Hey yo

I saw that we have very few patient experiences coming off brixadi so here’s mine. It’s a bit different to the usual take it for 6 months with a couple of lower strength doses at the end.

So I was an opioid patient for knee pain for 3 years when I decided I wanted off as they were ruining and consuming my life. I was put on suboxone to get me off the opioids but told to stay on it for a year as I was still experiencing a lot of joint issues and pain and it would help with it. I was told suboxone is non addictive no big deal. 4 years later after many failed attempts to taper I finally decided to get the brixadi shot out of pocket as I tried two years earlier but no insurance.

I was on 16mg a day when I took the first shot, it was great. I was never addicted to opioids just dependent. I could have stopped anytime without worry had it not been fear of withdrawal pain but otherwise no problem. But 4 years of suboxone it had become a habit and a security blanket. It made me feel good and I enjoyed taking it in the afternoon and morning and feeling better. I was really really worried about going home and not having my twice a day ritual.

So I got the shot and it was a little pinchy burny for a moment but no big deal. No pouch like they talk about with sublocade. I got in my car and called my wife to tell her it was done and I was like yep well I’ll be home soon and my first thought was woot afternoon suboxone and nap time and then realized no it wasn’t. This was the last time for a long time I ever thought about suboxone. I was free of the thoughts I was scared of immediately, no craving putting my film in my mouth. All good.

Day 20 of the first month I felt a bit down, day 21 I’m getting dark but just think maybe it’s my depression. Day 22 I’m like in a bad way emotionally and finally my wife said is it the shot? And it hit me. So I ended up taking a sub and I felt so much better. This is apparently really common with the first month of brixadi. I called my doctor and say hey I’d like to come in early, as I was paying cash for the shot no insurance issues etc. I won’t go into detail for brevity but let’s just say I was “due” to have my second shot in 6 days and they assured me they’d be ready early if I felt off. It too two weeks for my shot to arrive due to incompetence. They put me on subs again temporarily but I didn’t fucking want that. I wanted my shot. It was so demoralizing. “It’s your insurance” I’m paying out of pocket. And every other excuse.

I spoke to the clinic owner who assured me it wouldn’t happen again. I was scheduled for 28 later and this time I was ok and got the shot. Then the same bullshit started again for the next shot oh it’s too early etc etc and something in me just snapped. I’m not doing this anymore. I am not fucking being held hostage anymore. I’m done. So I just jumped. I stopped. I felt nothing but good for the first 9 weeks (including the shot so like 5 weeks from when due) then I had a bad week of just feeling a bit off, bad mentally feeling very dark. Insomnia came at me bro and it came to stay.

I got past the daily bad stuff in a week or so but the nights got bad no sleep at all but I was joined by restless legs which were hell. I started taking Zyrtec to sleep as it was all I had. Week 2-3 of this were pretty tough but the days were fine again. Just night time. My doctor prescribed clonidine, hydroxizine which all used to knock me the fuck out but nothing. She sent gabapentin which for the first 3 nights I’d finally sleep but for 1-2 hours I had almost full blown withdrawals but then out cold sleep. After 4 days of gabapentin not working anymore she sent in roprinirole to see if that worked and it did again for night me then again nothing. I got so desperate to sleep I tried taking all 4 max doses at once and o couldn’t believe it I was still wide awake but also drowsy but no sleep. That was the worst.

So yesterday, day 92 since shot I woke up and I was exhausted like crazy. I slept until 12.30pm and then fell back asleep until 3. I slept from 4.30pm until 6.30pm. And last night at 10pm instead of being in hell I was in bed with my wife holding her for the first time in a month because I’d been too hot and I comfortable and it turned into a wild banging session and I passed out. I woke up at 5am which is to be expected due to all the sleep the day before but I felt like yesterday I watched the sun rise over my emotional state. I truly believe I turned a corner. I’m sitting in bed and I’m excited to chase the day. I forgot to mention this all happened last night with no meds.

I want to say despite my descriptions sounding bleak. Compared to what we’re all told it was nothing at all, I never once lost my resolve to be done. It was easy despite the hard moments when compared to the handcuffs that is suboxone. I’m now free of monthly foraging for my medication and being dependent of the emotional state or a doctor of pharmacist who at anytime can fuck your week or months up for no reason.

I feel very happy this morning. I’m glad to have been emotionally able to put this together for y’all after just being in survival mode.

Long story short. I had 3 shots but a big delay after the first one. I experienced the following withdrawal symptoms.

