Think Again Before Going On Suboxone Long-term!

I went on suboxone last Demember, almost exactly a year ago today, and I've been off since late October. My doctor started me on 3 8mg tabs daily which I took every day for about 8 months. I told him 7 months into it I was ready to ween off which i did so in 4 mg increments. i tapered down for about 4 months going down 4mg sometimes in 2 weeks and sometimes in 2 months depending on how I was feeling. The withdrawal during this time was noticable but bearable and made me dread what coming off completely was going to be like. Once I got down to 1mg daily I told my doctor that was it and stopped going. The physical withdrawals I felt were like nothing I've ever been through before. Going on this medication after 160-240mg a day oxy habit seemed like a great idea at the time but I assure you the suboxone withdrawal made the oxy withdrawal feel like a day at Disney World. the withdrawals I felt were 99% physical and made me feel like I was going to die. The withdrawal lasted for over a month and a half and put me in the worst feeling situation I've ever been in. It's been close to a month and a half since I got off and honestly I'm feeling great now but the past 40 or so days was pure hell. There was one thing that comforted me almost to the point where I could feel normal which was marijuana. Even the first week when I smoked a few bowls the withdrawals went almost completely away for a few hours at a time. I will never do the suboxone program ever again. I've stayed off opiates for more than a year but at a large LARGE price. Please think twice about using suboxone long term, it may feel like a good decision at the time but when it comes time for you get off, you'll wish you never went on them in the first place. I'll say it again, the oxy withdrawal was a walk in the park compared to the suboxone withdrawal and if I could go back in time i'd suffer through that instead. Maybe I should say again that im over day 40 and feeling great so it does get better, very, very, very slowly.

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I am very sorry to hear what you went through. That said, however, some withdrawal effects are normal when you stop anything that you have been taking regularly for a long time.

In this case, it sounds like you forced the stoppage, when you got to 1mg and did not want to continue following your doctor's instructions to stop taking it.

https:/­/­rxchat.com/­wiki/­Suboxone/­

It may be frustrating, but a long slow taper is the best way to stop these types of medications and avoid the worst withdrawal effects.

Did you have any questions?

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i am really glad you posted that, even if it is from 12/31/09, it still remains the truth...i'd hate to see someone scared away because of reading that...i myself experienced terrible withdrawal from suboxone when i hadn't taken it in a few days and thought i didn't need it...now mind you i last took an 8 mg tablet, so by day 3, i was insane and thought i was losing my mind and wanted to die and thank God it was over thanksgiving break...i since learned it is best to taper with the films and u really quite literally have to titrate down to the most miniscule of a sliver of a dose as u can, to ensure the least amount of horror as possible...most people do not have the patience, but speaking for myself, when i am ready to go off this stuff, i don't have 40 days to feel horrible on...thanks again.

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Hi...I have been on Suboxone for almost a year and a half.Started at 16mgs,now at 2-4mgs a day(mostly 2 mgs)My question is,can I just stop at 2mgs,without having major withdrawals.I did go 3 days without it,but by the fourth day I felt strange.

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