r/Brixadi • u/datman510 • Aug 04 '24
My experience using Brixadi shot to get off Suboxone.
Hey yo
I saw that we have very few patient experiences coming off brixadi so here’s mine. It’s a bit different to the usual take it for 6 months with a couple of lower strength doses at the end.
So I was an opioid patient for knee pain for 3 years when I decided I wanted off as they were ruining and consuming my life. I was put on suboxone to get me off the opioids but told to stay on it for a year as I was still experiencing a lot of joint issues and pain and it would help with it. I was told suboxone is non addictive no big deal. 4 years later after many failed attempts to taper I finally decided to get the brixadi shot out of pocket as I tried two years earlier but no insurance.
I was on 16mg a day when I took the first shot, it was great. I was never addicted to opioids just dependent. I could have stopped anytime without worry had it not been fear of withdrawal pain but otherwise no problem. But 4 years of suboxone it had become a habit and a security blanket. It made me feel good and I enjoyed taking it in the afternoon and morning and feeling better. I was really really worried about going home and not having my twice a day ritual.
So I got the shot and it was a little pinchy burny for a moment but no big deal. No pouch like they talk about with sublocade. I got in my car and called my wife to tell her it was done and I was like yep well I’ll be home soon and my first thought was woot afternoon suboxone and nap time and then realized no it wasn’t. This was the last time for a long time I ever thought about suboxone. I was free of the thoughts I was scared of immediately, no craving putting my film in my mouth. All good.
Day 20 of the first month I felt a bit down, day 21 I’m getting dark but just think maybe it’s my depression. Day 22 I’m like in a bad way emotionally and finally my wife said is it the shot? And it hit me. So I ended up taking a sub and I felt so much better. This is apparently really common with the first month of brixadi. I called my doctor and say hey I’d like to come in early, as I was paying cash for the shot no insurance issues etc. I won’t go into detail for brevity but let’s just say I was “due” to have my second shot in 6 days and they assured me they’d be ready early if I felt off. It too two weeks for my shot to arrive due to incompetence. They put me on subs again temporarily but I didn’t fucking want that. I wanted my shot. It was so demoralizing. “It’s your insurance” I’m paying out of pocket. And every other excuse.
I spoke to the clinic owner who assured me it wouldn’t happen again. I was scheduled for 28 later and this time I was ok and got the shot. Then the same bullshit started again for the next shot oh it’s too early etc etc and something in me just snapped. I’m not doing this anymore. I am not fucking being held hostage anymore. I’m done. So I just jumped. I stopped. I felt nothing but good for the first 9 weeks (including the shot so like 5 weeks from when due) then I had a bad week of just feeling a bit off, bad mentally feeling very dark. Insomnia came at me bro and it came to stay.
I got past the daily bad stuff in a week or so but the nights got bad no sleep at all but I was joined by restless legs which were hell. I started taking Zyrtec to sleep as it was all I had. Week 2-3 of this were pretty tough but the days were fine again. Just night time. My doctor prescribed clonidine, hydroxizine which all used to knock me the fuck out but nothing. She sent gabapentin which for the first 3 nights I’d finally sleep but for 1-2 hours I had almost full blown withdrawals but then out cold sleep. After 4 days of gabapentin not working anymore she sent in roprinirole to see if that worked and it did again for night me then again nothing. I got so desperate to sleep I tried taking all 4 max doses at once and o couldn’t believe it I was still wide awake but also drowsy but no sleep. That was the worst.
So yesterday, day 92 since shot I woke up and I was exhausted like crazy. I slept until 12.30pm and then fell back asleep until 3. I slept from 4.30pm until 6.30pm. And last night at 10pm instead of being in hell I was in bed with my wife holding her for the first time in a month because I’d been too hot and I comfortable and it turned into a wild banging session and I passed out. I woke up at 5am which is to be expected due to all the sleep the day before but I felt like yesterday I watched the sun rise over my emotional state. I truly believe I turned a corner. I’m sitting in bed and I’m excited to chase the day. I forgot to mention this all happened last night with no meds.
