Dr. took me directly from 420mg OXY to 32mg SUBOXONE, Is this too much SUB & has anyone else had this high of a dose during induction?

[calyxgirl]

I am a bit concerned I am taking too much of the SUB to start with.  I have been on this dose for 7 days and my Dr. tells me to take 4 8mg a day and when I feel like I dont need as much, reduce to 3 times a day, then he will see me in 6 weeks?  No taper plan?? I think he is attempting to ease my w/d symptoms as it was my request to be taken off of the OXY even though I am a pain management patient because I wanted to see how much of my pain is related to the OXY vs. what is "real pain".  How am I to know this at these SUB doses?  Also, I have read a bit on this site about "getting off of SUB" and am a bit nervous about a harder withdrawal than if I just tapered my OXY.  Any thoughts?  He is being a bit vague so I am here for support and am being my own advocate in my attempt to get info here.  Thanks for any help.

[Ga Guy]

You're going to hear many "opinions" on Sub. Some are valid, but since we're banned from giving dosing advice, I'm going to tell you the best thing I think you should do in this case. To me, it sounds like you didn't convey your wishes to the Doctor correctly, or he didn't understand. You need to make an appointment and tell him exactly what you've said here and not leave until he helps you with it. You need to tell him that you want to do a short Sub taper to get off of opiates entirely in order to find out your real pain levels. Then you can better manage your pain. Going 6 weeks on 32mg a day is not the way to accomplish this. I will also say, if you've ever left a doctor's office with "vague" information, then someone has dropped the ball. Your doctor for not fulling explaining why and what you're taking, and you for not demanding to leave fully informed. Call back and rectify this before it becomes another problem.

[calyxgirl]

You stand correct in my not telling him I wanted a short Sub taper because I was so pre-occupied with asking all of the general SUB questions, (ie: what to expect, how much pain, w/d etc.) then he had to take most of the appt time to call and make sure my insurance didn't require a preauth for SUB.  I was initally told to come to that appt. on my full dose of OXY and was expecting to have in office SUB treatment first, I was surprised that he sent me home with an RX for 8mg, 4 times a day.  I actually just got off the phone with them telling them I had a bad headache and was dizzy and he thinks I need to go on w/d meds for 3 days then lower my dose to 3x a day.  They are so rushed all the time and messages are never conveyed correctly, it is SO annoying.  I am on a waitlist to see him sooner than 6 weeks.  Thanks for your support, you are correct, but I don't know ( or didn't prior) much about this transformation to SUB and what to expect for my own experience.  Thanks much!  Good day...

[calyxgirl]

BTW, my doctor fully knows I am doing this for an accurate reading of my pain!  

[refusingbondage]

Hi Calyxgirl.  I agree completely with Ga Guy.  I also want to point out that IMO there is no doubt that the dizzy and headaches are from the sub, not from w/drawal.

Many people have these same symptoms when beginning sub.  Your body will eventually adjust to the suboxone.  32mgs is a lot and would definately make you feel this way.  I would try the 3/day and see if it helps.  I was sick (not with w/drawal but with side-effects) for about 2 weeks when I started sub.. it gets better though as you adjust.  If that's your plan.  Good luck.

[Ga Guy]

Because of the ceiling effect of Sub, any Oxy dose of over 50mg or so will result in some withdrawal symptoms. It's just how it works. If you're only experiencing headaches and dizzyness (very common side effects of Sub), then consider yourself luck. They will subside soon.

[calyxgirl]

No OXY over here thanks.  I would never combine the two anyway, I am scared of that kind of thing.  I will consider myself lucky until I go to 3 a day, then I guess I will feel some withdrawal again and so on, and so on.  Thanks for your help with the headache, dizzy, I just want that to go away.  I would rather have the loosies, HA!

[jt808]

hey just wanted to add that if ur having bad headaches and stuff like that ur sub levels are too high try taking less untill u feel fine the sub shouldnt make u feel like that, my dr staretd me on to high dose too and i figured it out after trying diff ways to feel beter and tyhe dr even said if im having hearaches its cuz my dose is off so if ur on 4 try 3/half or 3 and wait few days cuz subs in system to notice a differenjce. good luck

[avisg]

That is a very high dose .I believe it very well could make you dizzy and have a headache .Try to see if you can get to see him sooner or even a phone consultation with him.I dont know about where you are but here alot of the times you can Email the doctor.   Tell him how you are feeling that YOU feel the dosage is two high for you . Unforutely we dont have any doctors here that could be more helpful but make sure you get your info from a professional because dosages that work for other people might not work for you or vice versa.Your health is the most improtant thing

[HideandSeek]

I too started on a pretty high dose of Sub 8mg/3 to 4x/day.  I also was very dizzy, which I didn't pay much attention to since I often was dizzy from mixing percs/soma together.  But I had excrutiating headaches.  I NEVER get headaches typically and I had them for a couple of days after starting the sub.   I didn't lower my dose, but they went away in a couple of days.  Maybe this is just me, but I don't notice a difference if I take 2 or 4 sub a day.  So I am not recommending that you do that since I am not a doctor.  But there are days I take a fraction of what I am suppose to.  I guess cause the sub is still in my system, I don't feel any w/d or notice any difference.  

FYI - I also am/was a pain management patient.

Floors me that your doc doesn't have a way to get a hold of them.  I know a lot of ppl think that the docs that prescribe sub aren't the greatest ppl, but I have an amazing doc.  I know he has my best interests in mind.  He believes in sub and that is why he gave it to me.  He has seen it help so many ppl.  But, I have about 3 phone numbers for him as well as his pager number that I can contact 24/7.  He calls me right back.  You  may want to see if your doc has a way to contact him so that at least you can speak w/ him while you wait to come in.  I find it unacceptable for your doc to not be available to you in some way, shape or form.  Even if it's email.  Good luck to you, I hope your headaches get better soon.

[prof1]

I was on Oxicodone for 5-years. It started with 10-15 mg a day and slowly increased to 100-180 mg per day. I quite cold turkey. Felt like **** for 6 days. I took xanex for that time period and it worked great. I worked full time through the withdrawl. It is easier if you keep your mind busy. I felt fine after 6 days. I am 14-days clean now. Still feel fine and much beter than I did when I was taking 100mg+ a day. These pills are fun when you want them. Once you need them, it is horrible.

Good luck..