Quit Suboxone

How Hard Is It To Come Off Suboxone?

It is usually easier to come off Suboxone than any other narcotic, including methadone. The reason it is easier is because the withdrawal comes on more gradually, tends not to get as severe, but may be stretched out over a longer period of time. There are occasional exceptions, especially if the patient has been on high dose Suboxone for a longer period of time. Occasionally a patient reports that it was harder to get off Suboxone then methadone. Patients that have the easiest withdrawal from Suboxone follow these guidelines:

1. Reduce the total daily dose by no more than 10 to 25% per step down.
2. Do not make another reduction for at least seven days.
3. And do not make another reduction if you are having any withdrawal, however mild, including the withdrawal symptom of even the mildest cravings.

What Other Medications Help With Narcotic Withdrawal Symptoms?

• Clonidine may significantly reduce withdrawal symptoms of restlessness, tremor, anxiety, and insomnia. It is a nonaddictive, blood pressure medicine. The dosage is usually 0.1 mg every 2 to 8 hours unless you’re getting faintness when you stand up. Because the clonidine only last about six hours, you usually only have to wait about six hours till the faintness is gone before you can take another dose for withdrawal symptoms.
• Benzodiazepines such as Xanax, Klonopin, Valium, Ativan, or Tranxene can help some of the anxiety and trembling. We are quite hesitant in giving these to our patients because of their abuse and dependency risks, especially if the patient has a history of abusing these or similar acting substances such as alcohol, barbiturates, or muscle relaxers like Soma.
• Imodium taken by mouth, two capsules every two hours as needed can help diarrhea. Four doses in 24 hours is the recommended limit.
• Bentyl can be helpful for abdominal cramps by taking a 20 mg dose as often as every six hours.
• Phenergan taken in 12.5 or 25 mg doses as often as every four hours can help nausea.

All these medications should be administered under a physician’s supervision.

If you or someone you love requires help from Suboxone,
contact Dr. Darvin Hege today at 770-458-0007