Suboxone has made me myself again!

[ldt3201]

Have others out there had a great results with Suboxone? I started on it 4 days ago and the first 2 nights were not to good, my doctor had me take one extra 4mg dose and now I am trying to stick to the 4 mg daily and I feel great! I feel like I used to. My emotions are back in place, I can laugh, sing, and cry.

I can't beleive how it even surpresses my cravings. I am so thankful for the Suboxone... I still have work to do but it has given me the chance to work on it and not put my life on hold.

Hugs and kisses

[McGutherin]

That is wonderful for you. But, what were you on and how long? I am willing to ask my Doc about Suboxone, but don't want to start another drug. I have been on Tramadol for 2 years now and NEED to be off of it. So SICK of this. Keep going with the Sub. Tell me if you were on Tramadol or not?

[Coolio Hernendez]

I was telling somebody yesterday that i credit Suboxone to my raise at work and the competion of a couple big projects....I think it makes you all of who you are....It's hard to explain....You might know what i'm saying as you are on it now........I really was at my best on it......You can't drink or do any other meds even non-narcotic.........

[SOCAL742]

I love it too! I am almost tapered off though now.

[worried878]

suboxone is a powerful narcotic....0.3 mg equals 10 mg of morphine for an example...many low quantiry users would feel totally ecstatic on this drug as it surpasses the strength of any narcotic out there,  other than methadone and it is very close in strength just a different mechanism as it does have a ceiling effect...an oxy user of 80-100 mg a day would get a high off of sub...a heavy heroin user would not..it is a good tool to get clean with aftercare included...it is addictive as well and when i see 60 mg a day lortab users choose it to detox i cringe unless they are a chronic relapser...perhaps lifetime use is an option for some but the drug can turn on u and make u feel like poo poo after a year or 2 in many cases...like hydro did to me...no more high ...using to avoid depression and even that was not successful..then u have the sub to contend with as wd from sub is no picnic unless done slowly and correctly...which u could do with ur doc if u were disciplined enuf...not knocking sub but it is another narcotic and be safe...it is not foolproof and it is a strong narcotic that is eating receptors while u r on it..the depression on the down swing is what causes relapse...we have to get our brains healthy and producing endorphins again...or use a maintenence drug like meth or sub for life....no easy fix...educate urself on sub and be sure u know what u r doing...getting down to 2 mg is supposed to be a breeze ///studies show that the final drop below that is hard and is the hum dinger

[broknbck]

yes worried is right. of course you feel great, you are still taking an opiate. you will now have to taper off of this. and do exactly as the doctor says. i believe 2 weeks is about the limit for taking it. or something close to that. if you go beyond you are in for worse withdrawl than before you took it.
i think the reasoning is that it may be less harsh to wean off of and it does not allow for you to get really high even if you take a lot of drugs. but you have to stick to the time table or you will be in one hell of a mess. my friends husband was taking it and the doctor left him on it for months and what a nightmare when he went to quit. a

am not bursting your bubble, just want to warn you . that is all. it has worked just great for some and you will get through it just fine.
best to you, and glad that you are feeling great.

[ldt3201]

Thanks for you concerns. First I want to say I researched SUB greatly before I made this decission.

I was taking approx. 400 mg hydro/ocycodone daily... 50 mg every 3-4 hours. (prefered the oxy of course)

2 years ago I decided to w/d myself at home, my husband and I planned for it.
We had a friend move in to assist as well.
We bought a new swimming pool as we read the activity of swimming would help build natural endorphines.
I followed the Thomas recipe ..bought all the required vitamins, immodium, etc.
I stocked the house with bottled water, juices, fruits, and nutritous foods.
I had the bath tub ready and a heating pad as well.

Now let me tell you how this worked... NOT AT ALL WELL for me. I suffered for 9 days before anything changed, I became suicidal feeling this would never end. I did not sleep except minutes at a time for the entire 9 days (using tylenol PM) except once when a friend brought me a valium then I slept 5 hours. I ran a fever at times, My legs hurt so bad I could not get comfortable. I was anxious, depressed and cried.



