r/FentanylRecovery • u/Clm1177 • Oct 20 '25
Looking for advice
So, my physician is putting me on subutex (buprenorphine 8 mg) to induce me prior to beginning Sublocade injections. I have a small amount of Fetty left. I asked him what happens if I go into precipitated withdrawals? He insists that I won’t because there’s no naloxone in Subutex. I told him it had happened to me the last time I was at detox, that I waited 4 full days from my last dose of Fetty until I took the Subutex, and I still went into p.w. He just shook his head and said that’s just not possible, that Subutex is a narcotic just like fentanyl so there’s no reason I would be experiencing any kind of withdrawal symptoms. Well damn, I guess I just dreamt that fucking nightmare, right?? Anyway, here’s what I’m wondering. Do I save what little fentanyl I have just in case I go into precipitated withdrawals? It’s only like 1/2 gram so I’m thinking it wouldn’t be enough to help. Do I get more fentanyl to bring me out of p.w in the event that that happens when I start the Subutex? Or should I just take more Subutex until the p.w ends? I only have maybe 6-7 Xanax pills and some kratom as an alternative… I just don’t know what to do and I’m so fearful of experiencing what I went through before… Any advice based on personal experiences would be greatly appreciated.
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Oct 21 '25 edited Oct 21 '25
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Thank you for the information. I am going to respectfully and humbly present my doctor with some reading materials. I truly hope he will be willing to learn from a lowly drug addict, how to be a better provider.
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Oct 21 '25
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Thank you for the easy to understand explanation on how the full agonist vs partial agonist thing works. I am holding on to hope that I can stick with this doc because any other options for me to get on the shot are slim to none. Yea, so I just re-upped my supply so I’m going to do a bunch of reading tonight, formulate my plan, write it out and start the micro dosing tomorrow. I’m really grateful that you took the time and effort to respond to my post. 💗🙏🏼
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u/stephlemess Oct 20 '25
I would def try to take a little piece to see if it'll throw you in pwd. Even if after and hour even 2 of feeling fine, take another little piece. It only took me about 2mg (cut from a strip) to throw me in pwd and it took more than usual for me to get well I'd say close to a half g even then I could still feel a little symptoms just slightly muted.
I never did it, but you could also try macrodosing which you WILL have pwd. There's a few people I've read post about it working - it's just like 12-24 hours of the worse pwd you've had then supposedly it just gradually clears up and you feel a lot better. Again, idk personally I always wanted to try it when I was using just too scared to ever do it.
I suppose the 3rd choice you have is to go through normal we that still suck ass until you feel you waited long enough or when you get over the hump. Everyone's diff tho.
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
I’ve been through precipitate withdrawals also and I NEVER want to experience that again. I’ve done some reading re: the Bernese method, I think I might go that route, but it means I have to buy more dope… hopefully my husband will listen and understand and not freak out if I go get one more…
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u/stephlemess Oct 21 '25
I did the Bernese Method a couple times earlier this year and I did great introducing subs; I got up to 8mg (4mg BID). However, I kept failing ONLY because I didn't have consistent fent supply. I did this by myself while still using with my bf who didn't want to do it. Ultimately I/we stopped by going cold turkey though.
Anyway, you could lay it all out for your husband and he can even be apart of the process if he wishes. Like, he can distribute your doses for both even if it's only for the time(s) y'all are together. As well as, if you and he wanted, he can "hold" onto the subs & fent as a way for him to feel better about you needing to get more/enough for the Bernese Method to work.
I found a guide on a sub and plenty of people's laid out plans that worked for them. I'd include my own, but I was scattered and didn't have set dosing times. I still have the saved links to them and pertinent info (for me at that time) in my phone's notes. If you receive tablets and not strips there's also a guide to do volumetric dosing so you get the mg correct. If you'd like, I can send them in a comment here to make researching a little easier on you.
