How long does it take to become addicted to Suboxone?

[TabbyKitten]

I have recently finished my tapering off suboxone  but have a lot of suboxone left over and am worried about possibly using some every now and then to help manage the extreme pain I experience every day which some days is debilitating. I figured if it wasn't harmful and didn't get me addicted again It'd be fine. My addiction originally was never from drug abuse but a result of pain management drugs given me by the doctor. I am still in constant pain but am too worried about being dependent again to allow my doctor to give me opiates and/or opiods again.

Anyway, how long does it take to get addicted to suboxone or even tramadol if my doctor puts me back on that due to me being unable to tolerate the pain. My main concern is avoiding the chemical dependence that I had experienced in the past.  Thanks so much for your help.

[Dee1956]

I'm sorry I don't know the answer but I have a question.  Does the suboxone help with pain?  I know someone in pain management and his doctor is trying to get him to switch from methadone to suboxone.  Thank you, Dee

[VICourageous]

Hello & Welcome!
Are YOU still with us??

[abstraluser]

Congratulations on your suboxone taper. Well Done.

Get rid of the remaining suboxone as long as the temptation is there you will eventually use it. Once an addict /dependency develops it's there for life. Whether due to prescribed drugs or street drugs.

See your Pain Dr for alternatives that may work as you will have on going pain. I have just come of Actiq and Fentanyl patch and understand your situation. I have decided not to opt for opiates except iv morphine if required for severe pain in hospital only for life threatening situation e.g. complete obstruction of the bowel. I have looked to alternative ways of pain management. It will not take the pain away only manage it.
I found fentanyl did not alleviate all pain hence the actiq and that just gave a feel good factor (prescribed for cancer). The dose of Actiq was horrendous and so addictive. I was never completely pain free except with iv morphine and then only needed 7mg. The high dose of Actiq was introduced when I had problems with major surgery for a second time
I am still currently in withdrawals after a quick 2 month taper from Actiq and fentanyl patch but do not regret my decision. It has however given my Gp and Pain Dr Lots to think about. My drug councillor made me hand all my left over Actiq back to the pharmacy to stop temptation. She was 100% correct in that decision. Fentanyl should only be used in end of life situations.
My addiction /dependency was only from prescribed drugs for cancer but unfortunately that does not stop us becoming addicted/dependent.

From what I have read, and I am not a Dr, you will become addicted to suboxone after 10 days. It is possible to use suboxone to get folk off other drugs doing a very quick 10 day taper with it under medical supervision. Any longer means longer term use of Suboxone and all the problems associated with long term use.
Tramadol causes addiction /dependency and its withdrawal is longer than other codeine based synthetics usually 7 days rather than 3-4 (look at Wikipedia for data) Hope this helps.
Ultimately only you know what the pain is and what you need to control it to function in a productive life .

McCaffery (1989) "states pain is what the patient says it is " and his paper is the main starting point of Pain Management as we know it today.

You sound like you do not want chemical dependency so think of alternatives CBT, Reiki, Acupuncture, massage , relaxation, mindfulness, TENS machine anything which may help you cope with the pain and make it more manageable. I tried all of these some helped other didn't it's individual.
Good Luck and God Bless. xx