Suboxone has the unique ability to give certain individuals massive amounts of energy. How can it do this? I’m going to teach you why some people get energy from Suboxone, and why Suboxone makes others simply feel normal. While working as a counselor at an Opiate Treatment Program (OTP), I had many patients ask me, “does Suboxone give you energy?” My answer was always the same. “If you’re lucky!”
Does Suboxone give you Energy?
Yes. Suboxone does in fact give some people energy. However, it by no means gives everyone energy. I’ll explain this soon. First, I believe it’s important to share my personal experience with Suboxone energy.
My Experience with Suboxone Energy
Several years ago I was using illegal street Suboxone to manage opiate withdrawal symptoms. I had been abusing prescription opiates for several months, and could no longer afford them. That’s when I found a connection that sold me Suboxone.
It was a miracle drug. Not only was it considerably cheaper than oxys, but it also gave me ENERGY! Lot’s of energy.
What I also noticed was how well it mixed with caffeine. My morning ritual consisted of taking Suboxone first thing after waking, then drinking a cup of coffee afterwards.
Now don’t get me wrong. Suboxone by itself was enough to give me a ton of energy. Mixing it with caffeine, however, supercharged me and gave me massive amounts of Suboxone energy.
After my morning ritual I would walk to work feeling confident, energized, and ready to take on the day. Suboxone energy made me actually enjoy my job. I had so much energy and happiness I even did extra work during the downtime!
My Clinical Observations of Suboxone Energy
While working at the OTP, I talked to many patients who told me how Suboxone would give them energy. They’re experiences were similar to my story.
They would take Suboxone and have energy, confidence and happiness throughout the day. Other patients simply stated that Suboxone made them feel “normal.” It intrigued me why some people gained energy, while others did not.
Why does Suboxone give you Energy?
Answering this question is actually quite difficult. Luckily, I’ve been researching opiate addiction for a long time and believe I have the answer. It has to do with biochemistry. I’ll share a story to paint a picture of what I’m talking about.
When I was 22 years of age, a friend of mine got beat up while working as a doorman at a local bar. His shoulder was injured, and the doctor prescribed him Vicodin to ease the pain. One day we were hanging out together, and he offered me one his Vicodin. I had never tried any pills before, but I decided to give it a shot.
He took one as well, and off we went. About an hour later, my friend was passed out in his chair.
This didn’t surprise me, since hydrocodone is an opioid drug, and opioids are central nervous system depressants. What did surprise me, however, was that I had an opposite reaction. Not only was I awake, but I had more energy, confidence, happiness and enthusiasm for life than ever before!
I had so much energy I felt like going to do some fun stuff. Unfortunately, my friend was passed out. So I had to wait for him to wake up before I could go use this artificial energy I had received. That was just the first of many experiences with energy from opioids.
Over the years I’ve met many people that pass out if they take a pain pill. Rarely do these individuals become addicted. I’ve also met a superabundance of people that get energy from opioids. In my clinical experience, I’ve found that these individuals are much more prone to developing an opioid addiction.
The Biochemistry of Suboxone Energy
Why does Suboxone and other opioids give some people energy, when CNS depressants are supposed to make you drowsy? I believe there are two reasons why this can happen. The first reason is an obvious one.
Let’s say a girl named Kelly is physiologically dependent on opioids due to abusing heroin for a year. Kelly’s dealer gets busted and goes to jail, leaving her with no way to get heroin. On the third day of heroin withdrawal, she has no energy and is laying in bed going crazy.
Luckily, her friend Jason comes over with a suboxone strip for her. After taking the medication, Kelly feels an immediate relief of withdrawal symptoms. Not only that, but she starts to get a ton of energy and takes Jason out to breakfast. Later they go hang out at the beach for the day.
This is an obvious form of Suboxone energy. Taking an opioid when you’re in withdrawal can give you energy. Most people know this. The second type of Suboxone energy is much different. Remember when I took that Vicodin and became super energized?
I wasn’t going through opioid withdrawal. In fact, I had never even taken a pain pill before. Years later I took 8 mg of Suboxone for recreational use. I hadn’t used an opioid in many months, and had no addiction at that point in my life.
I received an unbelievable amount of energy from it. I had seemingly unlimited energy, confidence and happiness. What’s more, I gave a friend of mine about 1 mg of Suboxone, which was an eighth of what I took. He ended up getting super tired and couldn’t stop vomiting!
