Loss of memory was another symptom I was going to mention, but I forgot. LOL
Really.
I started at 4 mg., went up to 8 mg., then up to 12 mg., and now I take 8mg.-10 mg. most of the time.
I am going to start sticking with 8 mg. a day for a while, and then drop to 6 mg. I have the luxury of doing as long and slow of taper as I want, so I am going to do it right.
Honestly, the thought of coming off it scares me. I didn't do so well staying clean the last time.
Maybe I'll just stick at .50- 1 mg. for a while once I get that low. We'll see, I have heard of some who just stay there for a long time........just enough to keep the cravings at bay, I guess.
Are you considering going to detox to get off of it, Kim?
I gave up posting as so many people take so differently.
I am on my 4th wean off. Down to 2mg
1mg 7aM 1mg 7-10pm
soon 1mg 8-10AM and .5 before bed--10-11
I always cut by .5 nightime dose. This is my 4 thsuccwsful wean since starting Sub.
Bottom line nobody here should be taking this stuff with out AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST--JMHO
I have read to many different stories.
Back to the game --Godd Luck all sub users get that adddiction specialist
Jeff
P.S Stephanie I would consider getting off suboxone as the drug is to new for any doctor to tell you for fact low doses will not affect your fetus.
I am no doctor but have learned that most of the health field is CLUELESS about subb how to administer how to wean and what short and long term side effectsthe drug can cause.
A fetus? They cant know anything.Talk to more than one doctor. Your GP you like him?/She Does he know all your meds and ALL your history.
All your doctors need to be on the same page-
Be careful--Jeff
I am on my 4th wean off. Down to 2mg
1mg 7aM 1mg 7-10pm
soon 1mg 8-10AM and .5 before bed--10-11
I always cut by .5 nightime dose. This is my 4 thsuccwsful wean since starting Sub.
Bottom line nobody here should be taking this stuff with out AN ADDICTION SPECIALIST--JMHO
I have read to many different stories.
Back to the game --Godd Luck all sub users get that adddiction specialist
Jeff
P.S Stephanie I would consider getting off suboxone as the drug is to new for any doctor to tell you for fact low doses will not affect your fetus.
I am no doctor but have learned that most of the health field is CLUELESS about subb how to administer how to wean and what short and long term side effectsthe drug can cause.
A fetus? They cant know anything.Talk to more than one doctor. Your GP you like him?/She Does he know all your meds and ALL your history.
All your doctors need to be on the same page-
Be careful--Jeff
Carol,i'll telll you what,if i could find a place like Swizzle,and it took my insurance,i would go in a heart beat.To me,it would be worth it,and be like a month long vacation too,away from home and stresses.thats why i was hoping she would come back and tell us more about this place.
I probably can/will do this on my own,but if i have the other option,i'll take it!Why not do it as easily and comfortably as possible,and it sounds like the place Swizzle went to would be REAL nice~KIM
I probably can/will do this on my own,but if i have the other option,i'll take it!Why not do it as easily and comfortably as possible,and it sounds like the place Swizzle went to would be REAL nice~KIM
Kim, I hear you! I ........OMG!!! GO COLTS!!!
Watching the game, and it's looking good for Payton!!!!
Anyway, I would love to take a one month vacation and detox, too. Sounds fabulous! But alas, we are self employed, and have to pay for our own insurance, and you would be surprised what $1000.00 a month won't get you!!!
No luxurious detox in my future if Blue Cross is paying, that's for sure. But I would love to see you get to go! Hopefully, she will come back with the info. soon!
Gotta go and watch that hunk win the game!!!
TTFN
OK, so maybe he's not a hunk, but he's going to the Super Bowl!
Swizzle, it is so good to hear you are doing well.
I am tired of the sub too, but keep saying I will do it tomorrow, tomorrow, etc. It has been a while.
I know my motiviation is lacking, but my head feels pretty clear. Well, I wouldn't say I feel as sharp as before, there is sort of a haze. I think it is that emotional numbness.
