Author: donh
Posted: Fri Nov 11, 2011 6:11 pm
I wanted to add in a bit more to this topic. The way the question is worded makes it just a touch more difficult to answer – asking how long to be on Sub prior to starting a taper versus how long to be on Sub – PERIOD. Since I didn’t see this come up, it seems as though if we know anything, we know that one year seems to be a solid benchmark for successful treatment. Now again, I’m not saying one year prior to starting a taper, just one year of Bup treatment. Dr. J has listed this benchmark many times and there are multiple research studies that seem to confirm it. In fact, a very good study was released and talked about this week where they were seeing over 50% success with people staying out of active addiction while on Suboxone. Unfortunately, those results really tanked when Sub was stopped – to the tune of a single digit success rate – something near 8% if I remember correctly. That should really scream volumes to everyone. Imagine having a 1 in 2 chance at success while on Bup and then less than a 1 in 10 chance at success after you stop it. That is huge. I mean it really says it all – doesn’t it?
So I guess if there is any take home answer to this question, at least for me, it is this: Regardless of how long you taper or when you start to taper, you really should have been on Sub for at least one year by the day that you take your last dose. The other thing that seems to scream out – and we have had many, many people here prove this for us, once you stop Bup, your risk of relapse most certainly goes up. Even people who get into the 1 mg or less range seem to struggle with relapse. Whatever you do, you really have to be vigilant and step up your game when you decide to stop Bup. For some of us, we really need to strongly consider long-term, perhaps life-long treatment. The rest of us can certainly give it a try without Bup but the stats don’t lie. It’s pretty much like the divorce rate stats. For a 3rd marriage the divorce rate is about 80% or 4 in 5 don’t make it. Yet, how many try; thinking their situation will be different – they will be that 20% that survive. Stopping Sub is often the same. We all want to think that we’ll be in the majority that stay sober. Unfortunately, it is a minority that are able to do it.