So why does Suboxone and other opioids have different effects on different people?
I believe the main reason people have different reactions to drugs is due to their biochemisty. I believe the reason many individuals get energy from Suboxone is due to an endorphin deficiency.
Endorphins
Endorphins are neurotransmitters that act as chemical messengers. They are our bodies natural pain-killers. When a person is deficient in endorphins, they can be very sensitive to physical and emotional pain. This sensitivity can lead to energy being depleted from over-stressing. This person is much more likely to get energy from Suboxone or other opioids than someone who has plenty of endorphins.
The large amount of artificial endorphins from suboxone enable an endorphin-deficient individual to relax. This frees up the energy that they’ve been wasting from stressing out. It makes this energy immediately available to them.
I believe this is the essential reason some people get energy from Suboxone, though I’m sure it also has to do with many other biochemical factors. Let me give you another example of drugs having an opposite effect on an individual.
Case Study
I’m sure you’ve probably heard of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD). Symptoms include difficulty focusing, hyperactivity, and trouble controlling behavior. Logic would tell us that prescribing a calming medication would help someone who is hyperactive.
This is not the case, however. The main medication prescribed for ADHD is adderall. Adderall is a mixture of four different amphetamine salts. SPEED! That’s right…..people with ADHD hyperactivity are give a powerful stimulant to calm them down. A classic example of a drug producing the opposite effect in someone who is biochemically imbalanced.
There are many other cases as well, but this is the most common. So now you see why it’s possible to have an opioid, which is a CNS depressant, actually give you energy.
Conclusion
Suboxone can produce massive amounts of energy in individuals with certain biochemical imbalances. There is no way to know who will get Suboxone energy, and who will not. Also, it’s important to remember that individuals who get energy from Suboxone might have a very difficult time coming off the medication.
After being used to so much energy, coming off suboxone can be a huge shock to the body. Luckily, there are natural ways you can prevent this from happening by taking certain supplements, exercising, and eating a proper endorphin-building diet.
Does suboxone give you energy?
If you answered yes to this question, make sure to read more about tapering suboxone.
If you have any questions, please don’t hesitate to leave it in the comment box below.
This article was clearly written by a true dope fiend lol
Haha.
Subs gave me energy too. I’ve been on Buvidal (slow release bupe), but it’s just not the same. I don’t understand why. Found the Subs to be a good antidepressant too. I want back on the Subs as the feelings of apathy are severe, but I need to come up with $140 a month. I CBF eating, showering or talking. I don’t understand this. Could you please help me understand why? I need to make sense of this.
I get load’s of energy while taking Suboxone strips. I also experienced that with opioids over the years. When I’m not taking anything for pain I’m zapped of energy and am not very productive. I chose to keep getting my prescription for the Subs because I feel so stabilized and normal! I feel I’m deficient in some brain producing chemicals.
Hi Matt,
I’ve been taking pain pills daily for 8 years now, And was up to at least 60-80 mg of oxy.
I got ahold of some suboxone because it’s time for me to get my life together. So today is my first day clean from opiates. I’m not sure how many mg of the suboxone I’m supposed to take. I’ve tried researching. I’m wondering if you know what I should be taking daily & how many dosing’s and how many MGs I should take to feel comfortable. I feel fine now, but I was really really tired all day. I’m wondering if me only taking 4mg strip at 9am was why? I recently took another 4mg and it made me feel a little better. Anyways, if you have any info for me that would be awesome =)
Hello, yes suboxon gives me a ton of energy. I take it in the morning with a energy drink and i can go all day long. I have a physically demanding job and i too enjoy my job more and also do extra work. I am having a hard time because i dont want to be on the subxone anymore. Im trying to ween myself off but finding i dont have that energy anymore. I dont want to be on this anymore. but im finding it so hard to go to work with no engery. My cravings have become worse just thinking about cutting back. Help
I started suboxone 1 month ago and I feel miserable. I am so depressed and exhausted. I want my opiates back. Opiates made me happy and confident. I was always happy. Suboxone I am so depressed I cry and sleep all day going on my 6th week. I am about to give up
That’s awful, Jen. I’m so sorry you’re going through this. Suboxone doesn’t agree with everyone. But a few things could be happening:
1. Your dose could be too low.
2. Your dose could be too high.
3. Suboxone might be a bad fit for your individual biochemistry.
You might want to ask your doctor to help you figure out if you should raise or lower your dose, as that could fix the issue. If that doesn’t’ fix the issue, you might ask to try a different medicine, like Subutex, Zubsolv, Sublocade, or methadone. You shouldn’t be feeling like this. It’s totally abnormal. Please tell your doctor to help you fix this so you can get back to feeling awesome, okay?
