Holy **** I am out of Subutex and in a Foriegn Country!!

Hello,
I am currently in Cartagena Colombia and am on Subutex..I was on Soboxone for 2yrs then my Doc helped me out when I was out of work & insurance and moved me to Sub..It has been going well for that last 4-5 months but...Being in Colombia South American and no way to refil my script.,, I am fearing the worst!!! I was taking any where from 1.5 - 2 pills a day = 12-16mg/Day and I am now totaly out? I had no Idea until a few days ago that this med was not available here..Before I came here all signs on the web pointed to yes that it was available... This same thing happened to me in Trinidad and I had to quit my job and rush home to Texas to get my Suboxone..Cost me many $1,000's I am wanting to know if there are any meds that could possibly take the place of the Subutex,,Like the bup patch (temgesic) I am in Day one with no meds so I know its about to get real ******.

[vicki595]

There really isn't another med similar to Suboxone; only Subutex. You either need to find a doctor there to give you an opiate or you need to get the rx filled in Texas and have someone overnight it to you. Give the pharmicist a call in Texas and ask him what he thinks...I doubt we can offer the name of an alternative...

This is unfortunate for you. That's a high dose to cold turkey from.

[Ann2497]

I think Vicki offered the best alternatives:   getting an opiate locally, some countries outside the u.s. sell them OTC or getting the rx filled in Texas.

Are you working in Columbia?  Didn't know if you had time to go to a dr to get a script if opiates aren't sold OTC.

[vicki595]

Are you suggesting he take Tramadol to cover him from cold turkey Subutex?  I've never heard that...

[formywife54]

The overnight thing would be fantastic if my doctors "gatekeeper " mother didnt operate his front desk,,She is an ederly middle eatern woman and very stubbornn she will not let me talk to him..Must come in.....I keep trying to explain the situation but she will not listen..I am on Subutex now not Soboxone he changed me a few months ago...and it actually works better for me for some reason..It seeemed like the WD happens faster and more severe on the other..But anyways I have an apt at 2pm tomorrow with a local Doctor who claims to have been to a convention about these meds so hopefully he can help..When I visited my Doc before coming here he made it sound like quitting would be a cake wal..But already those familar feeling are creeping up.. Gosh I am down here working on a 3yr contract with the same company I bailed out of Trinidad so I cannot do it again but also cannot leave all my employees at the job fending for them selves while I set and the apartment getting over this discusting habit..Thanks for all your help..It would be great if anyone knew a way for me to get an online script or if there are any doctore on here to fill one for me..Bottom line I dont want to restart the **** poor cycle of going on regular Hydro and anything like that,,2-3 years down the drain ,,,know what I mean?

[ImDONENoMore]

I think when you see this Dr. tomorrow you need to make a plan to get off the subs - weaning is probably your best bet but it sounds like it's getting out of control.  To actually quit your job and return home because of this drug sounds really extreme to me.  Do you want to quit?

[vicki595]

Okay. Call your doctor in Texas when it's NOT office hours and get him from home and explain all of this.

"He's been to a convention"...LOL  I guess that's the best you can do for now.  You had better start tapering and tell him you want to do that. Just taper down small amounts very slowly. If you feel okay then taper down a little more. What you don't want to do is to go into withdrawal from that dose.

Good luck!

[vicki595]

HydoCODINA...almost sounds beautiful!

So, are you going to wait until you feel symptoms and then start it? Or wait until you see the new Dr. ?

[formywife54]

Not looking to start any bad feeling just looking for answers..The major issue I have here in Colombia is English is the second language and even with a translator in hand, so much is lost in it..If anyone cares to hear how it all turns out ..I will repost an update in a few days.. Once again thanks for all of the GOOD advise.

Adios

[vicki595]

Well...8mg is cutting your dose by 50% x 4 if you take it every 4 days. I don't THINK that would fly after all this time being on Sub.

Have you taken today's dose or are you completely out?  If you took your Sub today then I know you'll be fine until 2 p.m. tomorrow. I don't know beyond that because I'm not sure why you take it the way you do. Most take the same dose every day but you "play" with that 4mg sometimes...

Anyway, at least you'll see someone tomorrow about this...

