When you’re addicted to Suboxone, quitting can seem like an impossible task. That’s why we have compiled a helpful guide that shows the right way to get off of it—by tapering, detoxing in a hospital or rehab facility, and even cold turkey. By following these steps, you can conquer your addiction and make your life better than ever before.

Taper

On the shortest end, tapering involves slowly decreasing your dosage over several weeks until you’re completely off all medication. This method is rather long and requires willpower and adherence to your doctor’s instructions, so if you can’t stick to it for any reason, it’s better not to start. If your withdrawal symptoms are too severe, you might even need medical assistance. This is why taper is not usually a viable option for those addicted to Suboxone. On the other hand, if you can keep yourself from relapsing and stay determined, then you may find that tapering is a great way to stay off Suboxone for good.

Cold Turkey

You probably know what cold turkey means already—it’s when you suddenly stop using a drug without tapering down your dose or getting medical supervision. It’s a bit of a gamble, but it could be the fastest way to get off Suboxone if you can handle the withdrawal symptoms. Again, this is not recommended because tapering is generally safer and more effective. That’s why we don’t recommend cold turkey quits to people who don’t have experience quitting Suboxone or other opiates. So, if you’re brave enough to try it, keep the following things in mind:

take extra precautions for at least a week after quitting; start with a basic painkiller and gradually work your way up to stronger drugs for a few days. You may even have to go back to Suboxone for a while and get your dose under control again. Only then should you consider going back to the painkillers you had before.
after quitting, don’t go back to Suboxone even if your withdrawal symptoms are severe. Stick it out and embrace the terrible agony of Suboxone detox symptoms.
you can taper down as much as you want, but we recommend that you don’t quit cold turkey if you’re on higher doses. It’s not safe.
if you’re quitting cold turkey, do not use any other drugs, especially opioids or stimulants. Even if opiate withdrawal symptoms completely debilitate you, you shouldn’t use any drug at all. If you start popping aspirin tablets and using alcohol, you might find yourself craving opiates again.

Detox

This is where you go to a hospital or rehab facility for medical supervision during your withdrawal from Suboxone. Typical withdrawal, which can last from three to seven days, is unpleasant, but it’s pretty safe as long as you’re receiving the right care and being monitored by an expert doctor. When you leave your Suboxone detox treatment center, you might find yourself in a worse place than when you came in, as most people don’t understand what’s going on with them and assume that they’re still addicted. Be prepared to educate those around you about what you’ve done and why it’s a good thing. Also, you’ll have to stay at the treatment center for about three days, so make sure you haven’t used Suboxone in the last seven days of your taper.

Treatment Options

There are options available for people who are addicted to Suboxone. First, be sure that your doctor is on board with you quitting Suboxone and isn’t trying to keep you on it so that they can get you the right kind of treatment. Second, and most importantly, don’t wait. The longer you wait to get treatment, the harder it will be to quit. In many cases, the withdrawal symptoms are strong enough to make you believe that relapse is no big deal because quitting again will be easy. Many people tell themselves this and end up stuck in a vicious cycle of getting high and then quitting for the rest of their lives. If you want to quit Suboxone once and for all, you have to get treatment as soon as possible. That being said, you can choose to stay in treatment longer if you need to. With a little bit of guidance and support, you can beat this addiction and keep it at bay for good.

Conclusion

Make sure that you know all of the facts about Suboxone and its effects on your body so that you can make an intelligent decision. The more research you do, the easier it will be to decide what is best for you. You’ll also need to be aware of how Suboxone withdrawal works so that you can have a clear understanding of what you’re getting into. With the right information, you can prepare yourself for this challenge and come out on top.

If you feel like it’s time to quit Suboxone, Call us today at 833-497-3812 to consult our 24/7 professional counselors. We are here to help you every step of the way.