? About Suboxone Treatment / Methadone Treatment

[lesley74]

Hi to everyone who is on this forum!  First, I want to tell you that I have been reading the posts on this forum and all of you are wonderful!  It's nice knowing that I have some very caring and understanding people to talk to because I don't have that with my personal relationships, such as, my husband, my parents and you know what I mean, right?  I have a huge problem and I don't know what to do!  I'm having a difficult time figuring out where to begin!  Okay, I started out on Percocet 2 years ago because I have a herniated disc in my low back, the L5-S1 disc, and siatic (sciatic) nerve pain 24 hours a day!  For about the past 1 year I have been taking Hydrocodone 10/325mg, the brand name is Norco and that is my preferred drug.  So, I took Percocet for 1 year and I have been taking Hydrocodone for about 1 year.  If it wasn't for the Hydrocodone I would never get any sleep at all.  I have had 3 epidural injections without relief.  The only other way is surgery but 3 different doctors told me to avoid surgery since I'm so young and too many people end up with more pain for a lifetime after surgery!  I don't understand any of that, but anyway, it seems like my doctor is getting very hesitant when it comes to giving me refills on my pain meds.  I think he is finally realizing that I'm an addict.  When I first started taking Percocet 2 years ago it never crossed my mind that I might become addicted and I don't think I became an addict by my own choice.  Sorry, I'm a little confused!  I'm scared to death that one day my doctor won't refill my Hydrocodone 10/325mg.  I'm very afraid of the pain that I will be in and especially the withdrawals!  I want to be prepared if one of these days my doctor will give up on me!  Does anyone on this forum know anything about Methadone Treatment and Suboxone Treatment?  I have read a lot about Suboxone Treatment but I haven't found much on Methadone Treatment.  I would really appreciate any advice!!!  I can't even talk to my husband about this subject.  He always tells me that I should just stop taking narcotics because he never would take them!  Well, he has never been in any kind of pain except for maybe a headache!  He doesn't understand what I have to live with everyday!  Half the time I'm in more pain than I was when I had my only baby, he is almost 6 years old.  My son needs me!  An example is, last year in October his class at school went on a nature hike in a park for a field trip.  He begged me to go with and chaperone and I felt awful explaining to him that I hurt and I don't think I can do all that walking.  It hurt me emotionally just knowing that my son needed me and I couldn't be there for him.  I love to shop but I can't even do much of that.  I always write down what I need from the store and get the things and I end up sitting down some where in the store during my short trip!  I'm very concerned about taking Hydrocodone 10/325mg especially because I have to take like 4 of them at one time now to get enough pain relief to get somewhat comfortable.  I think the only thing I definately know for a fact is that I'm confused and afraid!  I pray that someone on this forum has some advice for me!  I really hope that I made at least a little bit of sense!  I'm so sorry if I didn't!  Thank you so very much for the time you took to read this post!  It means so much to me!!!  I am praying for all of you!            

[cathy5841]

i feel your pain in your post.  truth is you can not live on these pills the rest of your life.  many of the members that took the pills for actual pain and found since getting off the pills the pain is much less than when taking the pills.  i think i have even heard that research show the mind creates pain in order to get more of the meds.  as far as the suboxon and methadone goes i have never taken either, but in the health pages you will fond a thread on suboxon which is our members personal experiences.  kim715 has taken methadone and will be glad to answer your quesions, just send her a note.  how many pills do you take per day?  this forum is a great place for support.  if i can help ya let me know.

[james1393]

when i was 25 i was on saboxon to 20 days, and it was very efective in reducing the pain of coming my drug of choice. but be careful if you do the theripy in an out paceint setting, because the DRs may try to offer you longterm treatment on the drug and the results being the same as before a new addiction. although saboxon is a replacment theripy, it does become habit forming. the only negetive efects i expirianced was at the end of my dosing the crazies hit me and i would suggest to you to go inpataint or find youself in the rooms of aa or na you will need the support.

but i am a product of willing to do what needed to be done at all cost and live a very nice life without drugs or alcohol. if you cant picture that for yourself just trust me and the others who are recovering in AA/NA

[christos24]

