How Long After You Stop Suboxone Do You Have Withdrawal Symptoms? (Page 26)

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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Hang in thereI know you are. Sick of hearing that. What helped me a lot was to think about how worse it could be. Every time one of the withdrawal symptoms would subside, every extra hr of sleep, every small baby step, and moment that my legs would not be restless, I would cherish. Don't beat yourself up for the energy you cannot find or if you can't excersize just yet. Remember you can find as many success stories as horror stories when it comes to the suboxone taper, and before you know it you will be one of those success stories, in fact you all ready are and it will get better. Baby yourself, pamper yourself, distract yourself, to keep the anxiety at bay. I wish you luck at your new job and hopefully it will keep you busy as the days pass Keep posting when you can.

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Thank you omgMomma for all your kind words and encouragement.

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24 days without subs is a HUGE accomplishment! I quit subs in October and it took about a month for my energy to slowly start to come back. Just like Omgmama said, each small improvement is a major step forward. I started getting better at or around the 30 day mark. I noticed my appetite starting to come back first and after that it really started progressing much faster. Once I started eating, my sleeping patterns began to regulate which in turn helped my energy, which helped my mood etc. it will start to snowball in a good way before you know and once that starts you're well on your way to happy, healthy sobriety. Like I said, I quit subs in October after almost 3 years on them and I feel better today with more energy and motivation and a clear mind than I EVER had while on those damn things. Keep at it and good luck!

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Greetings! There are lots of Docs out there that write prescriptions for Medication assisted treatment. I don't know that most people know this or not but most physicians that do this are simply Doctors that take a brief course in this treatment so that more people with opioid dependency could have access to treatment due to the huge problem with opioid dependency in this country (USA). Unfortunately most of them are unfamiliar with getting people off of the drug safely. Please, please, please find yourself a physician that is Board Certified in Addiction Medicine to help you come off of buprenorphine effectively. The fact is that to come off there are meds that will make it as painless as possible and are prescribed when you are ready to stop. W/D symptoms generally last 7- 30 days based on the length of time and dosage you were on. WORD OF ADVICE: When starting treatment look for a clinic that has a board certified addiction doctor, has counselors on staff and in- house support groups, uses drug panels not as a punishment but as a teaching tool, knows how to wean you off and offers you the meds you need to stop and wants to keep seeing you as you are coming off, Generally the last visit when you get your meds to come off may be free of charge.....(Go to ABAM to search for an addiction specialist in your area).. Recovered Addicts are Heros! My heart goes out to those that still suffer..Be well & Kindest Regards........

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i take an 1/8 a day off and on... will istill have bad withdraw... i wanna quit so bad it has ruined my life.

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I disagree my therapist asked me today if there was any health reasons I needed to get off Suboxone? He said cause if not there is no reason I should stop it. Not only did it help with withdrawl but it helps my major depression more than any antidepressant . I'm 12 year hydrocodone addict broke my back. I'm being treated for adult adhd I was diagnosed at 6. As well as anxiety. So I first took p meds for pain but I found I was a different person i was social , depression left , and anxiety well was gone too. But after years more and more I had to take . Then subs came in and I was done.after awhile I found out from psychiatrist I was self medicating to help depression , anxiety, adhd. I'm still on subs but doc put me on vyvanse60mg, Zoloft ,Klonopin. Now I live normal life used to be scared crowds, no motivation, could not form ideas so u crawled in a hole. Now everything is great. Finish tasks in a day, I am organized. I enjoy my family life is great

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Subs build up and embed in fat layers and your brain is comprised mainly of fat., therefore, you have some built up in all fat layers in your body including your brain. I know you are aggravated and scared, please try not to be. Personally, I found I could drop more mgs and faster at a high dose. If by chance you are on a dose of 24 mgsnor more still, try dropping 4 mgs for a few days, it will take 3 to 5 days to even register that drop, you will see that you are fine, stay at that for 2 weeks, then drop 4 more for 2 weeks, once you get down to 12 mgs or less, you might want to only try dropping 2 mgs and give yourself 4 weeks to stabilize. As long as you feel ok during the drops, you can try dropping again. Once you get to between 4 and 8 mgs, you can slow it down and still be fine. There are a lot of second guesses with subs treatment and many people have the same thoughts you do right now. You can do this, I promise.

When you have to get off or taper too fast life sucks. I am going through it right now. I was on 8mg X 2mg, started at 3 strips a day I was on it for a total of almost three years. Our dr stopped the program and took everyone off too early and gave them a 2-3 week taper. Ridiculous. I was taking 1 1/2 strips a day and she gave me part prescription of 17 strips to get off on I did my very best and felt ok all the way down to an 8th of a strip I was on the 8th though for only a few days and stopped taking it. I am on day 4 and am soooo sick and sooo miserable. I am terrified for this to last 3-4 weeks or longer. I started taking w/d ease a few nights ago. Doesn't help much that I can tell. I have bad RLS and primary dr has no idea what she is doing getting me off if this and is playing it waaaaay TO SAFE. I think. I want this to go away so I can feel normal again.