I just started on Suboxone and I think it’s crap I have this is day three and I’ve taken two strips within an hour of each other 8 mg and I still feel like crap I’m feverish I ache I get dizzy when I stand up I am not myself my house is a wreck I don’t have the energy I don’t know what to do I feel like this is not a good fit for me but I have no insurance I paid 250 to see the dumb doctor $140 to get to Suboxone and I don’t know what to do I mean now what am I going to have to detox off Suboxone what the hell I just want to be normal why don’t they prescribe you sleeping pills you know so you can sleep through the detox and then some kind of mental pill so you’re at least happy. They have those sure they do and what the hell this is not the solution Suboxone sucks
You took way too much! Take 1 strip and see how you feel. 2 is WAY too much so there’s no way you need more than 2 whole strips. If you take too little or too much it makes you tired.
When you took the first strip I guarantee you probably didn’t even wait a whole hour. Take 1 strip and wait around 1 in a half/ 2 hours and if you don’t feel anything by then take a HALF of a strip not another whole one that’s just too much.
IveI been told by a forward think doctor that we are 1in4. Only 25% of us get the energy from opiods. Sorry to the other 75%. Also you mentioned adhd. Well I’ve been self medicating with opiates for a long time. The same doctor I mentioned earlier said he absolutely believed opiates helped my ADHD and moreover said they are working on an opiod for treatment of ADHD and OCD and some other things. Also this hashis has to do with dopamine as well. I had a general essay done and apparently they can tell if you are in the 25% with this test. I am a firm believer in opiods help some mental conditions not just pain. Just type opiods helped my ADHD or OCD in to Google and you will find hundreds of testimonials. Good look and thanks for this page.
Matt i have been taking tramadol for 4 years now. I am now 1 day off of them wasn’t buying off streets was prescribed to me by my dr i only took 2 a day but now im having serious withdrawals. Will suboxone help me
Yes! I was prescribed suboxone after years of addiction with tramadol. I was taking up to 6 pills a day believe it or not. Ive been clean from tramadol now for over a year thanks to suboxone. Tramadol withdrawals was by far the most horrific experience ive ever endured in my life. Find a doctor who can help put you on subs. Best decision I ever made in my life. I couldn’t imagine still being on tramadol now. Best of luck!
I’ve recently went on subs to get off tramdol that I’ve been taking for 10 years and it’s been a lifesaver thank u Jesus !!!!!! Hang in there !
I mean considering its tramadol I and others had to take so much to the point of the cost/benefits ratio making it redundant.6 pills isn’t really anything that out there in terms of abuse. Because everyone is unique and abuse is still abuse thought its not ne discounting you. I just honestly get suprised when I hear the conversation about tramadol. Honestly I think suboxone will be a much worse experience if not done right compared to tramadol.
I would try kratom first. Not nearly as powerful. However, kratom is very addictive and now I’m on subs because of kratom soooooo I guess if you are like me, just go straight for the subs lol you
Thanks for the sales pitch for suboxone. I must get me some of those.
Hi matt ive been using heroin smoking it fornabout 8 months now and i need to get off it iv managed to. Scorw some subitex of a friend i have 25 8mg
Tabs i am looking for advice on when to take first dose and how much to take.