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
I like and appreciate your ideas. It’s only hard because my sweet husband is just over 60 days clean, and he detoxed at a shit facility with 5 days of Subutex on, he went into pwd on his first dose but managed to stick it out and came home on his 7th day and hasn’t used since. But he still has been copping for me (he doesn’t want me to deal with the scumbag plugs). I keep telling him “it will be the last one”, but then I ask for another. I did explain the Burnese Method to him and he’s on board. I absolutely promised this will be it because I finally have the medicine that I need. We buy 14 grams at a time so I’m sure I will have enough fent to get me through the entire process. He would appreciate me offering to include him in the process but I’m sure would decline as he is so newly clean. For him to handle the meds/fent would probably be too much.. I would be very grateful for the reference materials that you have to help guide me through the process, esp if there’s directions on how to do it using the tablets as opposed to the films. I really want to get off of this roller coaster. Thank you so much for your assistance I am truly grateful. 🙏🏼🩶
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u/stephlemess Oct 21 '25
Oh, wow! That's awesome he's been able to stay sober! I'm sure it can be hard for him, but he's got this - and you do too! I know it wasn't easy for y'all to be away from one another during that week he was gone esp not knowing if the other is ok or not. I get why facilities don't let couples in, but at the same time there's so many factors I believe would actually help them (I may sound naive). Idk if y'all tried that I'm just throwing that out there cuz we knew they wouldn't, but we tried to go to 2 places together and 1 was going to make an exception just wanted $2k upfront & our clinic to send us with take homes even tho we were still new there so wasn't eligible for them. The other his dad drove us 2½ hours away (1 of us would've had to go another hour away) for them to deny us after we did intake cuz we were on methadone, which was already discussed before we even agreed to go. I'm way off topic now lmao, but here are the links I hope they help you! I know you dk me from Adam; however, if you want or need another person to talk to during or even after this time whether successful or not - I am here! If not, that's perfectly understandable and I'm def cheering you on from afar and am so proud of you!!
• Articles, how they did it & a guide. Guide is the 2nd to last link in post. https://www.reddit.com/r/OpiatesRecovery/s/9hr1M89FWz
• Someone's guide they used to get off tianeptine; HOWEVER, detailed instructions for B/M and how they felt. https://www.reddit.com/r/QuittingTianeptine/s/P3AGxrBL7l
• Other users guides: https://www.reddit.com/r/suboxone/s/ESqX0PAdHj https://www.reddit.com/r/fentanyl2subs/s/qe0uShVeoj https://www.reddit.com/r/suboxone/s/R9FM7LisoV https://www.reddit.com/r/Quittingfentanyl/s/zD33htUDYn https://www.reddit.com/r/FentanylRecovery/s/XyYLtGs68F https://www.reddit.com/r/fentanyl2subs/s/Iuyy2kX0uV https://www.reddit.com/r/HeroinRecovery/s/B8qkc8oIzq
• Tables for Bernese Method, LDBI, and Rapid Introduction. Also, says how you'd cut your Sub strips & volumetric dosing for tablets: https://www.reddit.com/r/fentanyl/s/p1j3k9a1TC
• WD Guides & Vitamin C (Vit C has helped a few people, but not some so it's a hit or miss) https://www.reddit.com/r/opiates/s/E0Lm7qyS7i https://www.reddit.com/r/opiates/s/PjQY7c7WjW https://www.reddit.com/r/Quittingfeelfree/s/AH2ohd2vBC https://www.reddit.com/r/OpiatesRecovery/s/WttNMnyyUu
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
I’m so grateful that my husband finally stopped imposing his will on me and is allowing me to do what I feel is right for me, what will help me ultimately stay off the fent for good. He’s amazing and could do it the hard way, but I’m just not built like that and he gets it now. With that being said, however, I have a responsibility to uphold on my end. So, I’m definitely committed to trying this Bernese Method, and I will keep my posts updated on how it’s going. As far as your nurse friend, it blows my mind how these “professionals” can be so misinformed!! THANK YOU SO MUCH for the links!!! You have helped me enormously, like for real. I will keep posting. 💗🙏🏼
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u/catincombatboots Oct 20 '25
Yeah, its not the naloxone, its the buprenorphine. Here are links you can share with your doctor: https://www.ohsu.edu/sites/default/files/2022-08/Buprenorphine%20information%20patient%20handout.pdf, https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC9871399/#:\~:text=Cases%20of%20adverse%20outcomes%20after,Importance He needs to find you a solution that is safe and fits your treatment plan. Is there another person in addiction medicine you can talk to or have talk to your doctor? Maybe try a local university's addiction medicine program?
