between day 8-10 then SLOWLY started subsiding. They will also come and go in waves. I'd have a few good days then they would return for a few days. You've made it through the worst though I'd say so keep plugging away. Unfortunately it takes time. Let me know if you have any questions and I will help with answering what I can. I've been through it all with subs and good luck! It DOES get better!

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Hi Jason. I agree with pit fan, it was a big jump but you have come this far and should keep plugging away. Rest and relax whenever you need to ( and your schedule allows ) and the rest of the time keep busy and try to stay distracted by watching movies or doing projects when you can't sleep, rather than tossing and turning. I have had to use subs 3 times to get off of pain pills after surgery and each time was able to use a 10 starting with 2mg I would try and hold out as long as I could after the 12 hr mark so that my next dose of only 1 mg would be effective by doing this I would have to deal with feeling a little uncomfortable for longer periods but then my dose would make me sleepy. Over the 5 days by the last two days the dose as so small and I could take about 1/4 mg every other day then off. I realize you are past the taper but my point is a quick one with that many days under your belt, is good and possible and I believe the best way to do it. Tried and true. Good luck. Please keep us posted

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Right you are acetae! When used as I believe it was ment to be used, subs can really help transitioning off of opiates. Docs that are putting people on it for long periods years and years, you will notice do not support you when you want to taper because they make so much money and are only allowed so many patients so they start opening other clinics in other doctors names and they are all getting rich( please no haters telling me how it saved their life's etc )because I know that it has done that for many but that is another story completely. Of corse I get it. Its easier to stay on When you have a doctors approval and support, it also takes away the running around looking for pills, it's long acting and serves a purpose and may even lessen crime because the desperation of drug seekers can cause people to do things they wouldn't usually do. Bottom line if you go to a doctor that is not just running a suboxone clinic and/ or your doctor prescribes it to help you get off prescription opiate use, they will only do the " quick taper" method. If you go to a private subs doctor its costly and they do not want you to do a quick taper, on the contrary they will start you way higher than you need and keep you on it for at least a year or even more. My apologies to anybody doctors users alike, who have experienced a " private" sub doctor doing " quick tapers 5-10 days, please by all means share.

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OMGmama, remember me? You gave me encouraging words back in February. I started detox Jan 2nd and detox lasted about 6 weeks. My biggest issue was insomnia. I really thought I was going crazy. I probably went 2 weeks with 0 sleep. Anyway I'm great now. The only lingering symptom is rls but I have med for that.

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It's me DeeDee. I'm reading my old posts and it seems like 10 years have gone by and it has only been 3 months since I was last on this site. I'm great and wanted to share my experience. Detox took 6 weeks. My symptoms got worse between weeks 2-5 by I wasn't sleeping. Literally went into sleep deprivation. Then at week 6 I quickly got better. So when new people ask how long to detox I can say from my experience....6 weeks??

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Good for you!! You are an inspiration!!

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I really enjoyed reading your post. I am also a drug addict, I have been struggling with my addiction since I was about 19 that started out with benzo's Xanax mainly. Anyway my addiction progressed to eventually hydrocodone. I took those 2 for years till it wasn't enough anymore. In 2005 I went to a methadone clinic and within 2 or so months of being there I was on 156mg a day. I ended up having a few misfortunes that lead to me having to quit methadone cold turkey after being on it for almost 2 years the withdrawal was so bad I would had rather died than go thru one more second of that agony. I went 2 weeks with no end in site so I went to a suboxone Doctor and was prescribed 3 a day. I was kicked out of the program after a year and a half for a dirty U/A for benzo's. It took me 3 months to completely withdrawal off them it was horrible I couldn't eat, sleep I had no desire for anything I would not wish that sickness and pain on my worst enemy. I am still using subutex although not prescribed I don't do it to feel high bc well I can't feel high anymore. I do it to be well to enjoy life! I believe when used correctly subutex or suboxone is a maracle drug. I am looking for a doctor I can afford to prescribe them for me but they are so expensive and I'm not what you would call well off. I have Medicaid but cannot find a doctor who would accept it.

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I don't think people understand HOW to taper off successfully and so there are all these horror stories about coming off of subs. There is no need to be fast about it people! No need at all unless you can't afford it, but that's not a valid excuse anymore because there is state insurance that pays for it for low income candidates. If you take your time, not cut down all suddenly, then there are NO withdrawals! Take as long as you need and then you will be successful in the long run. Be smart about it, and be patient with yourself and your body. Your body and mind need a lot of adjusting time in between dosing cuts to be able to repair itself so you don't feel like s***. And don't cut down a lot at one time either. Just a tiny, tiny bit every couple of months is all you need to do. You've f***ed up your mind all of these years, give it a chance to repair itself! and don't go scaring people into thinking suboxone isn't worth it because it is an amazing technology that *if used and stopped correctly* can save your life/money/sanity.