Suboxone is like a miracle cure for me. I’ve tried getting and staying clean many times, the longest I had was 5yrs working the NA program. Even then I felt horrible and had no energy and brief feelings of happiness. I remember many yrs ago taking a sub for withdrawal and feeling like I had coffee and was ethusiastic. Currently I’m prescribed 8mg/2mg films of Suboxone. I never felt this happy and ethusiastic with life. I have tons of energy and enjoy it with coffee as well. It’s helping me with my anxiety, OCD, and depression. I’m also on fluvoxamine for OCD and depression. I think Suboxone should be studdied more cause I think they could be on thier way of knowing the cause of addiction and a cure. For me it’s like a cure. I’m happy, productive, and don’t want to drink or use anything to make me feel normal or better. My behavior improved as well. I’m living healthier and have been more loving and spiritual. They should make Suboxone cheaper and more readily available. Use it as a drug for addiction long-term like a person would use Adderall for add
The only problem with that is you are now chained to suboxone. If the government with pressure from the pharmaceutical companies (because generics take over and they can’t earn billions with patents any longer) decide to make a war on suboxone like they did with other pain killers, everyone dependent on suboxone will be in HUGE TROUBLE. Suboxone saturates your brain with so many chemicals etc and you will stop making things like epinephrine and dopamine on your own. Withdrawal from suboxone is a million times worse than opiates and takes much longer. Some people believe one never recovers fully and will spend the rest of life tired and miserable. It’s not so hard to cut down from like 8 mg to 2 but the hardest part is going down from 2 to nothing. Many people are miserable after a 6 month taper from 2 to 0 even a year later. Just 1/2 a 2 mg strip and they feel great. In this case the “cure” is even worse than the “disease” unfortunately. This will start becoming evident within the next few years. Whenever possible, suboxone should be used short term to stop medications naturally or synthetically derived from what most people mistakenly call opiods or opiates.
Hello matt, I use to get my suboxone strips 8mg from the streets I will take small pieces one 8mg strip will last me about 4-6 days. I use to feel amazing while on it I will have a very pleasant euphoria effect whole lot of energy felt great. Long story short I lost touch with supplier mind you I didn’t know anything about withdrawals went seven days without any energy vomiting, diarrhea etc I thought it was a flu the whole time I was on withdrawals. Now I been taking oxy on and off I got a hold of suboxone 4mg strip I stopped the oxy started taking the suboxone strips I will take 1-2 mg at most for some strange reason I don’t feel the effects I once did I just feel normal I don’t feel that good mood lift and energy i use to get can you please advise what should I do to get that feeling back should I higher my dose? Mind you I have never dose more than 2mg at once always kept it low that’s all I really needed to get through my day. Please advise thank you.
It sounds like the dose is not high enough to me. Or maybe your biochemistry has changed and now the energy won’t come back no matter what dose you use. The only way to know for sure is to experiment with your dosage.
Hey matt,
A while back I had a friend give me a suboxone strip 8mg he told me to take a small piece that it will make me feel good, I got the 8mg strip and cut a small corner put it under my tongue 30-40 min later I felt amazing full euphoria, energy, social from that point on I kept taking it buying them from the streets I always felt great while I was on them, I always kept it at small doses one 8mg strip will last me 5-6 days. I lost contact with my supplier I didn’t know anything about withdrawals at the time I got really sick I thought I had the flu days will go by and felt even worst the withdrawals lasted at least 7 days I never knew it was due to the Suboxone. Now I got caught up with oxy I was able to find suboxone strips from the streets I stopped taking the oxy got back on the Suboxone. I take a small piece off a 4mg strip I do not get that energy and euphoria I use to get when I did it back then, can you please explain to me why? should I take a higher dose? I have never done more than 1.5 mg, please advise I need that energy I once got due to work, kids etc. Thank you
Hi Angel,
I just answered this same question you asked in another post. I’ll answer again here. Your dose may need to go higher for the energy, or it may be that your biochemistry has altered and now the Suboxone will no longer give you the energy side effect. The only way to know for sure is to experiment with your dose and see if raising it up gives you the energy you want.
Hi Matt I was put on suboxone 8mg.2mg tablet 1 pill 2 times a day. I started taking them 3/22/2018. Because I was out on tramadols 5 yrs. earlier. And became addicted to them. How long should i take the subs before I stop. Cause I’m ready to stop I been taking 1 8.2mg for 2 days now. Not the 16mg.4mg
Son was prescribed oxy for several years. Then started on heroine and meth. Is now taking Subutex. One week on taking about 14 mg a day. First couple of days on smaller induction dose were great. Now he basically doesn’t carry about anything or how he treats people. Totally not his normal personality. Do you think his does is too low or too high. I am going to order supplements you suggested tonight to help brain emotion chemicals.
