Sub Taper After 3 Years Of On It! (Top voted first)

I finally hit the ceiling and have no use, no cravings, nothing, just do not want to be a prisoner no longer to suboxone. I'm tapering down from 8 my a day. I plan on doing a 4-5 month taper, 2 my every 2 weeks, till i hit one, then. 50, then skipping days. Besides excercise, a healty diet, plus vitamin b, I'm looking into the natural supplement SAM-e or HTP 5. I do not want antidepressants, but need something to boost the serotonin levels & dopehine. Anyone ever taper to 0mg successfully? Anyone suggest any natural supplements or knowledge on how to deal w/ the low energy and depression? I'm already been feeling very depressed afyers years and no idea what a pure hell I was getting into!!! *Anyone tapering, we should start a taper thread UPDATE together! *

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Although I don't have any personal experience with suboxone, I do have 2+ years of experience with severe depression and low energy. I have taken 5 HTP in combination with St. John's Wort for depression (roughly 150mg of 5 HTP per day, along with 450-900mg of St. Johns Wort per day).

This combination was helpful in "getting by", but did not treat the underlying cause of my severe depression. In order to treat the underlying cause of your depression and ultimately win the battle against it, you may need to see a psychiatrist and/or figure out on your own what is making you unhappy; then have a plan of action to change your current lifestyle. The depression usually won't go away until you successfully make those necessary changes in your life.

This is just based on my own experience of battling severe depression for over 2 years. The depression is generally the cause of low energy as well, with vitamins being helpful and all, but not treating the cause.

I wish you the best in getting off of suboxone. These prescriptions are dangerous, so proceed with caution and taper slowly.

I hope this helps!

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Thank you, David-- Interesting how you mention the underlying problem of the depression. I've never EVER felt such a HORRIBLE feeling in my life! I truly feel and understand why this is such a battle. Anyways, I feel this is all wrapped in one vicious cycle. I'm tapering slowly, been okay. When i "thought the suboxone was not working" last Sept, that's when I started seeking help. 2 years ago, went through a divorce (my decision.) And, sept was when my one and only child left for college. I took her back yesterday morning, when to work, then the familiar feeling of that dark, DARK feeling came over me. I then realised I felt this way every time I took my daughter back to school. I actually thought last night: "I have nothing to live for. My life is over!" 2 years ago, I had a family to go grocery shopping for. Now, I don't even go. Eating is a challenge. But, this depression is much more... I never had such a negative feeling. I hate my job, house, hair, and socially withdraw. I even almost feel paranoid ppl are talking about me at work. Never felt that one before. BUT- between the taper, SAM-e, and exvercise, and my all time favorite, SPRING/SUN/GARDENING SEASON, I'm hoping to see and feel a brighter side. Its conquering getting out of bed and getting motivated is the hardest step. I have one year left in my 30's, and I need to make this one count.What do you find helpful for your depression? Do you experience SAD or bi polar or major depression?

People do not know about the suboxone taper, and if I mention anything to anyone about Being sad, I always hear: "Why? You are beautiful, healthy, raised a smart, beautiful daughter, have a great job and home, very independent! " You know the ol saying: The grass is always greener on the other side...

Time for my walk in this 30 degree weather. Time to take the SAM-e w/ my super complex B. Thank you soooo much for your input. Hope you well... especially now I know what this horrible depression truly feels like. I'm so scared of the nights.

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I feel your pain. I have been on suboxone for years (in between long periods of opiate use) and currently I've been on subs for one full year without relapse. However, I desperatly want to get off suboxone. I feel like it is holding me back from reaching my full potential. Teachnically I'm still dependent on a substance being on suboxone 2 8mg films a day. I'm so young and there's so much I want to do with my life. I've been slowly trying to taper but even when I cut back 1mg I feel severely depressed and flu-ish. I feel hopeless like ill always be on some type of drug. Sometimes I think I should just go back to heroin bc atleast then I was getting high while being a chemical dependent prisoner. I'm so scared of tapering off, more so for the depression more than anything bc when I get really really down I am unable to function and just pray to die . Pathetic. I've had all the professional help in the world nothing works, its up to me. I need to defeat my sick brain but sometimes it feels like losing uphill battle

