Does Suboxone Get You Off Methadone

I have suffered from opiate addiction for about 15 years. After about 4 years of different narcotic & benzos pills, my family finally intervened & a long-term rehab (about 1 year) helped me. I stayed sober almost 6 years. But since I relapsed 7 years ago (long story), I have had a lot of trouble & been on (& for brief times off) a downward spiral. I have now lost almost everything & my family now wants nothing to do with me. I have so little hope & even thought of suicide. I have been getting methadone pills (off the street) for over a year now. Every time I try to stop I find by the 3rd, 4th day I am in too much agony & pick up again. These on & off attempts have been going on for 4 months. After a few days without, I go back on, taking between 2-3 10mg pills/day. I have insurance & finally set up appr. with suboxone Dr. I have to stop this or I will die. I have tried for months & failed at "weaning" myself off the meth pills. Am I doing the right thing going on suboxone? I know have to return to a recovery program (meetings) as well & want to. I am so scared. My appt. is this Wed. I know I have to be off the meth pills at least 2 days & I'm just so scared of everything. I also tried suboxone once before, few years ago. Was on it 6 months, then rehab & about 1 year sober again. So, I remember that wasn't easy (I stopped CT). But I feel this, doing the short-term weaning to get off the methadone, is my last chance & only hope.

REPLY

REPORT

HI, Andi! Sorry about the problems you've had.

Suboxone has successfully helped many people, but it may not be a short-term weaning. The best results with it are usually obtained via a very slow tapering, which in some cases can take several years.

Learn more Suboxone details here.

And that may be what you need, since the other options haven't worked for you long-term, so far. You might just be a person that needs to take it a little slower.

When do you have your appointment?

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Hi Verwon, thank u so much for your reply- much appreciated. My appointment with my sub doctor was today, & to my shock & dissappointment, found out my insurance had been cancelled! My father stopped paying it without me knowing. I was devastated. My only hope (to avoid severe withdrawal for weeks (& most likely months), was to go get more methadone & make a plan to taper off that way. I'm really scared. Not only is it expensive to keep taking them, it's frequently unreliable (have to get from a "friend" when he has them & because of these 2 factors, have had to suffer through a couple days of withdrawal from not being able to get any- usually happens about once every 1 1/2 - 2 weeks. It's hell. I want off this destructive cycle that has consumed my life- every waking moment stressing over it. At least I usually only take between 10-30mgs a day (average 20mg/day approx.), & because of the few days about every 1 1/2- 2 weeks where I don't have anything to take, I figure those very brief detoxes, it has to help somehow. I mean, I absolutely HAVE to taper off & quit completely. I'm fully willing to do this. Like I said, I was sober (100%) a few years ago for nearly 6 years, & they were the happiest & most productive years of my life! I was given the gift of KNOWING I can be truly happy & ok being sober. I have to do it again & STAY sober this time. I need to be DONE with this hell!! My question is, since I couldn't do the suboxone since my insurance was denied today (I cannot in any way afford it without insurance), and I then had to start up on the dines again today, what is the best way to taper with the least amount of withdrawal symptoms? If I continue 20mgs for a couple days, then 10-15mgs for another few days, then what? How slow or fast should I go? Withdrawal is unbearable for me & I always cave after 2-3 days max. I REALLY want to do this! My other problem is I can't take months & months to taper. I was recently laid off from my job (of 3 yrs), I'm on unemployment & will most likely have to pass a drug test as part of per-screening at a new job. I am hoping to do this in a few weeks, or if its the only way- 1-2 months max (which might not be possible). Any advice at ALL will be greatly appreciated! I will also add that my methadone use the past many months has been about the same: anywhere from 10-30mg/day, with occasions of 1-3 days of nothing (1-2x a month). I have some Xanax which I thought could help with the withdrawal? The worst part of WD is the inability to sleep- that gives no reprieve from the WD agony. Thank u for listening, God bless.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I to jave had a methadone problem i jave many pains and RLS and its hard for me to get off since i dont take many mg and feel im not hurting anyone! Although i am myself! I am now on suboxine and i wpuld say get some vicodine or sone percs and whean off those instead of methadone! I dod thay for three days and went straight to methadone which i took 10-5 mg per day although suboxine is something you cant get try people on the street have to have it! Its all about trying and using natural.pills tp help you after you let go of the dones! Look up natural pain killers suboxine wont blocks these and they will help!!! Remeber start using something other then dones to help when yourself off the halflife is shorter and the withdraws wont be so bad!!!!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I am desperately in need of a doc that prescribes Methadone in the Lehigh Valley of Pa.I am on social security and can not afford 100 a week or my ass would be on methadone.I am on subutex but the doc threatened me because I am taking benzos he said I may die.Well I have the tolerance of a horse and am 5 3 in and113 lbs I am separated from my husband but still on his insurance I am ready to drop it so I can get medicaid.I have found there is no help out there I am ready to commit myself to a psych ward at least I will get proper medical attention Help help help OH and try and get off subutex ha ha ha Give me methadone anyday

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Dear Andi, I was addicted 2 heavy duty opiates (oxy) for almost 11 years. I decided I wanted help and went on methadone. I was at (110) and tapered down 2 (24). At that point, I was so sick from withdrawals that I went 2 my Doctors in tears. (Begging 4 help) he gave me a choice 2 either stay on the meth or go on suboxone. Since I came so far, I choose 2 go on suboxone that day. It really, truly helped me a lot. You must b in withdrawals b 4 u can take it. I've been on it 4 awhile now and it works great. NO withdrawals or cravings. I'm on (24) and I take it everyday about the same time. Good luck!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

You are doing the right thing man. I have been on suboxone for 2 years now and it works. Just stay with it it will cost a lot but it is well worth it good luck dude.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I've been on methadone for 15 years and like yourself have been relapsing here and there but I've been clean for 2 years. I was on 170 ml and i've managed to cut down very slowly. I am now on 7ml and a would only go on suboxone or subutex if on a lower amount (30ml or under) or do what I am doing, which is a ml every 5 weeks. That's how I cut from 170ml to 7. I will get there. I hate the s*** and i noticed if i go to sleep it wears off. Hope u do ok. {edited for privacy}

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I need help getting this medication. Where i can get off Methdone? I'm in despression, please help if you can. ## I&...

6 REPLIES

If you're on Methadone can you still take Suboxone safely? ## NO! They are both very strong narcotics, it is not saf...

8 REPLIES

Hi everyone! I was wondering if suboxone is as hard 2 get off as methadone? I was on 110 of methadone 4 almost 5 years, ...

4 REPLIES

Hi I've been on Methadone for about 7 months and am completely over it. I have weaned down from 65mgs to 30mgs witho...

3 REPLIES

I take suboxone. I'm really trying to be 100% clean. I ran out of suboxone early and took 3 10mg methadone pills. I ...

4 REPLIES

I got off my subs for a month and went back to full antagonists thinking I was gonna have gall bladder surgery. I can...

6 REPLIES

I'M GOING ON METHADONE NEXT WEEK. HOW SOON CAN I START THE METHADONE AFTER MY LAST SUBOXONE? ## I am currently suppo...

14 REPLIES

I have been on methadone for approx 3 months. I'm on 55mgs. I recently heard that suboxone was a much better way of ...

6 REPLIES

i tested positive for methadone when my doctor made me take a urine test last week and i have never ever taken methadone...

6 REPLIES

I took 60 mgs of methadone sat morning at 8 am... today is monday 4 pm. Am I ok to take 4 mgs of suboxone today? ## It r...

12 REPLIES