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Posted by: J Miller on 2012-01-03, 10:16:19
You do have to wait at least 72 hours regardless of what dose of methadone you are on. Methadone has a very long half life at any dose and you have to wait until it's no longer in your system enough before you start Suboxone. If you start it while it's still occupying the opiate receptors in your brain the Suboxone will come in and kick the methadone off the receptors which is what puts you in precipitated withdrawal. I know it sucks to be sick and wait while you're getting sicker but if you don't you will get ten times sicker in a span of 60 seconds. When you start Suboxone you have to be in moderate to severe withdrawal. If your withdrawal symptoms are not bad enough it's too early. The longer you wait the better. For some people 72 hours is not enough either. You really shouldn't focus on the time. Focus on how you feel. 72 hours is a minimum but sometimes you have to wait longer. I switched from methadone to Suboxone after 72 hours and I thought I was sick enough but it turns out that I wasn't and I went in to precipitated withdrawal. It was by far the worst feeling I've ever experienced. I would rather lay at home puking for another day knowing that there is an end in sight than to start Suboxone too early. You may have to wait longer but never, ever start sooner. Even if you were on 4mg you would have to wait for 72 hours. I would recommend that you contact the Suboxone doctor now and ask if you get can some medication to relieve the withdrawal symptoms a bit. As long as you don't take an opiate it will not interfere with the transition to Sub. Ask for some Clonodine, phenergan (if you have nausea) and some sleeping pills. Maybe a muscle relaxer too. If you can get it you can take some OTC meds that can help. Imodium will help diarrhea and maybe nausea too to an extent. Dramamine may also help nausea and it will calm you down a bit. Benadryl will help runny nose and will help you sleep. Take 50-75mg of Benadryl to sleep. Ibuprofen can help leg pain. Popsicles, saltine crackers and fruit can help nausea too. Make sure you drink a lot of fluids so you don't get dehydrated which will make you feel worse. I would also recommend, if possible, that you go to the doctor's office to sign any paperwork and other stuff you have to do ahead of time so that you don't have to do it when you come in to start the induction when you'll be really sick. Do it now instead when you are not feeling as bad. This will be a miserable experience but unfortunately there is no way around it. Once you get the Suboxone though you will get relief and feel so much better. Good luck! |
