Suboxone and Insomnia: What Users Say

• Bea...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 21, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been tapering off Suboxone for over a month. This is day 2 without any sort of Suboxone. I felt some problems yesterday and had trouble sleeping, but this is it for me! I never want to be addicted to anything ever again. It was right for me to go on the medication, and it's dead right for me to go off it now."

• joe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 7, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "I just recently quit Suboxone cold turkey from 24 mg. I was on Subs for over 6 years. I'm now in week three and I can still barely sleep. Still, my legs and back are in constant pain, and the only relief I get is to have hot baths. My advice is to quit whatever you're on instead of switching to a long-acting opiate. It takes so much longer to get off, and the withdrawals are pretty much the same but just prolonged. I can't wait to feel normal again!!! Worst experience ever, but I've been through so much the last few weeks I'll never touch an opiate again. Time to get on with life."

• Anonymous
• August 20, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone is a good drug to be used for a very short period of time to get through the detox off opioids, but taking it any longer than that is a horrible idea. I've been on it for almost 8 years, and my life has been horrible in most areas. I have tried several times to get off it, and I couldn't. Now I'm in a medical detox as I write this review on day 4 without it, and the withdrawal symptoms are 100 times worse than opioids. I'm only on day 4 and haven't slept in 4 nights, I have no energy, I can't eat, and I don't even want to move. I beg you not to take it. Doctors are just trying to make money off you. They don't care about you. The people on here writing positive reviews calling it a miracle have only been on it for a few months. I loved my first few months on it before my life became impossible! Please stay away from Suboxone. Go with the Vivitrol shot or Naltrexone. If anything, you will thank me when you're not going through months of withdrawals!"

• dad...
• November 21, 2009

For Opioid Use Disorder "To make a long story short... I have missed out on 6 years of quality time that I could have spent with my kids making memories. Instead, I was lying in bed making phone calls trying to find pain pills just so I could get out of bed. I knew I had a problem, and I tried to stop. I just couldn't do it. I felt hopeless! But what was worse than feeling hopeless was knowing that I wasn't being the father that my kids deserved to have. Then one day, sitting in the doctor's office, I saw a brochure for Suboxone. That was the day my kids got their Daddy back! Trust me, it works! So please don't make the same mistake I did. Don't wait, your kids need you now!"

• Elv...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• November 21, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was taking 2 to 4 mg a day for 7 years. I just got off of it. I had 1 strip left and tapered for 7 days, then quit. My withdrawal was very mild. Not sleeping was the worst, didn't have any other. So, it worked for me, I was over it in 3 days."

• Tuk...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 23, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "It's a huge mistake to get on Suboxone. They did not even study what this stuff does to people. It's us who are stuck taking it, we are the guinea pigs. My experience after a year on it is that it has depleted all ambition to do anything but sleep, yet it has caused major insomnia. It eats away at your gums, teeth, and liver. I can barely write this because of its effects on my brain. I can't articulate things like I used to. It messes up your endocrine system as well. I have symptoms of adrenal gland hypothyroidism. This has made me sick and stupid. It seems to be hurting my liver and rotting my teeth, yet I can't stop taking it or I'll become awfully sick with withdrawal for up to a year. This has ruined my life and has put a wall between me and God."

• Nik...
• December 28, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been on Suboxone for about a year but only took half of the 8mg a day. I heard horror stories, its withdrawals are horrible if you take a lot. I wanted to get off them because my sex drive is non-existent, and I have a boyfriend, so that's a big issue. Also, they make me sleep long, long hours. On my days off, I could sleep all day if I wanted to, they make me constipated. I'm on day 2 of not taking any. I am withdrawing: restless nights, body aches, yawning non-stop, and nausea, but it's not unbearable, it's just annoying. I'm pretty much laying around waiting to feel normal again. Anyone out there that doesn't take the whole strip, you guys can get off it, it's not that bad. Good luck!"

• Jim...
• September 15, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I banged heroin for 8 years and was on Suboxone for 4 years. I fell into the same trap everyone does and had a hard time coming off the Suboxone. When I came off, it was pretty much a week of insomnia/RLS nightmare. Week 2 was marginally better, and week three was substantially better. My trick was working out (which I was never into). I cannot stress this enough: WORK OUT! Stuff that makes you grit your teeth, like pushups and squats. It makes an absolute huge difference to everything. JUST DO IT! I"

• Tom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 19, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone was great for getting off of opioids (Percocet) and the $100/day habit, but it came with a high price. I was addicted to Suboxone now (under doctor's care) and we tried 6-7 times to wean me off. IMPOSSIBLE!! And I was a successful business owner who was a workaholic and could do almost anything. The insomnia and restless leg drove me back every time. Finally had to go to a medical detox place, RCA, to get off this stuff. In the meantime, I lost 400k, can't work, have crippling depression, and can't focus on stuff. I've been opioid/Suboxone-free for 7 months now, and guess what?? I'm still a mess. All I can say is don't take that stuff long term. It's BRUTAL to stop..."

