How Do I Get Off Suboxone?

Hello everyone, I have been on Suboxone 8/2, twice a day for over 5 years. I want to get off it but I have major health compications. I've had major depression my whole life. My last psychiatrist put me on several other drugs for my depression. One of them is an amphetamine called Vyvanse. (70 mg.) I'm also on 4 mg of clonazepam, 200 mg. of pristiq and Dexilant for acid reflux. I have a history of a negative lipid profile. In addition, I have high blood pressure. I'm also 60 years old. I know that I should never stop anythin suddenly. I have been unable to find asome out of the physician to supervise the withdrawal from anything. I am really afraid that Suboxone withdrawal will trigger a heart attack or stroke because everytime I try to taper down, My heart starts pounding in the middle of the night. I imagine my blood pressure is very high during these episodes. I recently found a good clinical psychologist that I speak with on the phone. He told me to slowely taper off the drug I think is the easyist to stop. So, I've been tapering off the Vyvanse. I pour some out of the capsule every day. I've been feeling depressed and tired from the Vyvanse withdrawal but it is something I can handle. My psychologist also told me it is not a good idea to withdraw from more than 1 drug at a time. But I have been cutting about a quarter off each Suboxone paper tab. I feel alright at this dose but everytime I cut off more than a quarter, I get the episodes I previously wrote about. I have been exercising at the gym daily to improve my general health and, hopefully, to mitigate the Suboxone withdrawal symptoms. I want to add that my life is extremely stressful because I care for a child with a psychotic condition. I'm the only person that he trusts because he gets paranoid. So, going to an inpatient facility is out of the question. My son's condition has improved, thanks to an exceptional psychologist. His attacks are less frequent (They come in waves.) and severe. But he cannot be alone yet. I have sat up with him many nights, talking him down from his delusions and hallucinations. For anyone unfamiliar with a psychotic condition, it is like being on a bad acid trip. I am very grateful that God let me to his psychologist. It was tearing my heart out to see him in such pain. Can anyone give me advice about how to climb out of this hole I'm in? I can travel to Los Angeles and The Bay area, but there are no doctors in my small city who can help me.

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Hi Pierre,

Thanks for sharing your story and sorry to hear about all your challenges (and your child's challenges). Are you able to work with your doctor on a taper schedule for the Suboxone? Your question is a common one and there are a number of discussion threads about this on the site (some of which have hundreds of replies). You may find these related discussions to be very helpful:

How to get off Suboxone (769 replies as of writing this)

How to get off Suboxone successfully step by step (226 replies as of writing this)

Has anyone else had success in this??

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Thank you for sharing your story Pierre. I as well have been taking 8-2 mg's of Suboxone every day for five years, it honestly feels good to know that someone else can relate to what you're going through as family can only help so much with prayer etc. I also have been taking Alprazolam (Xanax) 2 mg 2 times per day for five years. It's a benzo and similar to Klonopin. I know it's rough to withdrawal from both of these at the same time because I've been there numerous times not on purpose, just from running out too early or being in rehabs. I know you can't do inpatient rehab because of your child and I'll get back to that. I would definitely taper off one at a time. Save the suboxone for last of course because that will be harder than than the klonopin and vyvanse. ive been reading a lot of good articles on people who have successfully got off suboxone without feeling months of pain and suffering. I really hope they help. I was forced to go to two different inpatient rehabs and was in HELL for 30 days withdrawing the entire time. I don't believe inpatient rehab is a healthy place to be for anyone coming off subs because they expect you to be done with the withdrawals after about 10 days which is so unreasonable and they just don't understand.. It's not opiates, it's suboxone which I also know is hell. I wish they never came out with the drug because people like you and me are in prison from it internally. But back to your child, I wanted to also share with you my younger brother who is 24 now also suffered from psychosis and major psychotic episodes. He was given I don't know how many hits of acid when he was 17 years old and he never came back from it. He was very paranoid and became extremely religious and speculated your every move. So he found a doctor and she prescribed him Geordon for it and it completely took away all of those symptoms. I don't know if he/she has tried that but I wanted to tell you it works for my brother and he is still on it. It's not a Narcotic either, it's simply an anti psychosis medication. Pretty expensive though, that is one down side. If he stops taking it (which he has) he goes right back to that bad trip. I hope some of this helps and I will keep you and your child in my prayers. Be well.

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I went through withdrawals from suboxone a year ago and have been off ever since. Let me tell you it's NO JOKE!!! It's very very painful. Make sure you have 31 days to just lay in bed and someone to bring you food and be sympathetic the whole time. You need a doctor who will be willing to prescribe you large amounts of Xanax so you can sleep through the worst of it. Have a doctor prescribe you Parafon Forte 500mgs and take 2 every 4 hours. It helps SO much with restless leg and muscle cramps. Buy anti diarrhea meds, benadryl (for sneezing and runny nose part) and Motrin a big bottle for general body aches. You may want some kind of Tylenol PM as well... in case u run out of Xanax. Make sure you have TONs of Gatorade and simple food like chicken noodle soup, oatmeal & toast.

Okay please be smart and have all that set up before u start withdrawal. Now don't wean down is total horse s***. Just stop. It's all the same withdrawal wise. I've done both. Keep in mind it takes 2 1/2 to 3 days after your last suboxone to start feeling the withdrawal. So make SURE you have your Parafon Forte on hand.

There is no easy way to withdrawal. Just have everything set up and be ready for it. 28 days is the usual time for suboxone to get out of your system and feel 100% again.

God bless I wish you ALL the best. If you have any questions please feel free to write me.

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