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Are there long term side effects to suboxone?

Hi, I was addicted to heroin, went to rehab, then moved to florida and relapsed on roxycontins and had a pretty bad habit going on.  I went and bought suboxone off the streets and it helped so much with the withdrawal.  It has been about 2 weeks since then and my suboxone is starting to run out so I was thinking of asking my parents to help me get on a maintance program for a little while until I can stand on my own two feet.  Any suggestions or comments would be awesome.  Thanks...
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228936 tn?1249094248
Yes it's better for short detox use. A little while ago sub was like a religion here, so many people on it for longer periods and now where are they? I think it's being overused and docs are proffiting from it. You say you are now fully detoxed but are thinking about it for relapse. This is not a good way to think. It's that whole thing that we all need some kind of mind alt. drug every day. Be glad you are drug free and strive to stay that way. You sound young and you can leave this life behind or go on synthetic drugs like sub or methadone that will  perpetuate your addiction. Sometimes these drugs are needed but maybe not in your case. all the best
Helpful - 0
147172 tn?1226758178
In my experience with Sub and in talking with other people, it's best used as a SHORT DETOX tool and to help eliminate withdrawals.  That having been said, most people, myself included feel that you really should not use it as maint., although it's a personal choice, and that you should try to be on and off within a 21 day period or you risk becoming addicted to the Sub, which is a very powerful opiate in itself.
You should try to reduce your dosage every 3 days by 2mg.  You won't really feel it at all until you get lower because of the 36 hour half life.  Once you get to 2 mg, do 1 mg for 3 days then .5 for 3, then .25 for 3 and then maybe ,.25 every other day for a few days.  If you jum off at the .25 does, which is basically a crumb, you will have an easier time with the w/d but you will still have some.
The main complaint people have about long term sub use is that the withdrawals are longer and more drawn out the longer you have been on it, not necessarily worse than that of heroin or other opiates.  So if you do a detox for less than 21 days you should be ok, physically that it.
Make sure you either go to meetings or therapy or both or you will inevitably relapse.
If you feel that you cannot stay clean on your own even with all the help available these days with NA/AA, outpatient therapies, etc., then by all means use it long term because it does block any high you might try to get off heroin or pills but be aware that if you don't have insurance it's very expensive and that ultimately your goal is to be drug free... hopefully!
Good luck to you!
Helpful - 0
511524 tn?1266349934
im not srue what all the long term effects are, but I have been on suboxone for seven months now and I ahve been on the amximum dose of 32 mgs. I am now starting tot aper fdown, first to 24 mgs then to 16, then slower and slower. It takes a while to get off suboxone. Everyone is effected differently on suboxone, I get more of a speedy feel than other opiates, but it definitely helps with cravings, withdrawals, and stopping the use of other opiates as it stops their efect for at elast five dayas after your last dose of sub. I have considered it miracle drug, with preecautions of course. It can be addicting and tapering down slowly is the way to go to get off of the sub. For some ppl they will be on it for years or even the rest of their lives, but for some they may only need it for a month or couple of weeks, like I said evryone is different. Non-tolerant users willg e a high from suboxone, but opiate dependent individuals will feel a slight buzz and normalness, taking over the craviangs and withdrawals from other full opiates agonists. A good starting dose for a good opiate dependence is aroudn 16mgs, anything higher than 32 mgs will oriove to be less effecive than lower doses as it has a ceiling effect. Good luck with your recovery and I wish you the ebst, youve started the ahrdest part just get into at reatment program and try and follow it as best as possible. Defintely be up front with your doctors.
Helpful - 0
356054 tn?1218552475
Suboxone is still a fairly new drug. Long term effects are not know yet. However it is a good tool to help with withdrawl. It can also be used to keep you off drugs until you can learn how to deal with your addiction. Using suboxone with aftercare(counseling) is a good way to help you not to relapse. If you really don't want this anymore and don't want to relapse then suboxone with aftercare can do that for you. You MUST know what you are getting into though. You cannot just jump off the sub,you must taper down slowly.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi, I can't speak from personally experience but my ex-fiance was a heroin addict and the first time he went to rehab they put him on suboxone...he was on it for about 4.5months and then eventually we weined him off, I think it helped him but he was also pissed because he said he just got addicted to another drug(I think suboxone is better then heroin though)...we moved out west so he was able to get away from where he knew to get drugs etc(obvi if you want to you can always find them). but I think it was easier for him not to relapse after getting off suboxone because he was in a different environment, but he also didn't feel well for a few weeks after he got off the suboxone....he had been using for about 3 years though so for him it seems it was a good thing.   as soon as we moved back east he relapsed again and then just did again before our wedding, so I broke it off....anyhow I"m only telling you this to let you know I do think suboxone may help, but there is so much more that you need to do as far as aftercare to be able to get through this.....could you talk to a counselor at a rehab center and possibly see what they think, I can tell you don't want to relapse again and I will pray that you don't!  I'm sorry I don't think I was much help but if you want to talk more you can send me a message.  I'm sure you feel very alone and scared.  again I will pray for you, good luck and please talk to a professional.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I already researched but there werent any studies yet on the long term effects, so I was wondering if there were any other people who were on it that would know if it is worth being on maintenance or should I just stop after this cuz I am fully detoxed, but am afraid of relapse.....
Helpful - 0
356054 tn?1218552475
Research,research,research. Go to suboxone.com
Helpful - 0
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