Swizzle, if you could give us the name of the place...lol.
I am afraid of the discipline it takes to come off; I just don't seem to have that. I am ready to move on and be completely free; I hate the fact of having to still worry about a refil or I get sick. I don't like that.....
I am so sorry to hear about your bil, Swizzle. I am very happy for you! I notice that lack luster appearance thing too.
I am tired of the sub too, but keep saying I will do it tomorrow, tomorrow, etc. It has been a while.
I know my motiviation is lacking, but my head feels pretty clear. Well, I wouldn't say I feel as sharp as before, there is sort of a haze. I think it is that emotional numbness.
Swizzle, if you could give us the name of the place...lol.
I am afraid of the discipline it takes to come off; I just don't seem to have that. I am ready to move on and be completely free; I hate the fact of having to still worry about a refil or I get sick. I don't like that.....
I am so sorry to hear about your bil, Swizzle. I am very happy for you! I notice that lack luster appearance thing too.
Wow!! Happy to see so many posts on this thread!! I did not get online at all yesterday .... took 4 kids to the Fair all day -- my 2 kids, plus a friend of each .... got home last night exhausted and broke!!! LOL Seriously can't believe how expensive the Fair is!!!!
Anyway .... The detox center I went to is in South Florida .... North Miami to be exact.
Here is a link to them ..... it tells a lot about how they detox you, their program, the facility itself, and more.
I swear it is the ONLY place I'd want to be for detox .... praying I NEVER have to be anywhere again, but I will always recommend it !!!!
BTW - they are so relaxed there you are even allowed to bring your laptop AND cell phone!!! I have so many wonderful things to say about them!!
http://www.drugdetoxcenter.com/
And they are VERY helpful in getting most insurance companies to pay!!
Certainly can't hurt to try .....
:-)
Well, I need to get my kids ready for school and drop them off
I'll be back on again in a bit ....
<<<<<HUGS>>>>>
I was on Sub for over a year and came off around February last year. I was on approx 20mg and at the time it did not have any side effects apart from a little constipation, certainly I thought it did not effect my mood or give me a foggy heads. That was only apparent by its absence.
I was forced to cold turkey after the Dr cut me off. This was my own fault and I do not blame the Dr because I was using all sort and behaving like a prick. Nothing ever prepared me for the withdrawal effects which lasted around 4 days. I had withdrawn of opiates before but nothing was like this. I must admit I drank all the way through it, which some say can make the withdrawals worse but I used booze to try and escape the agony. I rattled like crazy and can only describe the pain as like having my veins filled with hot oil and my muscles, head, eyes, stomach ..well everything just hurt. It was the best deterrent I ever had for picking up again and, on reflection, I am glad it was that way for I havent touch an opiate since. Booze took a little longer but I am clean of that also thanks to God and the 12 steps.
What is important is I thought the Sub was benign and having no effect on me but when clean I could not believe how everything looked and felt. I remember looking a faces and wildlife and being overwhelmed by the beautyalmost like a mild acid trip without the strange thinking and intoxication, I also cried a lot because everything, emotionaly. was so overwhelming.. I also was conscious of my clothing which hurt a little at first. This to me proves how numbing sub was. Obviously the acute sensitivity subsides after a while and what you see and feel clean becomes the norm.
I was forced to cold turkey after the Dr cut me off. This was my own fault and I do not blame the Dr because I was using all sort and behaving like a prick. Nothing ever prepared me for the withdrawal effects which lasted around 4 days. I had withdrawn of opiates before but nothing was like this. I must admit I drank all the way through it, which some say can make the withdrawals worse but I used booze to try and escape the agony. I rattled like crazy and can only describe the pain as like having my veins filled with hot oil and my muscles, head, eyes, stomach ..well everything just hurt. It was the best deterrent I ever had for picking up again and, on reflection, I am glad it was that way for I havent touch an opiate since. Booze took a little longer but I am clean of that also thanks to God and the 12 steps.