Buprenorphine can have that side effect on some people. It could be from too high a dose, too low of a dose, or even the perfect dose and just a side effect. It can change your personality and it can make it so you don’t feel emotions anymore, as it can numb them. You may want to try kanna root with him. It is an empathogen that is a natural SSRI, so it’s a plant that increases serotonin naturally and helps people feel happier and have more empathy and softness. Here is an article that talks about it:
Kanna Benefits>>
Thank you.
You’re welcome. 🙂
Hi! I’m one of those people that get instant energy with suboxone.
In fact not just this but pretty much any opiate.
It’s worked in my favour for the fact that I was able to be a functioning addict for many years, but like all opiates, it does come to a stop at some point. I actually got on methadone and the energy was still there, but somewhat different.
I’m on suboxone now, after getting off methadone, and in enjoying the increase in energy once again.
I’ll only be on it while the residual withdrawals from the methadone wear off. 1-2 months at most.
This is the last home stretch, then i’ll be clean. Nearly there 🙂
I know this is a few years old, but thank you for posting this.
Congrats on being in the home stretch, Ami! I’m proud of you! And it was my pleasure to post this article. Glad you enjoyed it. 🙂 Take care.
Hi Matt! Thanks for writing this article!
I have a painful auto immune disease called Hiadrenitis Supportiva for 18 years and have been prescribed opiates for the pain for about 9 years now. In the beginning I had lots of energy and felt that it was partly the endorphins and less pain that was helping me get Thru the day. During a remission of the disease in 2012-2014 I went cold turkey off the opiates and suffered from a deep depression. The dose I’m on no longer works and my doctor referred me to another colleague to discuss Suboxone for pain management. I go in Monday to begin and I’m not looking forward to the detox this weekend, but have the mind set this is going to help my pain and help me with energy and stress and I will be feeling better soon. Even if I am not one of those that get energy from it, feeling normal will be enough as I have been so tired and stressed for about a year now and I’m really looking forward to getting up and around and being busy and industrial like I used to be. I’ll give you an update next week if you’re interested.
Hi Amy,
You’re so welcome for this article!!! And I thank you for the feedback and for taking the time to write in. I would really love to hear from you again so yes, please give me an update after this happens. Looking forward to seeing how this goes, and I’m wishing you the absolute best. Talk to you soon. 🙂
So I stopped my painkillers last Thursday n started Suboxon Friday morning. I have no energy n don’t know what to do. I have 2 small children n NEED ENERGY to function but all I wanna do is sit on the couch. I’m not having withdrawals but the energy is what I loved about pills + I have a bad back n syatica BUT I only cared about the nice flow of energy bc I can’t stand taking things that make my heart palpitation but pills didn’t do that. HELPPPPPPP PLEASE!!!! I need to get off the couch n live again 😔
Hi, ive been on subutex for years now and trying to get off it. Ive come down from 28mg to 1mg, which seems to be the lowest amount i can take without feeling terrible. Ive never got energy from sub before, until the last couple of months… now if i have more than 1mg (say 2mg) i almost feel like im on speed i have so much energy im so happy i even experience a bit of a come down hours lated… do you know why this is only happening to me recently? Also, what are your best tips at getting off subutex? I have a really really hard time with it. Thanks so much
Hi Zoey,
Biochemistry is an interesting thing. I don’t know why it took so long before you started getting this energy, but I do have a great article that will teach you how to get off the medication naturally. Click below to check it out:
How To Get Off Subutex Without Withdrawal>>
I read when taking a Bupe dose lower than 2 MG it actually allows it to turn into Nor-Bupe in your brain rather than regular Bupe. Nor-Bupe is a full agonist where Bupe is only a partial agonist. So this could be the reason why you feel better at the lower dose than you did at the higher dose. A lot of people feel less is more with Bupe and a dose under 2 MG is the way to go when you are using it for maintenance.
I started on Bub 3 days ago and have barely slept a wink.I have unbelievable energy. In fact, too much because I need to sleep sometimes and know this isn’t good for my body. I know I can’t just stay awake for the rest of my life. I don’t know what to do. I’ve don’t know if my body will adjust. I’ve been on morphine for pain for several years and when my Dr. Switched me I was so worried that I’d end up in bed all the time like I was before without my morphine energy. Help. I know my body needs it’s sleep. Also, I love love love my energy and want to keep it and I know I’d be very sick if I stopped taking it and I’m not going to do that. Also these things that melt on my tongue are too small to cut in half and I also tried taking it wayyyyy Before bedtime. My Dr would be off now help on this so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated. Had anyone else been unable to sleep? Not even drowsy HERE!!!
