Aa
Suboxone newbie
So, I have been reading all of these suboxone posts these past few days (I don’t know why I didn’t even acknowledge them until now) but the Suboxone rout seems to be a very effective way to help in the detox process as well as help to curb cravings when the physical w/d's stop. Question: Is Suboxone only for people that are coming off of heroine, or can someone like me (vicodin/hydrocodone user) get on it as well? Through the suboxone website, I looked to see if there were any Dr's in my town that will prescribe it and there were only a few. I called around trying to get more info, but the people at the clinics were very vague. Is Suboxone extremely expensive? How long do people stay on it? Does it cause any kind of rebound headache when the patient comes off of it? Is there any trace of narcotic in it, i.e. is it similar to Tramadol (not technically a narcotic, but works the same) or what class of drug would you put it in?
And finally, is it effective?
And finally, is it effective?
Oh Wait2long, we ALL need a lot of fixing, LOL!
And I agree with eliminnopee, its all about the addictive behaviors, lifestyle and habits that need changing! And since I am recognizing this now (thankfully) I think I am going to do a lot more research on Suboxone and possibly engage in the treatment. I need to stop thinking only a week out on my recovery and think long term. And if Suboxone is going to help me think long term, then I am in.
I will keep eveyone posted on my progress.
xxoo
And I agree with eliminnopee, its all about the addictive behaviors, lifestyle and habits that need changing! And since I am recognizing this now (thankfully) I think I am going to do a lot more research on Suboxone and possibly engage in the treatment. I need to stop thinking only a week out on my recovery and think long term. And if Suboxone is going to help me think long term, then I am in.
I will keep eveyone posted on my progress.
xxoo
people dont realize this, the drug is not the problem, it is the addictive behavoirs and lifestyle and habits that need changing, the drugs will always be there, always... Awesome... good eye opener!
and you dont have to stay on the sub, you can take it for 10, 15,or 21 days..or you can choose long term maintenance...which is what im doing...10,15, or 21 days isnt enough time for me to deal with all of my issues and get my brain fixed, but that choice is yours to make...if you have any questions just give us a holler, LOL! i would definately recommend some type of therapy to help you deal with these issues for when you are off the sub...i have been in therapy since may and we are just now scratching the surface, i think its going to be a while for me...i need alot of fixing...
It's amazing that you are doing as well as you are with your history. I think it's awesome that you are doing your research and know you need help. Please let us know what you end up doing. Also, if you do decide on suboxone make sure to call around and talk to someone at the docs office (doc is possible) to find out their philosophy. Some of these docs are just in it for the money. Some For example: How long do you recommend a patient to be on suboxone (answer should be that it depends on each patient) and What are the benefits of Suboxone (there is still controversy on the benefits). Basically you just want someone who is going to work with you and make you feel positive about your decision. Not all take insurance and all I called want a small ($50-100) deposit just to make the appointment in case you flake out. Good luck lady!!!!!
Thanks to every single one of you that has given their input - I appreciate it more than words could do it justice. Through reading these posts, I have recognized that its not the physical w/d that get me, it’s the mental…and the retraining of the brain, and everything that goes a long with it. I had to ask myself "If I had the opportunity to relapse, would I?" And the mere fact that I even questioned myself momentarily is proof that I need help and that my brain is in need of some serious retraining. I think I am through the majority of the physical w/d's (Im on day 4) but as soon as I start feeling better physically, that’s usually when my brain kicks in. I know I am genetically predisposed to addiction, my own mother served 10 years in a state prison for several counts of drug abuse, i.e. possession of crack, manufacturing meth, harm to a child (she gave birth to a child while high on meth that she ended up giving up for adoption that I have never met) and the list goes on and on. I have spent my ENTIRE life telling myself that I would never follow in here footsteps, and here I am 8 years later, dealing with my own monster of an addiction. If the Sub is really going to help me get through the mental aspect of getting clean, than Im all for it. I have quit c/t several times, but obviously I need something more, cause I always end up back at square one. And how humbling is it that I actually just said all of that? We all have our secrets, right? I think that’s why I love this board so much, I can bear all and not feel ashamed of myself in doing so.
i simply wouldnt be taking the therapy step if i was still sick from withdrawals, i know me all too well..
and what is so important that i think people dont realize is, the drug is not the problem, it is the addictive behavoirs and lifestyle and habits that need changing, the drugs will always be there, always, so if you can "retrain your brain so to speak" to change these addictive behavoirs etc..., then your chances of success go up...
and what is so important that i think people dont realize is, the drug is not the problem, it is the addictive behavoirs and lifestyle and habits that need changing, the drugs will always be there, always, so if you can "retrain your brain so to speak" to change these addictive behavoirs etc..., then your chances of success go up...
