Don't be fooled by the Suboxone sham

To All Thinking Of Going on long Term Suboxone,
Do Not Do It!!!! - I was a heavy opiate user for eight years and then my Dr. told me about this new "amazing" drug Suboxone to finally kick my opiate use - this was the beginning of my hell.  I should of turned my car back around when the Sub doctor wanted $250 in cash each visit (monthly) and that did not include the script.  He atarted me on (4) 8mg tabs/day tapering after a few months to (3) and then to (2) - after about eight months the suboxone gave me horrible headaches and when I tried to slightly decrease the dosage within 4 hours those old skin crawling withdrawl (withdrawal) symptoms atarted - I couldn't believe it.  I told my doctor and he said of course it might be another year or so ; or as he put it "what's the rush - it took you eight years of opiates to get here - like an idiot I believed him.  Two months later I decided to stop cold turkey as I had some clondodines and figured it would be 3or4 days like the opiates - WRONG - on the 7th day I experienced such withdrawl (withdrawal) synptoms that my wife had to drive me to the hospital (and I've been through numerous opiate withdrawls in the past).  Well I called my sub doc and after he finished yelling at me he put me back on (2) 8's a day.  Well this summer hit and as I am a teacher i decide I'm breaking free of the subs - my system at 47yrs old could not take it.  The first 6 days I detoxed myself with benzos and clondodine and then turned myself into a detox cenetr for the last 4 days.  I am so weak and fatigued and we are talking about day 11 starting that I plan to see my family doctor for advice - I used to play arena football (actually where the opiate abuse started) and thought i could lick anything - not sub.  Oh yes another tidbit I found out in detox - one 8mg sub is equal to 10X in morphine.
So for any of you posting here with little to no experience with Sub - it is the opposite of the "miracle" drug and is no different than it's twin -methadone.  For those looking to detox and only use it for five days that would be my only recommendation ever to put that poison in your body - I hope this helps as this is no BS.

[worried878]

Good information.....i like to learn the ins and outs and experiences but dont think i would take sub unless it was my last option....but some feel they do need it to get clean but i guess it is not hazard free...most will tell u to have tapered more slowly but i am sure u dont want to go back now and taper again...i am glad u r ok and i am sorry for how u feel...keep postinga

[GoingToMakeIt]

Thanks for sharing your story. We need to have more stories both good & bad.

[sadinmichigan]

thanks for writing..i have always been interested to see what an equivalent would be to sub..i know that from what I read..the w/ds from long term sub use are bad like methadone..I haven't taken subs but i did go cold turkey off 65mg..methadone. It's a he!! all of it's own. I did a little research and found that 1mg-methadone = 3 mg of morphine..and morphine doesn't have the long 1/2 life..Good luck to you and thanks again..

[Dog55]

Excuse me, but you're experience is not normal. Starting at 3 to 4 8mg subs a day is a ridiculously high dosage, from my experience. I learned after a day that one 8mg pill was way too much for me. I realize everyone is different, but I believe a lot of the super negative posts are coming from people who are taking WAY TOO MUCH of this drug. This is pretty new in the U.S. and doctors aren't necessarily experts. I learned after one day that 8 mg is way too much and I cut down to 4 mg. Very soon after I cut down to 2mg (a quarter pill). Don't get me wrong: I realize the game isn't over and I have problems down the line getting off these, but I'm certain from experience that it isn't the nightmare referred to in some of these posts. Again, I know it's not all fun stuff from here on out, but I still believe this drug is a good choice for those who have run out of options from opioid addiction. I'm still on 2mg a day and I know I'll go through WDs when I wean off these, but at least I'm able to step back for a few weeks and consider my options, rather than frenetically running about trying to score a vicodin in the middle of the night.

[marcatj]

take it easy, big boy... everyone is just speaking from their own experience. and entitled to their opinions.

everyone is here to help each other.  no reason to get nasty.

good luck to you...