You may need a dose adjustment I would talk to your doctor and see about changing it and seeing what happens if you don’t stabilize soon. It may take a week or more before you get stabilized on Suboxone. Sorry you can’t sleep that must be awful.
Thank you Matt. It has leveled off now and I am able to sleep now. I can’t believe some of these posts fit me to the t. I’m thinking that I’ve always had endorphin deficits. I spent years being tired and was depressrd to see everyone around me being so active and enjoying life. Today I got on a bike for the first time in years and watched the sunrise at the beach. FYI. My pain Dr took me off morphine and switched me to suboxone for my pain
I feel the same way with watching everyone else enjoy life with all this energy happiness as Iv had depression as well n No energy n always thought there was something wrong with me 😔But Good for u tho! Hope I can get to that point n makes me not feel alone. I just feel like a loser plus having 2 small kids don’t help
Fascinating article. Do you have any cites to academic journals or the like that would suggest that folks who get energy from opiates have unique endorphin deficits? It would make sense, and would be awesome to see some studies done.
Thank you Yorick. I haven’t found any research to substantiate this, just anecdotal evidence from my observations of working with hundreds of clients over the years. I agree that it would be most awesome to see scientific evidence of this.
I have been taking Suboxone for about 2 years now for the first year I was getting on the streets and for the last year I’ve been going to the doctor I have very low energy and no motivation at all to do anything it always wondering is there anything that could help me get some motivation back and to get the energy levels up and also my mood swings are pretty bad i have a lot of stresd too… I been diagnosed with bipolar disorder and was wondering with this contribute to any of my side effects that I’m having my doctor doesn’t know that I am bipolar I do not want to tell him because I am scared he will not give me my medicine… I also take value that is prescribed to me but I have been out of my bipolar medicine for about 6 months now due to moving and changing therapist… any answers will help please
Tammy,
I went through the exact same thing while on suboxone. It took digging , researching, and talking with many others to finally realize that I wasn’t alone! So many feel the apathy-lack of emotions; the lack of energy, the mood swings, weight gain or loss, lack of motivation, severe sweating, lack of libido….the list goes on.
This lead me to learning about the chemical imbalances that suboxone causes in the brain. The main chemicals in the brain affected by opiate addiction are dopamine, endorphins and serotonin. For some you can add gaba and acetylcholine. Suboxone seems to intensify these chemical imbalances. What worked for me was to focus on the main cause of my problems which were dopamine & serotonin. I began supplementing with the right amino acids (dopamine> l-tyrosine, l-dopa, dl-phenylalanine, mucuna prurient & serotonin > 5hyp, l-tryptophan ) Along with these I took the cofactor nutrients >magnesium, b vitamins, vit c, zinc, iodine. I used a very good multi-vitamin and changed my diet! I cut out the things that inhibit dopamine production like soda, sugary drinks, caffeine and began eating healthier things like dark leafy green vegetables, nuts & seeds, protein, yogurts, etc. I also took the supplement NAC (n-acetylcholine) bc it helps distribute the dopamine where it’s needed. *make sure you stay hydrated.
At first I did put together a bunch of individual supplements. Later, I did find a product that gave me much of what I was already taking, in one supplemental formula. It’s called Synaptamine and has worked well for me. Here is a link to this product: https://lavitards.com/products/275/synaptamine/
Good luck, and know that you can overcome this!