exactly!!! Most people just some extra breathing time to get the counseling going and to change their habits. It's just too hard to do all that and deal with cravings and depression. I wish more people knew about this stuff. I went to NA earlier and no one except the leader knew about it. Including a 16 year old girl whose been in rehab 6 times for heroin!
i agree...i have been on suboxone since May..and i know i would not be where i am today without this drug...i transitioned from methadone...which was hell, but i was committed, so i did it, i was on the full 32 mgs for about 5 weeks, and had no problem at all tapering to 10 mgs, no sickness, nothing...i think i may have had some chills, but i can handle that..what i could not handle would be another relapse...you can only fail so many times before you give up totally, and i also know my own state of mind, i am not strong enough right now, i am in therapy, but have just begun to scratch the surface of my issues. if i was not on the sub, i would have been back to the drugs in no time, and most definately would not be in therapy getting the support and tools i need to learn to cope with my recovery, which is the most important part (i think).
this medicine has given me enough normalcy in my life to do this, and also be the person i knew was hiding under all the drugs i was taking before, i am living the addiction free lifestyle, and am extremely proud of myself for being the only one in my area to have done it so far with nothing but success, not 1 relapse...thank you for your posts.
this medicine has given me enough normalcy in my life to do this, and also be the person i knew was hiding under all the drugs i was taking before, i am living the addiction free lifestyle, and am extremely proud of myself for being the only one in my area to have done it so far with nothing but success, not 1 relapse...thank you for your posts.
you're welcome. I think everyone whose even thinking of suboxone should give c/t at least one honest try first. 1) so you'll remember how crappy withdrawals feel and 2) because this stuff isn't for kids. It's a serious committment that shouldn't be viewed as a wonderdrug that gives you a get out of jail free card.
you said: " I could quit c/t on my own and did so several times, I didn't need suboxone to do that for me."
i never thought of that before, your statement really hit home with me, thank you!
i never thought of that before, your statement really hit home with me, thank you!
Again, every person is different and it was the fear of only having short term answers that kept me from getting help before. I could quit c/t on my own and did so several times, I didn't need suboxone to do that for me. What I need it for is to help me with the cravings while my brain is healing. Of course everyone has their own path but for me the depression after quitting was so bad that I would always head back to the drugs. I think it's great that some people can go c/t and never look back but the actual stats of people who go back to using without some kind of medical help is really scary. I think there is still a lot of fear about this drug especially because of the myth that you're giving up one addiction for another. Your brain is damaged when you do opiates, you have to let your brain heal before you'll feel better long term. I chose to be as comfortable as possible during that time. Again, I think it's great that people can do it without help, I truly do, I just couldn't do it.
It is true that your body gets dependent upon the medicine but everyone I've talked to and read about says that eventually they stop needing it once their brain heals and that tapering off is not a problem at all. Since you're not getting high from it, tapering is easy if you do it right.
Good luck no matter what you decide!
It is true that your body gets dependent upon the medicine but everyone I've talked to and read about says that eventually they stop needing it once their brain heals and that tapering off is not a problem at all. Since you're not getting high from it, tapering is easy if you do it right.
Good luck no matter what you decide!
Its up to you and your doctor to decide how long you should be on it. Not people on here, everyone is different. If you use it for more than 2 weeks it does NOT mean you used it incorrectly. Do your research someplace other than here.
I just saw on another post you have 2 days clean.. usually Sub is started on Day one of withdrawals..12-16 hours after your last vicodin.. if you can get through the next few days you won't need it more than likely.
yeah thats the info the Drug co. wants you to read...those quotes.. of course they want you to stay on it for year or more.. more money.. its not neccessary and people who have used it and gotten off of it would differ highly with the drug co opinion since its so hard to get off when used for maintenence..
Lady-- i posted a Suboxone FAQ post here a week or so ago.. it will be very good reading for you as a newbie.. it can be exspensive.. i paid $350 for 2 office visits and my pills.. i took it for 10 days and have now been clean since for over 4 months. And now after Sub I am living the clean life.. while taking it I still felt like i was on pills and had to worry about taking them.. I was happy to be able to do a short term detox plan with it.. I needed to move on with my life and didn't want to still be hooked on a pill. It is a opiate but it has a ceiling effect so you can't get high or have respritory depression commom with full agonist opiates like vicodin.. you can get addicted to it even though it doesn't get you high.. most reports i read said that dependency was common after 21 days of use. Tapering is supposed to start in the first week even if you choose to stay on it for awhile, which is a huge mistake docs make from the original treatment plan. Maitenence was supposed to be at doses of 2-4mgs NOT 24-32mgs..