What is important is I thought the Sub was benign and having no effect on me but when clean I could not believe how everything looked and felt. I remember looking a faces and wildlife and being overwhelmed by the beautyalmost like a mild acid trip without the strange thinking and intoxication, I also cried a lot because everything, emotionaly. was so overwhelming.. I also was conscious of my clothing which hurt a little at first. This to me proves how numbing sub was. Obviously the acute sensitivity subsides after a while and what you see and feel clean becomes the norm.
Thanks so much Swizzle,i live in NY,it is below zero right now,a trip to Florida would be very wwelcome,lol...do you think my insurance will pay?~KIM
I am really going to check into it!
I am really going to check into it!
Neon has described part of my Sub experience too .... that I had thought the Sub was NOT affecting me .... in reality, once coming off it, I now see how much I was really numbed by the Sub ... without even realizing it!!!
It definitely affected me more the longer I was on it .... especially energy and motivation .... I just felt tired a lot and did not like that one bit!!!
Time to drive the kids to school then stop at the store .... be back later ....
Definitely check out their website and give them a call Kim .... the staff there is sooooooo great .... they will even call your insurance company to get you pre-certified.
Also - at least 50 - 75% of the patients there are NOT from this area .... some I met were from as far as Seattle!!!!
And another tidbit .... they have had MANY rich & famous people detox there .... so that tells a bit of how good their reputation is!!!
OK - I really need to leave this time .... LOL
:-)
Swizzle,
Thanks for the great info and sorry about your brother-in-law. Jails, institutions, and death are the promises that will be fulfilled if we continue with living in our disease and not in recovery.
Reading all the reply posts as well as yours about the sub by products "so to speak" I can testify to my own mirroring yours and others. My prescription comes from a "pain management" Dr. who is an anesthesiologist, but he was to be working with my original addictions Dr. but alas I lost my insurance and now I am on a cash deal which is for prescriptions.
The dosage that I have been on for 40 months is Two and four tenths(2.4) mgs/day.
Chronic back and knee pain are what the prescription is being prescribed for and it has enabled me to have a somewhat normal life, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rest of my insanity and wild behaviors have been stopped in their tracks as I have successfully quit cigarettes for the first time in 30 years I'm now over 36 months clean from nicotine but that's not all. I've also not had a drop of booze in just over 40 months and for me that was something that I never could do even though booze and me were best friends for decades.
Then there is the illegal drugs starting with reefer, coke, crack, and anything else I could either shoot, snort, swallow,smoke or smear all over my body .
So the bottom line is if it weren't for the bupernorphine, the 12 step program I am in, God, and my family,I know in my heart that the last promise would have come true for me sooner rather than later.
The bottom line is that I'm torn, one side of me wants to keep the status quo and continue as I am, the other side says lets quit and let the chips fall as they may but my personal experience with my ability to stay sober for any lengths of time are negligible.
The short term memory loss comes in handy when watching movies as no matter what they all seem new to me.
Sometimes when the grass looks greener on the other side its a good idea to spend a little time there just in case,but don't burn the bridges that got you over in the first place.
The bottom line is..................that's why they call it dope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for the great info and sorry about your brother-in-law. Jails, institutions, and death are the promises that will be fulfilled if we continue with living in our disease and not in recovery.
Reading all the reply posts as well as yours about the sub by products "so to speak" I can testify to my own mirroring yours and others. My prescription comes from a "pain management" Dr. who is an anesthesiologist, but he was to be working with my original addictions Dr. but alas I lost my insurance and now I am on a cash deal which is for prescriptions.
The dosage that I have been on for 40 months is Two and four tenths(2.4) mgs/day.
Chronic back and knee pain are what the prescription is being prescribed for and it has enabled me to have a somewhat normal life, but!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
The rest of my insanity and wild behaviors have been stopped in their tracks as I have successfully quit cigarettes for the first time in 30 years I'm now over 36 months clean from nicotine but that's not all. I've also not had a drop of booze in just over 40 months and for me that was something that I never could do even though booze and me were best friends for decades.