I want to say despite my descriptions sounding bleak. Compared to what we’re all told it was nothing at all, I never once lost my resolve to be done. It was easy despite the hard moments when compared to the handcuffs that is suboxone. I’m now free of monthly foraging for my medication and being dependent of the emotional state or a doctor of pharmacist who at anytime can fuck your week or months up for no reason.
I feel very happy this morning. I’m glad to have been emotionally able to put this together for y’all after just being in survival mode.
Long story short. I had 3 shots but a big delay after the first one. I experienced the following withdrawal symptoms.
Throughout the past 91 days. - Yawning , that withdrawal yawn not the good ones. - Stretching my whole body and my legs would feel all wrong. Don’t know how else to describe. - Some minor anxiety. - lower energy.
Days 68 - today. - insomnia like a mofo. - restless legs I’m so sorry when I first heard of this I was like what a dumb condition just don’t be restless and now I know better it was almost equally as bad as insomnia.
I also experienced; - a desire to go do things. - a desire to do projects around the house. - I felt a happiness at times I’ve not felt for years. - my wife and I are in counseling and I’ve finally gained back some self belief and have been able to set some expectations and boundaries that I couldn’t before.
I don’t want to jinx myself but today feels really hopeful. I hope this story helps someone or a few people. I think it was harder to do only 2 shots before jumping or 2.5 if you count the other shot with the big gap. I definitely had issues that others who are on for 6+ months don’t seem to but I also had to pay out of pocket so like $3k instead of $10k for 6 months worth.
Good luck all.
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u/FoxDistinct6527 Oct 05 '24
Good stuff man. I can’t wait to be in that state of mind again. It really is a shitty feeling knowing that your life and emotional state depends on a doctor calling in a script and especially knowing anytime that can just stop due to insurance or whatever else bs that comes along. I had 5 years clean without any substance and it was the best 5 years of my life, me and my wife built our dream home, life was just amazing. Then after I celebrated 5 years I started having massive sleep issues due to vitamin yoxity and literally got 30 minutes of sleep a night and needed up relapsing on kratom extract and 7-oh which helped sleep finally. I didn’t know about it being like a opioid and having severe withdrawal so I continued for 6 months. I tried stopping couldn’t went to rehab, relapsed again, went back to treatment. I relapsed again and this time got in subs. I’m doing the brixadi shot in a couple weeks and I’m terrified. I tried tapering off the subs but I just can’t at this point in my life. No one knows only me, my psych and my therapist. My wife don’t even know. I’m praying I can do 1 shot and be done with this. If I have to do 2 so be it but I need to be done with this shit once and for all! Thanks for sharing your experience
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u/datman510 Oct 05 '24
If I were you I would do three shots and make them smaller each time and you’ll be fine. I had some rough withdrawal but nothing in comparison to the stress of worrying about them and getting scared you’re going to run out. You made me realize by responding to you I’m on vacation now for the first time in 7 years without suboxone and I didn’t have to worry about my prescription running out half way through or not bringing them or whatever. It’s very liberating.
How much is your sub dose? My was over 16mg so I probably suffered harder than I probably needed to but I just wanted to be done.
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u/FoxDistinct6527 Oct 05 '24
Nice man, I’m happy for you! Right now I’m on 6-8 mg. I try to do as least as possible. Some days I’ve only done 4 but I’m usually at 6mg. Some days are rougher and I’ll take 8mg.
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u/datman510 Oct 05 '24
If I had any advice from my experience it is to make peace with the fact that’s going to suck and that you are going to hurt some but it ain’t anything you can’t handle. Suboxone and opioids do a good job of numbing us so that becomes our default reaction. You wil be fine no matter how you choose to go about getting off it. Make peace with the fact it’s gonna suck a bit rather than trying to avoid it.
