Many people taking Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) eventually ask the same question: “How do I stop taking Suboxone?” The answer depends on your individual situation, how long you have been taking it, your dose, and your recovery goals. The most important thing to know is that there is no prize for stopping Suboxone too quickly. In fact, rapid tapers often lead to withdrawal symptoms, cravings, relapse, and overdose risk. A slow, medically supervised approach is usually the safest and most successful path.
What Happens When You Stop Suboxone?
Suboxone is a long-acting medication. Because it stays in the body for a long time, withdrawal symptoms may not begin for several days after the last dose. Common symptoms include:
Common symptoms include:
• Anxiety and restlessness
• Insomnia
• Muscle aches and cramps
• Sweating and chills
• Nausea and stomach upset
• Fatigue
• Irritability
• Cravings for opioids
Depending on individual needs, these may include:
While Suboxone withdrawal is generally less severe than withdrawal from fentanyl, heroin, or oxycodone, it can last significantly longer.
The Best Way to Quit Suboxone
For most patients, a slow taper is the preferred approach. Taper schedules should be individualized, but many patients do best by reducing their dose gradually over weeks or months.
The key is to reduce the dose slowly enough that withdrawal symptoms remain manageable while maintaining stability in recovery.
Medications That Can Help During a Taper
At Direct2Recovery, we frequently use supportive medications to help patients remain comfortable
during the taper process.
Depending on individual needs, these may include:
• Methocarbamol (Robaxin) for muscle aches and cramps
• Gabapentin for anxiety, restlessness, and withdrawal discomfort
• Hydroxyzine for anxiety and agitation
• Trazodone for insomnia
• Ondansetron (Zofran) for nausea and vomiting
These medications can significantly improve comfort and help patients successfully complete a taper.
What About Sublocade?
For many patients, Sublocade can be an excellent option when discontinuing Suboxone. Sublocade is a long-acting monthly buprenorphine injection that slowly releases medication over time. After a period of stabilization, some patients are able to stop treatment with much less withdrawal than they would experience from stopping daily Suboxone tablets or films. Many patients find that transitioning from Suboxone to Sublocade provides a gentler and more comfortable path toward becoming medication-free.
Is It Time to Stop Suboxone?
Not everyone should discontinue Suboxone. For some patients, long-term maintenance treatment provides the best protection against relapse and overdose. The decision should be made carefully with an experienced addiction medicine provider.
Factors to consider include:
• Length of time in recovery
• Stability of housing and employment
• Mental health status
• History of relapse
• Support system
• Personal recovery goals
We Can Help
If you’re thinking about stopping Suboxone, you don’t have to do it alone. At Direct2Recovery, we help patients develop individualized taper plans, manage withdrawal symptoms, and explore options such as Sublocade to make the process as comfortable as possible. Whether your goal is long-term maintenance or eventually becoming medication-free, we can help you find the safest
path forward.
Direct2Recovery Medication-Assisted Treatment Specialists.
Serving patients throughout Arizona via telemedicine and in-person care.
602-601-7429
Direct2Recovery.com
Schedule your consultation today and let’s discuss the best plan for your recovery.
