subutex

[sharonver]

I tapered off methadone (slowly)which I had been on for over 15 years,when I got down to zero after a couple of weeks of still being very sick I decided to go on subutex.  I take on an average of 6 mg. a day. Doctor prescribed 6mg. to 8mg. a day. So far I have felt great, no more withdrawal symptoms, and I feel normal a sense of "well being". Not sedated as I did when I was on methadone. My question is: How long should I stay on? I am also a chronic pain patient (arthritis) and I am currently on predensone for a short time. So this is also helping with my pain issue. The physician told me that I can stay on indefinietly or come off after a short period when I think that the most of the methadone is out of my system. I have heard it can take months before your body is rid of methadone, esp. being on it for so many years.  Thanks for your input.

Sharon

[mr.lucky66]

I'm glad sub has worked for you and you don't have to go to a clinic. I was on many and some of them were hellholes loaded with criminals. I don't know what the long term effects of sub are and how good it is for lifetime maintenence and pain. If you need narcotics for pain then maybe you are doing ok on the sub for now but time will tell. All the best

[sharonver]

The generic sub that you get from Walgreens is $156.00 for 60 tablets of what strength? 4mg or 8 mgs?  I have been on subutex for over 5 years and paying big bucks, my pharmacy just recently informed me that they now have a generic, but at CVS, the difference was minimal.
So I went to Sams Club and they are having trouble ordering it.  I was told to go a day or two ahead of time, which I did, now they are telling me they tried to order it, but they are out and have to wait....Any problems getting it at Walgreens?  thanks..

Sharon

[kevheb]

My opiate experiences started around 1992 and started with hydrocodone then oxycodone. Ater having back surgery in 2002  i was still having pain issues so i started going to pain management. Any way once in that setting i was on dilaudid 8 mg 3x daily 200 mg of methadone and duragesic{fentanyl} all very potent narcotics. Long story short i was sick and tired of the drugs they had started to consume my life,and i needed a change. So when i went to my next appt. i asked my Dr. What options were available,something that could help my pain and also not having to take a variety of drugs.He mentioned suboxone and i agreed,only problem being on a high dose of methadone i had to taper, but it was not easy at all total misery. I am now currently taking subutex because it is now available in generic at walgreens 60 tablets cost 159.00 A great decrease from what i was paying for suboxone without ins. And i would suggest this medicine to any one it has saved my life and family.

[tobias5001]

  Hey everyone my name is tobias core, and I'm addicted to heroin.  My problem is that I've discovered how to use subutex to function while still being addicted.  I mean I function well, i have'nt missed a day of work due to wds in over a year.  I get higth for acouple of days then go back on the bup.  Since there is still bup in my system from days before, I rarely experience wds.  I take bup for a few days then step myself down fairly quickly.  The trouble starts when I try to come off the bup totally.  I rationalize to myself that if I'm feeling this bad come'n off the bup, I might as well be on dope.  Stupid I know, but it is a cycle I have not been able to break away from.  Once the wds from the dope are over, I don't want to be on anything and I try to stop the bup, I;ve gotten down to a half of a mg a day of bup, and not made it off.  Is there any hope for me at all?

[rebeard]

Subutex is a miracle drug! It has saved my life. I was eating Duragesic patches (fentalyl) for about 3 years, and vicoden and Ultram for about 7 years before that. But, taking Subutex long-term it will cause withdrawal symptoms. I've been on it for 4 years and am now trying to get off. After about 8 hours without taking it, I start to feel the withdrawal which is pretty unpleasant. Haven't made it past that yet, so I'm writing this without that knowledge. My suggestion: Use Subutex to get off your drug of choice for 2-4 weeks, then taper and stop. Don't stay on it long-term. I'm not a doctor and am only speaking about my own personal experiences with it. So take it for what it's worth.

[billy24]

I had no problem finding a doc- I have been on 24 mg per day for almost 2 years and my doc says I should stay on it forever- its changed my life for the good.