Author: Amy-Work In Progress

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 2:50 pm

I have taken 2 of 7 classes toward my certification as an addiction counselor in the state of Colorado. If the curriculum is any indication, new counselors are being taught that addiction is a chronic, relapsing disorder. There are several modalities of counseling available when working with addicts. New medications should be considered as a part of evidence-based recovery methods. When an addict relapses, it’s an expected part of addiction, and not a reason to be kicked out of treatment. Rather, a relapse indicates that the counselor needs to reassess what is needed for the addict to achieve recovery.

I have not noticed any kind of bias against maintenance medications. I have a feeling, however, that it’s going to take time for newer, evidence-based practices to trickle into the mainstream.

Amy

Author: dzeman21

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 3:43 pm

Hey so I finally feel like I’m ready to be free. I’m done with the drug lifestyle and ready to move forward and succeed in life.
I’ve been on subs about 2 years and have come so far in that time, now feeling like who I was before I started OCs.
I began at 8mg for a while and cut down to 4mg about 5 months ago and have been steady on 4mg until about 2 weeks ago I decided to try and get off completely.

About a week ago I went down to 2mg for 4 days and I’ve been on 1mg the past 3 days, now I’m thinking about cutting to .5MG the next 3 days and then try and completely get off.

The WD hasn’t been noticeable at all, I tried the past two days to not take anything but eventually caved and took 1MG because I realized it would be far too fast otherwise and I’d have worse WD. Sort of had restless leg a 2 days ago, but slept well last night at 1MG from 4MG about a week and a half ago, and currently am feeling really good, thinking alot more clearly.

Any advice? Thanks ! Wish me luck, so excited to be FREE.

Author: Brown Eyed Girl

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:22 pm

Sure is nice to see you doing so well cstby. I think everyone needs to hear the success stories of others like yourself that are trying so hard to get off the Suboxone and bupe in general. I know I do for sure!

I tried jumping several times from 2mg and had to get right back on it. The symptoms were horrible. I can actually deal and handle with quite a bit of misery, but these symptoms were just too much. I felt totally defeated each time I jumped and had to reesume taking the sub again.

I had no choice but to try and taper lower. Made my very first dose reduction this morning reducing by .063mg from the 2mg. So far it’s been ok. A few small symptoms, but I really think this is such a mental thing and can be overcome with lots of positive thinking. That’s my game plan for now anyway…..tapering by .063mg every 4-7 days and see what happens.

So happy I found this site. Looks like lots of members here with so much knowledge and experience all willing to help such as yourself. I know that lack of sleep can really wreck havoc with your lifestyle and start each day off struggling. My friend suggested to me to take some Melatonin and some Sleepy Time Tea together about half an hour before bedtime. Both are natural supplements and it really did work quite well. I take 2 of the 3mg Melatonin tablets along with the tea and I was able to get 4-6 hours of uninterrupted sleep each night which is actually quite a bit. I could always get to sleep fast, but would wake up every 2 hours all through the night. The Melatonin and Tea made the difference. Might be worth checking out if you are so inclined?

Awesome job getting to day 6 cstby. Keep right on adding up the days. I hope you continue to post your progress. I will keep looking for you to post from now on. You are certainly an inspiration to me. I wish you the very best!

Karen

Author: Brown Eyed Girl

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 6:43 pm

Well I made it through the day after my first reduction from the 2mg dose. Seems I was worried for nothing at this point. Hopefully the rest of the reductions will go as smooth as today has. A couple of bumps, but nothing I can’t handle. Of course I know it can jump up and bite me too at any point along the way. I’m not naive enough to think I may get through this unscaved, but I am also doing my best to remain positive.

I will update again tomorrow at some point when I get a chance. Hope everyone else is doing well in their recovery efforts. Kinda feels like I’m talking to myself here. lol. That’s ok as I will use this thread as my journal to track my progress along the way each day. I will be able to look back and see how far I’ve come anytime I need to do so. Have a great evening everyone.

Karen

Author: AnabeloftheSouth

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:05 pm

THanks Faeked!

Wow, what a rollercoaster you went through! That is very interesting, actually and helpful to know. I have been as careful as I can not to exceed the 1mg per day, though it is hard to know exactly because I suppose there is no way to ever exactly cut the strips perfectly. THere have been a couple times in the beginning, when I dropped to 1mg, where I had a bad day or was in a bad mood and considered taking a little more. But it doesn’t really have much affect for me – I mean not like pills did. Pills were a rollercoaster, just like you described, with running out and doses all over the place. Thankfully, with the suboxone, there isn’t that daily up and down since it seems to last. I am going to be careful not to fall into that pattern, which I think is an addictive behavior – well for me it was- of reaching for the medication everytime I feel stressed or tired or less than ideal….

I So hope you are right this won’t be hard. I am going to give this some thought, and I think I am goign to choose a day. A quitting day soon. I think I may try dropping to .50 for a few days and see how that goes. Then I will pick my day and just stop.

It really is encouraging actually, to hear about your story and that you got off it. I think you must be right about the scary stories and that makes sense. I mean I am hear because I am worried and still in the middle of all this, and can certainly see how once you are done with it, you might just move on… So I really appreciate that you stuck around to help me and others out!

I think I can do this. I am going to choose a day soon and build toward that day! Any advice you have, is most welcome!

Author: metallady

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 7:08 pm

I’m taking 4 mg in the morning. But usually around 6 hours. Later I start feeling crappy. So I’ve been taking another 2 mg in the afternoon. I just started on this 4 days ago. My doctor only gave me enough for 4 mg a day. So tomorrow I’m going to try 2mg in am then 2 mg in pm.he also wants me to take it for 3 months. I’d rather take it shorter period and be done w it. But he said I have a higher chance of relapse

Author: Fiveseven15

Posted: Sun Jul 28, 2013 8:02 pm

i forgot to mention on other thing that never happened before. my appetite is INSATIABLE. when i was on subs i ate one meal a day because i just wasnt ever hungry. but even with the stomach issues i still feel hungry and i think it kinda makes it feel a bit worse. still not very bad though….very manageable.

one thing i want to mention to others getting off subs. dont doubt yourself. not one bit. that .00000001% of doubt WILL take you down. this can be done. its been done before by many others. i told myself this time around im staying off even if it puts me in the ER (i have a pacemaker). ive been telling myself this isnt so bad (compared to methadone especially), and lo and behold, it isnt. i used to psych myself out about WDs, but its gotten to the point i dont give a f*** anymore. im getting off . and staying off. period.

Author: Romeo

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:47 pm

Slipper, I’m with you. I used to take my Suboxone and be done with it in a matter of minutes. Under the tongue it went and after a couple of three minutes it was usually dissolved. I would then wait maybe 1 or 2 more minutes holding the subliva in my mouth then swallow and go on my merry way. Once or twice I tried holding it in longer, but I didn’t notice any differences in how the Suboxone affected me.

Author: suboxdoc

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:58 pm

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Author: suboxdoc

Posted: Fri Jul 26, 2013 10:59 pm

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