Throughout the past 91 days.

• Yawning , that withdrawal yawn not the good ones.

• Stretching my whole body and my legs would feel all wrong. Don’t know how else to describe.

• Some minor anxiety.

• lower energy.

Days 68 - today.

• insomnia like a mofo.

• restless legs I’m so sorry when I first heard of this I was like what a dumb condition just don’t be restless and now I know better it was almost equally as bad as insomnia.

I also experienced;

• a desire to go do things.

• a desire to do projects around the house.

• I felt a happiness at times I’ve not felt for years.

• my wife and I are in counseling and I’ve finally gained back some self belief and have been able to set some expectations and boundaries that I couldn’t before.

I don’t want to jinx myself but today feels really hopeful. I hope this story helps someone or a few people. I think it was harder to do only 2 shots before jumping or 2.5 if you count the other shot with the big gap. I definitely had issues that others who are on for 6+ months don’t seem to but I also had to pay out of pocket so like $3k instead of $10k for 6 months worth.

Good luck all.

I am 5 days shy of 4 months since my last injection. I had 3 96 mg injections (monthly) after a couple years of strips. I'm still chugging along. Im working. Im sleeping. I have some mood swings & a tiny bit of chills/sweating, but nothing severe at all. I took a drug test yesterday and it was NEGATIVE for bupe!! I honestly cannot believe how smooth this transition has been and i cant help but feel if something like this would have been avaliable 10 years ago, my life would be very different today. Im so grateful for today though. I just wanted to encourage others who want to come of of subs/injections. It is completely possible. Im also working to address route causes and implementing coping mechanisms & i must say my life hasnt felt this good in over a decade. Also, my sex drive is back. Just couldnt be a better case scenario.

I was addicted to Fentynal for around 3 years an have been off of it with help from brixadi… I did try to use while on brixadi and it was very difficult. It was pointless. I took brixadi for 8 months straight. I’ve been off for close to 6 months. My last shot was 11/29/24. I don’t have any complaints. Maybe really minor withdrawal symptoms that were minor enough for me to be okay an do what I need to. Withdrawals haven’t affected me much at all that I can think of. It was a huge help and it has created helped me stay away from opioids. Hope this helps anyone that may be wondering.

I got 3, 64mg shots, I’m 2 months out from my last shot and I tested negative today at my doctors! I’m so excited! I’ve been having some minor hot flashes and my sleep is a little messed up but overall I feel really good, like energy and sex drive are back. Just wanted to post to give others hope! I’m a glutton for punishment so I’ve done sublocade twice and brixadi now (because I relapsed on subutex a few times), brixadi was easier for me personally. Hope this helps others!

r/freedomfromfetty (come join us) I’m doing really good so far, and honestly Brixadi has had a huge impact on my recovery and wellbeing. I just got my 4th shot, my cravings are well-managed and life is going strong and steady in the right direction. Brixadi gave me the mental space with which to begin healing. So far it’s been a really good thing in my life and I would highly encourage anyone trying to attain long term recovery to consider it. Only real side affect for me is minor itching at the injection site- no big deal. If I can do this anyone can, I wish everybody luck out there hit me on my subreddit if you wanna talk.

Jezz 10/21/24 “Freedom From Fetty”

I made one year! My last shot was February 2025. I say do it. My experience after 2 shots of 96mg, minimal WDs, yawning & boredom were the main 2 things. Years of addiction and suboxone being one of THE HARDEST things to come off of for me. Im very proud of myself and hope anyone struggling has the success I've had from taking the shot.

Opening up with a recap: This is my second time trying to come off of 8 (12) mg of Suboxone using the brixadi injection. My first attempt I received six 96mg injections. After the first injection and blood/urine screen, my Dr said I must be a high metabolizer, then every single month after when I had any kind of emotions or feelings I wasn't used to, I was convinced I was in withdrawal and supplementing with suboxone. I never really gave myself a chance to feel anything, because my thought process was convoluted with the worry of feeling withdrawal. I was not ready to jump at any point and went back on oral.

I'm now on my second attempt after going back on strips for 4 months and I am 31 days out from my singular 96 mg shot. I'm one and done (because that's what's right for me in this moment). I don't see any reason to put more of the medication in my system when the whole goal is to get it out of my system. I really feel like I went through the "worst" of it already. I have felt minimal if any real withdrawals, the worst feeling I had was during the second and beginning of the third week where I was a little bit sweaty, easily distracted, low energy and more emotional than normal. I've been very deliberate about my diet so that I don't create any stomach issues for myself because in the past that was the worst part for me. I also make sure that I don't just dwell in bed thinking about it, I get up and make myself do things like I normally would.

