Injecting subutex.

My roommate injects subutex and I thought it was part of subutex but I read up on it when he started complaining about numbness and discoloration in his hands and feet. The numbness comes all the time. But his hands just started turning a tint of dark yellow. Im very worried since I started studing this cause what I read is amputation is a likely factor because of this?? If so what step out of how many is he in?

[Jaybay]

There are no doctors on this forum, so nobody can give you solid medical advice.  Your roommate is obviously harming his body by injecting subutex, but there's no way to tell exactly what all has been damaged.  A doctor has to examine him to determine how serious his condition is.  The yellow coloring may be an indication of jaundice.  That means he may have liver damage from either drug and alcohol abuse or something worse like hepatitis C.  Has your roommate ever indicated that he WANTS to stop abusing drugs?

[hellc@mst]

As jaybay said, your roommate is obviously harming himself. He either doesnt know how to properly prepare the subutex for (safe?) injecting OR he hasnt yet developed the correct technique OR aquired the knowledge to differentiate beween injecting into a vein or an artery.Either way he is risking his limbs and his life.

Hep C could explain the yellow discolouration. Are the whites of his eyes yellow? Is he extremely lethargic?. The numbness in his hands could be the result of nerve damage from incorrect injecting. I know i would get numb ( dead really) forearms and hands in the mornings after waking up from a drug induced stupor. They would also swell to the point where i couldnt clench a fist for fear of splitting the skin. I think the swelling and numbness in my case was the result of a disruption of the normal blood flow. The blood would make it to my hands no problem but the return journey was somehow restricted.
  
I think your roommate may have a serious,potentially life threatening condition( addiction)  This really needs to be addressed ASAP otherwise he may find that he has caused permanent damage to his body and risks lifelong medical complications.
If you are able, please try and convince your roommate to see a doctor and have this looked at.

All the best. Kind regards Jeremy.

[Lucky2bAlive]

If he is injecting it in his hands it is common for the whole injection site to turn yellowish. If he is yellowish all over and not just in these spots it could be a more serious problem. I would talk to him about this and explain how risky injected that type of drug is. I have never known anyone to inject subutex so I am not sure I can help with that. But I do know that my hands and arms would turn yellow from injecting. Goodluck

[Atlastfree]

Sounds like he needs to get some blood tests done, if there is anything serious best to catch it early.

I thought and have read its not possible to get high from injecting suboxone due to the blocker in it (naloxone), this is because through injection your body absorbs all the blocker and through proper use under the tongue it only partly absorbs, leaving the opiate (buprenorphine) to fully absorb and stop withdrawals from other opiates.

Seems strange to me to even try, sounds like he really doesn't now what he is doing, In no way at all am I trying to suggest or promote any drug but there are far easier and less harmful ways of getting high, really best not to at all!!!

There's plenty of proper medical advise available on the net.

[vicki595]

Atlastfree~~   FYI :     Subutex and Suboxone are two separate drugs.  

[Lucky2bAlive]

Yes there is no naloxone in subutex so there is no blocker unlike suboxone. I do not however understand why anyone would want to inject this drug? There is really no high with it and I would think it would make you really sick. It certainly sounds like he needs to get some help. This is a very strange addiction and I have never heard of anyone injecting this drug. And I've seen just about everything.. I will prayer for him that he can overcome this and get the help he needs before he gets a nasty infection or worse, a clot.

[Jaybay]

Subutex will get you high all right - if you don't have an opiate tolerance.  So will Suboxone.  As for injecting it... all wrong, all bad.

[jp26]

been shootin both, 2 yrs.  always get high. no health problems.   on flip side i eat healthy, take tons of vitamins and fitness suppliments and play hockey.   just cant kick the habit...   It *****

[Kellyocala1974]

First, injecting anything is dangerous & will eventually kill you if you don't stop.  The Subutex can cause jaundice I read, so the yellowing could be part of that.  You have GOT to understand that Subutex was NOT made for injecting & could actually cause liver damage as well as 100 other things.  If he has been ON the Subutex with Success (to quit using drugs) then why does he not try taking the medication properly?  As DIRECTED.  If he does, then he will have a much better success rate, actually.  If you can, GET HIM TO THE ER right away & BE HONEST!  They won't judge you, throw you away or lock you up.  They will help.  You know, people (doctors) are very helpful when you go in and are truthful with them.  I imagine he hasn't gone to the ER yet because of a fear.  Take your room mate there and get him the help he needs to LIVE.  Niether of you will be sorry.

[stilltrying1965]

   I aree with the above never heard of anyone injecting subutex very strange i just dont get it take your friend to ER as it does not sound good infact it sunds ike your friend need serious help and quicky who knows what damage he is doing to himsef get your friend to er fast,,,,James

[Bhoionbykke]

you obviously are uneducated in the difference between subutex and suboxone. Subutex does not contain the blocker that suboxone does. It is an abusable alternative that is commonly given to pregnant patients.

[katbell]

I Think your friend should get some medical advice..I know, the fact that he may lose his script will probably stop him  but it could be for the best.
I think certain people should keep quiet! Injecting can become an addiction all by its self. Its COMPULSIVE!!!


Katbell

[Beauteefullabeast]

People inject subutex because at one time they used to inject heroin. They wanted to quit but found even with treatment meds, their fixation with needles was there. When one injects, there is no waiting, BAM! You're high as a kite.
The problem with injecting subutex is that unlike heroin, which breaks down easily in water, subutex has fillers because it is prescribed in pill form.
The dangers of injecting subutex are numerous, number one being that the effects aren't immediate, it's often two months later that your thumb goes numb. Upon a visit to the doctor you may find gangrene has spread through your hand, and amputation is often the only option at this point. He needs to see a doctor while they can still pump him with drugs that will loosen up all the clogged blood veins in his hands.

Love,
An ex junkie