suboxone and nursing (why are others so negative about this medication)

Nurses Recovery

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I looked to see if there was already a thread on this subject. And I saw no recent ones so I thought I would start another one. I have been on Suboxone for almost 4 years without a single relapse. I have been fortunate to get my career as a nurse back thanks to Suboxne. unfortunately there is a stigma attached to it. Some people believe or should I say are lead to believe that it is as strong as heroin and it is a drug for getting a intense high. people believe what they hear when in fact you really can not even get high off of it. even if you try.I guess the first couple days when you start you may get a slight euphoric feeling but after that you only get this feeling of clarity. I think it is a shame people who have never been on it spread things like that. It could help a lot more individuals if people trusted it more. there is a website where you can get a lot of information and it has a forum where you can other individuals input. I know suboxone has helped me to get my life back and instead of thinking where will my next pill come from I can concentrate on other things.such as my family friends and career.

I just want to add I have NEVER had the urge to take my old pain meds while on Suboxone. There was never a fear of relapse.

I think this is the thing that a lot of people miss about Suboxone treatment. Yes, you are trading one addiction for another. No doubt about it. I also agree you are not fully recovered until you are off Sub.

But this medicine allows you to live with a little dignity. You stop feeling like an addict, you can get your life together, and then you deal with getting off the Suboxone.

So many addicts can't even get to the first step. They never get that initial clarity that allows them to decide to make a real change. It's a pretty important step.

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Specializes in geriatric.

Ftoll24;

I here yout having trouble getting off your last mg. why dont you try tapering slowly maybe .75 mg for a month then .5 mg then .25 or even two months. i think the people who have problems are just stopping 1mg to quickly. good luck.and congradulations on your continued successful recovery. and if your life is managable and you are not using more then the perscribed amount you truly are in recovery!~

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Specializes in Education, FP, LNC, Forensics, ED, OB.
Ftoll24;

I here yout having trouble getting off your last mg. why dont you try tapering slowly maybe .75 mg for a month then .5 mg then .25 or even two months. i think the people who have problems are just stopping 1mg to quickly. good luck.and congradulations on your continued successful recovery. and if your life is managable and you are not using more then the perscribed amount you truly are in recovery!~

Please do not offer medical advice about how to "taper" and/or "stop" medications. This advice should only come from the healthcare provider.

Thank you.

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I used Suboxone as a 4 month wean. It did honestly cloud my head, but able to continue with job (only took 1 wk off) and no major issues- just fatigue. It worked, I weaned from 16mg to nothing in 4 months with a little anxiety coming off. Now I'm 100% sober in AA- coming up on a year on nothing, still at same job. For me, it was a bridge to sobriety, but I can't speak for anyone else.

In my state (PA) there is nothing with the board about Suboxone, no case law that I'm aware of yet, my MD did some research for me prior to starting. God bless, whatever works-gets you another day.

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Ftoll24;

I here yout having trouble getting off your last mg. why dont you try tapering slowly maybe .75 mg for a month then .5 mg then .25 or even two months. i think the people who have problems are just stopping 1mg to quickly. good luck.and congradulations on your continued successful recovery. and if your life is managable and you are not using more then the perscribed amount you truly are in recovery!~

This is the exact advice my doc gave me but after 4 years of being on 1 mg of Sub I think I have FINALLY committed to quitting and listening to other people who HAVE BEEN THERE.

And you are right, last weekend I tried to go from 1 mg to nothing and by hour 44 I was going out of my mind.

I start nursing school in 4 months and my goal is to be symptom-free in 2 months. So every 4 days I'm reducing by .1 mg. I'm starting today at .7 mg.

At .1mg every 4 days, how bad would you expect the symptoms to be?

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Specializes in Nephrology, Cardiology, ER, ICU.

Sorry but this is passing to medical advice. Closing this thread as we can and should not provide this.

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