Post Acute withdrawal.The first stage is the acute stage, which usually lasts at most a few weeks. During this stage, you may experience physical withdrawal symptoms. But every drug is different, and every person is different.

The second stage of withdrawal is called the Post Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS). During this stage you'll have fewer physical symptoms, but more emotional and psychological withdrawal symptoms.

Post-acute withdrawal occurs because your brain chemistry is gradually returning to normal. As your brain improves the levels of your brain chemicals fluctuate as they approach the new equilibrium causing post-acute withdrawal symptoms.

Most people experience some post-acute withdrawal symptoms. Whereas in the acute stage of withdrawal every person is different, in post-acute withdrawal most people have the same symptoms.

THE SYMPTOMS OF POST ACUTE WITHDRAWAL.

The most common post-acute withdrawal symptoms are:

Mood swings
Anxiety
Irritability
Tiredness
Variable energy
Low enthusiasm
Variable concentration
Disturbed sleep
Post-acute withdrawal feels like a rollercoaster of symptoms. In the beginning, your symptoms will change minute to minute and hour to hour. Later as you recover further they will disappear for a few weeks or months only to return again. As you continue to recover the good stretches will get longer and longer. But the bad periods of post-acute withdrawal can be just as intense and last just as long.

Each post-acute withdrawal episode usually last for a few days. Once you've been in recovery for a while, you will find that each post-acute withdrawal episode usually lasts for a few days. There is no obvious trigger for most episodes. You will wake up one day feeling irritable and have low energy. If you hang on for just a few days, it will lift just as quickly as it started. After a while you'll develop confidence that you can get through post-acute withdrawal, because you'll know that each episode is time limited.

Post-acute withdrawal usually lasts for 2 years. This is one of the most important things you need to remember. If you're up for the challenge you can get though this. But if you think that post-acute withdrawal will only last for a few months.

Post-acute withdrawal symptoms are a sign that your brain is recovering. Therefore don't resent them. But remember, even after one year, you are still only half way there.

Go with the flow. Withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable. But the more you resent them the worse they'll seem. You'll have lots of good days over the next two years. Enjoy them. You'll also have lots of bad days. On those days, don't try to do too much. Take care of yourself, focus on your recovery, and you'll get through this.

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I have been addicted to pai. Killers for almost 5 years I wanted to be finished with them so I have a friend who gets suboxen and I took them for 5 days this is my first day with nothing in a long time and although I don't feel terrible I am just so tired my question is how long will it take for me to feel normal again without subs or painkillers

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Hi Stephers! How are you doing today? Suboxone has a very long half life so there's a chance that you will get worse before you get better. Once it begins to leave your system, the WDs will likely pick up right where they left off. It all depends on how high your PK dosage was when you stopped. If you have weened down to a minimal dose each day they might not be too bad but if you were still at a high dose you could have some bumpy days ahead. From my experience, the worst of the physical wds last any where from 1-4 weeks depending on what you're detoxing from. Suboxone takes the longest and standard pain killers are markedly shorter but a bit more intense as well. All total, each time I have detoxed, it takes about 3 months to feel completely normal physically (pre-addiction) again. And close to a year before the cravings and psychological side affects finally disappear. It sounds like a very long time, but if you can make it past the first 2 weeks it gets better every day and those small victories are awesome. It's really only as bad as you let it be and the pain of detoxing is so worth being free of addiction and naturally happy and healthy again. Don't let the rough days discourage you. They will eventually become further apart from one another. I've been through self detox numerous times. Once from Vicodin, once from tramadol and finally from suboxone. From my experience i would suggest you stay away from suboxone and just detox from the PKs. subs are a wolf in sheeps clothing and even more painful to get off of than the meds that your using it to get away from. I have now been sober for almost 9 months. I've been through it all so if you have any questions please feel free to ask or even just rant. Sometimes just beating somebody's ear seems to help. I hope you're doing well and wish you luck!

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Hope your mother is doing better. After a week without having any use of Subaxone it is out of the body. Unfortunately what your Mother is experiencing could be from the stroke itself. This is something you can discuss with her Cardiologist, or easily found on the Web. Hoping you and your Mother the best.

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I agree with your post regarding Suboxone and NOT staying on it. I am trying to get clean AGAIN and do have some subs left and again you gave good advice to taper on the subs for about 8 days or so. That is my plan and I hope it works, I do have some benzos to help me sleep and vitamins. I have been preparing to do this for almost one year and I am terrified or it is my addicted mind stopping me from doing it. Well once again, I plan on beginning my detox today (I see it is 12:00 a.m.), and praying that I will not find an excuse and end up using. I really do think that your post gave wonderful advice and had much truth to it regarding methodone clinics, etc.
Thanks!