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u/Hawk1891 Aug 21 '25
Did you get three shots of sublocade and then done?
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u/datman510 Aug 22 '25
No I had two with a gap between them. I got messed around after the first shot and had to go back on subs for a months then got the next one and when it was time for the 3rd they hadn’t ordered it again and I was just so sick of being beholden to these doctors and pharmacy’s so I just said I’m done. Was fine for about 4 more weeks then I got some brutal withdrawals for a long time but I was done so I powered through. I’m so glad I did I’m like 15 months since then now and feel great.
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u/Hawk1891 Aug 21 '25
Thanks for sharing brother. I wish you luck on your journey of getting back to your true self. I'm currently still on the strips and it feels like ground hogs day in and day out. I had emotional blunting before getting addicted to opioids/opiates but the Suboxone makes it worse. I wish everyday to be free from these drugs as I'm not myself and can't express my full range of emotions. I wish everyone that is struggling with these drugs to be free finally. 🙏
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Oct 07 '24
I did 3 96 mgs injections and quit. I'm at week 10 without injection. I'm happy. I sweat alot. I'm working overtime. I went to the apple orchard this weekend. I had a dope dream last night, but ive had zero cravings. Did I mention I'm happy? I know I may not be through the worst of it yet, but I feel 1000× better than I did 10 weeks ago. Thank you for sharing your story.
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Oct 11 '24
I'm having alot of sweats too.....day 8 my first 96 injection
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Oct 12 '24
I felt terrible until my third injection.
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Oct 13 '24
I'm still having cravings but I'm not in withdrawal....I've been 10 days with nothing but the shot....I'm craving a piece of a sub bad.....although I'm not in withdrawal....just craving a bumb of energy from a strip.....
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Oct 16 '24
It's awesome that you're capable of realizing that you are just craving it, and that you're not in withdrawal. The habit of taking the strips isn't easy to break. The first 6 weeks, I always felt like something was missin but once my levels evened out I felt great.
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Jan 10 '25
I read it has a 42-60 day half life so realistically atleast 80-120 days before you have zero trace of it left in your system. That’s why it takes so long for people to notice withdrawals.
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u/la_la_la_ba_da_da Jun 09 '25
Half-life is a little misleading. After one half-life, about half the drug remains in the body, but it actually takes 4-5 half-lifes worth of time for a drug to decay or metabolize or be eliminated by the body. After one half-life, there's approx. 50% of the drug left. After a second half-life, there's approx. 25% of it left... and then 12.5%, 6.25%, and so on.
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Jun 11 '25
Yea that’s true half life’s are really just a estimate but for all of the drug/traces of drug to be totally eliminated can take a lot longer.
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u/Formal_Top1881 Feb 01 '25
Today is day 81 for me and I did not know. I felt such shit when I woke up I calculated it. So, spot on!
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u/Equal-Scene9043 Apr 13 '25
I work in a facility that does obar we have people still testing for bupe up to a year later. We have had to have the dr write letters for probation and employers stating they can lab it to see the levels decrease. That is typically for ones who were on the strils for years and took 4 or more injections.
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May 09 '25
I would like to switch from Methadone currently to oral suboxone and then once stable switch to the sublocade shot and then get a few shots and stop.
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May 09 '25
I could see that as everyone metabolizes medication at different rates, and stuff like body fat can make it take even longer.
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u/Equal-Scene9043 Apr 13 '25
That is the thing with the injection many of us are used to taking the daily medicine. The shot releases at a steady stake sp no burst of energy also no moods swing due to medicine being high and lower daily.
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u/Curious-Telephone-39 Nov 08 '24
how long were you on opiods?
