How has Suboxone been for you?

[HollywoodHoward]

How has Suboxone been for all my viral brothers and sisters out there? I am at week eight at 16mg a day that is working very well. I am working hard, saving money and staying out of harms way.

[mr.lucky66]

that's a good point, it is dangerous because of the tylenol and that addicts will take a lot of pills. As far as the withdrawls, I've been hooked on vicodin and heroin. There's no comparison how much worse h is. Sure hydro WD sux but not like the terror of h withdrawl. thant's why many addicts, say they wish they would have never started on methadone or long term sub for vicodin addiction. The exception is, when someone is taking so many pills and has tried and failed a few times before to quit. These treatments (long term sub & methadone), should be reserved for the most desperate cases with multiple treatment failure. all the best

[GA Guy]

I'm sorry. I know you mean well but I find your reasoning flawed. In all honesty, vicodin, or any hydrocodone formulary that is mixed with acetaminophen is inherently more dangerous in equivalent doses than oxycontin because of the dangers of the acetaminophen to the liver. It's just impossible to make blanket statements about any opiate without a proper history and dosage levels.  

[mr.lucky66]

I don't like to see people get on methadone or long term sub for vicodin. I have seen this happen with bad results. It becomes like trying to put out a fire w gasoline

[salsinator]

I agree Ga Guy.  An opiate is an opiate and sub is for opiate addiction.  The dosage of sub is completely dependent on each patient and everyone is different and requires different dosages.  Sub is just one part of the treatment process to - meetings, support, and therapy are also highly recommended.  They all go together for an effective treatment plan.

[GA Guy]

Why do people keep saying Sub shouldn't be used for hydrocodone? It's an opiate just like any other. Is 100mg of Oxy OK for Sub? And, 200mg of Hydrocodone not? Please, quit qualifying Sub by what opiate they used. It's scaring people off who may be good candidates for Sub treatment. Past addiction history as well as the person's health and opiate DOSAGE (NOT Opiate of choice) should determine whether Suboxone should be a choice.

[mr.lucky66]

Salsinator said it well. I don't like high dose or long term sub for hydrocodone. It's much harder to get off. Like was said;less ismore. all the best

[salsinator]

Hi everyone,
I feel your pain and frustration. I was on sub for nearly 4 years and experienced everything that you all have mentioned.  From my own personal experience, less is more.  Most of the sub docs have no idea what they are doing.  Doubling the dose when nodding off is ludicrous.  I also noted some commenting that they are dosing two  - three times per day.  I am not a doctor and cannot recommend dosing, but the halflife with sub is nearly 40 hours and dosing once per 24 hours is more than enough, taking more than once per days is a mute point because it does not help with the drug taking behavior what so ever.  I started out on 24mg from a 200mg+ hydrocodone habit.  I quickly worked my way down to 16, then 8mg and took between 2 - 4 mg/day for several years.  My best advise to everyone here is to take sub only as long as you need it.  Tapering off sub is very difficult, long and drawn out.  However, some people do need to stay on in longer than just a few weeks or months like I did.  Sub is a great medication when taken the right way - it saved my life.  Best of luck to all of you.  Feel free to message me if you have any questions at all.  

[kris123]

I have been on sub for seven days now.  I am doing 2 pills 8mg, the frist couple of days were great, but I feel worse now then when I started.  They make me really tired and I have lots of anxiety.  Having bipolar and being pregnant doesn't make things the greatest either.  I know that doing pills is worse, so I am not as bad as I was when I was using.  I would worry about pills all the time, now I am actually worried about things in my life, not where I will get 30 more pills and dr shopping.    Sub has helpped me stay clean from pills or it may just be a mental thing don't know.  I do know it makes me so tired - I am nobbing now
I also have cravings during the day too!!  I just know I can't give in to them

[mr.lucky66]

The sub doc doubling the dose is about par for the course. These guys are mostly clueless about narcotics and addiction and only have to take a weekend seminar and what little addiction training they get in med school. I really don't like to see people on vicodin taking those whopping doses of sub. To me it's like trying to put out a fire with gasoline. all the best

[kc156]

Yes the doctors really know what they are doing,a person is on the nod, and they double the dose. Scares me.I am on methadone and tapered down to 12 and the doctor offered to put me on sub.Told him better the devil I know than the one I don,t.
Will just taper off the methadone.                                       karl

[WannaBeFree79]

To be honest I started on Sub Feb 25th.  The first few days I felt great.  Its been downhill from there.  First I have the flu or something on top of it which isnt helping.  I have been running a fever the last 5-6 days or so.  

I went to the doctor yesterday and voiced my concerns about the drowsiness.  I am nodding off.  She doubled my dose.  I tried the double dose today and cried my eyes out.  I could not stay awake for anything.  I feel awful.  Right now I am RX 4mgs 3xs a day.  I am reducing to 2mg 3xs a day, I am going to try that for 3 days since the halflife is so long.  If that doesn't work I am going to try 1mg 3xs a day for 3 days.  If then I still have this awful nodding off, I am going to ween off of the sub and try to do it all on my own.

At the moment the sub is driving me to want to take vicodin.  So I guess so far it is not working well for me unfortunately :(

WannaBeFree