Suboxone, How Long?

Updated

I have been on suboxone for 8 years now. B 4 that, I was on methadone for almost 5 years. I had a lot of surgeries and have a lot of medical problems. I was on pain management (opiates) for 10 years and became an addict. I'm afraid if I get off the suboxone I'll b back on opiates. Due 2 the pain I suffer. How long can I stay on suboxone. Has anybody else been on it 4 a long time? I just don't want 2 b back 2 where I was or go through what I did ever again.

4 Replies

Earliest Newest Votes
1

Hi Cats,

Thanks for sharing your story, and sorry to hear about your situation.

While there is no single right answer for how long you should be on Suboxone for, this is usually determined on an individual basis in consultation with a knowledgeable doctor.

From what I've been reading online, Suboxone tends to work best when it's used for long term maintenance, at a minimum of 6 months to well over a year. However some people may feel differently about that, due to the withdrawals being worse with longer usage.

I also hear that a lot of doctors recommend staying on it until you find a better alternative for your chronic pain management. And when you do decide that you're truly ready to stop taking it, it is important to be in the right mindset and at a stable point in your life, so as to allow yourself as much time as needed to make the transition.

I hope this advice helps!

Was this helpful? 0
2

Hi David! Thank You 4 the info. Right now, I'm stable on my dose and feel fine. I rather stay on the suboxone and NOT b back on pain pills. R u in the medical field, or, do u just research a lot? I'm a nurse, but, I don't know everything.

Was this helpful? 0
3

To all that ask how long they have to wait to take opiates after they took subaxon because they are getting a dental procedure done, etc.... procedures done and don't want to be in pain but are afraid it will make them sick, won't work and so on. Well I can tell you first hand that you don't have to wait 5 minutes and I don't care if anyone tells you , you do. I have been on subs a few times and taken an 8-2 three times a day and did opiates 30 minutes later and got loaded. You have to take A LOT more opiates if your on a high dose of suboxone but you need to be careful because if you do a big amount of H, Norcross, etc... and keep taking it to get loaded and stop taking your subs on schedule you can overdose when the subs wear off. If you are having a tooth pulled a n d want to take some pain pills for a couple days for the pain , you can do it like this. If you are taking an 8-2 on a schedule every day, whether it's once a day or three times a day, you cut it down to a 2-2 amount ( 1/4 ) but only once a day and take the pain meds with It and keep taking pain meds as needed for the rest of the day and repeat for the next day. The max days I would do this is three because if you do more and then try and go back to your normal dose of subs , you can screw it up. I was on eurozone for 4 years like an i****, you do not need to be on it that long at all but anyways, I had started on 3 a day and was on that way to long and finally started to taper down( 8-2 three a day to 4-2 three a day to 2-2 three a day to twice a day and so on until I was waking up in the morning and would take a 2-2 and that was all I needed for 24 hours, I felt fine on that small of a dose every 24 hours and when I finally stopped, I barely felt it at all. I had a tiny bit of runs but was eating lunch and dinner, sleeping okay for a couple hours a night and that's it. NOTHING EVEN CLOSE TO TRYING TO STOP ON A FULL ONE ONCE OR TWICE A DAY. So, if you are trying to get off opiates and want to do the eurozone detox, don't stay on it for long at all, the doctor I 're want you to so you keep paying for visits, scripts, etc... I have done it a few different ways and the best way I found is start with a 8-2 then twelve hours later take the same the 12 hours later down to 4-2 and so on until you have done 8-2 twelve hours 8-2 twelve hours 4-2 twelve hours 4-2 twelve hours 2-2 twelve hours 2-2 then 24 hours 2-2 then stop. You will feel a little bit of discomfort but nothing major. How I discovered the deal where I took subs and opiates for a few days and then stopped the opiates and kept on with my subs, I was on 2-2 once a day and took some opiates for a few days and stopped and then back to my subs and all was good. I'm not telling people this so they can go get loaded and cheat at trying for a better life, it's so incase you do have a medical problem and need pain meds for a couple days and don't want to have to go through the getting sick until you can get back on subs deal, I hate it. ONE LAST THING, I WAS TAKING 1 0 OPANAS A DAY ( THE 40 mg ) AND THATS A LOT. I WANTED TO STOP SO I WAS WITH A FRIEND AND WE WERE STOPPING TOGETHER. AT TWENTY HOURS I TOOK A SUBOXONE AND IT WAS TO EARLY, ( NIGHTMARE ) CRAPPING , STOMACH CRAMPS, ECT... MYSERY AND I WENT IN THE OTHER ROOM AND MY FRIEND WAS SNORING ON THE COUCH. I WOKE HIM UP AND TOLD HIM I TOOK IT TO EARLY AND SAID , HOW IN THE F*** ARE YOU SLEEPING AT 20 HOURS INTO OUR DETOX? I THEN SAID Y OF UR HOLDING OUT, GIVE ME SOME AND HE SAID I SWEAR I HAVENT TAKEN ANYTHING BUT THESE NERVE PIL L S. WELL, I ASKED WHAT THEY WERE AND HE SAID SOMETHING CAL L ED LYRICA, I SAID GIVE ME ONE. I TOOK IT AND IN 2 MINUTES AND I MEAN 2 MINUTES I WAS 90 PERCENT BETTER, I COULDNT BELIEVE IT, WE'RE LIKE, WHAT ARE THESE THINGS. To find out it is for fibromyalgia and the detox is 80 percent nerves, HELLO! It helps big time so if you are detoxing, take it. It doesn't take it all away, but it is like night and day with it. No cramps, can eat, no sweats. Pass it on people. The anxiety is there but it makes the first five days of mystery almost not there. Be careful, don't take to much for to long of that either, just use it for first five days and then every few days here and there. Okay. This is my first time on here. Hope I didn't confuse you with my A.D.D GOOD LUCK . ALL

