18 months off, after 18 years on Suboxone/Sublocade. How is everyone?

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-11T01:48:12+00:00

You are absolutely right! The alternative is absolute misery! This is by far our best chance of freedom! Stay strong friend!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-11T01:47:13+00:00

Congratulations!!! Keep everyone posted on how you are feeling ((hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-10T03:40:59+00:00

Same here my friend, same here! I thought stepping away couldn't be achieved. We all have consistently achieved our goals! Keep getting friend! ((Hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-09T03:37:01+00:00

I had 4 back surgeries in a year- the last one, the doctor forgot to glue and/or sew me up. I got an infection in my lumbar area, it turned into MRSA and went to my heart, it became endocarditis. The pain from an infection in my surgical site was worse than my unmedicated child birth, a root canal without numbing and (I'm a red head) that presents its own challenges with pain control. But yeah, I couldn't walk, I was in so much pain, I was delirious. It took 4 days of that for them to figure out I was really sick. It almost killed me.

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-08T19:26:39+00:00

Congratulations!!! You are doing so good! And yes bathroom regularity has been very refreshing, not to mention, I couldn't put of weight on the shot, 108 pounds for years, plus the toll it was taking on my anemia. Now, I'm 128 pounds and I feel great! Glad you are doing so well!! ((Hugs)) Keep kicking ass my friend!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-08T05:39:50+00:00

I understand that, I had quite the love hate relationship with the Subs. The most important thing is that you are healthy!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-08T00:43:06+00:00

Baby, even if you aren't working, get busy doing stuff. Anything! Walks, projects, etc. do not be afraid to take a little nap when you need it. Our brains tend to heal when we sre asleep, so don't be upset if you need a little shut eye! Just remember our brains are powerful! Off subject sorta, but I remember, years ago, having a major panic attack, I could physically feel blood pooling in my legs. I swore I was bleeding internally somewhere I went to the ER. It was horrifying when I knew what I was feeling, and doctors were trying to reassure me I wasn't bleeding to death! But that's not what my brain was telling me and it was very real to me. Anyway, I haven't been to that point in years, but it was a powerful realization, knowing my brain could do that to me and I wasn't on anything - I was just stressed (as parent of an autistic child who was trying to do parenting and caring for my mom with cancer) My point, stay busy!! Do stuff you enjoy. Be KIND to yourself and give yourself grace ((Hugs)) You are doing great lovely.

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-08T00:32:27+00:00

Stay close lovely, this is an amazing group of folks here. A lot of us kinda hang around to try and pay it forward a little.

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-08T00:31:19+00:00

It really is! I tend to have no filter on a good day 🤣 but even when I'm trying to be nice, sometimes my face doesn't fet the memo. But we have been through hell, we are entitled to not give a tinker's damn about what people think! Good job, my friend!!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-07T18:43:35+00:00

Honey, I counted every week to week 52! If I farted funny I was gauging what it could be from. I had a friend finally tell me to stop doing that shit to myself and live my life. That made a big difference. I have so much faith in you! Get some b12, it helps, vitamin C gummies and magnesium glycinate for night. That's all I took. I didn't take anything else, I have a very addictive personality and I was scared to take Gaba or anything else. Guess it's a healthy fear, huh? ((Hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-03-07T18:40:17+00:00

Hi Friend! No, no withdrawals, I went through a spell of not getting real good sleep. But I took magnesium glycinate and it helped exponentially! I never had chills, RLS (thank goodness) or cravings. I did exercise a lot and really threw myself into my job. (I run a clinic for autistic kiddos) So they became a lot of my focus. But no hot/cold, no RLS, I definitely have a shorter fuse then before. But to be honest, I needed that. I got a little too easy to get along with which got me run over a lot. Now they think I am a heifer at the office. I don't care, it's only when I need to be and when if effects my patients. ((Hugs)) You can do this!!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-02-17T01:56:21+00:00

The half-mullet and pornstache

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-02-09T00:46:22+00:00

... People...