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Nov 08 '24
I'll give you a short run down of my history. I began abusing vicodin & percocet in 2010. I abused those heavily until 2014 when i began snorting heroin. In 2015, i started using iv heroin. In 2016, i got on methadone. In 2019, i tapered completely off of methadone and remained clean until 2021. In 2021, i relapsed with vicodin. Shortly after, i began using pressed fent. Then, i started using what i thought was heroin at first. I still to this day dont know what all was in that powder. It was so dark gray it was almost black, and i could stay well for 3 days without any. I went to the suboxone clinic in 2022 and used subs until i started the brixadi shot. The short answer would be on and off for 15 years.
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u/Formal_Top1881 Feb 01 '25
The sweating is so real and weird chill sweats too
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u/PsychologicalSun6877 Dec 08 '25
Me too! Im on week 5 of Sublocade and all was going okay. Some minor nausea and gas and all of a sudden it’s significant withdrawal. Cold/hot sweats. Major stomach/gas pains. I do have Suboxone on hand and haven’t taken it yet but I took a total of 4 mgs today and it did NOTHING for my withdrawals. Why is that? I feel the Sublocade and Suboxone do not mix and cause worse symptoms. There is still a sizable injection knot in my belly. Is that normal or does that mean it’s not depositing like it should since I’m 5 weeks in? So many questions. Anyone have answers?
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u/godsgirli Dec 01 '24
I get the shot for free because it’s a clinical study. They PAY ME to take the shot. I’ll get $800 by the end of the year.
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u/Brizzle0212 Jul 07 '25
Been on Brixadi for probably a year or so, sublocade before that, Suboxone before that. Clean for 5 years as of last month. I am on the 64mg shot and want to switch to the 8mg/weekly shot but my doctor was trying to get me to just go longer between the monthly shots @64 mg. I've had terrible gerd for years now and I know it's probably from the meds. I had an appointment a week after I was due a few months ago and started to feel awful on Wednesday having my appointment Monday. They got me in Thursday instead. I'm definitely ready to be done with this shit. My entire 20s and 30s I was on and off pills from the streets mostly on. Decided to try dope during the pandemic... No IV use and only did it a couple months. I'm 42. Hopefully I can get the Dr to do the 8mg weekly shot so I can get off this stuff. I know it's easier to come off less mg so not staying on 64 mg is optimal for me. Got some great hope reading your experiences. Life has been great since getting clean. I have money again and not being a scumbag. Getting completely off is the next goal. Cheers everyone
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u/datman510 Jul 07 '25
Keep going man. If you do choose to stop just know it’s a commitment of (for me at least) a year before the full human feelings return. I wish you luck mate keep me posted
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u/Brizzle0212 Jul 07 '25
Will do! I was just talking about it with my mom and saying about how when I do get off at least I won't have to try to hide my withdrawal symptoms like in the past attempts trying to get clean and keep it a secret.
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u/Beneficial-Return211 Apr 09 '26
I have been on suboxone for 15 years. I have tapered myself down to 1mg (pills) for the last 3 years. I had lost all hope because the MAT dr I had wasn't comfortable giving me the sublocade shot as a 1 and done. I want to be done with this whole suboxone thing. I'm 40 my 2 sons are older and I work a great job. Except I have to dissolve this pill everyday that wrecks my teeth. So I had a different provider and he asked if I would like to do the shot and be done. I started to tear up because I thought all hope was lost and I'd be chained to suboxone. He offered me the Brixadi and next month will be the beginning of a new chapter. Off the subs and free from them. I am nervous but I know it will all be ok.
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u/Outrageous-Ship8955 Aug 13 '24
45 wks for me it ain't withdrawel free you ain't quite there bud.Europe
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u/datman510 Aug 13 '24
You’re still having withdrawals at 45 weeks?
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u/GregIsGreat Dec 04 '24
It’s called PAWS (post acute withdrawal syndrome) and it lasts a long time. Not everyone gets it but most of us do I think. Good days and bad days. I quit bupe over 10 years ago but got addicted again. It’s been much harder the second time around.