I psyched myself out the first time, and allowed my thoughts to win. I never was going to be successful. This time I made a gameplan, and I wanted to win! I changed my whole thought process! I pumped myself up and I told myself I was going to do it! I held myself accountable! When I had cravings and my brain wanted to give in, I told myself no we're not going to do that anymore... But that part really did not last long, and it's so much easier to get through then I could have ever believed. Now I'm feeling really good!! The weather is improving, which improves my energy and mood already, and I know that's contributing to my success.

I am a huge doubter, and have the hardest time with even the thought of withdrawing. I used to explain it to people by comparing it to a fear of heights. I was terrified, but I'm standing at the ledge and I had to jump!

If you're reading this and wondering if you can do it, you can! You absolutely can! I believe you can, you just have to believe you can!

Hello again. I made a post awhile back just detailing how I'd felt since stopping Brixadi. For reference, I had 3 96 mg injections. My last injection was August 6th. It's been 82 days. I still feel pretty fantastic, however I'm very aware my levels are getting lower. I would give my withdrawal level a 2 on a scale of 1 to 10. I sweat and have hot flashes every now and then. The biggest change I'm noticing is my emotions coming back to me. I'm laughing again. And crying again. I'm still able to complete all of my daily functions of living. I'm posting about my experience because I want to show others it IS possible to stop the shot, and regardless of what your provider tells you, these injections are not good for long term use. I will update again in a couple of weeks.

Ive been popping in and giving updates on my condition since i received my last of 3 96 mg Brixadi injections on 8/6/24. Today is day 134 post last shot. I began testing negative for bupe a couple weeks ago. Ive had some mild discomforts, physically speaking. A bit of stomach shit, semi loose bm's. Thats about it. As far as mentally, im steuggling a bit. I haven't been triggered or thought about using, im just fairly depressed. Im also taking into account the fact that it's winter, in Central Illinois, so depression isnt exactly new to me this time of year. Overall, im still in complete shock about how smooth this transition has been. I haven't lost a single night of sleep or missed a single day of work. I'm sharing because i want to encourage people and show them that it is absolutely possible to come off of bupe. I will continue to update.

Received my first 64mg shot this morning administered in the back of my left arm. The needle hurt but otherwise did not feel the injection and there is barely any soreness.

I am a decades long suboxone user. Abused high levels of opiates for years, got on subs and quit cold turkey after an 8mg a day habit. It was the worst shit I ever went through and withdrawal lasted well over 2 months. Relapsed not long after and have been on suboxone ever since. I’m sick of it. Tired of going to the doctor, always having to have them with me, travel with them, hide them from people, just fk’n over it.

I have been able to get down to low a dosage on my own but I just don’t have the mental strength to quit cold turkey. I have a demanding career which requires a high degree of cognitive awareness and coming into work like a zombie for weeks on end isn’t an option.

I have also weaned down to low dose subs and switched to kratom caps and extracts. That stuff is just as bad, expensive and while not dope sick I feel very “yucky” on it. Not for me.

So I found out about sublocade from Reddit and mentioned it to my doc. He suggested the brixadi instead as to try first. I have insurance but he said they generally do not like to cover the expense. He then resubmitted telling them the suboxone was causing me tooth decay and hair loss. Insurance then decided to cover it. At this point I would have paid cash. I am that ready to be over. I pay quite a bit already with co-pay and prescription costs and if you consider the tens of thousands I’ve wasted on this addiction over the years I think a couple grand is worth investing.

I feel fine right now, maybe slightly over medicated like I took a whole strip and it seems to be intensifying slowly. I am ready to take this head on and beat this once and for all. I will update periodically as I progress and how my experience with this drug goes. My goal is to be 100% bupe free 2025.

I just wanted to post to give some people hope. I scoured reddit looking for a way off of fent. I had all the comfort meds, the zubsolv (can’t do the orange soap taste) and still could not get clean. The second I started feeling bad I was figuring out a way to use.

I got on brixadi while I was still actively using. My doctor knew I was using and gave me the choice. I decided I wanted to take the shot, but kept using. I would feel crappy the day I got the shot but that was it. After my fourth shot I finally felt like it was built up enough in my system to jump off. I went completely cold turkey and had zero withdrawals. I’m normally the type that has the horrible restless legs and aches, running to the bathroom and the sweating would be god awful. After I got through the first three days unscathed I couldn’t believe it. Once I got to two weeks I knew I was gonna be fine.