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I'm 8 days clean cold turkey and still can't sleep restless legs it's the worst thing I have ever went thru

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Hello Wilson124, how are you holding up? Restless legs with sub wds were the worst for me too. For the first week or so, I doubt I slep more than 20 minutes at a clip and for only about an hour total each night. That will begin to fade soon. One thing that helped me was Epsom salt baths at night and also putting a little bit of Bengay or icy hot behind by knees. They were both temporary fixes they might help you to at least get an hour or 2 of sleep in before they wear off. Also, trying to maintain an appetite will help with the insomnia at night a lethargy during the day. I know it's all easier said than done but if you've gone 8 days, or 9 now? You're almost through the worst of it and should start to see the light at the end of the tunnel soon. I quit subs cold turkey after 2.5 years last October and haven't touched them since so I've been there done that. If you have any questions or need advice don't hesitate to ask. Good luck an hang in there!

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I'm on day 37 and I have good days and bad days. Today is one of those bad days. I am a believer in Jesus Christ and I am constantly listening to praise and worship music and worshipping the Lord....it really helps a lot!! Or He does, excuse me. I'm also working out for the first time in my life. You just have to push yourself. I was on Suboxone for 7 years and I imagine it's gonna take awhile to get over the PAWS...everyone is different. I've read some horror stories about how long they last but Christ gives me hope that He will touch me and deliver me from this. I was on Methadone for a few years as well and the withdrawals lasted a month....then I was normal again....only I started using it again about a month after that...stupid, I know!! The answer is Christ and Him crucified. If you don't believe, just pray and ask Him to reveal Himself to you and He will. GOD bless you ??

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It depends on your doctor, I started sub's in Jan. 8 mg a day n I'm down to 2 mg on it six months now. The longer your on it the harder it is, you have to find the right doctor, a good doctor wouldn't want you on it for six years, that's crazy.

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Hi...although it's been a year that I've been off suboxone, I still find comfort in reading about others in the same position that I was once in. To offer come background, I was on 8mgs per day for a total of 7 years to treat a lengthy addiction to Vicodin. Yes...that is a really long time! To make a long story short, I got pregnant and everything changed from there. I immediately quit cold turkey. The jump was steep and it took a profound toll on my physical health and state of mind. I hadn't realized how deeply suboxone affected me. I felt naked without my subs! Like a part of me was missing. Then the withdrawals set in and I can honestly say it took about 10 months to feel 100 percent again. The insomnia and RLS was the absolute worse. Nothing else even came close. I now realize that the withdrawals detracted from the joy of my pregnancy. I remember sitting at the dinner table and being worried that I had done severe, permanent damage to my mind and body. Has anyone else made the jump and have lived to talk about it?

Good luck!

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Might I add that this medication did save my life, but I don't know if it was worth the 7 year physical and mental dependency. On top of that, no one in my family understands what anguish I have been through--fighting to get my life back. They are as supportive as possible, but they can never understand fully. Well, it took what seems like forever, but I think I finally won the fight.

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Hello finally done! How are you doing? I see that you're a full year clean? Congrats! That's an accomplishment to hang your hat on! I was on subs for 3 years. 1 year at 16mgs, 1 year at 8mgs and 1 year weening from 8-2. I got stuck on 2mgs. My plan was to taper to 1mg or less but once I hit 2, any tiny drop would cause wds and I didn't have the will power to ride it out and kept just redosing to feel better. I eventually knew I had to just jump and get it over with. I cancelled my sub appt knowing that meant I would be kicked out of the program and just knuckled down. That was last September 22. I couldn't believe how terrible I felt after getting all the way down to 2mgs. I can't imagine jumping from higher than that. It took until Christmas before I felt even somewhat normal again and even then it was a struggle. I'm really looking forward to my 1 year. Just out of curiosity, are you still dealing with lingering PAWS?

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Thank you so much for sharing this, thinking about stopping suboxone scares me but I really want to! I did for three months about two years ago and just couldn't feel better, has no energy, more pain and some depression. Although I did stop cold turkey also. I want to start to wean off soon and your positivity is similar to mine. You are intelligent and straight forward, thank you for your post it does help me have more motivation to do what I know I need to.

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Hi brandie, how are you? How many mgs are you currently taking a day? I was originally put on subs for a tramadol dependency and ended up on them for a little over 3 years. I've actually quit twice now. I was on them for close to a year in 2008 for vicodin following shoulder surgery and quit cold turkey and was clean for 2 years, then I reinjured my shoulder and my Dr put me on tramadol claiming in was less habit forming than Vicodin. Yeah right! Tramadol became my kryptonite and after 1.5 years of using that I went back on subs for 3 years. In hindsight I should've just dealt with the tramadol wds. They were more intense than sub wds but much shorter duration. Anyway, I stopped taking subs last Sept. and have been clean since. Let me know if you have any questions or need advice. I've been down the road with subs too many times to count but learned a lot about it and picked up some tricks along the way that help. Hope all is well. Stay positive and devise a game plan, and freedom from subs can be achieved!

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