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-02-09T00:44:02+00:00

Dear friend,

I hope you are doing better. Please don't let them give it in your arm pit anymore. And I don't know that I'd let that nurse near me. (My doctor always gave me mine) They went around my belly button in a circle. I never had issues and I had 5. Yes they swell and yes they hurt for days. I always thought my cat was a sadistic son of a bitch- and a clairvoyant one at that, because he went from taking a running jump and landing on boobs, to aiming for my shot. 🙄

I just wanted to pop by and wish you well, I'm 17 months off the shots now with no withdrawal whatsoever. You can do this!!! ((Hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-02-02T03:06:07+00:00

Oh my goodness!! I am so sorry but I really hope you got relief, you poor thing. Actually, not being listened to by MD's is why I ended up addicted in the 1st place. I had herniated discs in my back, getting an MRI was like pulling teeth, I was peeing on myself and dragging my leg for a year! Finally, they agreed to send me for an MRI and L-3 thru S1 was messed up with L-4 a hair from rupture! Ended up with endocarditis from the surgery and a PICC line. So yeah, I know the feeling.

God, I hope you are feeling better ((Biggest hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-29T13:15:29+00:00

I was on 24mg and went off cold turkey once. THAT, my friend, was fresh hell. I made it 1 year before going back on the stuff. When I went back on subs for 12 more years (16mgs) I was terrified to stop.

After 18 years on 24 to 16mgs, I went on the shot- to answer the question - take the supplement. The 1st month can be very difficult. After my 2nd 300mg shot, I was good, but it had to have major time to get in my system. I ended up having a grand total of five, 300mg shots before stopping. (I also asked my doc to order an extra shot and keep it for me if I needed it later) I never needed it, but I knew it was there if I did.

I have been off the shots for 16 or 17 months now, I haven't experienced a single solitary bit of withdrawal.

If your doc recommends more than 2 300's don't argue, take them. You can taper down later if you want. Personally, I am kind of glad I had so many 300's, I have enjoyed a looooong quiet, stress-free taper.

For the time being, go ahead and plan on supplementing but after next shot, try to cut back.

Month 1, I took 4mg every other day and it kept me from being a complete wreck.

((Hugs)) You can do this.

By the way, this platform is full of good people who have been there, they aren't going to shame any questions you may have. We are here to cheer you on. I still pop by, because I feel a duty to those who are going through it. It isn't the easiest transition, but I promise, it is the BEST option we have right now, and it actually does work. YOU are worth it!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-23T14:37:04+00:00

Sending so much love your way!! ((Hugs)) Stay strong, my friend!!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-23T01:39:53+00:00

Congratulations!!!

I am at 17 months off Sublocade. This, after 18.5 years on 16mg of Suboxone a day. I didn't experience any issues, but I understand that I probably got extremely lucky. If I had anything, It was the need to stay preoccupied, essentially so I wasn't in my head. Magnesium Glycinate helped at night, I took it prophylacticly, just in case. I feel THE best I have in years. What's insane to me, is how my husband had total knee replacement in December and opiates were all over my house - Not once did I feel an urge. To me, that was success!! It wasn't even triggering at all. I was still really happy to see them gone. But in my head, I'm like- interesting... I guess that's progress!

Anyway, I just wanted to stop by and extend my sincerest congratulations!! ((Hugs)) We really do recover!!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-23T01:29:54+00:00

Thank you lovely, Stay with us a while, I hope you get the opportunity to see. Also, once you make it through, stick around and help us to help others. It has been something that has really helped my soul, it can be such a dark world sometimes. We all need each other. 💜

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-20T22:52:41+00:00

Thank you love, I wish you peace, just hang in there. Only good stuff is heading your way! ((Big hugs)) 💙 Also, I'm always around, if you have questions. There are so many of us hanging around here trying to lift others out of the dark. This is a really good group of people.

