How Long After You Stop Suboxone Do You Have Withdrawal Symptoms? (Page 23)

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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Has anyone been on 8mg Suboxin for just a yr, before up and quitting? I quit them 4-5 days ago, and im trying to get a feel for what to expect.

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Hello David, are you feeling any WDs at the moment? Did you quit CT at 8mgs?

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Please listen to this lady! Suboxone withdrawals are the WORST EVER & there has been absolutely no long term research concerning the effects by the companies/physicians making billions off it. I have detoxes off of IV opiates MUCH more easily, much.

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I just want to reiterate that "preliminary studies" "may have indicated that PAWS from Suboxone may be worse in alcoholics. That could be why 44 days later, I am suffering from CRIPPLING anxiety. I've never had a panic attack in my life (I'm 50) and now I'm stuck in a never-ending one! This CANNOT go on much longer-seriously. On my way to vitamin store....

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I have been on suboxine for 6 months around 8mg. I stopped cold turkey 3 days ago and have no withdraws at all? In the past I was severely sick coming of this medicine. How cone I sint sick?

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Thank you very much for this! I will be starting to taper off tomorrow and was wondering about how to go about it. I have withdrawn from methadone and it was worse than anything else I've ever detoxed from. I'm so nervous but my confidence has gone up a little so thanks

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Please read all the posts in this thread for many explanations as to why you aren't feeling bad as you may get lucky and it helps to be in a positive frame of mind but I don't want you to be blindsided as it sometimes takes a few days because it's still in your bloodstream. Keep us posted as well and good luck!,

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Are there moles on this site? I didn't have a clue what was wrong with me! I tapered like crazy for 4 months, but that's cuz I'm a junkie & that's just what you do! I was at the ER several times, they didn't know either. So, how were these withdrawals "in my mind?" I'm also an accomplished actress, but 189/146 BP with a pulse of 143? Even I ain't that good!

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I have read everything I can get my hands regarding Buprenorphine, including the DEA guidelines for prescribing them-(8 hr video). Primarily I am interested in the withdrawal experience. And, my conclusion is: Nobody Knows! I suppose it's like a complicated mathematical formula. Gender, age, weight, lifestyle, psychiatric issues, environment, length & amount of use...just to name a few. Typically, it takes 3 days for opiate withdrawal. That is physical & totally doable. You might have some cramping for while. What I didn't expect was the Post Acute Withdrawl Syndrome (PAWS) It is mental, psychological & affects your CNS. I'm in some level of panic all the time. Fatigued, scared to leave the house, kind of like the worst flu I ever had. Doesn't mean it will happen to you!!! A few stories mirror mine, but none exactly. Lots of people recommended exercise-threw me into full blown panic attack-heart rate, I guess. No caffeine or nicotine; good time to quit! I had stopped smoking, but was still on the gum. Im reading "years" on here. "Years" I don't like too much

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Hi Niele, how are you doing? I've been down the sub withdrawal road twice now. While there certainly is physical aspects to it, like your high BP, the mind can also create exacerbated physical symptoms. I first took suboxone in 2008 for a vicodin problem following shoulder surgery. When I first started taking it, I didn't read any of the Drs pamphlets about it, or read forums online. I was completely naive to the medicine. I didn't even know that it was actually an opiate! I thought of it as something similar to BP medicine or something to that affect. I quit CT at 8mgs without giving it any thought because I didn't even know you could withdrawal from it. I went through some rough nights and some long days feeling hungover, followed by several weeks of sluggishness but I was also going through a break up and dealing with stress at work. I chalked all of my fatigue, body aches and overall crappy feeling up to stress and went about my life as normal thinking it would pass. Looking back on it now, I was going through withdrawal but because I didn't know it, it was actually the least painful withdrawal experience I've had because I didn't pay attention to it. I gradually felt better each day and at about 2 months I'd say I was pretty much back to 100 percent (pre opiates). I was clean for 2.5 years and felt great. Then in 2010 I re injured my shoulder and the Dr put me on tramadol because of my previous vicodin issues. Bad move! Anyway, I eventually ended up back on subs for the tramadol. This time I read up on it. Was surprised to find out it was an opiate. A powerful one. I also read horror stories of withdrawal. I weened down to 2mgs this time and the withdrawal was terrible! I too ended up in the ER with crazy high BP. It took almost 2 full weeks for the acute physical symptoms to pass but PAWS hit like a runaway train and took seemingly FOREVER. No energy, no appetite, anxiety, insomnia, you name it. So I guess my point it, while its not "all in your head", your mind DOES play a strong part in how you feel. The more attention you give to it, the worse you'll feel. The worse you think it is, the worse you'll feel. I know it's easier said than done, but paying as little attention to it as possible really is key. True caffeine and alcohol and such seem to make it worse but nothing affects it more than your mind. Even when I was at my peak of PAWS, I always felt pretty good during busy days at work, and pretty bad during slower days. Because on those slower days I thought about it. Alot.