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CMD-- I'm actually glad that u took the time, to share. I've been in your shoes, still kind of am. What does your Dr say? Sometimes I think the Drs think or want us to stay on the subs to keep us from using our DOC. I agree w/ u 100%. The depression is bad. The subs for me just Did not work the same... in fact, there's proof of long term use causes depression. For me, I just finally got to the point that the depression was so bad, i knew and WANT a drug free life. The prob w a lot of ppl, they "think" they want a drug free life because they know deep down, its the right choice. We crave and our body and brain depends on these drugs because we felt happy, had energy, then next thing u know, our lives are upside down, a pure hell. It took me three years to want to taper. I should of never ever been on it this long. I wish I was a little more educated about everything. But, I learned the hard way. My advice to you, you are still very young to help yourself. You really have to want to. Have a goal. If you taper, talk to your Dr. I found tapering from 16 mg a day to 4 mg was not too bad. If u have the films, start by taking off 1mg and do this for one week. Day 3-5 is when most ppl feel the half life. W/ 16 Being a decent amount, 1 mg for me was fine. I even Did 2 mg every week. Go by how you feel. You will see u feel the same once your body adjust every week. Now, for the depression, I tried everything. I mentioned in the first post, a natural vitamin for mood and depression called SAM-e. Its made by Nature Made, u can get it at Wallgreens, CVS, Meijer, etc. It works for me. I've been taking it first thing in the morning w a super complex B. This helps w the energy. I feel my depression is getting better, along w a gym membership. I have almost become obsessed w/ tapering and conquering this depression. Now, remind you... I have had no cravings for any opiates, nothing. I have been so numb and gone for years, I have gotten a small taste of natural happiness, I'm determined to never give up. I think you have to truly want this... and if none of this helps, therapy is always healthy. AND-- what I meant about you Being so young, i meant, you don't want 10-20 years fly by, and you are still trying to figure out how to be happy drug free. I lost almost ten years ( 7 and a half) and I'm 39, didn't graduate from college, and I'm stuck in a job I hate. I just realised i lost the most important years of my life due to stupid choices. Now, I feel like a beautiful loser, almost 40, w a dead end job. But, I'm not dead, and neither are you... try tapering 1 mg for a week. And dont be scared. D minister day is far away... try googling things that help for depression and talk to your dr. Depression is no joke. Write back to me on here and Ill support you the whole road ahead. You are not alone... SPV

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CMD- Still looking for you... let's conquer this together.

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what up mang , hey #1right now im selfemployed with no insurance, id luv 2 have a script of subz but payin cash isnt an option right now so ive been surving off script of roxys that i blow threw in a qrt time period that i can see doc next. the rest of the 75% of wait im barely scrapin by findin pillz/affordin em,when i had ins subz were the s*** cauz ur safe ,ur on bass .ur not wakin up sum days & have an empty orange plastic jar & no 1 has pillz . i had tapered off the subz pills like 4 yrs ago i just did a pinch less & apinch less & so on. i swore id never go bac but in the past 2 yrs i lost 7 freinds (mostly odz) & then buried my brother 37 yrs old from cancer in oct so that did unfort throw me bac in . but my new plan is ibogaine . im goin attempt an online purchase .its illegal in the states but F*** IT BIG time DONT CARE i want off. as far as u jumpin off subz just remember u aint goin get hi for @least 48 hrz so in my opinon it would be a waste.esp u got a nice year in. i did read u cant take ibogaine for amonth after takinsuboxone. when all mine & my brothers friends were odin he said i cant beleive im here in sloan fightin for my life & thez kids are throwin therz out the window . HANG IN

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Not lookin to get high. Never have. Just want my old life back. I never did drugs, had a major surgery w years of scripts of vicodin. Couldn't stop w out wdrawls. Then the dr put me on sub. The nightmere began, then depressiin. Still tapering.

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Will u please read my post by worried mom and help me what to do? Its like the latest post under sub forumd

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Please read my post will I die and help me know what to do. I am caretaker of five ppl, if I die they will have noone, children n n elderly all counting on me. Im in for pain mangmnt n I hear from evryone hes a bad dr but has my money n says come back in week or two aftr testing me pos for thc I daid so its for pain n sleep n appetite. I take 4 dubd a day n he wants me to go to zero til no thc n I am high risk seizure n cannot risk my life yet he has my money n my scripts. Says take clonodine for withdrawls even tho I have low blood pressure n thsts for hi bpressure. He took my xanax aftr 20 yrs n
put klonopin n im borderline suicidal almost
from that but kno beytr of course howevr four big ones to zero will I die? Im in 40s. Im so scared do I go to er or go back to him? He has to kno it takes 45 days to get out thc why tell me a week? Do I buy fake p? Go er? What to do?

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I was on suboxone for a year I was able to quit for about 2 months... I ended up going back to the drugs but I did quit . I was on 2mg of suboxone for a few months.. I quit with nothing but asprin and L-tyrosine . It was HELL for a month I had ZERO energy had so many crying episodes I wanted to die it was just as hard as quitting heroin or anything else. I was on suboxone for a year if it was a shorter time period I think it might have been a little easier but I dont know. NOW a few years later.. I am on methadone 100 mg a day and its a night mare I want to quit I am going to try to switch to subxone methadone has helped me loose 2 teeth already at age 23.. I have gained a lot of weight which isnt really a bad thing for me. But my teeth have been SO SO bad since I have got on methadone I want to quit as soon as possible it was not a good idea to start methadone and anyone reading this..suboxone is always a better choice forget methadone not a good idea at all.

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I think you answered your own question. You won't be able to take care of anyone f you don't take care of yourself. My personal opinion? If you have the ins, go into a in-patient rehab. You will have 24 hour medical care. And, one thing at a time, Worried Mom. Go back to your dr, and write down everything you need and have to tall about, about getting back to normal. I Found SAM-e has helped me lift my energy. But, everyone is different. Google rehabs, and talk w your job about time off... First - go back to your dr asap, and one step, one day at a time.

Ill be back to post more tomorrow. At this point too, I find peace and hope in prayer...

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