[formywife54]

They have more dang holidays then any other place on earth so we have a 5 dasy break and I am actually thinking about flying home for a day to get my meds then fly straight back...Thats $1500 not including the cost of obtaining the stuff..jeeze this is madness

[ImDONENoMore]

It is madness formywife - think about what you're doing here - as I said earlier this drug is literally ruling your life.  Is that what you want for yourself?  Talk to this Dr. tomorrow and find a way out for good.  The way I see it, it's your only chance here to get well.  You said you want to quit so make that first step towards doing just that.  Healing literally begins with one single step.  Take it.

Good luck to you tomorrow.

[Lira_MHModerator]

Just a friendly reminder to please avoid recommending specific drugs and/or tapering plans.  Every person is different, and decisions about which drugs will work best in a particular user's situation are generally best decided between a patient and doctor.  It is impossible for us to know someone's entire medical history, and there may be underlying medical conditions that maybe they aren't even aware of yet that could be made worse when tapering.  Please let any of the moderators know if you have any questions.  Thanks for your understanding.

[vicki595]

Please let us know how you're doing...

[formywife54]

I am waiting on my driver to come pick up me and my translator to head for the doctor I spoke of last night...I went ahead and confirmed a flight to Houston so if this doesnt work..That way I can get the meds and start a walk down like what I read last night...I live on the 29th floor of the most beautiful beach in Colombia,,,and last night while I was looking out I could help but start to worry about day 5 and the hell it will bring,,,so then I started thing 29th floor HHMMM not so bad..it would be fast...And was overcome with the most sick feeling imaginable.. Going fron 8-12mg a day to 0mg straight scares me so If I must I will make the trip to get the subutex so I can start a plan...before I never found a site like this ..please dont judge just help me and one day I promise I will be here helping too..TTYL

[vicki595]

Okay. No more of THOSE thoughts!

Well, you've got a plan and a back up plan!  That's great. Yes, I agree: 12 to zero isn't pretty...Talk to some people face to face about the Sub taper (doctor or pharmacist) and remember to go down as slowly as you can.

No one is judging here or did something happen?

[Ann2497]

Let us know how your dr appt goes.

[donewitis]

No one will judge. Period.

I'm praying this Dr. in Columbia can help you.

[formywife54]

Well the Doc apt kind of went like I thought. He was a great guy and he really wants to help me, I could sence it in his emotion. He basically looked at me and said ( through a translator of course) I live just down the street from you on the 22nd floor come over if things get to ruff...Can you believe this??? it was amazing... He did however perscribe me some 150mg tramacontin(tramadol slow release) and some other stuff called Dorixina Forte ( also an opiate analgesic) bnot sure about the mg.. I am actually scared to take anything at this point because I dont feel as though it has been long enough for my receptors to be clear for acceptance? tell if I am stupid LOL... I tried replacement in trinidad and MAN it was the very worse I have ever felt .. Being that any online store that supplys this stuff in the US requires basically an affidavitt to fill, I was also to get the Colombian National Controld substance script form filled out and signed by an aurthorized Doc..so I dont know maybe I can get it shipped to here after all.My doc also wrote me a regular perscription for here in Colombia in hope of us stumbling accross it somewhere..lol We have it covered I guess....HuH just one worry!! I can jump on this plane Fri and come back Tue, but if I dont have to it would save me $$$$$$$$. But if I gamble that I can get it here and don't take the flight...God know I wont have another chance to fly home in a quickie as this weekend is the off work time so no one will miss me..??  Jeeze what a twisted web I've woven..lol

[vicki595]

Okay,good!  Are you concerned that the new meds won't work? Or that you'll get sick?    You're not stupid. You've done a lot of smart things to cover yourself before you get too sick to go anywhere!!

[Ann2497]

Can you  ask your dr about the meds you were prescribed and when you could take them?  How much would you save by not taking the flight?

[formywife54]

Yeah I am worried that The tramadol will put me into full withdraw.. But it has been well over 30 hrs since my last dose..do you think a 150mg pill could scrub it?? with out saying..lol

[formywife54]

the flight is $1380 round trip...and the doc visit is 100 plus the generic sub is $260/per 60 but I am going to get him to up to 90 or 120 so I have several months on hand  so were talking about 2k$ +/-..