I would have never, ever quit if I had to go through that agony again. I do not feel HIGH on SUB, I feel like my old self. I take 4mg daily and have never desired to take more.... THE KEY IS TO FEEL"NORMAL" not "HIGH"

I have started seeing a counselor weekly to deal with issues leading to my addiction.
I called every person that I purchased pills from and explained I did not want them to ever call and tempt me.
I shut off my cell phone (this is where I received calls for my pills)
I have a plan with my doctor concerning my tapering the sub
My doctor also preforms a drug test on me each time I see him

I do not mean to glamourize suboxone but I feel it gives me at least an excellent chance. When I quit alone cold turkey I never stopped craving, I had to quit a good job, I never worked through any problems and as a result relapsed but with the sub this is all different.

I have also taken methadone that I had bought when I could not find nothing else and it was nothing like this. I felt HIGH on methadone and would not recommend it.

What I think is sad that SUB could be helpful to so many addicts but it just isn't available for all. My insurance does not cover this treatment but it is still alot cheaper than all the pills I have bought.

I am all for it with other aftercare.... for the first time in several years I really feel I am going to break this addiction for good.    IT HAS SAVED MY LIFE!

[SOCAL742]

Wow I have to completely completely agree with you worried878. I am on the sub and getting down to 2mg was a breeze. the second i went to 1mg every 24 my jeans and tank top were soaked with sweat and chills covered my body. That is exactly where it gets very hard! You nailed that one......That is where I am now. i have been on it about 5 weeks and am on the 1mg now and it hurts but I have come this far, no turning back now.

[ldt3201]

So Sorry to hear that, I have so many other great sucesses. I have been hearing longer times that 5 weeks however.    Good Luck!  

[marcatj]

yes, it virtually saved my life.

i know there's alot of debate here, but from my own personal experience, I thank God - big time - that I found a good, responsible doctor who put me on it (and watches it.)

it got me off the cycle...

and i too have more work to do, it doesn't take all of that away...

but personally, i really do think it saved my life. and i'm totally grateful.

good luck to you... :-)

warmly,
mj

[worried878]

and as with everyone here...getting clean is a struggle that never really completely goes away for many...it is ongoing and one of the toughest things i have ever done...not the physical part but this gosh dern mental part as i have had flu's that were worse than my WDs...but the mental part clenches my brain and i have to fight...i will think i am doe and that ugle addiction will peek its ugly head when i get stressed especially....old habits are hard to break,,,i still find myself wanting to reach for a pill to make everything ok!  never knew it was a mental battle...just thought i would feel crappie for a few and go on about my merry way...which i am but not without that little reminder in the back of my head that  is always there...waiting to take me down it seems as times...prayers and best wishes to all who r fighting to get or to stay clean...we deserve it !  LOL

[construction]

Ive been on suboxone 5 times and it did make me feel great again intill I ran out, my dr was giving 40 8-mgs every 3 weeks and i was taking 2 8s a day, i would wake up 6 or 7 times a night, no sleep, no sex drive, constant sweating,pupils pin dots, but i didnt have any w/ds , then when i was out, it was worse than any pain pill i have ever abused, i was a train wreck for weeks. why trade one for the other?

[cattalina]

When I first went on suboxone I probably would've said the same thing!! The first 7 days were awesome, I felt like I could take on the world.  Once the side effects started really kicking in, I had other things to say!!  Now I've been on sub for almost 15 months, and there are different side effects, and generally it makes me feel like poo poo on a hot summer day... I know I couldn't have gotten or stayed clean without the help the sub gave me, however, if I had been more informed about what happens when you try to come off sub after this long... I would never have stayed on it this long.  You can research sub online as much as you'd like, but most information contradicts itself and most "medical reports" are not completely truthful.  The best way to get info about suboxone is to talk to people who have been on it for different lengths of time.  Suboxone has different effects if taken for 3 months vs. 3 years.  Although the drug companies tell you that being on sub for the rest of your life is no different than being on nothing... they have no way of knowing this for sure.  The trial phases they went through before passing this med were anywhere from 4-16 weeks long.  In all reality, Suboxone hasn't been around long enough to have compiled enough (if any) accurate, truthful data about the med and it's side effects short/long term.  Although right now you're feeling incredible, there are side effects and consequences to being on it.  Read what worried and construction said again, there's more truth there than you'll find on sub's website.  If you want more details - good and bad - pm me and I'll give them to you!!  Follow your heart, be prepared for anything, and don't give up no matter what!  GL  :)

[docnomore]

yes let's not give this narcotic drug too much credit. It's not a miracle drug just a tool.