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Thanks for your response! I tapered carefully off of the subs, not because of anything I'd read, but because I'm a "junkie" & that's just what you do! I expected no withdrawals whatsoever; when the physical started, it took me 2 days to realize that's what it was & when the PAWS started, I literally thought I was losing it. I've never had an anxiety attack in my life! I'm actually rather well-noted to keep my head during a crisis. if it weren't for websites, etc., I still might not know!
I think the difference may be that I'm a late stage chronic alcoholic (sober from alcohol because it makes me very sick, very quickly) What's going on with me is remarkably similar to an alcohol withdrawal. Perhaps, I've "pre-disposed" myself????
Routine day: it's an effort to brush my teeth.

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Today I actually felt "normal" for a while! Isn't that great? Happy, just to feel normal! Something I took for granted all my life. I can't say why I'm feeling better; I did follow all the advice anyone on here had to give (shout out!) I imagine it was time (and several hundred gallons of water lol)

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Hi Niele, that's great to hear! How long ago did you stop the Bupe? For me, I started feeling better around day 18. That's when I would actually get spurts of energy and good mood feelings. They would come and go pretty randomly and frequently. It took a while before I could actually string 2-3 good days together in a row, but those moments of positivity was enough to get me to push through. Eventually the good WILL begin to outnumber the bad and then, one day you'll wake up and it's over. I remember having a good 5-6 days in a row and then the whole week and then all if the sudden think "that's it!" Not being chained to a substance or medication is the GREATEST feeling imaginable! No more counting days, or waiting at the pharmacy or Drs offices. No more budgeting out money for something that you "can't function without". It takes time but it is achievable. You just have to focus on your ultimate goal. And the cliche AA saying (I didn't do AA so please don't take this as preaching) but "one day at a time" is how you have to do it. Trying to think "forever" can be a bit much to think about. I hope your uphill battle to beginning to crest and your bad days are soon just a memory. Good luck to you!

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So sweet...thanks! It's about 50 days. I didn't really count because I honestly expected no symptoms. My last 8 doses were microscopic & every other day. My reason for quitting was not voluntary in the least. God just set my butt down. When I tell the chain of events, people look at me crazy! I've been to literally thousands of AA meetings & I have a live and let live outlook, so don't worry about offending me! I'm just so glad I found this website! I can't imagine how awful it would be, to not even know what was happening to my brain. I also need to be able to look back and remind myself of all the misery I (allowed) that drug to cause. And...I didn't even feel high! I came off of Old School OxyContin, IV, much easier and well....suffice it to say, I did. Not condoning, I lost my home and everything in it because of that one. Ironically, I was prescribed Suboxone for alcoholism & treatment resistant depression. (FDA sez NO!) it worked great! Didn't want to drink, couldn't use, depression about 80% better. But, it's not in Gods game plan & I've learned a lot about it that I really don't like, so we'll see what happens next. I don't think the answers in a pill though.

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Feelin lots better physically. Very depressed though, but hey treatment resistant depression was one of my symptoms before! I've just been so apathetic to my surroundings, I've got a lot of "work" back logged & it's kinda overwhelming. Not one single person in my life knew about the subs. Still don't. I've holed up in my house, text only, got the flu, whatever. Tomorrows Monday though, gotta crawl outta here & DEAL.

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Hi Niele, it's great to hear that you're feeling better physically. Unfortunately the mental aspects of WDs do last longer than the physical. But that too will begin to subside eventually. Going back to work and "normal" life will be a good thing. When I had to go back to work after beginning my detox, it created some cravings because I usually would take my sub on the drive to work everyday, and then again on the ride home so not having that sub to "prepare" for the day was rough, but getting into a routine without the subs is going to help tremendously in the long run. Have you had many cravings? I always used to think the cravings would be the easiest part of detoxing but I was wrong. My cravings would always bring about anxiety, which I wasn't prepared for. You're definitely headed in the right direction! Just stay positive and be proud of how far you've made it.

