Suboxone (buprenorphine) creates a physical dependence in the brain. Stopping cold turkey usually leads to withdrawal symptoms. By slowly taking less and less of the medication, patients can come off Suboxone (or Subutex) within weeks or months without unpleasant symptoms.
Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms
Suboxone and Subutex are partial opioids, so withdrawal symptoms are similar but milder than withdrawal from opioids like prescription pain medications or heroin.
- Low energy
- Loss of appetite
- Irritability
- Muscle weakness
- Withdrawal insomnia / Restlessness
Physical Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal
A tapering schedule reduces or eliminates these symptoms. No reduction in medication should be attempted until all physical withdrawal has subsided from the last dosage reduction.
Mental Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal
The most common mental symptoms of withdrawal are anxiety and depression.
That is why it’s so important to keep up with MAT individual and group therapy sessions. Treating all the behaviors and emotions that are unique to you will make a lasting and successful recovery possible. It is also helpful to maintain a healthy diet and a good daily routine or work schedule; exercise can be very beneficial as well.
Suboxone Taper & Relapse
Another side effect of a Suboxone taper is relapse. Suboxone was used to stop opioid receptors in the brain from sending craving signals for opioids. If cravings become intense after tapping from Suboxone, Vivitrol may offer a safety net.
While you may want to move off Suboxone quickly, being so uncomfortable in a taper that relapse occurs is the opposite of the goal.
How Long Does Suboxone Withdrawal Last?
Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal can last from a few days to several weeks. Generally, symptoms start within 48 hours after the last dose and peak around day three.
Some patients experience mental health symptoms like anxiety, fatigue, sleep issues, mood swings and drug cravings for weeks or months after opioid/Suboxone use, which is known as Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS).
A slow taper off of Suboxone helps prevent PAWS and minimizes the length and severity of all withdrawal symptoms. Patients here can attest that little to no discomfort is possible coming off Suboxone.
The Standard Suboxone Taper Schedule
It is best to work with your doctor to create a tapering schedule that is most effective for your total recovery and based on the Suboxone clinic requirements.
Everyone is different, but in general, a gradual reduction in the total daily dose (e.g., no more than 10% to 20% every one to two weeks) can be successful.
Generally Safe Suboxone Taper Chart (Aggressive)
- NOTE: These guidelines represent a timeline that helps keep the taper medically safe, but are likely quite a bit faster (more aggressive) than what is ideal.
How to Taper Off Suboxone: According to Patients
"The best advice I can give is to start with a plan, listen to your body and take your time. I found after reducing 2 mg to 1mg to 0.5mg, it became more difficult. But, keep taking your time. You’ll get there."
"I was a heroin user back in the day. Then, I was on 8mg of Suboxone for 5 years. I tapered very slowly and paid attention to what my body was telling me. I had to go back to my original does a few times. Like others say exercise and lots of water helps."
"I recommend tapering down very slowly. You will eventually get off, and you will be able to avoid feeling so sick."
Medications to Get Off Suboxone
Most patients tapering off Suboxone want to get off addiction-related medications, but withdrawals lead some to look for alternatives.
Suboxone to Sublocade
If the biggest frustration with Suboxone is the daily dosing, transitioning to Sublocade could be a good option. Sublocade is a long-acting injection of buprenorphine that is given only monthly.
Some patients cite side effects improve on Sublocade, and it helps with the daily cycles that can come with daily dosing. Sublocade should be continued for a few months but seems to give minimal withdrawal symptoms when stopped.
I was on Suboxone for 10 years and stated the switch to Sublocade at 300 mg. Then, I dropped to 100 mg of Sublocade for two more months. It’s been 12 weeks since my last shot, I haven’t any withdrawals yet, hoping to never get any!
Suboxone to Kratom (Don't Do It)
Kratom is often cited by the non-medial community as a “natural” treatment to detox off of opioids or Suboxone.
In reality, kratom activates opiate (mu-opioid) receptors in a similar way as opioids like heroin. It causes similar withdrawal symptoms and cravings as opioid use.