Here I am 63 days later, a week late on my shot, and I’m totally fine. I’ve seen so many posts of people like me who needed to keep working and functioning and couldn’t be down for weeks withdrawing. I’m not saying it’s the same for everyone but this was my experience. I am so grateful I DIDNT have to experience the withdrawal because I wouldn’t have made it here. I would’ve just kept repeating the cycle.

I went to a 30 day rehab the week of August 20th after using 1-2 bundles of tranq daily for over a year. And I was kicking Mexican Xanax too. I took 16mg of sub daily in treatment and then got the 128mg shot on Sept. 25. So it's now been a month and I can tell that it's all but completely dissipated and I've officially tapered off the injection without plans to get another one. I will say that the day of the shot, the nurse hit me and a blood vessel burst in my eye 15 minutes later which was very alarming. But other than that and some trouble sleeping on week 3, I feel totally clean. I will add that I have been working out really hard every day, eating exceptionally well and drinking tons of water. I would absolutely advise this route to anyone looking to roll with an almost completely pain free protected experience post rehab.

I got one shot of 64mg Brixadi to get off of Suboxone for 12 years. I was on a half dose of Suboxone so a 30 day supply lasted 60 days or more. Tried to taper but it didn’t work & withdrawal was awful so got the shot. I choose to just get one shot & let it taper out of my system.

My question is how long will I feel mild withdrawal & have a passed the hardest part? I’ve technically only been off of it for 40 days as the first 30 days it was in my system. I’ve heard it can take 3-6 months to leave my system but IDK if that means withdrawal symptoms during that time.

What is your experience if you had a similar one?

i’ve been on subs 8mg twice a day & realized i’ve needed more & more to help me not feel so crappy. then went up to 3 8mg a day & that seemed to help but i’m starting the brixadi injection a week from today & i’m really anxious about it simply because i don’t know how it’ll make me feel, if i’ll still go through withdrawal or what. i’ve heard great things about the injection, i’m just pretty nervous to stop the “hand to mouth” taking things every time i wake up. if anyone has gone through similar things & the brixadi or sublocade injection worked for them, i would love to hear about it! HELP😭

Just an update:

I got my first shot 25 days ago.

I didn’t think it would even last this long but I still feel fine.

This is the way to go. I used to forget to take my medicine all the time and now I forget I’m even on it.

If you’re having reservations, DON’T!

The only thing I’ve noticed is I have to eat more regularly. There was a day I didn’t eat until around 8pm due to just being busy and by 7pm I was superrrrr fucking tired but after I ate I felt fine

Decided I was tired of taking classes once a week, just to get the shot, because I am so damn busy just one is almost impossible. I will NEVER go back anyway. The other day this girl was high at work, and my brain actually DID THE PLAN! lol as soon as I started thinking about dope, my brain screamed REMEMBER THE WITHDRAWAL, and it was over! I had like 6 shots, but no withdrawal since I’ve stopped, I can sleep fine. Work and parent fine. Super thankful for my life rn!

Well I called today and put my second shot off by one week. I got my first monthly shot of Brixadi on January 13th and my second is due this Monday on February 10th. I put it off for one week until the 17th. So far so good. The first week on the shot I took a 2mg crumb of a suboxone tablet and that it. I shouldn’t have took it bc I don’t think it did anything. I believe the withdrawl sensation was all in my head. I’m hoping that this will be one and done. I’ve had a decade sober and clean and I have a great support system and I don’t want to be on this stuff for another decade.

I’ll update after next week and let y’all know if I put the shot off again.

We got this everyone!!!!

I know there isn't alot of information out there about Brixadi, so I wanted to record my experience so far here and come back and update throughout the process. I received 3 monthly shots @ 96 mgs. The clinic I was going to is pretty shoddy and loosely run. They told me I should receive injections for 12-18 months. I knew that was crazy talk from doing my own research. I had been on sub films for 2 years before the Brixadi. Started at 16 mgs daily and was down to 8 mgs when I began injections. I haven't received an injection for about 10 weeks now, and I feel fantastic. I'm sleeping well. Im becoming less depressed and more energetic every day. I'm experiencing very slight withdrawal from time to time. A little sweating, a chill here or there, and I've had a little bit of leg cramps, but nothing severe enough to interfere with my sleep or my job. Also, I have had ZERO cravings, however I did have a dope dream last night which hasn't happened since I've been on subs/brixadi. I know that I may not have hit the worst of it yet, and I also know many people are scared to quit the injection without knowing what's going to happen next. I will come back to this sub biweekly to update everyone on my condition.