Was this helpful? 0
4

Hi Cats,

I apologize for the late response as I only just noticed your reply skimming through these threads. For the past 5-6 years I've been more of a medical research junkie if you will, Lol. I don't know everything either, and am certainly not going to pretend that I do… but over the years I feel that my research has helped me gain a level of trust within the community.

On the other hand, I don't think anything beats the advice from those like Chris (post#3) who have first-hand personal experience overcoming a similar situation.
However there are a couple other threads on here I wanted to link you to, to show that there are at least a few other individuals on here who have allegedly been on suboxone for 10 to 13 years, respectively…

This user claims to have been on suboxone for 13 years: Discuss/suboxone-withdrawl-seizures-273014.htm

This user claims to have been on it for 10+ years: Discuss/Want-to-taper-all-the-way-off-Suboxone-after-10-years-247335.htm

It looks like both patients were wanting to wean off at the time they posted their threads. But I just wanted you to see that there are people out there taking it for extended periods of time.

Was this helpful? 0

More Discussions:

How Long Off Suboxone For Needed Opiates

Just been diagnosed with pancreatic, liver and lung cancer. 55 y.o. The suboxone no longer works, and my oncologist want...

6 REPLIES
How long will Suboxone keep their potency if they're expired?

I have sublingual strips that have been expired for about a month now. Are they still good? ## They should be fine, espe...

17 REPLIES
How Long Will Suboxone Be in My System?

Okay guys, I need some feedback and fast. I am only 25 and I have severe TMJ I live in Mobile, AL and because my conditi...

14 REPLIES
How Long Will Suboxone Last per dose?

I took about 1/3 of a 8mg suboxone at around 9 this morning and it is around 4pm now and i am still feeling dizzy and na...

10 REPLIES
how long does suboxone block opiates

I was on 180 mgs of methadone and Xeroxed at home for a week n the withdrawal set in the very first day of being without...

7 REPLIES
how long does suboxone

how long does suboxone block diazepam elavil & lexapro. ## Hello, Silver Fox2! How are you? It does not block those ...

3 REPLIES
How Long Till Suboxone Is Out Of My System

I was put on suboxone after two years of narcotics from three bad and failed shoulder surgeries. I started in March, Apr...

2 REPLIES
how long after suboxone can u take hydrocodone

Will taking a few hydrocodone, during withdraw from suboxone, prolong the time it will take to get over the suboxone? ##...

7 REPLIES
how long after suboxone can i take oxycontin

Been on suboxane for over 4 yrs to get off 30mgs of oxcodone! Subs have helped but I want off them but scared of the wit...

3 REPLIES
How longer after suboxone can I take pain pills?

I've been on suboxone for four years and I've been taking about a quarter of a strip everyday .. My last dose wa...

1 REPLY