Thanks for your prayers Donewitis

[formywife54]

I tell you I came to a cross roads in my life a few days ago and decided to come clean about my dirty little secret to those around me and they have been great ,with this being said I finnaly got the nerve to get online to search for people like myself and bammo here you were thanks everyone for your fast replys and sometimes tuff in my face wods I need to hear ...thanks or as they say here Mucho Gracias

[Ann2497]

You have been over 30 hours since your last dose.  What are your symptoms?

The Dorixina - how strong is that compared to the Tramadol?  I have only taken 100mg of Tramadol at one time.  I think your dr would be the best judge of how the Tramadol will compare to your dosage of Subutox.

Do you mind my asking why you have been taking Subutox for two years?  I thought that was for short term use but I could be wrong.  Not judging you just trying to learn.

[formywife54]

I was perscribed pain meds for several different reasons and before I new it I was hooked..I went and started buying from indivisuals because I couldnt handle the Dt's When this started I decided to find a better way to stop..I paid $800 to a Doctor to join this soboxone program..Her told me it would be a long term therapy that could take many years. That was almost 3 yrs ago and the only tapering that has been administered is by myself..I think as long as I show up with cash money once a month he would let me take it forever lol. The Tramadol kicked some of the with drawls..I didnt fell 100% but better.. This morning my co worker handed me a film of Suboxone...I decided to take it so I could get to work but I forgot the 12hr rule...Jeeze with in 1 hour I was in full detox from the tramadol...But after an hour I felt great...Man I thought I was going to be in Detox all day..lucky.break....I decided that I am not going to fly home, I am going to just take it one day at a time and see where it leads.

[Ann2497]

To go to suboxone from pain meds you must have been on a really high dose.  Most people just quit the pain meds on their own, go to rehab or go to a dr and the dr helps them with a taper or they go cold turkey.  I am sorry that you have been taking suboxone for so long.

Glad you feel great.  I hope that you can get off this stuff.  I have seen other posts on this forum where others opinions are that drs just make money from the suboxene and it is not a great option.   So the $800 was just a one time fee and all you have to pay for now is the prescription?

[formywife54]

I have to pay $100 every time I walk in his office then its $50 at the pharmacy no matter if its 30 or 90.. So thats a good thing.. I turned what could be $1,000+ a month habit into a $150 a month habit .. But Also I save my visit cost up so about every 45 months I get a reimbursment check from Cigna for $400-500.. So in Reality this habit cost $50 a month..But I dont want to be tied to it any longer so if and when I get another script,, I am tapering down the way I have seen it explained on here and I know it will go away.

[Ann2497]

That is good that it hasn't cost you too much.  Not wanting to be tied to it anymore is where you need to be.  Good luck to you.  I hope you don't go thru bad WDs.

[ImDONENoMore]

There are other costs to be concerned with more than the money you're spending.  The cost of your health and wellbeing is more important in my book.  You need to find a way to get off this crap formywife.  This will only get worse.

And tapering on our own is near impossible - unless there's someone who can dole out the meds to you and wean you off.  But that person has to be someone you truly trust and someone who WON'T give in to you if you ask for more.

I will continue to pray for you.

[formywife54]

Jeeze it could not get any worse,, My 2yr old Little girl has been sick for the last three days..Now my wife was too and now while I am going through the DT's I am also pukeing and going number 2 like mad. So I have it double time.. the WD's and the bug my family has...Lucky!! And being in Colombia we dont have the samew go to meds like in the states for sickness

[newlifeahead]

hi read ur whole post here... u prob dont have the flu bug ur family has i would guess it is w/d i dont think tramadol is gonna help much for that... i didnt really understand ur post on what the dr said he wants to help but cant??? or why didnt he give u something stronger? i think u shoudl just make ur mind up to be done w this and take these few days u have off work to detox it will be rough going back but work will be a GREAT distraction i have watched people go to work through ALL the w/d starting at day 1 and workign everyday through it like i said not easy but u owe it to urself and family to be back to urself and not chained to these pills. Just think what life will be like when u r feeling normal agian not having to think of pills count pills etc... anyway it is a personal decision just thought i would give u a little input here... so i take it ur wife and little girl is there w u while u work?? in columbia i mean?