suboxone dr. appt. thurs. any advice

I'm detoxing off of methadone 1mg a day and thursday is my last day.  Later that morning I have an appointment with a suboxone doctor. Does anyone have any advice on how to prepare for the switch ?

[liscamdave]

If you are seeing a dr.for this, he will help you make the transition. You should be ok as long as you follow the proper protocol in which your dr.tells you. Wait at least 24-36 hours before taking the sub, after your last dose of Methadone. Are you doing a short term sub treatment or a long term?

[coletrickle]

I havn't got that far yet to know if I short or long

[mr.lucky66]

congrats on getting off the done, well almost. I think this is one of the only times I would recomend longer term sub but not too long. There was another forum where these people stayed on the sub it seemd like forever after done. To me that doesn't make sense. Sub isn't that much easier to get off of than meth. Having detoxed several times from done I can tell you that the worst part lasts about 10 days and maybe another 6 weeks after that, tops. If this sub doc wants you to take sub for months and months, question him. It doesn't make any sense to go from methadone maintenence to sub maintenence. all the best

[coletrickle]

when you detoxed from methadone did you do it with suboxone ?  I'm just worried because I still have to go to work to keep my job and I'm hoping the suboxone makes it tolerable.

[refusingbondage]

First congrats on your detox.  You should not feel any withdrawal from the methadone once on the sub.  Your doctor will do it with you (or should).  You should go to him at least 24 hours after your last dose of methadone.  When you start feeling sick.  Then take it slow a few MGs at a time until you feel "GREAT".  Which you will.  That's the tricky part about suboxone - it will indeed make you feel so much better... basically "normal" without any high.  But be very careful, its a very powerful drug. Take the least amount you need in order to not feel sick.  I would not recommend anyone stay on it long term.  It is extremely hard to detox off of sub.  I wish you all the luck in the world and hope all good things come your way :)

[mr.lucky66]

No, I detoxed 5 mg. per day from 110 then took some clonidine and attivan for a week after I came off all the done. Sub makes sense for methadone but don't let some doc snow you with a too long treatment. They really don't know much about it except it makes them a lot of $. all the best in this important quest.

[worried878]

congrats....know ur stuff and educate urself on sub as well...getting off of sub is not easy thing for most...get ur goals straight in ur mind before u do this....if ur goal is to detox from methadone using sub then know the time period it will take..usually less than a month on sub or u will later have to kick that...remeber less time and mgs with sub is better for most