Suboxone can help provide relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms when starting recovery from opioid use disorder. The drug can also be used to help people maintain their newly found opioid-free life while reducing the risk of relapse. Eventually, many people reach a point in their recovery where they no longer need suboxone. This leads them to ask various questions, like, “How to taper off suboxone?”
Jump to Section
Understanding Suboxone Tapering
The biggest mistake people can make when they want to quit suboxone is going “cold turkey.” Since suboxone is a combination of naloxone and buprenorphine, it can cause withdrawal symptoms similar to those experienced during opioid detox. It is much safer for the individual to taper off the drug gradually until they can fully discontinue its use.
There are different approaches to suboxone tapering that can be used. These will depend on the individual and their particular situation. Regardless of the tapering approach used, it is essential to first discuss tapering with the prescribing healthcare professional.
It is essential to not self-medicate and start adjusting doses without medical supervision. They can provide valuable support and guidance throughout the tapering process while ensuring it is conducted at a pace best suited to your specific needs.
Suboxone Taper Schedule
The suboxone taper schedule can involve different approaches. It is important not to rush the tapering process to prevent withdrawal symptoms and allow the body time to adjust to the new dosage. It is also equally vital not to reduce the current dosage by more than 25%. Reducing the dosage by more than 25% can result in unwanted withdrawal symptoms.
Another important aspect when deciding how to taper off suboxone is accounting for the drug’s half-life. The half-life is the time needed for half of a dose to leave the body. Suboxone’s half-life requires approximately 36 hours, meaning half of a dose takes 36 hours to leave the body.
For example, if you are taking 12 mg of suboxone, it will take a day and a half before 6 mg will have exited the body. This will leave 6 mg in the body. If you didn’t take another dose, it would take another day and a half for 3 mg to leave the body. Then it would be another day and a half for another 1.5 mg to leave the body, and so on.
A typical quick suboxone taper schedule would look like:
- Weeks 1 to 2: Reduce the current dosage by no more than 25% and take the lower dosage for at least 14 days.
- Weeks 3 to 4: Reduce the dosage again by no more than 25% and take the lower dosages for another two weeks.
- Weeks 5 to 6: Cut the dosage by up to 25% and take the lowered dosage for another two weeks.
- Weeks 7 to 8 and beyond: Continue cutting the dosage by no more than 25% and taking the new lowered amount for a period of at least two weeks.
Since everyone is different, the specific reduction in suboxone should be adjusted accordingly to minimize and prevent withdrawal symptoms. Some people may only be able to reduce their dosage by 5, 10, or 15% at a time, which is perfectly acceptable.
An alternative option to taper off suboxone is alternating doses every other day. For example, you would take your normal dosage on the first day. The next day, you would take a 1 or 2 mg reduction. You would follow this process for a few weeks before reducing the dosages again. Taking this approach can make it easier for some people to discontinue suboxone eventually.
It is worth mentioning that even with tapering, people can and do experience mild withdrawal symptoms until the body adjusts to the lower doses. As such, it is recommended not to reduce the dosage until after any withdrawal symptoms have subsided. This will prevent them from compounding and worsening.
Again, it is crucial not to rush the tapering process and allow your body time to adjust to the new lower dosage. It is also important to be medically monitored throughout the process.
The “Bernese Method”
Another option used to taper off suboxone is called the “Bernese Method.” This method takes much longer to complete, but it makes the process less uncomfortable. The method involves micro-dosing with buprenorphine and gradually increasing the dosage while gradually lowering the suboxone dosage using these steps:
- Start taking a low dosage of buprenorphine while still taking the current suboxone dose.
- After about two weeks, reduce the suboxone dose while increasing the buprenorphine dose.
- Allow the body time to adjust and repeat the process throughout at least two week intervals.
- Once you are no longer taking suboxone, then a tapering schedule can be used to discontinue buprenorphine.
Kratom for Suboxone Withdrawal
Kratom is an herbal substance that some people use to help with suboxone withdrawal symptoms. However, kratom works similarly to opioids and binds to opioid receptors. It can cause euphoria and other effects common with opioid use. In recent years, many states have passed laws making kratom illegal.
Kratom’s withdrawal symptoms are similar to what one experiences when going through opioid detox. When people are undergoing detox from kratom, suboxone is often the preferred medically-assisted treatment.
Managing Withdrawal Symptoms
Most people who have quit suboxone say the most important part of quitting is to listen to your body. If the withdrawal symptoms are causing issues, increase your dosage back up one or two milligrams until they reduce. Then, stay at the dosage for a few weeks before cutting back down.
Another piece of advice people have offered is to increase water intake to remain hydrated and exercise for at least 30 minutes daily. The natural endorphins released through exercise will offset most withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to manage them.
Some people mention it is equally important to follow a healthy, nutritious diet. When the body gets the vitamins, minerals, and nutrients it needs, it can help reduce withdrawal symptoms. Other people recommend different holistic therapies, such as meditation, yoga, mindfulness, or art therapy, to supplement tapering and other withdrawal symptom management techniques.
Additionally, many people recommend tapering at a very slow pace and reduction schedule. They say it is important to remember you will eventually be able to discontinue the drug but will not have to go through feeling sick, depressed, or experiencing other withdrawal symptoms. They found it was much better for them to go at their own pace and not feel rushed through the process. By taking the time they needed, they avoided most, if not all, of the suboxone withdrawal symptoms.
Support Systems and Resources
When you want more information on how to taper off suboxone or you have started the tapering process, there are many different support systems and resources available, including:
- Peer support groups
- Group therapy
- Individual therapy
- Online support communities
- SAMHSA’s national helpline
- Outpatient treatment
- Aftercare
- Community outreach programs
You can also get help from nutritionists and personal trainers to help develop a healthy, balanced diet and exercise regimen to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
Find Help to Taper off Suboxone in Palm Springs Today
When you want to taper off suboxone, help is available at Phoenix Rising in Palm Springs. We provide comprehensive care plans tailored to your specific needs to help you discontinue suboxone. Our caring and supportive team can also help you find support systems and resources to help you through the tapering process. Contact us today for further details or to schedule an appointment to start the tapering process.
Related Posts
