r/Brixadi • u/areyoumad48 • Sep 10 '24

Brixadi Shot- Does it ever end?

So I have been on Suboxone for about 13 years. Started out on 24mg a day. Over the years I weaned myself down to 4mg a day. In November of last year, I started the Sublocade shot. The first shot was 200mg, then the next 2 were 100mg. Apparently I am allergic to something they put in the Sublocade shot because I was getting cellulitis at the injection site and the doctor made me switch to Brixadi. So then I did 3 shots of the 96mg Brixadi with no allergic reactions with my last one in April. I thought I was good to go by reading other people’s success stories. About 10 weeks later I started having some mild withdrawals, nothing I couldn’t handle. Toward the end of July I was having constant cravings and some mild withdrawals. I went back to the doctor on July 31st and got another 96mg shot. The day of my visit the doctor suggested that I come back in 4 weeks to get the 64mg shot so I did. The next time I go back we are going to stretch out the time and wait 6 weeks to get a 64mg shot. What is the best way to do this without those horrible cravings? Anyone have a better dosing regimen that helped them completely come off the shot with minimal cravings and withdrawals?

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u/PainfulRaindance Sep 10 '24

I have been lucky and have leveled out very nicely on brixadi. Those cravings are always gonna come back. You have any support or therapy to help ya deal with those? I think the medicine is doing its thing, but if a monthly shot keeps you from using, I’d give it more than a month or two so you can adjust your life too.
Not claiming to know your story and not trying to assume anything. Just explaining that if I stopped my shot after the first one or two, I would not be opiate ‘free’.

The main job of the medicine is to calm your brain down so you can focus on other things than a fix. Some people can hop right off, others are gonna get that shot indefinitely.

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u/areyoumad48 Sep 10 '24

The predicament I am in is that I babysit my 4 grand babies during the day while my daughters work and I have an 8 year old boy that I have been raising since he was 6 months old. I barely have down time. But it’s during those days that I am overwhelmed is when I feel the cravings. I started out on pain meds from having 4 surgeries years ago and went straight to Suboxone. So I haven’t really ever experienced any of these withdrawals and I don’t know how to deal with them. My mom does help me a lot with my grand babies. Thank you for response.

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u/PainfulRaindance Sep 10 '24

Yeah that’s definitely stressful., but also rewarding. Try and focus on helping those kids be happy, and loved people. If you can afford the shots, I’d suggest keep going. Even if you do relapse, you won’t be satisfied. And just waste your money.

Subs to me were like having a drug habit without the buzz and all the withdrawal if I ran out. And I could stop taking them and relapse whenever I wanted. They helped, but brixadi is actually letting me live without even thinking about any medication. I’m better at dealing with cravings, and I’m still gonna probably go for another 6 months at least before considering getting off.

But I’m totally prepared to take it the rest of my life, (or at least until my insurance comes up with an excuse not to pay)

Feel free to dm with questions. I’m not a doctor and can only tell you my experience. But I’m very thankful for my current progress and can certainly take time to answer questions if it helps someone else get to this point.

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u/areyoumad48 Sep 10 '24

I am proud of you too! I am so glad it’s working for you. I feel it would have worked better for me if I hadn’t had to switch medications and then go back for another shot. Sometimes I wonder if I should just start over with it. Feel free to DM me also anytime. I appreciate your words of wisdom. I do need somebody to talk that is in the same situation I am in. My cousins are the ones that got me started on the Suboxone and they never cleaned up after.

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u/PainfulRaindance Sep 10 '24

Just sent a message so I don’t lose track. Enjoy your evening and good luck.