Officially Day 45..

At midnight so an hour ago... (est time)  I started by 45th day off of pills.. Its amazing and keeps getting better.. I will admit to having rough pain days and needing to get that worked on..(ortho appt is Tuesday) but mentally I feel good... which is better than physically being perfect and mentally a freaking mess in my opinion. I would much rather feel clear and more stable mentally and emotionally than I have in years and have some pain... Than be a fuzzy mess and be pain free...
I hope that others are in the fight this weekend.. I am off to bed soon.. gonna ice my neck and cross my fingers to have a decent night of sleep. and not wake every hour to half and half trying to roll over.. If anyone has any sleeping suggestions as far as pillows or whatever.. bring em on!!!

XOXO
Stephanie
Day 45

[FLaddict]

To anyone who missed it and wants the info... I posted a great SUb FAQ last night that was written by a long time patient.. I felt like I wrote about 98% of it... So I definatly related.. Its really long.. but you should read it anyway.. Its helpful to know what the "real deal " is..
XOXO
Here it is...
http://www.medhelp.org/posts/show/237407

[beachtowel]

1. What are Suboxone and Subutex?

Subutex and Suboxone are medications approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Both medicines contain the active ingredient, buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence.

2. Why did the FDA approve two medications?

Subutex contains only buprenorphine hydrochloride. This formulation was developed as the initial product. The second medication, Suboxone contains an additional ingredient called naloxone to guard against misuse.

Subutex is given during the first few days of treatment, while Suboxone is used during the maintenance phase of treatment.

3. Will most prescriptions be for the Suboxone formulation?
Yes, Suboxone is the formulation used in the majority of patients.

4. How are Subutex and Suboxone different from the current treatment options for opiate dependence such as methadone?

Currently opiate dependence treatments like methadone can be dispensed only in a limited number of clinics that specialize in addiction treatment. There are not enough addiction treatment centers to help all patients seeking treatment. Subutex and Suboxone are the first narcotic drugs available under the Drug Abuse Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000 for the treatment of opiate dependence that can be prescribed in a doctor’s office. This change will provide more patients the opportunity to access treatment.

5. What are some possible side effects of Subutex and Suboxone?

(This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with Suboxone and Subutex. Refer to the package insert for a more complete list of side effects.)

The most common reported side effect of Subutex and Suboxone include:

cold or flu-like symptoms
headaches
sweating
sleeping difficulties
nausea
mood swings.
Like other opioids Subutex and Suboxone have been associated with respiratory depression (difficulty breathing) especially when combined with other depressants.

6. Are patients able to take home supplies of these medicines?

Yes. Subutex and Suboxone are less tightly controlled than methadone because they have a lower potential for abuse and are less dangerous in an overdose. As patients progress on therapy, their doctor may write a prescription for a take-home supply of the medication.

7. How will FDA know if these drugs are being misused, and what can be done if they are?
FDA has worked with the manufacturer, Reckitt-Benckiser, and other agencies to develop an in-depth risk-management plan. FDA will receive quarterly reports from the comprehensive surveillance program. This should permit early detection of any problems. Regulations can be enacted for tighter control of buprenorphine treatment if it is clear that it is being widely diverted and misused.

8. What are the key components of the risk-management plan?
The main components of the risk-management plan are preventive measures and surveillance.

Preventive Measures include:

education
tailored distribution
Schedule III control under the Controlled Substances Act (CSA)
child resistant packaging
supervised dose induction
The risk management plan uses many different surveillance approaches. Some active methods include plans to:

Conduct interviews with drug abusers entering treatment programs.
Monitor local drug markets and drug using network areas where these medicines are most likely to be used and possibly abused.
Examine web sites.
Additionally data collection sources can indicate whether Subutex and/or Suboxone are implicated in abuse or fatalities. These include:

DAWN—The Drug Abuse Warning Network. This is run by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) which publishes a collection of data on emergency department episodes related to the use of illegal drugs or non-medical use of a legal drug.
CEWG—Community Epidemiology Working Group. This working group has agreed to monitor buprenorphine use.
NIDA—National Institute of Drug Abuse. NIDA will send a letter to their doctors telling them to be aware of the potential for abuse and to report it if necessary.
9. Who can prescribe Subutex and Suboxone?
Only qualified doctors with the necessary DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) identification number are able to start in-office treatment and provide prescriptions for ongoing medication. CSAT (Center for Substance Abuse Treatment) will maintain a database to help patients locate qualified doctors.