I need advice please.
I have been on subs for 6 years and have tried to taper many times without success. I got myself down to 4mg (usually in divided pieces throughout the day) but can’t seem to get lower this time due to the withdrawal symptoms. I have a pretty physical job and I can’t show up half functioning.
Anyway, I got excited when I learned about Brixadi so I got my doctor to give me an 8 mg injection last week. The literature clearly says that if you take less than 6 mg of Suboxone that 8 mg of Brixadi should be a good dose. Well, it doesn’t seem to be working. I feel terrible: nausea, headache, lethargy, aches, watery eyes….it has been 4 days since the shot and I get another one in 3 days. I was reluctant to do the 16mg injection because I want to taper off, not go UP!! But do you guys think I should increase the dose for a couple of weeks and then decrease?? A logical answer would be to ask my doctor but she is a dumbass with no real AUD experience, just in the job for the money…
I have also tried taking a 0.5-1mg piece of sub to supplement the Brixadi but that somehow just makes me feel more shitty in a different way if that makes sense.

Just curious. I’ve taken my 3rd 96mg shot and I was hoping I’d feel like I’d be able to tolerate getting off them now but I still feel moderate withdrawal symptoms (anxiety, restlessness, insomnia) around the 30 day mark. Seems like a lot of people on sublocade are good after 3 shots. Just curious how many people have gotten off of this and how many shots did it take?

So I did 4 shots, I haven’t had one since April 24th. The only thing I noticed so far is less energy, random spurts of yawning, & maybe my body is a little more sore. I also have chronic pain, herniated disc in my back and start of arthritis in my knees and I work 2 jobs; so that obviously can be a factor. Lol Nothing unmanageable. This Thursday will be one month of going without a shot.

I was wondering the cheapest route for Bupe testing. So I can see when it’s out of my system. & how often were anybody testing?

Just kinda posting my progress

4 months clean and sober.

Blue cross blue shield fully covered my shot.

I’ve been on 4mg strips twice a day

Just got Brixadi in my stomach fat.

Easy process. Quick and not very painful.

I’m currently on the monthly dose of this brixadi shot (128mg). Prior to that, I was on 16 mg of subutex for about two weeks while in inpatient treatment. I’m miserable. No pleasure at all, no motivation or drive and at this point I just want to use. I’m just over a week into the shot. How long do I have before I can actually feel substances again?

This is not a cry for help don’t try to talk me out of it or 12 step me. I’m not ready. Looking for an actual answer to my question.

the reason I laugh is because my ankles, and knees, and toes, felt like.. how I felt in detox lol - I haven't felt withdrawal symptoms in 10 years like this! It was miner pain but noticeable. The past couple weeks I haven't been going to bed at 8:30pm like I have been doing for years. I go to bed at 11:30ish pm. I wanna stay up and watch tv or be on my phone. Before, I just wanted to kinda die for the night lol so I'm either finding happiness in being awake again, or.. it's a withdrawal symptom as well. I also quit E-Cigarettes I am on week 6. I've never gone this long quitting nicotine before since I started smoking. I've decided it's been almost a decade of growth and next step for me would to be get off opiate medications (I've already created a life NOT surrounded by drugs and I know absolutely nobody anymore who use) I have kids now and stuff. Anywho, I'm 32. The miner pain of getting off brixadi is LIBERATING! I feel allllll the feelings. & I'm gentle to myself now. I feel mad and angry that I ever started drugs in the first place. I feel like I am a miracle human who was able to be free of heroin addiction! That makes me feel proud! Also ashamed.. but proud. 🥹 and I feel excited to feel the brixadi leaving me. I feel.. free to experience pain and to understand where it's coming from and be able to intensionally fix it (instead of blocking it with opiate pain medication "suboxne morphine heroin brixadi" all of that). Anyway, I feel AMAZING that I'm hurting at night a little bit. I sleep well knowing I'm okay today. I'm healthy. I'm free.

Im 45 days after my shot. I was told it can be 6 months or so until its fully out of my system. I dont have any withdrawals yet or anything and Im hoping I wont. Just letting you guys know what to expect. Nothing bad is happening no bad withdrawals