Then there is the illegal drugs starting with reefer, coke, crack, and anything else I could either shoot, snort, swallow,smoke or smear all over my body .
So the bottom line is if it weren't for the bupernorphine, the 12 step program I am in, God, and my family,I know in my heart that the last promise would have come true for me sooner rather than later.
The bottom line is that I'm torn, one side of me wants to keep the status quo and continue as I am, the other side says lets quit and let the chips fall as they may but my personal experience with my ability to stay sober for any lengths of time are negligible.
The short term memory loss comes in handy when watching movies as no matter what they all seem new to me.
Sometimes when the grass looks greener on the other side its a good idea to spend a little time there just in case,but don't burn the bridges that got you over in the first place.
The bottom line is..................that's why they call it dope!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
wild ..... I sure hear you about being torn over keeping status quo or not!!! That was me too!!!
To be honest, I was also using the Sub as a crutch .... thinking that the Sub was the biggest thing keeping me from relapse since it is a sort of opiate blocker .... made me think longer about "planning" any potential relapse.
My truth .... Thank God for 12 step recovery programs .... I have now realized that NA and my support group were helping me stay "clean" much more so than the Sub!!!
(I still put "clean" in quotes when referring to my time on Sub as I've always been torn on that one .... don't want to start any debate about it, but my mind is about 90% convinced now .... but ALL opinions are valid and have merit)
Today I am sooooooooo grateful to be 100% clean from EVERYTHING!!!!
It has been a bumpy road for me, but I've always believed that things happen for a reason and I am a much stronger person thru my experiences.
My BIL dying cause of drug OD in the middle of my Sub w/d's was horrible, yet I did not even THINK about using to numb the pain!!!! I had not felt that kind of pain in so long but was and still am coping with it while not turning to any kind of "chemical solution"
Swizzle,
Is there a short-term detox there or do you have to stay 1 month?
So they made you completly comfortable and you did not have any withdrawls from coming off sub??
I am with everyone else I am really worried about stopping Sub.
Is there a short-term detox there or do you have to stay 1 month?
So they made you completly comfortable and you did not have any withdrawls from coming off sub??
I am with everyone else I am really worried about stopping Sub.
Swizzle-
First off, So happy to see you back :) I am so sorry for you loss, yet so happy for you. You were one of the first on this board to reach out and help me when I started on sub, and I will never ever forget that.
Entering detox sounds like it was a great move for you, and I am not at all surprised at the cost. I entered detox a few years back, and the cost was about the same as yours. They daily price If I remember right was around 600.00 per day. I was inpatient for 8-10 days or so, and then 30 days of outpatient 8 hours per day therapy.
This thread is one of the best I have read in a while regarding the pro's and con's of suboxone.
I do think Suboxone is a great tool and medication when used properly. I have to say though I have had some of the exact same issues the rest of you spoke about.
I did feel great in the beginning on 8-10 mg's, but as time went on I do feel as if it does cause a sort of "haze" feeling. I find it very hard to get the motivation to finish things I start, and I have to force myself to do anything now. I also think it does cause alot of emotional numbness, when I lowered my dose down it did help with that some.
I am torn on the sub, It changed my life so much, for the better, and I am so greatful for that. I guess every medication has its side effects. I just dont think now it is the "miracle" I thought it was in the beginning, it has its price tag. Just like an anti depressant, can cure someone of depression there are still a long long list of other ill effects they cause.
Great thread............and Swizzle so glad to have you back.
Hugs.
First off, So happy to see you back :) I am so sorry for you loss, yet so happy for you. You were one of the first on this board to reach out and help me when I started on sub, and I will never ever forget that.
Entering detox sounds like it was a great move for you, and I am not at all surprised at the cost. I entered detox a few years back, and the cost was about the same as yours. They daily price If I remember right was around 600.00 per day. I was inpatient for 8-10 days or so, and then 30 days of outpatient 8 hours per day therapy.
This thread is one of the best I have read in a while regarding the pro's and con's of suboxone.
I do think Suboxone is a great tool and medication when used properly. I have to say though I have had some of the exact same issues the rest of you spoke about.