Also you asked about headaches, it commonly causes headaches during treatment.. i had awful headaches the first 3 days and had very bad nausea which the doc gave me phergan since everytime i took it 30min later i wanted to throw up. those side effects went away after i lowered the dose on the 3rd day. It has a really long half life of 36-37 hours.. so it ''builds up" in your body which makes it very easy to taper even in the first week its very easy to taper.
ON day one I started with 6mgs and I was fine.. I can't imagine these people starting with 24mgs I would have been sick... but i was cautioned by a few people who took it that were started on too high of a dose.. so i kept it to what I needed and didn't go over..
If you have any other questions send me a PM, i still have tons of research saved from before i used it in june..
XOXO
Stephanie
Lady-- i posted a Suboxone FAQ post here a week or so ago.. it will be very good reading for you as a newbie.. it can be exspensive.. i paid $350 for 2 office visits and my pills.. i took it for 10 days and have now been clean since for over 4 months. And now after Sub I am living the clean life.. while taking it I still felt like i was on pills and had to worry about taking them.. I was happy to be able to do a short term detox plan with it.. I needed to move on with my life and didn't want to still be hooked on a pill. It is a opiate but it has a ceiling effect so you can't get high or have respritory depression commom with full agonist opiates like vicodin.. you can get addicted to it even though it doesn't get you high.. most reports i read said that dependency was common after 21 days of use. Tapering is supposed to start in the first week even if you choose to stay on it for awhile, which is a huge mistake docs make from the original treatment plan. Maitenence was supposed to be at doses of 2-4mgs NOT 24-32mgs..
Also you asked about headaches, it commonly causes headaches during treatment.. i had awful headaches the first 3 days and had very bad nausea which the doc gave me phergan since everytime i took it 30min later i wanted to throw up. those side effects went away after i lowered the dose on the 3rd day. It has a really long half life of 36-37 hours.. so it ''builds up" in your body which makes it very easy to taper even in the first week its very easy to taper.
ON day one I started with 6mgs and I was fine.. I can't imagine these people starting with 24mgs I would have been sick... but i was cautioned by a few people who took it that were started on too high of a dose.. so i kept it to what I needed and didn't go over..
If you have any other questions send me a PM, i still have tons of research saved from before i used it in june..
XOXO
Stephanie
I would agree that 5-10 would be if you are only using it for w/d''s but the program itself (which I would consider being used correctly) can last much longer. In reading on suboxone.com the induction itself takes 2-7 days, then there's still the stabilization and maintenance phases.
I'm not by any means a suboxone expert but here are a few quotes from the website:
"The maintenance phase can last anywhere from weeks to years—depending on what you, your doctor, and, possibly, your therapist or counselor determine is best for your individual needs."
"The CSAT Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine recommend that patients stay on medication after they have "detoxed" from their drug of abuse. This gives patients time to learn new skills that can help them cope with cravings and other triggers that might otherwise make them vulnerable to relapse"
I'm not by any means a suboxone expert but here are a few quotes from the website:
"The maintenance phase can last anywhere from weeks to years—depending on what you, your doctor, and, possibly, your therapist or counselor determine is best for your individual needs."
"The CSAT Clinical Guidelines for the Use of Buprenorphine recommend that patients stay on medication after they have "detoxed" from their drug of abuse. This gives patients time to learn new skills that can help them cope with cravings and other triggers that might otherwise make them vulnerable to relapse"
suboxone is for opiate W/Ds of any kind.......
it is suppose to be used from a 5-10 day regiment........if used correctly.....
it is suppose to be used from a 5-10 day regiment........if used correctly.....
yes, it works for vicodin. I've been on it since July. It absolutely helps with cravings. I know there is alot of different info out there so all I can tell you is my experience and others I've talked to.
What it does is get you through w/d's and you should stay on it long enough for your brain to heal all the damage that has been done. That way when you're through you won't have all of the depression issues that you would have if you just went cold turkey. I've done the c/t thing many times and it's always the depression that kept me going back to the pills. The offices were vague because every patient is different. It just depends on how long it takes for your brain to heal. Could be a couple months to a year or more. Some people, although it's not recommended by most docs, stay on a very low dose for life because it's a great pain killer, antidepressant and deterant for relapse. Most people just find that one day they start forgetting to take their suboxone. That's usually the sign to start tapering and get off it all together.
It is not a miracle drug meaning you must still do the work such as counseling etc. But it's an amazing feeling to no longer be obsessed with drugs and to know that even if you have a weak moment, the drugs won't work (suboxone prevents other opiates from working).
