Is suboxone the right choice for opiate addiction?

[Redbluffer]

I just wanted to hear anyone opinion on Suboxone negative or positive. Ive had addiction problems most my young life to opiates, cocaine and weed. I used methadone to get off oxycontin and a very bad addiction to cocaine(1-3grams per day) and it was hard to not use coke. But it worked, but once again I still had an addiction to the methadone now. I was getting everything through supposed friends, and didnt have health insurance. I needed help to get off the methadone, so I went to my parents and they were shocked but never once did they belittle the topic, or criticize nor judge me...they are the best!!! They helped me get insurance then I went to addiction specialist, tapered my methadone down to 30mg, before seeing the head doctor who switched me over to suboxone. I was scared simply because it felt like jumping off a cliff, theres no turning back with suboxone. Now in my opinion the lower the starting dose the better, but depending where you are at with your addiction and the doctor the starting dosage varies. I started at 8mg suboxone daily, Clonidine, melatonin to help with sleep and MSM. In less than 4 months I was off suboxone, tapering 2mg every month, and I had little w/d effects. The one bad thing for me is I do have chronic pain in my leg mainly my knee/hip, which instead of opiates, I use a compounded gel called KGCL, ketaminegabapentinclonidinelidocaine and it works very well for me, with little to no chance of becoming addicted no matter how long you take it.  Anyways Im just interested to hear other peoples opinion of suboxone, because I like to recommend it to people, but I know it cant be right for everyone. I would love to hear others to become more knowledgable about the topic of using suboxone for its purpose. Im just a little unclear on who should or shouldn't take it. But for my opinion, opiate addictions is one of the hardest to kick, and it robs you of your life with the stress of the addiction, so suboxone is a very real treatment that can be used at home, with a prescription, with people around you that are supportive. So I guess my question is "for those who are addicted to opiates, which of whom should consider using suboxone?"  

[christos24]

i do think you can get high from suboxone at least for the first month while adjusting yorue dose and youre body towards it..i definitely think it in someways youre trading youre endorphins and opiate receptors for another opiate, though suboxone is different than full agonist its still an opiate and needs to be slowly tapered to be taken off of and counseling.

[Redbluffer]

Thank you all for your opinions and stories, I love to hear how Suboxone has or hasnt worked for a particular situation or individual. Somehow being hear and reading everyone elses struggles just lets you know your not alone, and really every situation is different but hard to say unique. I wish there was pain relief out there that really competed with opiates, somehow Ive always felt that opiates just helped me deal with the pain, but they dont get rid of it. Ive found that in my particular case starting to swim, light weight/high reps, with added physical therapy has really helped my pain. I need to get my brain back to where it produces its natural amounts of opiates, the way my addiction specialist layed out to me was that over a long period of taking opiates whether recreational or in need, your brain starts to stop producing its natural opiate which I believe is norepinephrine(bad spelling). One other thing is, and this is not advisable, my anxiety is so bad, and fear of being in front of people and big open spaces, deterred me away from ever going to NA meetings. Ive yet to become comfortable enough with myself to not be afraid of not fitting in. Somehow Ive become clean without ever attending a meeting, but I was dead set on getting clean and also have my wonderfully accepting and helpful parents. I think I will always struggle with something to overcome, but ive learned to face things as best I can. It only seems natural to share my experience and try to help anyone we can. I believe it may be the purpose of life is to overcome the shortcomings and mistakes, and mold them into a positive and successful meaningful life. I thank everyone once again, as I am new here any guidance or info I will gladly accept...this journey is far from over, day by day, there is always something new and Im beginning to relish the chance to prove I can do it. After Ive let so many people down, I feel the need to make good on my life, and hopefullly make myself, family,friends and all of us proud to say we have overcome what so many havent. Its not something to brag about, just enough to be proud of yourself. God bless and Good luck to all....and to quote "All the way to sobriety" ochooked/redbluffer

[ochooked]

I just completed my third day of Suboxone.   I was using 140 mg / day of Oxy for many years.   I started to taper about 2 weeks ago and got down to 75 mg / day of Percocet.  I knew about having to start into W/D's before you can take Sub -- if you are using when you take it - you can go into immediate and severe W/D's ----- So, I went about 12 or 13 hours with no oxycodone and then took about 3 mg of Sub.  It was amazing -- within about 10 minutes the W/D's had totally gone.   My own research revealed that most people start and stay on much more than they really need - and thus get hooked on the Sub.   I just completed my 3rd day and am taking 2 mg morning and another 2 mg late in the afternoon.   I still have some cravings but they are not that bad and almost no W/D's -- the only time I experience W/D's is when my dose is almost due but they are very mild.    My goal is to get totally off of the Sub before the 21 day point ---- This is the point that several people who are knowledgeable tell me is the critical point ------  Before someone gets upset at me for saying this, let me add that I do realize that some are much more addicted than I was so they do need more time.    My own 140 mg/day of Oxy's seems 'light' to some who have posted or who are on a much stronger narcotic  like Heroin, Dilaudid, etc ----  At any rate, I like the question you posted because I feel strongly that there are many others who could benefit from Suboxone but are afraid of it ----   The main thing is has done for me is to relieve those horrible W/D's --- After going through them I can see why an addict would do anything to avoid them --- they are as bad as everyone says and even worse.   I have such an admiration for anyone who could go CT after been hooked on opiates -  I guess I am just a big chicken ----- I could take the physical pain much easier than the W/D's ------- I hurt in places I didn't even know I had and along with the physical pain came the depression, lethargy, and every other horrible feeling it is possible to experience.  I know that coming off of Sub may cause some problems but at least it lets me descend the ladder in a gradual way that I can handle.  Best to all of you who are also on this journey ----  All the way to sobriety

