I have tried tapering off twice but each time I ended up back on a higher dose. I have been on 24 mgs/day for about one year. I would love to stop taking Subutex but I do not trust myself to taper off. I have looked into a couple different treatment programs. Has anyone tried any of the "rapid drug detox" programs to stop using Subutex or Suboxone? How unusual is it to be one Subutex for five years? I would love some feedback. Thank you. Tbone
5 Dec 2010
Dear TBone, people who are on higher doses, such as yourself, and have been on it a while do have a bit more problems tapering than those on a lower dose and on it for less time, but all is not lost. I don't know anything about the rapid detox, but can tell you a couple of things about tapering. Should you decide to taper off, there are a few meds to help, clonidine and methacarbomal will help. Walking or other lite regular exercise really does help, it tells the brain neurotransmitters and receptor sites to reboot, it produces endorphins which make you feel better mentally and physically, and it helps regulate the eat-sleep-wake cycles. If you can split your dose up and take some in the morning and some in the early to mid afternoon, it will help you get used to a lower dose at one time, but you still will have the full dose later in the day.
Try dropping 2 mgs off the pm dose and go 4 weeks( the amount of time that worked for me and was what my counselor said it took the brain and body to get used to the lower dose) then after the 4 weeks, drop 2 off the am dose. It will take a longer time this way but worked for me and I had NO withdrawal. You can click my avatar and read my profile story if you want and it explains it in a bit more detail. Good Luck, I know that it can be a scary and aggravating thing to have to decide what to do and how to do it. If you feel like you are getting depressed, please have that treated, it is not normally listed as a symptom of withdrawal from opiates or subutex/suboxone, but it often is.Pattishan
6 Dec 2010
I can give a wee bit of info on those rapid detox places, a lot of people die from aspirating their own vomit in rapid detox. I read some stats about it, I do not have them handy, but I will try to find them for you.
patti is our sub expert and can help you greatly with a taper.
I did it cold turkey, and it was a bit of hell. I took OxyContin for almost ten years... a lovely WD period indeed! But I now have my self back.
And I no longer "nod out" like heroin addicts do! You may be so pleasantly surprised when you get off the Subutex.
If I can help in any way just PQ me.
6 Dec 2010
Hey T Bone: Isn't there supposed to be, and where is,/ was the Dr. who by law (as I understand it) is supposed to be working with you, when you are using Suboxone or Subutex ? 5 yrs.? It is very unusual to be on Subutex for 5 yrs. You shouldn't have to control your taper,that's what your supervisory Physician is there for. How did you get on that long? Sacosam
28 Jan 2012
I have also been taking Subutex for 5 1/2 years & was on Suboxone for a yr before that. I switched docs after the 1st yr on Subutex. The one I am with now is one of those "If you were a diabetic they wouldn't make you stop taking the meds because you stopped having symptoms" kind of doc, basically his theory is some people have to be on it for the rest of their lives. I hope you have been successful in getting off it. I hope I van be as well!
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