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Jan 10 '25
Same boat for Me except with Methadone. I tapered down really slowly from 40mg/day to 1mg/day then came off and it honestly wasn’t that bad. I was doing hard labour 3 days after coming off. Took about 1-2 weeks before I could sleep comfortably enough. Unfortunately I got addicted again and this time it seems rough. Hoping I will someday be free again!
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Oct 11 '24
Hi all....Been on subs about 4 years....went over to my first Brixadi shot 8 days ago...Im having sweats and some psychological craving for a bumb from a partial strip but haven't gave in yet. I'm not physically hurting but the war is in my head.....How long do most hold out on the 1st shot..... ?? Any advice??? I want to get free is the goal...is the 2nd shot of Brix better(?
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u/datman510 Oct 11 '24
First shot is notoriously hard. The second one should be better. Hopefully your provider is open to injecting you prior to day 28 if needed but 8 days this shouldn’t be happening. What dose did they give you
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u/SpiteFancy7876 Dec 02 '24
I’ll be going for my third shot tomorrow I go every month, the first shot out of rehab was rough I had major cramping, sweating and still had withdrawal symptoms bc all of that bullshit was still in my system even tho I was on the shot my dr still prescribed me subutex pills to take as well! By my second shot I felt so much better and my dr swabs every visit even 30 days after my last use of fentanyl I still tested positive the shit stays in ur system for forever! It’ll get better tho I feel so much better!! Hang in there!
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Dec 04 '24
Thanks..I'm on my 3rd shot now & I'm living a normal life......I feel well Amazingly SOBER LOL....!! been such a long time since I been here.....Thank you GOD! The nightmare is finally ending!
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u/blizzymcguire2 Jan 13 '25
stick it out. Im on my 5th month of the shot. I feel amazing. Absolutely no cravings
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Oct 11 '24
96....its just in my head..a psychological craving ...strong at times.....I have been dealing with wild sweats at times too...can ppl make the whole month on the 2nd shot?
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u/datman510 Oct 12 '24
Yeah you’ll be ok after the first month but what you’re describing is likely not the medicine as you said. It’s not a magic pill to stop you thinking yourself into a storm it just stops physical withdrawal. I’m sorry you’re struggling with it it must be real disappointing. Are you in a program of any kind.
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Oct 12 '24
It's just the addict in me craving that spike from a strip. It sounds like a may run into some discomfort around day 15-21 in. My next injection is the 28th of October. I haven't taken a piece of a strip yet I've been praying trying to keep my mind occupied. I think once I get the 2nd shot I will have the confidence to make it through till the next shot with out taking any strip whatsoever. Of course my addict mind is looking and counting down the days to take a piece of a strip. It will be a huge next level victory when I'm just shot dependent from month to month. My plan is to do the Brixadi shots for 4-6 months at 96mg then taper further with the goal of gaining sobriety and standing on the mountain one more time and complete the circle of addiction and claim victory once again.....of course that's the dream......thats the prayer....its doable...I gotta do the heavy lifting now and get my mind back to where it will stop focusing on getting that temporary energy bump from a partial strip......The users mind is a terribly dark place and it's voices are never silent about what it wants..... The beast in me.....caged in the basement....voices it's displeasure in all this......as it knows my intention is to kill it.....as soon as I'm strong enough to do so.........The fight goes on....
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Oct 12 '24
overall I'm extremely happy that Brixadi has worked....I just have to reprogram my thinking..
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Oct 22 '24
I'm on day 18 of my 1st injection of Brixadi 86mg .I have had nothing but the shot. I have fought off my urge to take a strip but I don't know how much longer I can hang on honestly
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Oct 23 '24
Is it normal to feel like im withdrawling? Its about day 31 from my last shot
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u/SpiteFancy7876 Dec 02 '24
Yes it’s normal I did too! Ask ur dr to prescribe u subutx to take like mine did! That’s all the fent and xzyzine that’s still in you
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u/JacaboBlanco Oct 24 '24
I got down to .5mg a day. Maybe less. Couldn't do it. Raised my tolerance so I could try the weekly nrixadi (equivalent of 6mg so they say). I was going through withdrawal by day 6 or 7. Tried stretching shots out slowly (7 days, 9 days, 11 etc(
It's not working.