I did feel great in the beginning on 8-10 mg's, but as time went on I do feel as if it does cause a sort of "haze" feeling. I find it very hard to get the motivation to finish things I start, and I have to force myself to do anything now. I also think it does cause alot of emotional numbness, when I lowered my dose down it did help with that some.
I am torn on the sub, It changed my life so much, for the better, and I am so greatful for that. I guess every medication has its side effects. I just dont think now it is the "miracle" I thought it was in the beginning, it has its price tag. Just like an anti depressant, can cure someone of depression there are still a long long list of other ill effects they cause.
Great thread............and Swizzle so glad to have you back.
Hugs.
Chrissy,
The length of stay depends on what you are coming off of, your dosage, how long you have been using and how fast OR slow you want to taper their meds.
I could have done it quicker, but it is much more comfortable to go slower
I initially signed up for 21 days, but was not feeling that great and luckily had the ability to stay longer ... so that is what I did.
Based on my history, it was the best choice for me.
PLUS the food and overall atmosphere there is SO incredible that I really was not in a big rush to leave!! I missed my family and my dog really bad, but you can have visitors every Sunday (and don't tell anyone, but I was able to get extra visits with my kids in addition to Sundays!!)
Chrissy-
When I entered detox a few years ago, I did have the option of just staying in to detox, and then going home. I chose to stay for the 30 day outpatient program, but that was by choice only.
There were many patients there detoxing who left after 7 days or so, just to get over the worst of the physical withdrawals, and once there vitals were stable. I was not given any opiates to detox though, so it was pretty rough. We were given Valium or Klonopin and Clonodine patches. I still dont think I slept at all when I was there in inpatient, and wished they would of done a slower taper off the opiates, instead of cold turkey.
Just wanted you to know that you can enter detox just for the short term detox if that is what you choose is best.
Hugs.
When I entered detox a few years ago, I did have the option of just staying in to detox, and then going home. I chose to stay for the 30 day outpatient program, but that was by choice only.
There were many patients there detoxing who left after 7 days or so, just to get over the worst of the physical withdrawals, and once there vitals were stable. I was not given any opiates to detox though, so it was pretty rough. We were given Valium or Klonopin and Clonodine patches. I still dont think I slept at all when I was there in inpatient, and wished they would of done a slower taper off the opiates, instead of cold turkey.
Just wanted you to know that you can enter detox just for the short term detox if that is what you choose is best.
Hugs.
Thanks so much Jody!!!! You are a sweetheart!!
I have certainly had plenty of ups and downs ....
I also am thankful that I was able to go into a medicated detox to come off the Sub. I learned so much there!!
I too do not think that Sub is the big "miracle" that many others, including lots of Sub Dr's, are trying to convince us of!!! Yet at the same time it helped me out a lot initially. Then it became my crutch and ultimately was began to dislike the fact that I was STILL dependant on taking some kind of drug to not be sick. Add in the various side effects mentioned .... many in varying degrees over time .... and I was ready!!
Well, scared to death to get off the Sub, but I knew I had to do it sooner or later .... and sooner it was ....
I keep hearing the word miracle associated with sub, Im not sure where this comes from, maybe the doctors in other areas are telling their patients something different from what Ive heard around here.
I certainly would never call it a miracle drug, but it is and can be a good tool if used properly.
Good to see you Swizzle, glad to hear your doing good. I hear Florida's nice this time of year :o)
I certainly would never call it a miracle drug, but it is and can be a good tool if used properly.
Good to see you Swizzle, glad to hear your doing good. I hear Florida's nice this time of year :o)
JD, I have never heard a dr. call it a miracle, but when you think about how it takes the w/d away, and stops cravings, I guess that is why many of us think it's miraculous! In the beginning, at least.
Swizzle, I went to that link........it's Summer House! That place have been mentioned here many times with nothing but good things said about it. Kim, if you can , GO! Sounds wonderful!
Do you know what they put in the "cocktail"? Just curious if it's Sub.