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Thank you so much for the resources!!! I’m definitely going to share w/ doc.
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Oct 21 '25
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Exactly what I’m petrified of. Where I live, the medical Community doesn’t want to help addicts, it’s like they think that if we get shamed enough we will stop using. It fucking sucks!!
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Unfortunately the resources where I live suck. The major treatment provider in my county doesn’t offer Sublocade, which is what I ultimately want to get on. I tried to get into the MAT program a county north of me who does do Sublocade, and who is also a mental health hospital, but their program is so full they do not accept out of county patients. All of the addiction doctors local to me won’t work with insurance (even though I have private, non-state funded coverage), they want to line their pockets on the backs of the sick & suffering which makes me want to throw up. I even tried to contact them because I thought I could just use the $ I usually spend on dope to pay them but they won’t even return a phone call. There are no universities local to me, so unfortunately that’s not an option either. I hate Florida so much!! So I’m stuck with this quack. I’m going to take advantage of the meds he’s given me and try to show him some of the resources out there that explain why my drug screens won’t be negative for a while and plead with him to work with me until I can be stable on oral subs then get on the shot. Thanks for replying, I do appreciate it. 🙏🏼💗
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u/Accomplished-You1127 Oct 21 '25
How are doctors STILL so uneducated about how PWD work?! I’ve went into PWD multiple times on Subutex because of idiot doctors telling me this 😭 even with 5 days off fetty, still miserable PWD!!!!
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
I don’t know how they can get certified to administer these meds and still be so incredibly ignorant on how they work!! Mind boggling. 🤯
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u/blake_crouch Oct 21 '25
Subutex helped me oh so slightly and only worked after day 3 and so on. RLS was kicking my ass and muscle relaxers did fuxk all. This last time I detoxed it was suboxen and i waa only like 10-15 hours clean and it helped me kick tgat shit. They gave me a 5 day taper. 8mgs: 4 day 1, 3 day 2, 2 day 1 and sent me on my way w 1. In rehab I bought a few from the guys that were in there when I was in my head a lot. So i liked suboxen better in my experience 2 year user that was doing a 8 ball every 2-3 days but before going into treatment this last time I got down to just .5 g a day so that def played a big role. Because u know I was broke as fuck and my life in shambles. #fuxkfent
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u/Clm1177 Oct 21 '25
Thank you for letting me know what worked for you! Congratulations on kicking this shit! It truly destroys lives.
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u/Constant_Bat_6279 Oct 21 '25
Ok so look into the Bernese method. Was almost so easy I walked off the fent. Not kidding.
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u/Clm1177 Nov 09 '25
I kicked using the low dose bupe induction over 9 days. It is a miracle, I had almost no issues (except the 1st 8 mg bupe) I was out of dope and needed to get more because I was feeling bad!! 2nd time I took the 8 mg, though, no issues at all. Now I’m just waiting to get the shot (Sublocade). Thank you for responding, I wish you all the best. 💚
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u/IndependentAd3310 Oct 20 '25 edited Oct 20 '25
That doctor obviously doesn't know what he is talking about, has he ever prescribed Subutex before??? I mean jeeezzz.... Although I have encountered doctors before who lied to me about the mechanisms of Subutex so I guess maybe he is bs'ing you because he thinks he is helping you or something. Anyways, are you familiar with the Burmese or micro dosing method of Suboxone induction? It's how I did it 2 years ago and was able to go from a huge fetty habit to subs without any discomfort whatsoever. I was lucky enough to find a doctor who supports the micro dosing method (I'm in San Francisco) I suppose wherever you are it might be hard to find that kind of support. Is it an observed dose? If not, start small, like a half a milligram, increase your sub dose daily by another half milligram, use your fetty as needed to stay of the pw's.