• Nog...
• May 16, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Subs for 7 years and have been very successful with my family and career! Two weeks ago I decided I don't want to depend on anything but myself, well I thought... I have been taking just a quarter strip for one year now and if I skip a day, I can barely function. I called my doctor and he told me there's no withdrawal... Bullshit! It's been two weeks, I haven't taken it, and I still can't sleep at night, my back feels like it's on fire, and I just got done puking my guts out! This has been the hardest thing I have EVER had to overcome! If you're serious about getting clean, DO NOT take this for a long period of time! Yes, it helps with the cravings but not your addiction!"

• Kri...
• May 7, 2014

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was a heroin addict for the past 5 years. I was in and out of detox 6-7 times. I never wanted to be on Suboxone outside of detox because of the horror stories I had heard. This medication saved my life. I got clean on January 1 of this year (checked into detox again on Dec 31-yes, New Year's Eve). I decided this time to stay on the medication following discharge. It has completely changed my life. I am still clean, on a low dose and tapering off at a pace that's comfortable for me. I didn't sleep for maybe 2 weeks after returning home, but that was due to the fact that heroin used to put me to sleep. I am a mother to my son and daughter again thanks to Suboxone."

• Joe...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 15, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "OK, love you all first off, but can't believe what I am reading, people saying opiate withdrawals are three days, lmao. You are not even dependent on them then. I've been to day 25 and felt worse than day three. The shits, cramps, no sleep, every muscle and bone hurt, can't eat, lost 20 pounds. And none of it is in your head, no shrink can help your pain, how stupid. Couldn't even possibly make it to a shrink. And I have a degree in chemical dependency drug counseling. It's a joke. Helps no one. Now on to Suboxone, sure it keeps you from opiate withdrawals, but it's ten times worse to kick. Post-acute withdrawals from Suboxone can last up to two years. You can never get off it, it could kill you for real. No one on box is even close to out of hot water."

• Tya...
• December 27, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Let me tell you, try not to take the Suboxone long-term. I have been kicking 16 mgs cold turkey. The first ten days weren't that bad, but I haven't slept more than a few hours every night. I can barely work, it's hard to do anything. It is a miracle drug when you are on it, but when it's gone, it's a much worse curse than the devil itself. Was stewing on quitting for a solid 12 months, finally gathered the balls to do it, and it has been a nightmare. Walking around in a haze, so sleep-deprived, seeing shadows in my peripheral vision. Digestive tract is like a sprinter who was just let out of a cage, as fast as my body can break down food, it comes right out."

• DGa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 30, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone saved my life. I was an intravenous drug user and was highly addicted to opiates. Luckily, I decided to try Suboxone before it was too late. I was on it for 3 months the first time around with minimal withdrawals, but also I was less dependent on opiates at the time. After relapsing, I took it a second time. The second time, however, I was on it for 3 years and utilized a long-term taper plan. While I was on it, I did feel good at times and was able to refrain from using other opiates. It was much harder to kick after taking it for a longer amount of time! Withdrawals lasted about 2 months for me. Leg pains, diarrhea, and insomnia were the worst for me. In the end, Suboxone helped me get my life back!"

• Fro...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• August 18, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone since January 14, 2013. I started on 16 mgs a day and now am down to 6 mgs a day. These strips have saved my life and the lives of a few of my friends. The only side effect I have on these is that I can't sleep if I take it too late in the morning. My insurance covers the cost except for a $25 copay. $25 is nothing compared to what I was spending a month. I have no cravings or pain, and this allows me to live my life to the fullest and enjoy my beautiful children. This is a great way to come out of pain pill addiction and start your life over."

• Ist...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 25, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I'm currently on my third day of detox from Suboxone. I'm fairly sick, can't control my stomach at times. I've been having the worst insomnia and have only been able to sleep for a few hours at a time before I wake up in a pool of my own sweat. I started my jump at 2 mgs. I had been tapering for a while to get to this point and finally made the decision to end this affliction that overall I've been dealing with for close to three years. I read so many wonderful shared stories here. It's given me a lot of hope as I forge my own personal story."

• Bip...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 30, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "I've been on Suboxone for 8 years, started at 8 mg, then for the past 6 months, been sent the 2 mg. I had my last dose 10 days ago in preparation for the detox clinic. Checked myself out after day 5 as barely any symptoms. That night they began in force!! I'm now at day 10, and although vomiting and diarrhea have stopped, I still feel incredibly awful, crawling skin, RLS, and insomnia. So just beware in my case, it took a long time to leave my system and definitely sneak attacks you when you least expect. I've been prescribed lorazepam (short term) to help with sleep, and it definitely has helped with the skin crawling thing enough that I can get a couple hours of sleep. Hope this helps you, and good luck."