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I thought about cravings yesterday. Originally, because I believe the Naloxone must still be in my system because I feel (seriously) nauseous when I think of drinking & that's one of the reasons I loved Sub. Because I am a chronic, Cirrhosis-having, late stage alcoholic. I don't even know how many times I've been to detox, long term rehab, or lived (over 6 mos) in a halfway house. Ive been through the 12 Steps numerous times with LADC sponsors. Every time I got around family, glug, glug, glug. Suboxone-no cravings, an actual aversion. It's still grossing me out to think about it. So I think the Naloxone is still' somehow in effect; gonna study up.
But today, I had the thought "D&$@ it! I'm sick of feeling bad, I don't even care about normal, I deserve to feel GOOD! Why am I doing this again?" But it wasn't subs I was craving. Tabs, Percs, opiates-the stronger the better. I have no access, connections though...
I read about people havin problems with yawning or RLS, I feel like I have a hive of bees in my head or I can't breathe!
I'm supposed to be job hunting, my person finances are about gone and I have agoraphobia.
I don't know. At least I know drinking is not an effective way to handle these symptoms-that would be a hot mess for sure!

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Hey my name is Cory. I've been on suboxone for 7 years and I recently stopped 22 days ago. At first I was on 12mg then 8mg, then I went from 4 then down to 2mg. The first 9 days were pure HELL!!!. I have a hyperactive thyroid that did not help the withdrawal at all. And I was diagnosed when I went to the hospital from extreme stomach pains. But I had this for all the years I was on suboxone and I had no idea. At the end of my suboxone usage I was experiencing a lot anxiety from long term use and I felt the suboxone was taking over my life. I just feared of the withdrawal cause before suboxone I was hooked on OxyContin for 3 years I would frequently go threw withdrawal cause I didn't have the money to keep up with my habit. I stopped the suboxone 22 days ago and I'm still having severe stomach pains and I'm losing weight at a rapid pace. I take a digestive aid just help keep the food down. And I think my thyroid isn't helping at all. I'm always tired, stomach discomfort, brain fog, always cold,depression. My Gastro doc told me that my thyroid is causing these symptoms and not to feel discouraged that I can get treated for that. But I'm sure I'm still going threw Acute withdrawal from the suboxone cause I'm still having stomach pains since I stopped the suboxone. Suboxone has changed my life in bad way. It really is a substitute for opiates.

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Yeah the wd process from subs is grueling. I really wish Drs would be upfront with patients about what exactly they're getting into. Subs can be a great tool for people with life threatening addictions but try are prescribing it way too easily. I was prescribed subs for a tramadol dependency and I can say without a doubt the subs addiction was a lot worse than my tramadol addiction ever was. And the more I read about it the more I'm convinced that the medical community doesn't fully understand the long term affects of subs. I can say this: it does get better but it takes time. A long time. I stopped taking subs in October and I'm still not 100 percent. Maybe talk to your Dr about gabapentin. That's what I was given during the worst of it and it was a lifesaver. It helped me get my appetite back, sleep schedule back and helped with the RLS, body aches and depression. Maybe something worth looking into...?

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Thankfully, I am already prescribed Neurontin for a seizure disorder because I actually have slept (& because the attending at the psych ward I went to for "help" was too busy prescribing Suboxone to help, or well, even admit that anyone needed help getting off of it, overwrote my Nortriptyline). I am so grateful for that, because I get shrill & squirrelly without sleep. Excuse me, even more shrill & squirrelly....takes a lot of it though. Luckily I had a back stash. Reckitt Benckiser really has it made. How reliable are a bunch of junkies as defendants? Not my problem to solve today & I REALLY wish it were, my brother.

I have one! Men. O. Pause. Smack dab right up in the bowels of that fresh hell too. Apparently I "disrespected" the new receptionist (who MUST be related???) & this ones not puttin any of my calls/messages through. It's been 10 days, no hormones. I'm supposed to be on my way there, but I just do not see that playin out well. If I knew where to get something, I believe I would take it. I got off intentionally, but had no idea what I was in for. I know of possible leads, semi-cold calls/visits I could make, but I'm too mad to chase it that hard, if that makes any sense at all. If I ever get through this, I will have a new respect for nervous people. I used to be a "suck it up, grow a pair" kind of person & I, for the 1st time ever, can't do it! And HAVE to, quickly! $$$ ya know?

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