Question for fladdict

I have been reading alot of the posts on here and it seems like you are quite the hero to many here. My question is about my husband. He has his D & A counseling appt. tomorrow and they are suppose to refer him to a Dr who uses the suboxen program. He hasn't done anything since Aug. 22.  Now I've seen where people here are recomended to do 8 mg on day 1 , 6mg on day 2...and so on. Now since hes been off for a while I thought maybe he shouldn't start such a  high mg. or whatever. He is not physically sick but still the mental part of is is trying to take over everyday. He also has bipolar which Im sure adds to it. I was completely against sub or methadone from the get go but I just cant argue, I guess its worth a shot,right. Well any advice would be helpful,thanks.~Chicky

[FLaddict]

If he has been off of meds for more than a week I highly discourage going on Sub at all.. Its really for the treatment of accute withdrawl (withdrawal) first and foremost. not the mental part.. some docs would like you to believe that for the money.. This was never the intended use for the drug.. This is the reason so many people are now struggling with Sub addictions. If he needs something Naltrexone or Naloxone is for this.. this is used normally after someone has been withdrawn to help with cravings and to block opiates. It is not a narcotic like Sub is so there is no risk for dependence.  I would suggest therapy and Naltrexone LONG before I would recomend someone with almost 2 weeks to go on Sub.. it really is asking for trouble.. Too many people use Sub the same way they use there drug of choice. And as long as opiates are in the body in some form.. no healing of the neurotransmitters will happen. If he truely wants to be free from opiates I would say no to Sub and think about Naltrexone/Naloxone.

[FLaddict]

And if for some reason you do decide to do this... which again I highly suggest you don't... Anymore than 2mgs will probably make him high which would start the whole process over again.

[[e-mail]]

Ya know qhat that is exactly what I said but I didnt know about the Naltrexone or whatever. Thank you thank you thank you!!! Im going to tell him now. You're the best. I thought I was going to lose this battle but I guess if he'll try the Nalextrone We got another shot at this. I've seen opiates bring a lot of people down. Alot of family memebers so... Its scary ya know.

[FLaddict]

You should really try to talk him into getting the Naltrexone Implant... its foul proof pretty much. Lasts for 3-6 months too.. Its also available in oral doses and I think patches but I could be mistaken about the patches..
Honestly the best way to get past the mental is time.. Its the hardest part.. Therapy helps.. Meetings help alot of people..
Putting another opiate in his body now would be the worst thing he could do... even if it is FDA approved.. where docs have messed this up is that its FDA approved for treatment of dependence... not the cravings... Its main purpose is for the physical signs not the mental.

[WeeR138]

Yes, I was given once the Naltrexone directly after I was done having withdrawals. It helped with the cravings, and it was meant to block any type of pill I may have tried to take. Just knowing that helped a lot. Plus, It's not as expensive as SUB. My insurance covered it and it was only $40.

[willruthie1965]

I would leaveit alone.  Ruthe

[willruthie1965]

steph you r saying he shouyldn't even go on that medicine right?? Ruthie

[[e-mail]]

I dont know if it even matters but he wont even talk to me about it. I just get soo mad because he lied to me for a year, not only about the drug part but where he was getting it, and all the stuff tat comes with it. and ya know dumb stuff like picking a fight because he had to leave to get his **** and what not. Now he doesnt want me to go to the meetings with him because he doesnt want me to know what hes done. And not knowing what that means is driving me crazy.  I dont even know anymore. My parents were addicts and I moved out when I was 14 because I hated it. I just dont know.

[FLaddict]

Yes I am saying he shouldn't take it at all at this stage of the game..

[mom2rachie]

He needs to go to the meetings alone.  You cannot do this for him as much as you would like to.  Please allow him to feel comfortable in those meetings so he can share what he needs to without fear of judgment and retaliation.
It's an important part of recovery, the doing it on your own part.