Suboxone dosage for Methadone user

[funcaddict]

I have an appt. with a cash only suboxone doctor on Sept. 30
I have been on 30 mg. methadone for the last 4 years.
I'm wondering what mg. dosage I'll most likely be taking
because I want to know if I'll be able to afford suboxone treatment.
30- 8 mg pills in my area are $255.
I called his office but they can't tell me anything.

[funcaddict]

Just a note to add I'm actually going to the sub dr. today - Sept.29 not Sept.30

[funcaddict]

Thanks for the info girls!

[vicki595]

I knew that Sara!   I've known you for so long now that I know what you're thinking...and that's what keeps me laughing all day long (and nightime,too!)

[dominosarah]

Thank you vicki, i was just coming back to say this!

[vicki595]

You can always contact the manufacturer of Suboxone. They have programs for folks on a tight budget and they'll help you out!

[dominosarah]

510 a month??  Wow!  Just lay it out for him and if he is a good doctor he will find a way to work with you.

[funcaddict]

Thank you dominosarah for understanding my question. I just hate to spend $335 for
my first doctor visit only to find out that he is planning to put me on a 16 mg per day suboxone dose which is $510 a month. However, I can afford 8 mg per month for $255.

[dominosarah]

You need to talk to your doctor about this.  Tell him what you can and cant afford.  I know Sub is really expensive......

[funcaddict]

My question is" How much suboxone do you think the doctor will put me on since I'm taking 30 mg. methadone each day?" Do you think he will start me on 8 mg per day or more?
I am well aware about being into full blown withdrawals before starting suboxone. I just want to know what my dosage might be so I can estimate the cost! In other words, if he puts me on more than 8 mg per day I can't afford suboxone!!!!

[mellie4]

And you also need to be, I believe, on a lower dose than 30 mg.  I think (and gnarly will post on this, I'm sure) that to go from methadone to sub, you shouldn't be higher than 20 mg. methadone.

It seems to me there are a LOT of doctors prescribing suboxone that are only in it for the cash.  It's something that needs monitoring, and the first dose should be given at the doctor's office.

I don't know a lot about it, and, again, more experienced people will comment, but if you take suboxone too soon into withdrawals or with too much methadone in your system, you can find yourself in precipitated withdrawals with cannot be reversed.

Keep reading and posting and make sure your doctor is selling you the WHOLE program and not just the subs themselves!!!  Best of luck.

[vicki595]

Hi!   I don't see a question in there...

You know you need to be several days into Methadone withdrawal before you even take any Suboxone, right?

What concurrent programs does this cash only doctor offer his patients?