~Mary
OAS RECOVERY SPECIALIST
I used to get a ton of energy from the pain pills i was prescribed when i got kicked out of pain managment i started taking suboxone taking it from the streets to stop from getting sick got into a clinic got energy from my bupronorphine but not as much as before then found out i had a brain tumor. Got kicked out of the bupe clinic. Stayed on bupe from the street through radiation treatment it still gave me some energy. Now I am thank god back in with a great adiction dr and back on bupronorphine the right way however I am tired all the time have been on it for about 31 days through the Dr I am going to meetingsee 2x a week and that’s an hour drive there and back along with going to the Dr every 2 weeks. I don’t understand why I am so tired could it be because I am doing more lately could it be because my dose varies between 6-12 mg a day I can take up to 16 mg a day
Amanda,
I went through the same thing with buprenorphine; having almost no energy at all. I also experienced a loss of emotion and my moods were “flat”. This was a terrible feeling and I was trying everything I could to find energy. Soda, coffee, energy shots & drinks…..nothing helped!! Then I began to research and find information online, much like how you found us, looking for answers. I found information about how opiates (as a whole) can mess with the endocrine system and what kind of symptoms can come from that. But I was convinced that buprenorphine causes these symptoms to be to the extreme. I also found information about the symptoms of low dopamine as well as low serotonin. I fit the symptoms of each. I understood that most addicts do experience low dopamine most of the time, because when the Drug of Choice (doc)is used the brain releases bursts of dopamine. The excess dopamine from opiates caused the brain to make extra dopamine receptors for it to go into. When the quick bursts of dopamine are happening some time apart, then the rest of the time the lack of dopamine causes symptoms. Needing this burst of dopamine is the reason people will use their doc more often which contributes to the addiction. Oh well, sorry I got off topic, I just get intrigued by intricacies of our brains and how opiates affect them; and in my opinion buprenorphine has the effects on megaforce!
So this is what I did. First, I set out to lower my dose after learning just how strong bupe is. I now believe that for most 4mg may be high enough, and probably even lower. Even though I feel that Higher doses of bupe will increase the symptoms, I didn’t seem to have the motivation to taper it. Lack of motivation (to do anything) is one of the symptoms of low dopamine. I started taking DLPA to help produce dopamine. I also had to slack off on the sugary sodas that I was also addicted to 🙁 . Excess sugar does inhibit dopamine production. I made sure to take a good multi vitamin (one that also contained selenium and iodine-helps with endocrine disorders) because the amino acids that create dopamine need other things like folic acid (b12) and magnesium to work well. I changed my diet. I started getting plenty of protein which is precursor to dopamine. Vegetables and fresh fruit became part of my daily diet with snacks being nuts and seeds (also full of folic acid, magnesium, protein and selenium).
I had started taking approximately 1,000 mg of DLPA 2x a day, but did increase my dose as I could tolerate it. I had found by taking too large of a dose at first that it made me very jittery, so the 1,000 mg 2x a day was fine for me. It took at least a couple weeks before I really felt the benefits from this, but once I did, I finally became motivated to do things (like take a shower, lol). I began exercising (another way to produce dopamine-sort of like the “bursts” from opiates) and it felt GOOD!!
I am still convinced that buprenorphine in the doses that are in suboxone, are so high that the problems caused by opiates that effect energy levels and moods are in overdrive! Reducing my dose did help with my moods but the biggest help came from using the right supplements to help produce dopamine. There is a book called THE MOOD CURE, which has quizzes in it that I took and they helped me understand which neurotransmitters were deficient in my brain. I am so grateful that I found that book, because it has changed my life.
While I was experiencing such bad side effects from buprenorphine, I was tempted to quit taking it and forgetting about tapering. But honestly, if I would have just “jumped off” bupe at the dose I was on, I probably would have relapsed, looking for help to stop the withdrawal from it. I also hadn’t really taken the time yet to work on the psychological issues that were part of my addiction. Since getting my energy and motivation back, I became dedicated to my recovery , working through my issues and then working to finally give up my opiate dependence by tapering the bupe.
I hope this helps, but don’t feel like you’re alone. Many, many people have the same symptoms that I described while they are taking bupe.
~Mary
OAS RECOVERY SPECIALIST
Where are u from.. Cause I got on sub today and I have to start a program that last 1 week for four weeks and then 1 every 2 week
I fall asleep as soon as I set down while on suboxone
Hey there, I really enjoyed the article and it definitely helped me to understand why I don’t get “suboxone energy”.
My first dose of suboxone was a full 8mg sublingual strip and I did get somewhat of an energy boost and slight opiate buzz, but completely crashed after a couple of hours-crashed meaning falling asleep for 6 hrs and being groggy after I woke up. Although, This could have been due to the lack of sleep I had going into my doctors appt.(5 hrs max), seeing as how I was in full withdrawal.
Since that first day, I have been splitting my 8mg/day dose into two 4mg doses. One in the AM and the other in the late afternoon.
