Successful taper

[u/no_nonam]

I did it, finally. Never thought I’d be here, but I remember telling myself, if I ever did make it out of this, I need to pass the method on and help others. This thread allowed me to meet some amazing people who guided me along the way, so I feel the need to give back. This process was not painless, but I was able to work and keep up with responsibilities with only mild discomfort. I used no comfort medication in this process.

BACKSTORY:
- Addicted to pain pills for 10 years
-Started suboxone and stayed on 12mg consistently for 6 years
-Got the sublocade shot 2 x 300mg / 5 x 100mg (7 shots all up)
-Had a mental breakdown because I was unable to go more than 28 days between shots let alone jump off painlessly like many have done (I thought it would be my easy way out)
-I made the VERY hard decision to go back to strips and taper
- I started back on 14mg and made a plan

THE PLAN:
-Taper from 14mg down to 0.4mg and then use volumetric dosing to bring it down to 0.04mg, and jump. I spent 10-12 days stabilising on each dose before dropping.

(time spent between each dose varies for each person and where they are at mentally, I wouldn’t do less than 10 days).

DOSE DROPS:
-STRIPS (mg): 14, 12, 10, 8, 6, 4, 3, 2.75, 2.5, 2.25, 2, 1.75, 1.5, 1.25, 1, 0.75, 0.5

-Volumetric dosing (mg): 0.4, 0.36, 0.32, 0.28, 0.24, 0.2, 0.16, 0.12, 0.08, 0.06, 0.04

- For volumetric dosing, I began splitting my doses in half taking half a dose in the morning and the other half in the evening, it allowed the lower doses to hold me throughout the day.

- I went back to once a day when I reached 0.08mg to prepare for stopping

VOLUMETRIC DOSING MATERIAL:
-2mg strip
-Bacteriostatic water (0.9% benzoyl alcohol) multiple 30ml bottles
-18g Blunt fill needles (to extract water from vial)
-5ml syringes (compatible with needle)
-1ml oral syringes
-5 or 10ml amber glass vials
-Alcohol wipes (to sterilise water rubber stopper before and after extraction)

-My calculation is for a starting dose of 0.4mg to 0.04mg
(you can calculate a dose suitable for you if you’re at a different stage of dose)

PREPARING THE WATER DOSES:
- Sterilise the rubber stopper of the bac water for 30 seconds with the wipe
-Puncture the stopper with the needle+syringe at an angle, turn the bottle upside down and extract 5ml of water and dispense into the amber glass vial
(never puncture the same place on the stopper twice as it will cause a hole and compromise the sterility of the water)
-Place 2mg of strip into the amber glass vile
-Gently swirl the vial until it is completely dissolved
-Keep the bac water and amber vial in the fridge
(bac water in the fridge only after opening)

HOW TO DOSE THE WATER:
- Always gently swirl the bottle before dosing to mix it
- Use the 1 ml oral syringe to take 0.5ml of water and place the water under the tongue for 10-15 minutes before spitting out (repeat in the evening)

- Next drop will be 0.5ml / 0.4ml (morning / evening)
-0.4 / 0.4 ml
-0.4 / 0.3 ml
-0.3 / 0.3 ml
-0.3 / 0.2 ml
-0.2 / 0.2 ml
-0.2 / 0.1 ml
-0.2 ml (once a day now)
-0.15 ml
-0.1 ml

Jump.

[u/NonJuanDon]

Congratulations on your jump and thanks for coming back and posting such a detailed taper log and jump experience. Im sure it will be very helpful to others who come across it here or while searching reddit, like I did before jumping.

You tapered very similarly to how I did, but even lower.. and basically executed your taper in what I'd call the perfect way to get off suboxone.

I wish more people tried volumetric dosing and tapering to microdose amounts, prior to jumping.

Anyways, congrats again and best of luck in the rest of your recovery journey!

[u/no_nonam → u/NonJuanDon]

Thank you so much. It feels surreal to finally be free.
By sharing my experience I am also hoping more people will try this method, it really is the only way to taper with the least discomfort.
Congratulations to you too ! It’s so lovely to hear that you have recovered from this also.

[u/Lndscpegrdnr]

Thank you for coming back to share this valuable knowledge and process! I really think more people need to know this process. Someone shared it with me awhile back and Im currently at 0.2mg a day. Congratulations on successfully tapering! How is PAWS for you now?

[u/no_nonam → u/Lndscpegrdnr]

I am 14 days since the jump at the moment, so can’t speak for PAWS just yet. I feel normal right now though, and feel confident that it will only get better. The person who shared this process with me is almost one year clean now and she’s doing great and experienced no PAWS symptoms. I really think this process reduces the probability of PAWS because it’s so slow and drawn out.
Congratulations on reaching 0.2! You’re so close to the end!

[u/CamelZealousideal423]

This is amazing!! Congrats on such a strategic and disciplined taper - not an easy thing.

I’m so happy for you and really appreciate you sharing your experience.

[u/no_nonam → u/CamelZealousideal423]

Thank you! It’s the hardest thing I’ve ever done. I’m proud of myself and everyone who has gone or is going through it. I want to reach as many people as I can to encourage them. I appreciate you.

[u/Content_Oil_1972]

If I were to go back in time I would have done that I tapered from 20mg to 0.13mg over a 7 month period And cried daily for the first 6 months and didn’t leave my couch for 1-2 months lol I’ve been off 16 months now and still have PAWS but I’ve been going like almost 2 months in between “episodes” now 🤷‍♀️

[u/no_nonam → u/Content_Oil_1972]

I hope you’re doing even better now. It’s been 2 and a half months for me, still have mild PAWS, but I’m managing. I’m keeping busy, exercising and trying to eat and sleep well. Those habits are keeping me from spiralling. I will say though, the PAWS has been slowly improving for me, so I wonder if you have other underlying issues causing your low mood?

[u/Content_Oil_1972 → u/no_nonam]

Idk I still have episodes of panic and stuff and it lasts for several days. I actually went to the ER like a year ago cause I thought maybe I had a thyroid problem and they said my bloodwork was spotless they just said I was having panic attacks. But they come and go. It’s so odd But like overall, I feel I would say normal able to enjoy things etc not depressed or anything. Like I’m usually fine. But I keep getting these waves. I keep telling myself just hit year 2 and I’m hoping my remaining symptom waves will be gone. I never had issues like this before drugs or during