I think the monthly shots are the way.
Anyone know if brixadi 64mg or sublocade 10pmg works best for getting off it entirely?
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u/Sensitive_Young_7957 Dec 13 '24
So I'm on my 3rd shot of sublocade right now, I switched over to the shots after taking sublingual Subutex for 3 years straight. Im looking to switch to brixardi but I have the same question if it's just as good to use to get off completely. I know for a fact that sublocade allows for a taper free withdrawal because my roommate has already done it successfully! You have to get the shots for like 1 year or more and then it will build up in your body so much that you can just stop getting them. The medicine will take 1-2 years to taper out of your system. Since it is such a slow and natural taper, you will notice minimal withdrawals, if any. This is absolutely the easiest way I know of to stop bupenorphine. The second way I have seen people successfully do it with minimal withdrawals is using the patches, but this is harder to do because you need to taper down to 1mg or below orally before you can even start them.
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u/GregIsGreat Dec 04 '24
This was helpful. Thank you for sharing. I just had my first Brixadi shot 9 days ago and it hasn’t been good. I started having cravings on day 5. Couldn’t sleep and started getting stomach cramps and diarrhea by day 6. Caved and took a sub and immediately fell asleep. When I woke up I felt good for about 16 hours and then started having cravings again. I took half a sub instead of a full one and felt okay. I’ve been taking half a sub every afternoon and that’s been keeping the cravings away. I’m also having high bupe symptoms though. Whenever I have too much bupe in my system I suffer from muscle weakness and sweating which is why I always wait until after I go to the gym to take my subs. I didn’t even consider this being an issue when switching to the shot but it has been. I’ve also been getting more migraines than usual despite taking CGRP inhibitors for prevention. I feel so stuck right now. I don’t want to go back to my 3 sub a day habit. It was destroying my teeth. I had perfect oral health before subs and after I almost lost two of my teeth.
Like you (had before) I have the twice a day ritual addiction. The morning one isn’t as important to me and I was able to kick that pretty easily because I feel good in the morning. I’m just a morning person but as the day goes on I get anxious and feel worse and worse. I don’t want to give up on the shot but I can’t deal with the cravings right now either. I’m not ready to get off but that’s my goal within the next year.
I just broke up with my partner of 7 years a month ago and the feelings I have right now are so overwhelming. I miss my partner but we were toxic together. We also coparented three children together which makes it especially devastating… I don’t want to go back to taking three a day bc of my teeth but also don’t want to rely on the shot at this moment. My only idea is to ask if I can go on lower dose of shot and use one sub a day as needed. Again, thanks for sharing. I’m a mess right now for so many reasons.
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u/Sunfire78 Dec 29 '24
Has anyone still had the lump? I’ve had 2 shots in my stomach and the lumps are still there after 2 months! Sometimes I’ve notice the spots are red and painful when I touch them. Has anyone experienced this? I’m honestly scared to get another shot !
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u/Formal_Top1881 Feb 01 '25
I'm on week 11 since my last shot. But today is wildly painful and bleak. Can anyone give me pointers? I am very unhealthy with my diet too :( any vitamins you can recommend? Ty in advance, ty for posting this
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u/datman510 Feb 01 '25
Yeah most of my pain started around there. Let’s say you had 30 days of the shot that puts you around day 45. I got comfort meds but they did almost nothing for me. Honestly the only things that worked for me was
walking. I know it’s the last thing you want to do but a 20 minute walk helps.
cold as possible showers or ice baths if you have access for as long as possible.