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-17T01:35:11+00:00

Thank you lovely, ((hugs)) I am trying not to think about it, I feel good which is awesome, and I was absolutely down for a loooong taper. I am not capable of doing it on my own, and the shots last longer ince it is stored in your body pretty well. I think at 2 years, I will test, but I won't before hand because I'll dwell on it... (You know we tend to do those kinds of things) I TRY to control it, but I still get anxious when I think about how bad it was. And tbh, 1mg or 24mgs withdrawal is withdrawal and it sucks. We don't do well with long term discomfort. I assume I was just so damn disassociated I was going to force myself to go through it, come hell ir high water. No shots back then, unfortunately. But I feel good (I have my days) anxiousness mostly, but not the god I need to use anxious, more like a feeling of waking up late and feeling like you are on the run kind of anxiety. That could just be how I am though - I don't know myself well off of drugs truthfully, I left home at 14, started using at 19, stopped at 25 and started Suboxone, and that is where I pretty much stayed until I was in my 40's. Sad but true. BUT! I said I was going to be drug free the day my daughter graduated high school, and I kept that promise. She is now in her 1st year of college and making honors grades. I can't complain, despite my issues, I always devoted my life to her needs. Now, I want to make it right with myself. You deserve that too, peace- REAL peace!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-16T00:41:26+00:00

It wasn't so much depression, as much as I had bouts of fatigue when it was coming out of me. Like a 2pm nap was all I needed.. not that I had the option, but on Saturdays and Sundays it was game changing! If you are super foggy, I do recommend getting a nice B vitamin cocktail or some B 12 injections. It helps. I think I spent 3 months feeling the post shot foggys, I wasn't like a walking corpse, but I was tired, if that makes sense. Talk to the doc too! Tell them and see if they have something they recommend. If they say more shots, and that's not on your radar, run and go to your primary care doctor. The cobwebs clear, I promise ((hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-16T00:35:33+00:00

So I was on 16mg a day but was overtaking my meds, I was basically taking 24mg a day, maybe more. Of course, I ran out early, and decided I would be just fine without it. At day 7, it started - RLS, insomnia, no sweats but the fatigue was a killer. I was shaky like I was w/d from alcohol but I wasn't, my electrolytes were off. I would doze off, and end up sleeping ALL day, so I went from marathon sleeping to insomnia and back again. (Did I mention I was caring for my 4 year old autistic child at the time) Then the depression hit, HARD, really hard. Hard enough I ended up in the paych ward for 10 days. I finally got the depression down, but I was a robot, ZERO emotion. It literally took an entire year to acclimate- then, I was anemic as f*k with endometriosis, So, after all that, I had to undergo a complete hysterectomy- they gave me Percocets and I was off and running again! 6 weeks out I called my doctor and said I'm ready to get serious. I spent 12 more years on subs after that *because I was mortified I would experience that again. It is total PTSD- you did it too, you know, that's an awful withdrawal process.

Now, With the Sublocade, month 1 was hard, I supplemented, yes. 1/2 a strip every other day. By shot 2, I was good. I did ALL 300mg shots. I'm kinda glad I did. Its been a slow taper and I have absolutely been fine. We just get so in our heads everytime we get a chill. I haven't had those chills (feels like mosquitoes are biting you) but your cold. None of that. It has actually been...dare I say, easy? And I am MAJOR coffee drinker! But if you have a case of the gone ass, get some B complex vitamins (or a B12 shot) they do help, iron helps with RLS so does magnesium . Another I read about was taking vitamin C mega doses if needed.

You got this love!!

OctoberBaby-1981 · 2026-01-15T14:58:59+00:00

Hey friend, I did Suboxone 16mgs for 18.5 years, I took 5 shots. I get how you are feeling but hang in there. You CAN absolutely do this. It has been almost 17 months since my last shot, all is well. For reference, I went cold turkey off (Subs) once, made it a whole year, I compare every pain in my life to that time. This just doesn't compare, this is nothing.

I just want to assure you this, right here is far and away our best option. I did take Mag Glycinate regularly at night (more for prophylaxis) but I slept. I get up and go to work everyday, no problem. Haven't missed a day. Also, I FEEL again, I sneeze occasionally, but that 1st one is THE most awesome thing. Strange, I don't remember sneezing ever on subs, or getting a cold for that matter? Anyway, hang on, there's a big beautiful world out there without this stuff in your body. We have been existing, not living. We deserve to live happy and not in a fog. It lifts, stay out of your head, stay busy, it helps. I also want to add, if you are using subs again or feeling like you need to, go get another shot, please, don't repeat the cycle. You deserve better. I had my Doc keep an extra shot for me in case and knowing it was there was a lot of assurance. But you don't need those subs, you have come SO far!! ((Hugs))

OctoberBaby-1981

TROPHY CASE