Zengirl: trying to find a starting place...

[Zengirl]

I don't know if everyone is able to see/ read my intro & history...I don't want to repeat it all..?

Anyway, I've been on various cocktails of psychotropics for 15 yrs now, along with an opiate replacement drug, Suboxone, for a 10+ year opiate addiction which, temporarily killed the pain of childhood trauma & rape, but eventually stopped working as these self-medicating techniques always do. I have been diagnosed with Major Depression, Anxiety, Panic Disorder, OCD, & PTSD. Currently I am taking 40 mg of Prozac, 150mg of Lamictal, 50mg of Trazadone, & 2 mg of Suboxone. (Down from my starting dose of 16mg daily 3 yrs ago). The Suboxone w/d can be rougher than heroin or methadone...especially going from the small doses like from 2mg to completely off. I'm terrified of becoming non-functional & slipping back into those extreme states of despair, terror & mind-numbing panic. Common sense tells me I should first get off the opiate replacement then start to tackle the psych mess, but I don't know? Right now I simply feel terrified to begin a taper as I don't know how or what to start with. Has anyone here had a similar situation or have any thoughts on how/where to begin my journey? I am fully aware that this process may take a long time but I SO want my mind & body back and to be able to live a whole and healthy life without Having to rely on drugs and without living in such extreme & constant terror of my own mind & emotions. Thank you all for being here!

[elizabeth11]

Welcome! You've come to a great site.

 

Others with experience will shortly chime in with their great advice. I alas don't have the experience or I'd offer suggestions. I noticed you are living in Alaska. It is a beautiful place to be working on being able to enjoy yourself and what is going on around you without the fog of these medicines.

[Barbarannamated]

Hi Zengirl. Love the name.

 

I'm sorry you've been through so much. Every situation is so different and people respond differently to each drug and withdrawal. That said, I was on opiates for about 8 years for a neck injury and chronic pain. Always supervised by conservative anesthesia- pain management doc. When I told him I wanted to get off of the oxycodone, he prescribed Suboxone which I took prn (1-2 tabs/week to start). It controlled the pain and I had no withdrawal from the oxycodone (immediate release, not extended Oxycontin) which I had weaned myself down to 1 tab/day (can't recall dosage). I used acupuncture and chiro to control pain and used less and less Suboxone from 2008 until Sept. of 2011 when I ran out. I was taking 1/2 of a 2 mg tab prn or half of the sublingual films. I was in the midst of Pristiq protracted withdrawal and honestly didn't notice any specific symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal. I wasn't using it regularly or per prescribing instructions, but I wanted to share my experience with you. I had been so freaked out by 'opiate addiction' and anticipated the worst, but it didn't happen. I never heard about Suboxone withdraeal but I also didn't research it. Psychiatrists told me that opiate withdrawal would be terrible but never warned me of SS/NRI withdrawal.

Have you tried to taper Suboxone and, if so, what type of reaction did you have? What dose are you currently on? It is the nastiest tasting stuff!

 

One of the admins will advise on taper strategy. I just wanted to welcome you and let you know that, in my personal experience, opiate/Suboxone withdrawal was very straightforward and far less troublesome than I anticipated or was warned.

[Zengirl]

Hi Elizabeth & Barbara,

Thanks so much for the warm welcome. gold star: I began the Suboxone at 16mg and slowly, after a period of 3 yrs. have gotten down to 2mg per day. I tried going to 2mg every other day about a month ago but had the worst restless legs, insomnia and anxiety that i stopped and went back to every day. I think I need to cut by smaller amts but the tabs only come in 2mg (the smallest)....I think I might have scared myself too much by what I've read/heard and having experienced severe opiate w/d's before really petrified me. I guess I need to do small little decreases?? Also, have no idea how it's interacting with my other psych drugs although my Psychiatrist is also my Addiction Medicine doc. Thanks again! Look forward to being a part of this place!

 

Zen

[Altostrata]

Hello, Zengirl, welcome. Thank you for introducing yourself and your situation.

 

(The history you entered when you registered is private, only the admin staff can see it.)

 

Are you having any adverse effects from the Suboxone? Are you having any adverse effects from your drug combo?

 

Because of what happens when you withdraw from antidepressants, we suggest Taking multiple psych drugs? Taper the antidepressant first!

 

In your case, that would be Prozac.

[Barbarannamated]

Zen,

My experience is not typical in that I never used the full 16mg of Suboxone. Generally, every other day dosing is not recommended for tapering any drug although many docs will advise that. I had restless legs and terrible anxiety/early morning panic from Pristiq withdrawal. Does your psychiatrist have an opinion or plan for SSRI or other taper?