Recently, the Coleman Network had the honor of treating Benny in a Suboxone® Detox Program.
Benny works in IT, has been married for 10 years and has 2 young children. He has also been continuously taking Suboxone® daily, as prescribed by his doctor 8 years ago. Back then, Benny had a pill habit that was quickly turning into a heroin problem.
Suboxone®, a brand name for a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, was, at the time, the perfect medication to help him end his reliance on opioids and begin a stable recovery.
Since his initial prescription of Suboxone®, Benny became heavily involved in recovery meetings and built solid meditation practice. He was in a good position to stop taking Suboxone® so he came to the Coleman Network for our Suboxone® detox program.
Is Suboxone® a Life Sentence?
Yes, Suboxone® can help people stop using opioids; however, buprenorphine itself is a narcotic. When patients come to Coleman Network for our Suboxone® detox program, the same comments and concerns are voiced time and time again.
- When they started Suboxone®, their prescribing doctor did not discuss when or how they would stop taking it. Their prescribing doctor implied they felt they should stay on it for life.
- Their prescribing doctor was reluctant to have the discussion or didn’t seem invested in helping them reduce their reliance on Suboxone®.
On his own, Benny reduced his Suboxone® intake to 3-4 mg but still felt like he was in a constant state of withdrawal.
Our outpatient accelerated opioid detox facility was exactly what he needed. Within 8 days, Benny was off Suboxone® and onto an opioid blocker called naltrexone.
Energy Without Suboxone®
As a full-time father, employee, husband, and homeowner, Benny’s plate was full. He didn’t realize how much his body relied on Suboxone® for energy.
Because his body had been receiving dopamine via Suboxone® for 8 years, he no longer produced dopamine on his own. “Not only was the lack of sleep tough, the lack of energy just about killed me,” Benny said.
After the completion of his Suboxone® Detox Program, I asked Benny about his energy levels. He said “That’s finally getting better, too. There were a few moments when I wondered if I’d made the right decision to get off the Suboxone® — it is so easy to let life just continue, and not rock the comfortable boat…but I knew I didn’t want to be on this stuff forever, and I knew my recovery was strong.”
Now solidly in recovery, Benny has helpful tips for people who are experiencing the same difficult post-opioid-detox energy slump he did.
- Drink lots of water.
- Get exercise
- Keep a journal.
- Try meditation.
- Consider vitamins and probiotics.
- Prioritize sleep.
- Lean on your recovery community.
If you feel like your Suboxone® prescription is trading one opioid for another, or are ready to get off all opioids, we can help. Schedule a callback below to speak with one of our care advocates.
Joan R. Shepherd, NP