I was in suboxone treatment for a little over 8 moths. and stayed clean , and I have now been a part of a methadone clinic for almost 10 mths. and counting. I was severely and heavily addicted to snorting heroin and/or Oxycontin. I was using so much every day it was basically just to get me to baseline so i wasnt sick. It destroyed my entire life. In two and half years I was able to spend more than $30,000, most of it being my girlfriends entire life's savings, and have absolutely nothing to show for it. I destroyed all the friendships, relationships I ever had, I lost soo many jobs, I lost everything all in the name of a stupid green pill that went up my nose. I was also heavily addicted to Xanax, Klonopin, Valium,Soma, Atarax, etc basically I would snort anything that could give me any form of buzz whatsoever. Smoking bud and drinking didnt cut it anymore, and before I knew it I was hooked and enslaved to a stupid pill or capsule. I was paying obnoxious amounts for the daily amount I needed just to be able to go to the bathroom or move without being in agony. Now in some ways you switching to norcos was a good thing, hydrocodone is about 50% less potent than oxycodone, so that makes it a little easier to taper and get off of completely. I have now been almost a full year clean, and it feels amazing to not be a slave and have my own life back and truly enjoy living. Even if you were taking percocets, I would still tell you that suboxone is a lot smarter choice for you as far as a treatment program goes for you. Methadone is very addictive, suboxone is a swell, but it takes longer, and the withdrawals are a little milder than methadone. Methadone wd's are by far the worst out of any opiate/opioid out there. Both suboxone and methadone last a long time compared to norcos or percs, whereas they last for 4-6 hrs., suboxone last for just about two days(the half-life is 37 hrs. on average, so it last a really long time), and methadone last about a day and a half(half-life is 24-36 hrs. it depends on one's metabolism). Suboxone(8mgs Buprenorphine + 2mgs Naloxone) is a very unique mixed opioid, it has a ceiling dose and any higher than that will actually have suboxone act as a full antagonist, which is a opiate that is used during overdoses, it kicks out any opiates in the system and put the user into instant terrible wd. The ceiling dose is 32mgs per day. I was prescribed that amount for 7 mths. After personal experience and others I know personally, and after doing some research the ideal dose is actually a lower dose. Ideally the best dose for suboxone taken the correct way, which only makes the buprenorphine active and the naloxone inactive, is between 4-16mgs. I wouldn't go any higher than 24 mgs. Any higher is pointless, I would take that and it would actually give me more of a buzz than 32 mgs. The lower the dose of suboxone the actual more effect you get out of it, thats one of the big reasons why it is so unique. The naloxone in the suboxone sublingual tablet is only present to deter users from injecting it, that is the only way to make the naloxone effective or active, but many research and ppl are skeptical that the naloxone doesn't work at all or cannot become active at all. The most important thing to remember before starting suboxone and on your first time taking it is that you have to wait at least 24-48 hrs. since you last touch any other opiate/opioids. You have to be in moderate wd before taking it, otherwise it will compete with the opiate already on your receptors and since the buprenorphine in suboxone is soo strong it will boot the opiate off the receptor and it will put you into precipitated wd, even worse wd's. Ive seen it happen time after time, you just ahve to wait at least 24 hrs, i would shoot for 36 hrs., and make sure you are in at least moderate to severe wds and then it is completely safe, it will erase any physical wd/sickness you are feeling within 30-45 minutes, and then reduce the cravings and anxiety significantly and that will last for at a day and half making a very useful tool in recovery. Group meetings, NA meetings, getting a sponsor, having one-on-one therapy, and seeing a substance abuse counselor is also crucial in staying clean and in recovery. It definitely works. And the relief from suboxone or methadone is almost instantaneous so its nice. Both drugs you need to slowly taper off of when you are ready to get off of them. It may take a few months but it will help you avoid any physical wd or mental cravings and anxiety. Its crucial to only come off or start tapering only once your fully and truly ready to get off. I really think with your norco(hydrocodone) addiction a suboxone treatment program would be perfect for you and be way more beneficial and easier in all aspects than starting at a methadone clinic. Ive been at one for 10 mths. and if you miss more than one day, which you ahve to go to a clinic everyday to get your medication, whereas suboxone you get a monthly prescription, making it alot easier on rides or gas money. Methadone is cheaper, but if you are under insurance getting a prescription of suboxone will be alot cheaper than paying out of pocket otherwise you may be facing almost $350 or more for one months supply, most doctors can work with you and cater to your needs or whether you have insurance or not, so thats nice. Methadone clinics I would only recommend to users who have already tried suboxone and relapsed or started using again(like myself), cuz its a lot harder to get off of, and the wd's are much more severe. So stick with getting as much info on a suboxone treatment program nearby you, that is the best idea for getting you clean and sober, and in recovery,. It will feeel great, trust me...if you have any other questions regarding either of the medications or other options, let me know, I went through a medically supervised detox at a hospital and then started on suboxone at first, broke my wrist and started using again, and started a methadone clinic shortly after I realized I going right back to my old ways so I stopped it before it got out of control and I losted everything again...-christos

