6. How long does precipitated withdrawal last? Precipitated withdrawal usually only occurs on your first dose of Suboxone and only if you have taken your medication before you observe withdrawal symptoms from your regular opioid. It is rarely seen but, when it does occur, it lasts from 20–40 minutes up to a couple of hours. 7. When can I come off maintenance treatment? The best time to come off maintenance treatment is when you are ready. How long you should spend on maintenance varies from person to person. Your doctor will usually recommend that you come off maintenance treatment very slowly. The amount of time that it takes to come off maintenance treatment again varies from person to person. It is important to understand that coming off maintenance treatment is not very easy and you have taken a big step by choosing to address opioid dependence, which is a serious and chronic condition. If you do not succeed first time, do not give up. Many people recover from opioid dependence after a number of attempts and, remember, the Suboxone treatment plan is here to help you succeed with your treatment goals. Things to help you successfully come off treatment include: • Coming off maintenance treatment when you feel you are ready •.Setting personal goals that you really want to achieve and feel that you can achieve • .Organising support in advance from a support person or a drug user organisation •.Talking to people who have come off treatment about strategies that worked for them. Your doctor can help you decide about the best time for you to come off maintenance treatment. Useful contacts:
21