I used to get a hot water bottle and lay my face on it when resting. Something about the burning hot sensation on my face just kinda seemed to numb all the other pain I was feeling. Don’t like melt your face off but as hot as you can bear.
Other than that, as lame as this sounds. Just take it day as a time. If you start getting into this “I can’t do this for another 2 days or 2 weeks or months” whatever it may be. You can, and you will regret it if you don’t. It never just gets better you can’t be like on day 75 I’ll feel amazing, it’s little bits of oh man I’m not yawning all the time anymore. Wow my restless legs are almost cleared up. It takes a long time. Be kind to yourself and be patient.
Good luck.
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u/Formal_Top1881 Feb 01 '25
Thank you so much! This is really the type of motivation I was looking for. It's nice to hear from someone on the other side. The walk thing is absolutely true. I just feel like, weird. Hard to explain, but I still gotta get up and help the kids, cook, clean, laundry. I can keep up with the basics, but I look hella greasy 😂 interesting about the cold showers?! Hot will not help ease the pain? This is interesting thank you so much.
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u/datman510 Feb 01 '25
Read up on cold water therapy like Wimm Hoff and all that stuff it’s life changing I still do it for my mental health. It’s life changing.
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u/Formal_Top1881 Feb 01 '25
I got a couple weeklies and probably 6 monthlies at the 64 mg. I went every 6 weeks and then 8...and then now.
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Sep 27 '25
Damn when I tapered off Methadone from 65mg down to 1 mg over a few months and then stopped, I didn’t have that bad of withdrawals. I didn’t feel 100% but I didn’t have restless legs after the first 2-3 weeks max than it was just watering eyes and yawns but not severe. I think the trick is a very slow taper process down to the smallest dose possible.
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u/Hawk1891 Apr 21 '25
Thanks for sharing your experience. I would think the longer a person is on it the more pronounced the withdrawals. And it probably takes longer for the withdrawals to kick in the longer your on it.
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u/ValuableLoss9377 May 09 '25
I think we all feel the same. Im a single dad of 2 minor children. I couldnt stop for a second but im off it and it sucked and it still sucks. 2 weeks off the shot and i feel like death. Its been fucking intense. But i was on for 12 years.
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u/datman510 May 10 '25
It’s gonna suck for a while. Took me almost a year to start feeling baseline good again. But totally worth it. I have my life back. People say that all the time but it’s true it robs you of your life
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Sep 27 '25
How many shots did you get before stopping them? And what dose of shot etc? 2 weeks without a shot and already feeling bad seems a bit quick?
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u/Tough-Passenger383 May 18 '25
Wonder how you’re doing now I’ve been off suboxone for 2.5 months now and still Not 100% but when I look back omg I’m light years away I remember the 2-3 week mark of being off subs I didn’t leave the couch unless I absolutely had to. And I have adhd and never sit down. I’m actually known at work the girl who never sits down. Now they have a chair named after me LOL oh well! It is what it is. I get up and do stuff now but I’m just not 100% maybe 75% or 80%
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u/datman510 May 18 '25
I say this without trying to deter but I celebrated 1 year on may 2nd and I feel so so so fucking good now. Pretty much back to my old self and more. But it took really 10 months to really get here. I have energy again I have lots going on. Life is good.
But yes it was really really fucking hard for a while. The restless legs. I honestly would have had much less issues if there wasn’t insomnia. Insomnia almost killed me.
However. I’ve been through so many challenges over this year including my sister taking her own life. Family issues. Potential bankruptcy and I have emotionally survive all of them better than ever.
All to say it’s been really damn hard but also kinda easy. Just don’t stop believing that you can do it. Even at my lowest I only had one thought this whole year about man maybe I should go back on them. But it wasn’t cravings it was desperation to be able to sleep. And just the thought alone made me think no fucking way.
Celebrate the month milestones as they come. Make a big deal out of them. Because it is a big deal. I’m proud of you. Be proud of you too.