[steveo30]

please dont even think methadone,that is not an option for you,it can create a hole in the ground that you may never be able to crawl out of.also forget about the sub..that stinks that you cant talk to your hubby about this.talk to your doctor honestly,you have good reasons for being in pain,you shouldn't feel guilty ,yes your tolerance is going up but thats to be expected.maybe for the time being you need to be on something a little stronger.1 more thing ,if you had a few doctors say not to have this surgery than dont .i was in the same situation,didn't have the surgery and it's the best choice i ever made.whatever you do please get methadone out of your thought process.if you want to pm me i will tell you why,no speeches,just the honest truth

[christos24]

i agree methadone will be too strong and only cause you to become completely dependent on another full agonist opioid...try suboxone, yes it is addictive too, but alot less severe, and alot easier to taper off of and lower your dose, I would only recommend suboxone at this point in time, but def. do it, cuz it could give you your life back and it will feel amazing, you have no idea..i wish you the best of luck, stay strong-christos

[steveo30]

listen i cant argue with chris as he seems to know much more about suboxone,but i would only touch that **** in a medical setting and i wouldn't take it for more than 21 days or you will have more problems 10 fold than what you started with.i would do a little homework as i am going to .good luckdo

[christos24]

i would do a lot of research before trying either, but suboxone is the only reasonable treatment med option...yes it is possible for you to taper off your DOC, but after that there is a good chance of relapsing or transferring the addiction to another drug class..so if treatment is necessary, which most cases it is necessary, then yes if 21 days is doable and working for you then by all means go for that, i sadly had to strong of an addiction and knew 21 days was not long enough for me to get fully clean and have faith that i could stay clean under peer pressure or if i got hurt in the future which is inevitable, so instead of rushing my suboxone treatment i went at my own pace decided by me and my doctor, if you attend therapy, substance abuse counseling, NA meetings,a nd group meetings with others taking suboxone or in treatment, and you decided you are ready to get off, great! slowly taper to  void any wd's, and then within a couple of months you are off and should have a solid foundation for staying clean, i think rushing anything this serious is asking for disaster, so whatever youar e comfortable witha nd feel the most secure and feel you can honestly stay clean and continue staying clean then thats what I would plan for, go at your own pace...I know people who have been on it for years, i know some who were only on it for 90 days, others shorter, others longer than a few years, its all different between ppl and their addictions,  I knew that I would be on suboxone or a treatment drug for at least a year, my addiction to snorting heroin/Oxycontin was verry severe and wouldnt be fixed mentally in 21 days..but everyone is different so give it a shot, work with medically supervised staff, and professionals who deal with this for a living and theyll help you decide whats best for YOU..christos

[steveo30]

well said

[kim715]

I don't know anything first hand about sub,but PLEASE stay away from methadone.You and I have almost the exact same diagnosis and the same doc.I was up to taking 4 at a time too at least 5 times a day,more if I had them.Stay away from the methadone,it will just make things worse.I have been free from the pills for over 2 years and free from the methadone for 11 months.If I had it to do all over again I would have NEVER touched methadone.I still suffer from back pain,but it's not as intense as it was when I was taking 20 pills a day and I find that 800 mgs of motrin really does work.I think your best bet is to talk with your doctor and get him/her to help you start tapering.PM me if you need anything...All the best...Kim