[lisa650]

another thing is if people still want to feel high like they do on methadone, they can forget the sub, because you will not be nodding off on it. At least i dont. I started at 12mgs and this week went down to 8. Yeah i remember those days when i was on methadone i used to love the nodding off.  So people still thought i was using but whatever ,they didnt pay my rent, so i didnt care what they thought!   and that is the case with NA...i know what you mean paaddict, some old timers at my NA feel the same way, but i don't care, my sponsor has 20yrs plus clean and she has no problem with it. Her sponsor is very anti-sub, but oh well.  you can best believe that on september, i will be getting my one year chip!  I tried to tell her about the ceiling effect of sub, but she swears that she has seen people on sub high and nodding, whatever they must be on something else.I look at it as if i was a diabetic i would need my insulin, would they dare tell me not to take it? i think not  Until we are handed something in writing were we (people on sub) are excluded from counting our clean time then guess what, opinions are like assholes everybody has one...right paaddict?

[cowgirl555]

I went from about 16 percocet 10's onto a Suboxone plan a couple of years ago. It cost me a fortune because I had to go to a special place and could not get it covered (long story) - anyhow, for me (I can only speak 4 myself), it was like trading one addiction for another. I stayed on them for several months, but eventually could not afford to fill them anylonger and ended up back on the percocet 10's because I went into WD after stopping the Suboxone. So others may have better outcomes, this is just one.

[christos24]

i actually think suboxone works better for ppl with milder addictions to Heroin or oxycontin, or more for ppl addicted to vicodin, percocets,codeine, tramadol, or other mild strength opiates. I tried suboxone for my addiction and it worked for a while, along with lots of NA meetings and group therapy, but eventaully I got back to to the vicious cycle of addiction. the day to day struggle to just survive, it sounds soo dramatic but its soo true for so many hopeless people addicted to substances. I had to switch over to emthadone, which was not difficult at all considering I wasnt even taking any suboxone at the time as my priamry/addiction doctor prescribed me MS Contin. The methadone, which I am at 60 mgs a day, makes me more productive and motivated to stay clean, ahve structure and stability in my life and take on my responsibilites. Everyoneis different adn it really depends on youre addiction and whatever works for you, but you do need to participate inmeetings, its really helpful, and a spnsor so you can talk to someone who really relates at anytime, its a lifesaver. best of luck

[marcatj]

it's been great for me.

my history of drug use (vik's) wasn't long/long, but i also have chronic pain.  Sub is also used for chronic pain, and has been for years overseas.

it all depends on the person, their situation, their history, have they tried to get clean before and failed - etc.

i personally don't think a blanket statement (yes or no) can be said about it.  it is very situational in my opinion....

-mj

[landbray]

Hi,
I have been on suboxine since June 24, this year.I have a 28 yr old history of drug, morphine, vic's, my husband also an addict although he did do methadone about 9 yrs ago for 4 yrs. Was clean for less then a year. He started suboxine a few wks before me.
The dr I see puts you on 3 8mg tablets a day which is a very high dose.I have tapered mine down. We go to outpatient counlseling in his office. It is an addication specialists. (we are all that!!!). Both of us wanted to stop the drugs, his addication allot worse then mine.So we decidied to do the suboxine together. I am following the program, I am not cheating,..I know that for us a year at least on these till we stop all together. Suboxine really works also. I had barely any withdrawls. I didn't miss any work. My husband did a few days. Being tired more then anything. My stomach didn't bother me. Now it is the mind. I still have cravings but I have not acted on them I really want this to work. I can see and do know that people abuse suboxine. It can become someones DOC. I feel when I am at NA, I am still using b/c "some people" consider sub's to be just that. So it really comes to is what is right for you. It is for me
paaddict

[lisa650]

Hi there, this is my thought about suboxone.  i think it is a good choice for people that are on hardcore drugs,such as heroin, morphine, methadone. People that have tried to get clean and just keep relapsing,or someone with a long history of drug abuse. Some people are better off going thru 3 or 4 days of wds although it feels like your dying at the time, but once it's over... its over. Whereas with the sub if you stay on it for a long time you will still have wds.  It is not for eveyone.  Say if someone is on vicodin, but hasn;t been on it for a real long time, but has a little addiction going, it would be counter productive for this person to get on sub, instead of going cold turkey for a few days.  It pretty much depend on the persons situation.  Also sub, was really designed as a long term treatment, a year or two, along with counseling, and NA or AA meetings. These are a must.   For habitual drug users the sub hels with the cravings and the therapy help us get to the root of our problems, and give us tools on how to live our lives without using. I don't plan on staying on the sub forever, but as of sept. 07 it has been a godsend.  I look at it as a bridge to one day being completely drug free.