[BigG121]

Thank you marcatj, I'm sorry for getting so worked up but on my 11th day and I'm up with wd's after all this time and detox after a 14 month stint with suboxone from a "doctor's" advice I feel very passionately that sub is short term and nothing more = thanks for calming me down and good luck to you Bi G121

[Dog55]

Wow! Someone is extremely sensitive! Sorry if you were offended. I certainly didn't intend to do that. You're right: I'm certainly no expert. I'm just getting my feet wet like many others. One thing I will agree with you on is that this is being used by some doctors (at least mine) as a sham. The one I hooked up with, I believe, has little interest other than making me come back every two weeks so he can squeeze some more cash out of me. So at least we have that thought in common. Please, settle down and be nicer. We all have problems and we need to lean on one another, not bash each other.

[marcatj]

11th day is TOUGH... i don't know why, but i've seen that over and over.. including my own 11th day... a couple of times!

i get it!!

hang in there... it gets better i PROMISE you..  STAY STRONG!!!!  you are well on your way...

and keep on posting...

very warmly,
mj

[BigG121]

Thank you for your kind words and support - I'll post back in a couple of days to check in- it's 3am here in PA and I'm going to try to sleep
Thanks,  Big G

[marcatj]

me too.. please post anytime... it is SUCH great support... it truly is.

be well,
mj

[missmarmee]

i just wanted to share my husband's experience w/ sub. i've posted a few times, but just wanted to share a little. i think he is very lucky to have found such a good detox center w/ knowledgable doctors. the first thing explained to him when he entered rehab was that sub. was not for everyone. they got his complete background history, and he has been an addict for 17 years. switching addictions often. this is what made him a good candidate for sub. a girl that was in there w/ him wasn't a good candidate because she was taking oxy's for a year, had no other history of drug or alcohol problems, so she just went through a medically supervised detox.
his first week on sub  was in patient medically supervised. they started him on low doses and the goal was to find the lowest possible dose that worked for him. he takes 12 mg. daily. the dr. explained to him that he had to put more effort into staying clean than he did trying to find pills. he sees a dr. once a week, gets drug tested, pills counted, therapy, and attends 4 n/a meeting per week. sometimes it seems like a hassle and i wish we didn't have to plan every function around his recovery, but then i remember quickly the hell my family has been through because of pills and alcohol, and it puts me back in check real quick.
the plan now is for him to start weaning off ever so slightly. the taper will be so slow (appr. 1/2 mg to 1mg at a time) and he has to stay at the lower dose until his body adjusts (30 days or more). then he'll be taken down again.
it is a very long, slow process. i know someone that was also on sub. and he basically got tired of fooling w/ it. he jumped off sub. at 8 mg., went through withdrawl (withdrawal) hell and started using again. but, that is another story...and a sad one .
so, i guess what i'm trying to say w/ all this rambling is this....it really is an individual choice. and if you do try sub. the first cause for concern would be a dr. that is trying to start you off on a huge amount. and second...after care is so important. it really has kept my husband grounded. thanks for listening to my ramble and i hope everyone has a good holiday weekend!

[cattalina]

It's terrible that your experience with suboxone was so bad... That's more proof that just because a doctor CAN prescribe it doesn't mean they SHOULD.  But then again, this applies to docs with other medications as well... Suboxone has only been around for treatment of opiod addiction since 2002, in other words - NOT ALL DOCTORS ARE PROPERLY EDUCATED.  Anyone, especially a doctor, that refers to this med or any other as "amazing" or a "miracle drug" may not be the person you want to put your trust into!  I have been on sub for while now (14+ months) and for me, it's served a wonderful purpose. I am aware of all the "horror stories" but for me, the risk was worth it.  However, it is not for everybody.  Anyone that is looking to get on suboxone should definitely seek a doctor who has experience with addiction as well as real information about Suboxone and it's counterparts.   And for you Big, it's hard to fathom that your doctor was so ambiguous with you about the pros and cons.  But unfortunately, your situation happens often, and is one that people need to be made aware of.  Hopefully more people considering sub treatment will be able to be more informed of the risks as well as the rewards by learning from the people who have had experience being on it.  best of luck to you - one day at a time and hang in there.  

[wannabefree330]

TY for that information.  I am trying to get as much information on sub as I can for long term use (1yr).  So your experience and sharing it has helped tremendously.

[marcatj]

great post...

and kudos to you, for your strength.

i wish you and your family all the best...

warmly,
mj