Suboxone withdrawal symptoms: What to expect

Suboxone withdrawal symptoms can sometimes last for over a month at a time and many of the symptoms resemble some of the more common experiences that users getting over an opioid addiction can also suffer. In order to understand more about the withdrawal symptoms and what to expect as well as the timeline for withdrawal symptoms, we have to understand the importance of the medication and why it is used.

• Headaches: ongoing migraine headaches can be a consistent problem for people detoxing from Suboxone. As the brain begins to adjust its chemistry and learn how to produce dopamine without the use of the chemical assistance, it can take time and this can often cause headaches. Ongoing migraine headaches will continue to be a major problem for those experiencing Suboxone withdrawal.
• Difficulty with concentration: an ongoing symptom of feeling scatterbrained and difficulty concentrating can be a common symptom for those that are undergoing withdrawal. It can be very difficult to focus on work as well as other activities while recovering from Suboxone use.
• Mood swings: during withdrawal mood swings are consistent as well and a person can go from irritable, to depressed and anxious even within a matter of minutes. As brain chemistry has been altered it will take time before balance is restored. Irritability and a craving for the medication can also continue to affect a person’s demeanor.
• Constant fatigue and insomnia: the process of sleeping can be very difficult during withdrawal symptoms and ongoing drowsiness can come as a result. Because of the training aspect of detoxing the body constant fatigue can be an ongoing battle for Suboxone users. Drowsiness and insomnia will be consistent in the withdrawal symptoms.
• Body ache/ muscle aches: ongoing muscle aches and body aches can be a common symptom of Suboxone withdrawal. In most cases many people that experienced this say that it feels very similar to being sick with a heavy flu or fever. As temperature regulation can also be a problem with Suboxone withdrawal, it’s possible that many of the symptoms will correlate to make a person feel as though they have been struck by a very strong flu.
• Nausea and vomiting: vomiting and nausea can be a consistent problem for Suboxone withdrawal symptoms. When the brain needs to recover from addiction this can often affect the stomach and digestion which will often lead to problems with eating or drinking. The consistent nausea and vomiting can also lead to ongoing dehydration which can put the body at risk.
• Dehydration: through nausea vomiting as well as diarrhea the body will continue to react without the presence of the drug in its system. Dehydration can become a major factor to health as well as pose a risk to an individual during the detox phase. Sometimes it’s important to consider medically assisted withdrawal from Suboxone so that you could potentially get an IV drip if needed to combat the symptoms of severe dehydration.
• Fever/ sweating and chills: ongoing aspects of the fever, sweating and chills will continue over the course of withdrawal symptoms. It’s very difficult for the body to continue regulating its temperature while it’s dehydrated and without chemical balance restored in the brain. As a result the ongoing temperature regulation issues will continue to cause the symptoms of a fever and more with patients overcoming withdrawal.
• Ongoing craving for the drug: an ongoing craving for Suboxone will persist throughout. Knowing that a person could simply take a dose of the medication and reduce their withdrawal symptoms can be extremely tempting and the body will continue to crave the drugs long after they are leaving the system. Ongoing cravings for Suboxone could continue months or even years after withdrawal symptoms take place.