10. How will Subutex and Suboxone be supplied?

Both medications come in 2 mg and 8 mg strengths as sublingual (placed under the tongue to dissolve) tablets.

11. Where can patients get Subutex and Suboxone?
These medications will be available in most commercial pharmacies. Qualified doctors with the necessary DEA identification numbers will be encouraged to help patients locate pharmacies that can fill prescriptions for Subutex and Suboxone.

12.Where can I go for more information?

Go to: http://www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/subutex_suboxone/default.htm
Contact the CSAT Buprenorphine Information Center at 866-BUP-CSAT, or via email at ***@**** or http://buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/

[singha]

Great job sista keep up the good work.....Michelle

[beachtowel]

Your doing great with your recovery........
Honesty is the key to recovery........and I think that you have accepted that............

Your not even defensive in your posts which means your healing nicely........
Keep it up Steph...........watch your triggers and that voice that will be talking in your ear.........
Have it plan when it does........
Your pain will always remind your addiction how much better you feel taking pain pills.........

Your doing awesome Steph....

[justlikeyou]

i changed chiropractors 6 weeks ago, my new one is much better than my old one..if your current health care providers are not excellent you might consider trying new ones?

congrats on day 45.

[GA Guy]

I don't think there's much more I can say but Congratulations once again..and thank you again for being such a help and inspiration to so many. By the way, my wife and I recently invested in a "latex" mattress. Definitely helps with my back pain. Like sleeping on air!!

[FLaddict]

Thanks to all who posted and continue to carry me through each day.. Hugs all around..

[pheggie101]

Steph, i was just wondering about the day counting. Seems like alot of pressure to put on yourself.I do understand the pride it expresses in the fight you have,and lord knows the fight as i have watched it from the other side of the fence. maybe strating at 10,000 and going backwards,9999,9998,9987...........just a thought jim

[blueyz]

Just wanted to congratulate you! Nicely done.  My husband and I invested in a SleepNumber Bed.  It's good, but admit, with the latest neck/back issue I haven't slept great.  But it helped a great deal when we got it and I have chronic ortho problems.

Anyway, Major Kuddos...**CLAPPING**

[fishmeal]

Well what can I say but again great JOB!!!   You're the woMAN heehee  I can't get over the strength you showed during the whole proccess!  I was a little worried a couple of weeks back and even suggested if you are going to fall,,,, fall the suboxone way but that's moot now... I have all the confidence in the world in you and so many that you have helped with your experience has got to be awesome.....  I just wanna keep saying good things and am stalling to find more.  Major kudos but I don't want to give you the clap like blueyz did , heeheee  (that joke is meant in all good nature of course meant no harm blueyz)

HOW THE HECK DID YOU DO IT FLaddict!!!!!  I agree with the pain issue, I would much rather be in any kind of pain rather than what we went through with the stupid pills.... (I'm still using technically with subutex but my life has improved soo very much... when I get ready to jump off, YOU WILL BE THE FIRST TO KNOW.... (going through some life trauma stuff and am not at all ready)

LOVE TO THE BEST!!!!
Fish

[FLaddict]

Thanks for the info on the sleep number bed.. I have seen the commercials but didn't know anyone who actually had one.. My matress is about 3 years old.. When I got it I loved it.. now.. not so much.. I think its too hard.. and does not have any "give'' as far as conforming to your body.. I also got special neck pillows from my wedding registry.. and they have helped some..

I will research that bed.. If I have to get a new one I will.. but I hoping to find some kind of mattress topper or something that would help.. Matresses are expensive and mine is practically new..

[blueyz]

HEHEHEHEHE, That was funny..After all you've been thru and I go and give you the fricken clap.  Haha, good one fishmeal...

The sleepnumber bed is good.  You can adjust it to so many levels of softenss etc..and it does still have a soft top so it's still comfy.  They are a bit spendy, we have a queen and it was 1600.00,  but most have no interest payment plans. We paid ours off before we owed any interest. I would look into it.  It's been great for both of us.

Congrats again Minus the clap this time.

[Sparkle Plenty]

Pillows...
You may want to try a buckwheat hull filled cylinder shaped pillow.  The buckwheat hulls allow the pillow to breathe with you.  Sometimes, health food stores carry them, but you can find them on the Internet.  

Continued great good success in this monumental task..BE FREE!  Sparkle

[Yoda99]

Keep up the good work Steph!  You're doing great, and we're so very proud of you!
Much love,
Yoda