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Hi dee dee! So happy,to hear,from you. Isn't it great when you get through this experience and you feel such a sense of accomplishment due to the strength it took to do it? I remember when I posted my experience how much it helped me to think that maybe some day somebody else would find some answers and or comfort and courage to keep going and then I said to you " you will get through this and then you will " pay it forward" and you did ! Our should be very proud of yourself. Good Job

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Ughhh. I'm on day 15 of zero suboxone. I had my last sliver (2mg) on May 11.
The Dr (or I call %#^***% drug pusher) put me on 16mg A DAY for a Percocet addiction. He got shut down. Haha. Thank God because now I'm healing. It was near impossible to come off when you know what you're going to go through and someone just keeps handing em over to you. Ugh.
Anyway. I tapered by my own logic (dr was no help) I went from 16mg to 8mg a day for 1 week. Then 4mg for a week. Then I did 2mg for about 2 days. The day three of 2mg I missed because my friend who was rationing to me) wasn't able to bring it to me, already on this day I was sick as a dog in bed.
So since I missed that dose 2mg I decided to just stick with it. Omg. 3 days later I had to call ambulance. ZERO energy. Out of breath way to easy. My muscles tightened up. My hands got stuck for abut from muscle spasm I think.
ER dr found out I still had some left and asked me to take a 1/2 (4mg). I said no way because that's just going to start this whole thing over.
So he put me on Tramadol. Whoa. That helped tremendously however i was still very achey and soooo tired and not much energy. But it DID help!!! I've since ran out and back to the bad withdrawals except now my symptoms seem to be: severe depression, ZERO energy, restless legs / can't get comfortable, sleeping is hard but I feel so tired, diarrhea STILL, sneezing and yawning all the time and my legs feel like they're having growing pains like when I was a kid.
Well, I was on this junk for about 2.5 yrs. I've read it can take 6-8 weeks to feel better and still not all that great even then.
I start a new job Monday that is a huge deal and opportunity for me. I'm praying I improve drastically this week.
Oh and people say exercise. Lol I would if my body would let me. So soooo exhausted.

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Hello hate suboxone, I know what your going through. Sweetie my heart goes out to you because I don't work and did not have to function at a high level during detox. I would not have been able to. If you have to work go to doctor and ask for restless leg med and sleeper. The biggest thing was not sleeping for me which caused secondary symptoms. Omgmama might have some advise. Pray.

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Hi " hey there " hate suboxone" since you were already in the emergency room I think it would be pretty easy for you to call the doctor who treated you and ask for something for sleep and for gabepentin for RLS explain you are starting a new job and you just need to sleep as much as possible at night. Then the distraction while working will be good for you. This doctor already knows and must respect the taper you did, and the fact that you told him " no way! To the suboxone good luck and keep posting when you can.

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I was an IV H user for 2 years, got clean and was put on suboxone for a year and a half. I properly tapered off suboxone (less than a sprinkle sized a day towards the end) and when I actually stopped taking it the withdrawals were still awful because my body was so used to having it. Day 3 I found myself in Emergency where they gave me clonidine and buspar which I found to be life savers. It gets easier, I'm rounding month 3 and I still have some digestive issues and anxiety but other than that my symptoms are all gone.

It is worth it to get off suboxone. It's awful for the first few weeks but the relief of being free of its grip makes it worth it!

Remember, one day at a time!!

Love,
Ashley

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That dr that was prescribing me just shut down on me (all of us who went to him). Unexpectedly. I went to my last appt and was informed it would be the last one. They said they could add me to a waiting list of other suboxone Dr's if I wanted. I said no thanks um it's way over due for the end anyway.
I just couldn't believe it though. It was very odd. I'm on day 24 of zero suboxone and I'm still very super low on energy, get out of breath quick, ill tempered as well as very sad / depressed which leads to literally NO I mean NO motivation to do absolutely anything, still no appetite ... I've lost about 12 lbs that I did NOT need to lose, still yawning and sneezing, nauseous. Exercise I know I know. Eyy but how do you do that when you're out of breath just walking from room to room still. And....
No I'm not over weight. No I'm not that unhealthy. Just stuck here it seems like. In a serious BLAH that just won't subside. :(

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I forgot to add about my upcoming job. I was supposed to start this past Monday. But since they have such extensive background checks it has been a week of just chasing down my info which was actually odd.
Pretty sure this was our God giving me the extra time too. As of 6pm tonight I've been cleared finally to report to work. I start officially on this coming Monday.
I did order that 'withdrawal ease' stuff. Been taking it like its a lifeline. I'm on day 6 of it. No real relief though. The first day I thought it may have improved my mood (about 5 hrs after I took the 1st dose). I dont know if it was that or just me with hope. Since then I'm practically the same.
I'll get through this. I have to. Ya'lls stories and how long it took for you to feel somewhat normal helps to some degree but also makes me feel like omg I have so much longer to go.
I just want to have the energy I need. I haven't mentioned my son. He needs me to get off my butt and get a move on. I force it now. In the beginning it was impossible :(. But I planned it. I knew I would be sick as a dog. I had help mapped out. I still need help but not like the first 10 days. He's a toddler and is about a thousand mph lol. The love of my life. I cry a lot over not being as energetic as I should be with my baby. I'll get there though. Right?
I have to.

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