In your article above you mention that people, in your experience, with an endorphin imbalance seem to be the ones that get the “suboxone energy” (which makes sense) and caution that they might have a harder time getting off the medication (also makes sense).
I’m just wondering (as someone who doesn’t get the “suboxone energy” boost) if the inverse of that is true?
In your experience, do the people who don’t experience a burst of energy from their suboxone have an easier time getting off the medication?
Thank you in advance for your response. This website has been an absolute God send of information!
In my experience, well over 90% of people have a hard time coming off Suboxone, regardless of whether or not it gives the energy. But in my own experience, it gave me so much energy, then coming off I had so little energy that I kept going back to using because of the intense fatigue. Best way to avoid withdrawal is to do a really slow taper regimen. I wouldn’t count on having an easier time coming off because it does not give you energy. Hopefully it will be easier, so hope for the best, but plan for the worst. Disclaimer: This comment is for informational use only, and is not medical advice.
What is your take on people going from high doses of methadone (like between 80-120mg daily) to Suboxone? I had a real bad experience a few years back and I almost got into a car accident, luckily I didn’t but I had to call 911 cause I felt like I was having a heart attack and was taken to the hospital. Do you know anything about how to better make the switch withthese medications? Any info is appreciated ?
Great question. I’ve dedicated an entire article to this subject which is very detailed:
How To Switch From Methadone To Suboxone
In my experience, doctors will make you taper down to about 30/35 mg of methadone, then make you wait a few days before switching to Suboxone. It’s all in the article. Best of luck to you 🙂
So I’m one of those people who gets energy from my subs but lately it’s slowed down. I used to clean the house get everything done at work and then some but now it’s like my suboxone choices when it wants me to have energy and when I don’t have energy it’s like I have negative energy. The only thing that really changed would be my dosage. I was getting them off the street and this past year I’ve started going to the doctors and I get a higher milligram now but I still felt the energy it’s only been about four to six months that I’ve been having this problem. But I would like to know why it’s doing this and why I still get energized some times. Because i would understand if it had stopped all together because I’ve been on it for so long but it hasn’t. I used to only take little pieces and leave it in as long as I can and I would be so energetic and euphoric from just a tiny piece and now I can take a tiny piece and nothing but tomorrow I may take one and I’m energized. It’s weird. Thank you for taking the time to read this and to everybody struggling out there stay strong. Your all here cuz your a survivor.
Over time, the effects of Subxoone can change in a person. I’ve heard this before…what’s happening to you. It boggles my mind how it can do this, but drugs are weird and we all have biochemical uniqueness which is also a big variable.
Unfortunately I don’t know why sometimes it gives you energy and sometimes it doesn’t. But my guess is it’s probably just your body’s biochemistry changing over time.
Thanks forthe great cotent Matt!
Sub gives me lots of energy but I recently stopped taking it just because I know its unhealthy. So far it’s been 2 weeks and im feeling fine but I really miss thr energy it gave me and the mood it put me in. Like you mentioned i’m also doing more work and getting alot done on sub. Do you believe the benefits outweigh the “unhealthy” part of it? I tried talking to a therapist about this but she was against me using it. Thanks again for the great resource!
Hey Adam,
Glad you enjoyed the article! You don’t need the Suboxone to get energy actually. I recently wrote an article that you may benefit from reading:
How To Get Your Energy Back After Quitting Opiates
I felt energized on Suboxone, but I felt it corrupted and poisoning my body. I feel so much better now that I don’t need those dang things. Congrats on getting off Suboxone Adam!
Hi Matt!
I know this entire thread is years old, but I’m here because I have been tapering off suboxone the last 2 years. I was put on suboxone because I got pregnant as a heroin addict and it was the only way. I’m so glad that I did, I have a beautiful almost 3 year old and life today!! However, I’m down to 2.5 mg. I taper down 1/8th at a time, really slowly! I read your last comment about how you got off completely and feel so much better which was super hopeful, but then I read a comment where someone said apparently I will never feel “right” ever again not even years down the road.
I don’t really believe the latter, I’ve seen too many miracles in my life, but I am worried and I guess I’m looking for some encouragement or reassurance. I do feel extreme fatigue often, like could fall asleep standing up sometimes – but I also stay up super late and run after a toddler all day. Also, what supplements can I take to help? Thanks! I definitely want to be off sooner than later.