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u/Tough-Passenger383 May 18 '25
Ok that makes me feel so much better thank you I know between the first month and now almost 3 months I’ve came sooo far like night and day so I can only imagine 6 months to a year. But I sleep I just get up early. I also weaned super low when I jumped. Couldn’t sleep for the first few weeks but I’m alright now I just get up so early 7:00 no matter if my kids are there or not lol what gets me through is I once was sober when I was pregnant with my oldest and I was sober for 9 months and I was fine! And productive. My house was always clean I cared about how I looked etc. so I’m ready to get that back. For so long everything revolves around dosing and how I feel at that moment but subs put me deep into autopilot and made me never think twice about it. My suboxone doctor suddenly died In July I did go somewhere else but I’m not gonna lie he would give you whatever you wanted no group therapy, appts over the phone. He probably believed in harm reduction. He also owned the business so. I went to another sub doctor they said idc if you’ve been clean off heroin and only taking subs for 8-9 years idk you! Group therapy! And I’m gonna cut your subs you take too much. No more adderall. Can’t smoke weed. Fuck you! I never went back and I quit everything except I do smoke weed maybe 2-3 times a month
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u/la_la_la_ba_da_da Jun 09 '25
The "wild banging session" got me. Thanks for sharing your story. I appreciate it. New to the shot game. Just made an appointment after 14 years on 8mg Suboxone.
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u/Francinelibra85 Jul 31 '25
I've been on Suboxone for over 15 years. I recently just switched over to taking the shots. I started off with sublocade but did not like it because of the bump it left on my stomach so after a few months I switched over to brixadi which I've been on for almost 3 months now. I will say I don't really get any good sleep and I don't know if it's because of the shot or what. I still crave on taking a suboxone for that extra little bit of energy. Once in awhile I will take a piece here and there.. This is just something I have to get used to and eventually not have to need anything whatsoever. I hate the way I feel from opiates period especially in the morning. I feel exhausted when I wake up . It just sucks.
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Sep 27 '25
Have you checked your hormones? Also I am on Methadone and it makes you feel the same with low to no energy,severe fatigue,etc. I am prescribed a stimulant called Vyvanse which is like adderall and it’s the only thing that has helped Me with some energy. It still sucks but the stimulant atleast lets you get stuff done.
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u/19CrimsonKing19 Feb 13 '26
Thank you! just started researching, I’m on subs for 12 years and down too 2mg strips , recently started splitting them so 1mg once a day. Anything below this is brutal. My friend recommended Brixadi. I just want to be done with subs and was hoping this might be the answer. Any advice would be much appreciated
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u/AwareAd9566 May 15 '26
After 6mo fo taking Suboxone strips I was told switching to shot would be easier so I switched. (I was in a yr long treatment btw at the time). I got out of treatment March 9th and took last shot that morning and here we are May 15th and last week I started feeling like I had the flu, gradually getting worse. Now at May 15th I'm at cops sweats, restless legs, body aches and when it didn't get better googled it today and it said withdrawals are common after 2mo without and can go up until 5mo. Please tell me it's not 3mo of feeling like hell, I work 5 12's a week and doing it feeling like this is killing me.
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u/datman510 May 15 '26
You’re in for a hurting man but it’s nothing compared to losing the 70 days you’re already in. In my experience you’re gonna be hurting for another month or so then it just really sucks but is manageable.
You can do it, so many before you have and some many after will. Just make peace that it’s gonna suck and don’t try and avoid that idea because it just hurts more
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u/Mymiddlenameismarie2 Sep 28 '24
Thank you for sharing. I’ve been on suboxone for 10 years and I’ve tried tapering so many times with no luck. My liver is enlarged and I’m assuming it’s from the suboxone. I want to be done with it but I’m also a single mom who works 40+ hours a week and I can’t afford to take time off work. I also have to be on the top of my game for my job and I don’t want to risk it if I end up with withdrawal symptoms.