w/d and chewing subutex

Hi.  I just recalled that before I went onto methadone I had been given one dose of subutex after being off of hydros for days.  Within 45 min my stomach began to cramp up -- seemed like I went into severe wd.  I do recall that the subutex (I actually was given a buprenex tab) seemed to take forever to dissolve under my tongue and am pretty sure I finally ended up chewing and swallowing most of it.  Can chewing it cause that problem?  Again, this was just bup -- no naloxone was in it so I figured chewing it was't a big deal.  And I was in-patient (they tapered me down and then gave me bup).  It was really terrible, and it's too bad because I felt fine before they gave it to me.  My eyes looked normal, I was sleeping fine and was looking forward to going home.  Is there some problem with chewing bup??  Thanks.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

There exists a possibility that the bup got into the gastric juices and was rendered non bio available.  The reason that it is dosed sub lingually is that the bup is able to be absorbed by areas under the tongue and the naloxone is too large a molecule to be absorbed there.....the naloxone is then washed by saliva into gastric juices where it is destroyed. Might have something to do with it......just a thought, though...

[salsinator]

Correct, buprinorphine is readily absorbed sub lingually,but is not active if taken orally.  It is much less effective, only about 10% or less.  So, when you swallowed, you basically rendered it inactive and gained no benefit from taking it.  Next time allow the Bup to fully dissolve under the tongue.  

[emwave]

Hmm.  Then I don't understand why my stomach cramped up so much and I felt like I was going into wd not long after I took it.  I was feeling fine before that.  And the wd like symptoms lasted a few days.  Something just isn't adding up.  I'm leaning towards canceling my apt with the sub doc.  Not sure what I'm going to do, tho.  Thanks for answers, realy appreciate it.

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

You may have actually felt withdrawal from the methadone if the sub dose were mostly compromised?  Dont have any experience with sub and precipitated withdrawals - did that with talwin!

[emwave]

well, back then i was trying to get off of hydros -- and was in patient where they taper you off using hydro.  The taper was comfortable and I felt good, as in "normal" the morning they gave me the bup.  A couple of days before I went home is when they gave me a dose of bup (which I ended up chewing because it seemed to take forever to dissolve).  Within 45 min I had the worst stomach cramps -- like wd type and felt really lousy.  They didn't try to give me more bup (thank God), but I was sick for 2-3 days.  The plane ride home was the flight from hell and I came home a wreck, not having been able to eat or even drink more than a few sips of water for 3 days.  I wish now that I had just refused the bup -- I felt good before I took it (not high at all, I know they had stopped the hydro -- just normal).  Ha -- seems the more I learn the more confused I am!

I don't know what I'm going to end up doing -- but appreciate every comment.  Maybe something else was going on back then.

One question I'd really like answered is how bup affects one's energy.  Do those of you who have taken it recall if it got rid of the low energy and depression that wd's bring?

[122 Tactical Fighter Group]

One of my friends that is a Nurse said that she declined sub because the energy was the reason that she was using the hydro's - - and the energy from the sub was superior to that feeling.......I used sub as the European formulary Temgesic for pain - - didnt touch my pain...