• Mar...
• January 29, 2016

For Opioid Use Disorder "I started Suboxone on Monday at 1 PM after 26 hours of clean time. The first 24 hours was rough but nowhere near a cold turkey experience. I stayed with a friend for support. Maybe got 3 hours of sleep. The second 24 hours was marginally better. Stayed with a friend again. Near no sleep. The 3rd 24 hours was better still. I was still hurting but made it with little to no sleep at a friend's. Today, the 4th 24 hours I'm pretty much okay. A real miracle. I got some work done and socialized a bit even. It's 12:30 AM now. Sleep isn't an option yet. So I hope that helps. By the way, I am on 2-8 mg tabs per day. Oh, drink LOTS of fluids. Good luck. You can do it!"

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2015

For Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone worked a miracle for me. I suffer from hydrocephalus and have a shunt in my brain. For 8 years, I had a neurologist tell me all he could do was treat me for pain. It didn't take long to realize they were addicting. I didn't know anymore if I was treating pain or the addiction. After all, I had an excuse. Then one day it hit me. I had been using the word 'excuse.' I tried to stop cold turkey. But each time, I'd get severe depression, anxiety, RLS, insomnia, headaches. I wasn't aware that my body was opiate dependent until I talked to a different doctor. He took my blood pressure, which was really low, and informed me that it was dangerous to quit like that after so long and suggested I try Suboxone. It works!"

• Anonymous
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• October 8, 2012

For Opioid Use Disorder "I went on this kicking and screaming. Very skeptical. It saved my life. Minimal withdrawal from 6 mg - 1 mg. Only symptoms from 1 - 0 mg were insomnia, sneezed, and RLS at night, with SLIGHT agitation. Could have been a cold. NO rebound opiate depression and no other symptoms. Sleep normal within 1 week."

• Bif...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 9, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I am 50 years old. Suboxone was the only way I could get off of ten years of opiate abuse, and I am grateful to be completely free of addictive substances now. Some cautions: my entry into taking buprenorphine was rough. I take protease inhibitors for HIV, and one of them dramatically increased the effect of the 8 mg buprenorphine, so within 48 hours, I was totally out of it and scared enough to go to the emergency room. I felt like I had OD'd. It wore off in four hours, but I did experience a short blackout. Once we adjusted the dosage, it was okay, but my docs should have caught the possible interaction with the HIV meds. I eventually tapered the dose over a year to 1 mg or less until drug-free. I had some moderate withdrawal for a week. Mostly sleep difficulties, anxiety, restless legs, and lots more saliva and crazy yawning. Should note my testosterone levels really dropped during the period I was on bupe and started to come up again to within normal range gradually."

• Meg...
• April 2, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "The first time I was prescribed Subutex, it was transitioning from methadone. The first few days were a little rough, but after that, things were great. I switched to Zubsolv with no issues. I ended up losing my insurance and got back on pills first, then later heroin. Getting back on Bupe after heroin was EXTREMELY hard. The first three days I still have to use (I didn't go through precipitated W/D). Then for the next week or two, I can do nothing but sleep. After that, I'm pretty much good, except I'll wake up all night, every hour on the hour. It does work well, methadone works better, but I don't like feeling like a zombie, so I won't take it again. I think H.A.T. would work best, but unfortunately not an option for me."

• gre...
• August 29, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "I first started on Vicodin 9 years ago. Well, I eventually became a full-blown addict on other things. Started Suboxone 5 days ago and finally feel life coming back into this empty shell I called my body. Fell into withdrawal the first dose because I took it too soon, but 5 days later, and I'm feeling great. Sleeping has been a little difficult as well. It felt great to come home from work today and know that the money I made will be going to something that was slowly killing me. Thank you, Suboxone."

• Trx...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 4, 2013

For Opioid Use Disorder "Been on heroin and other street drugs since I was 13, 14. I'm 37 now, and this is my first time at doing my turkey, as they say, or giving it up properly. This is my first afternoon on the medication. I know it's a bit early to jump into things or get my hopes up yet, but I'm actually feeling really good. I'm my nice, normal, happy self again, whereas normally I'd be wrapped up in bed clucking like usual until my next charge. I don't know how it's translated from English to American, but I'm on 16 mg a day, and fingers crossed I'll get some sleep tonight. Wow, forgotten what it actually feels like to sleep sober and actually enjoy lying in my bed. :) I'll write back further into the treatment. Thank you and congrats to all, it's been helping x x x"

• old...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• February 12, 2025

For Opioid Use Disorder "I will tell you what the rest won't. If you are strong enough to kick heroin, do it. Because when you're a real drug addict and not just taking some pills and have been around, it's all about the detox. Now H has some harder detox symptoms than subs. Having said that, with H, you count the days till you feel better, typically for a hard user, 2 weeks. Suboxone is miserable. The symptoms actually get worse as time goes by. I was on 3 8-milligram strips a day, then I went to jail. The first month being sick was hell, then came month 2! I could not sleep, trying to eat was horrible. Now the 3rd month was 'better.' The only reason I got off was I got into a fight and broke my arm. I went to the hospital, and when I went back to jail, they gave me 10 mg Vic. For about 2 weeks after that, I felt fine. My warning to you is you will have to detox eventually."