It is not cheap but if you have insurance they usually cover it. But when you consider how much most people spend on their pills and how much your family will have to pay for you to either be institutionalized, in prison or buried, it's cheap. Around here it's $300 for the consultation, $100 each month after. Then the prescription is like $30 a month (with insurance). Walgreen's has 30 8mg pills for $189.
Depending upon what you were on before you would probably start at 16-32 mg's per day but could be down to 4mg pretty quickly. Again, everyone is different. Some people start at 4mg's and others have to stay at 16mgs for months. I'm just throwing out numbers for examples. The best dosage is the one that makes you have no w/'ds and no cravings. As your brain heals you'll need less and less.
Bottom line, if you get through the w/d's cold turkey and stay off the drugs then you don't need suboxone. If you're like me and can't seem to stay off of them for more than a few days, suboxone will probably help you.
What it does is get you through w/d's and you should stay on it long enough for your brain to heal all the damage that has been done. That way when you're through you won't have all of the depression issues that you would have if you just went cold turkey. I've done the c/t thing many times and it's always the depression that kept me going back to the pills. The offices were vague because every patient is different. It just depends on how long it takes for your brain to heal. Could be a couple months to a year or more. Some people, although it's not recommended by most docs, stay on a very low dose for life because it's a great pain killer, antidepressant and deterant for relapse. Most people just find that one day they start forgetting to take their suboxone. That's usually the sign to start tapering and get off it all together.
It is not a miracle drug meaning you must still do the work such as counseling etc. But it's an amazing feeling to no longer be obsessed with drugs and to know that even if you have a weak moment, the drugs won't work (suboxone prevents other opiates from working).
It is not cheap but if you have insurance they usually cover it. But when you consider how much most people spend on their pills and how much your family will have to pay for you to either be institutionalized, in prison or buried, it's cheap. Around here it's $300 for the consultation, $100 each month after. Then the prescription is like $30 a month (with insurance). Walgreen's has 30 8mg pills for $189.
Depending upon what you were on before you would probably start at 16-32 mg's per day but could be down to 4mg pretty quickly. Again, everyone is different. Some people start at 4mg's and others have to stay at 16mgs for months. I'm just throwing out numbers for examples. The best dosage is the one that makes you have no w/'ds and no cravings. As your brain heals you'll need less and less.
Bottom line, if you get through the w/d's cold turkey and stay off the drugs then you don't need suboxone. If you're like me and can't seem to stay off of them for more than a few days, suboxone will probably help you.
hi there ... so you're thinking about suboxone? thats good .. suboxone does have an opiate in it, but the other drug prevents your from getting that 'high' feeling. When you called around, what prices did they give you for the office visits? Do you have rx covg? if so, more than likely you'll only have to pay your copay. i pay only $10 .. I pay $70/mo for the dr. visit and a drug screen urine test. Which is alot cheaper than some of the offices were charging. I paid $375 the first time i went and that included the first 3 visits and drug tests ... my friend pays a lilttle over $200 for 45 pills .. at first her mom didn't want to help her pay for them, but it's cheaper than buying her DOC off the street ... You can stay on suboxone as long as you feel you need to ... it helps trememndously for the cravings - a friend of mine did a 10 day detox .. no w/d's afterwards and for maintenance takes a 1/4 of an 8mg tab at nite ...Hope you find this somewhat helpful and good luck to you on this ... let us know what they say about pricing for the visits too ... PEACE!
Hi Lady!
Yes. the suboxone will work for w/d's from pain meds. Yes, it can be an expensive treatment...both w/doctors as well as the medication. Call around and find the cheapest one.
The amount of time people stay on the Sub differs. I did it for 16 days as a short detox. It worked well for me. Some people stay on it a bit longer for the cravings. You don't want to stay on it long enough so that you have traded one addiction for another. Please do your homework before you start the program.
Ask questions here and google it on the net. It is not to be taken lightly.
Yes. the suboxone will work for w/d's from pain meds. Yes, it can be an expensive treatment...both w/doctors as well as the medication. Call around and find the cheapest one.
The amount of time people stay on the Sub differs. I did it for 16 days as a short detox. It worked well for me. Some people stay on it a bit longer for the cravings. You don't want to stay on it long enough so that you have traded one addiction for another. Please do your homework before you start the program.
Ask questions here and google it on the net. It is not to be taken lightly.
Have an Answer?
You are reading content posted in the Addiction: Substance Abuse Community
Is treating glaucoma with marijuana all hype, or can hemp actually help?
If you think marijuana has no ill effects on your health, this article from Missouri Medicine may make you think again.
Julia Aharonov, DO, reveals the quickest way to beat drug withdrawal.
Tricks to help you quit for good.
A list of national and international resources and hotlines to help connect you to needed health and medical services.
Herpes sores blister, then burst, scab and heal.