Research shows:
Kratom is more dangerous and addictive than Suboxone and is illegal in many other countries. Using Kratom to counteract Suboxone withdrawals is likely to cause a setback rather than stopping medication use.
"I got addicted to Kratom after being clean off heroin for 2 years. The next thing I know I’m back on heroin."
Suboxone to Vivitrol
While Vivitrol can’t be used during the Suboxone taper, it can offer a level of security to know there is a non-addictive option to help with cravings after getting off Suboxone.
Vivitrol is given as a monthly shot after fully weaning off Suboxone. The injection contains naltrexone, which is not an opioid.
Vivitrol doesn’t involve withdrawal symptoms when stopped and comes with limited to no side effects. It is a great option to ease the transition of opioids.
Learn more about the transition from Suboxone to Vivitrol.
Suboxone to Methadone
Since methadone is also habit-forming, taken daily and actually requires more in-person visits, a switch from Suboxone to methadone usually defeats the goal of reducing medications or inconvenience. The switch, however, is straightforward.
See also: Switching From Suboxone To Methadone
Need Help With Your Suboxone Detox?
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148 Comments
I currently take 24 mg, and I have been told with such a high dose I will have extreme withdrawal symptoms when I begin tapering down. This medication has been a godsend but I don’t want to remain dependent on it long term. My goal is to take it for a year and slowly ween off the medication. But withdrawal is terrifying.
What is normally the typical lowest dose prescribed? And when weaning off of med what is the best dose to get to?
I was on 20 mg a day. I am down to 3mg a day. I did it in 2 mg increments. I would come feel some withdrawal symptoms. Runny nose, some aches but nothing that you cant deal with. I think a lot of it is in the mind. I think I felt that I would go right back to using. Just get started, the rest is easy. Hope this helps.
Your comments were very helpful to me, just seems like you know what it is really like. Also your viewpoint on the way the situation is being handled in the broader sense is spot on. Probably the most frustrating thing about this, there’s no effort from the doctor to educate the patient. It’s just like “here you go, good luck”. There is hope and I am clawing my way out of this slowly, but I’m just frustrated.
I have been on Suboxone for 7 years now. I have come down from 16mg to 4mg in one year now. My doctor said it will take months, if not years, to recover from that long using Suboxone. I will stay on 4mg for another 3 months until I’m comfortable, then taper to 3 mg. There is no hurry, and I don’t think I need to suffer. I would like to reduce the suffering as much as possible. How can the brain recover from a dose reduction of 4 days if a user has been on Suboxone for 6 or 7 years?
I would love to know how you are doing? I have been on Suboxone for 8 years and ive gotten down to 2mg. I was told that once I got to 2mgs that I would go in super small increments from there. I hope that you are doing well and have a wonderful success story. I hope you all do! Thanks!
I take 2/3rds of an 8mg strip a day. I am going to start tapering off from that. Any advice for me? I am strong-minded and stuck in a rut with these things. I hate withdrawals because I get massive restlessness when I close my eyes.
I’ve been on Suboxone for 17 years, prescribed for chronic pain. My tolerance to regular opioids kept increasing so doctors switched me. My last surgery was in 2008. (It was a doozie). Quit Suboxone for 5 months in 2011, the withdrawal effects are nasty. You know the drill – depressed, twitching, yawning, always tired, etc. I am down to 8 mg and want OFF. I’m going to follow the chart for decreasing until eliminated but scared because of what happened to me last time. I don’t drink. I work out, eat nutritional food, and life is good. However, I do feel all alone in this process and if anyone will offer me hope and encouragement, please do. I’m so afraid. Thank you to anyone who reaches out to me.
I am down to 3mg/day from 20mg/day. I did it in increments. I had mild withdrawal symptoms along the way. Runny nose, body aches. Nothing that you cant handle. Nothing like heroin withdrawal. Once you see that you can do it, you just keep on keeping on! Just get started, the rest is easy. Good luck sister!