subutex

[cottoncandy9]

Been on subutex for 5 days. the first 2 days were great...then on day 3 i got a migrane. went to doc and she gave me meds. still getting headaches. Also, why did I have tons of energy and felt fine the first 2 days and now I'm sick to my stomach, tired, and have head aches?

[Wildflauwer]

Can anyone help me, I am tryin to find a new subutex dr as close to Altoona pa as possible. My dr was busted for sexual favors so we (all of his patients) are poo outta luck. Its gotta be subutex an not suboxone tho. There is a difference.

[salsinator]

Something to consider - but discuss with your doctor.  Suboxone is used also short term to detox.  After 9 days, your drug of choice should be out of your system.  You should be able to easily taper back the suboxone and stop relatively easy with few withdrawal symptoms.  Staying on sub long term can be harder to get off of then the main opiate you were on before - so definitely ask your doctor about it.  I was on sub for 4 years and it was not easy -but I did it.  Good luck tomorrow - keep us posted on your progress.

[cottoncandy9]

Thanks for getting back to me. Finally, someone at my doc's office got back to me. Apparently, their PA can take me tomorro afternoon. Hopefully, I can finally get some answers. After reading everyones comments I know that on day 9 I should not be still getting migranes and slight blurred vision with major fatigue at this point. I have missed a week of work. I just want to be off this. I don't know how I'm going to make it another week on this drug.

[salsinator]

The problem with Benzo's and sub is at higher doses and if I recall correctly, the risk is more with injected benzo's.  My doc prescribed me xanax for a very short time while I was on suboxone and I specifically asked him about it - he said at the regular doses, it's not a problem.  So, you should be in good shape.  

[vicki595]

Hi~  I'm sorry. I created a misunderstanding.   I suggested calling the NP (nurse practitioner) when,in fact,it was a PA (physician assistant) who was covering for your doctor.   I still think you need to talk to your doctor...try to get an earlier appointment.

Vicki

[cottoncandy9]

Thanks for the help. You;ve been quite helpful. The drug I was taking before Subutex was percocet. I was taking 6 a day at 10mg each to answer your question due to the last surgery I had that made me become dependent. I noticed u mentioned to not take benzo's but I am at a very low dose.

[cottoncandy9]

What is this number that people are commenting on(NP?) to call if you have questions? Also, my doctor told me its okay to keep using my xanax in very low doses spread far apart from taking subutex during the day and that seems to be the only thing to keep me relaxed. I take a forth of it once a day. Is there anyone who does this?
As far as my doctor is concerened, he hasn't been much help  due to the receptionists so that's why I have been seeking advice. Still getting the migranes everyother day and a regular headache inbetween. Waiting on my doctor to give me more Treximet so i have been using Excedren Ex strenghth

[salsinator]

Just to comment on the people "looking for a high".  My sub doc told me once that there are some addicts that want to be clean, but still seek a high - can't have both, but he said that people that really need the high should be on methadone and the others would do fine on sub.  I only took methadone once - but when I was using - and I noted that it did not get you as high as a regular opiate - like oxy or hydro.  I did get high though, but only after taking a fairly high dose and then all that happened is that I got sick.  Never took that again.  

Bottom line - sub worked for m and it is a viable option that can and will help lots of people.

[kris123]

Ga Guy you really know a lot about sub, I didn't know that 4-6 was all that was needed to fit the receptors, but I do remember my dr saying that one pill 8mg cover 96% of the receptors, add another pill and that covers another 1%, add the third pill and it covers maybe another 1%, so he told me one pill pretty much fills up it all.  He said a lot of times people "think" the second pill helps them when in fact they may not need it. I got a really good sub dr that isn't in it for the money, he takes insurance and always call me back on the same day I call with any questions, they even call and check up on me.  

[OIFMc09]

Okay, good info thank you.  I'm doing this through the VA and I didn't want to think they were being stingy to cut costs, but I didn't know.  From what you're saying 4 mg. seems to be the absolute minimum to completely fill your receptors.  Man you'd think they would have given me a little more for the first week at least to get through the physical stuff you know?  All I know is that I've got tons of pressure in my life right now...I'm moving into a new place, work, a make it or break it math test coming up, and this ****.  Funny how you can't make any time for withdrawal, but somehow you can find plenty of time to get high.

[GA Guy]

That line should read...Too many people believe that and monkey around with dosages thinking the have a BAD Sub doctor.

[GA Guy]

Any dosage over the ceiling effect of 4-6mg covers all opiate receptors. Larger doses are given to help keep the dose from dropping and withdrawals setting in, as well as for the blocking effect it gives (addicts are notorious for relapsing early..Sub stops the high and deters relapse). Buprenorphine acts just like any other opiate up to the ceiling effect of 4-6mg or so. After that, it acts like an agonist-antagoinst until it hits 32mg or so. It reverts back to an opiate agonist at doses over that amount. So, Sub DOES act linearly up until 4-6mg..but past that point..the linear progression levels off before becoming linear again at 32mg. That's the reason you can't say that at certain dosages of your drug of choice you need "X" amount of Suboxone. Too many people believe that and monkey around with dosages thinking the have a Sub doctor. So, if you're taking 100mg of Oxy a day, and a friend is taking 320mg a day..it's possible and plausible that you'll both be put on 16mg of Suboxone a day.

[salsinator]

Sorry for any mis understanding - Ga Guy is right, it is not a linear scale on how much of a dose of sub is prescribed.  There are several factors, the drug of choice and dose are of course factors.  Everyone is different too - for some, 4mg may work just fine, for others on the same DOC and drug, it may take 12mg.  In this case, I think this is something for only your doctor to handle.

[OIFMc09]

So you are saying the amount prescribed, whether you take 5 mg. of oxy or 300mg., shouldn't make a difference?  Then what are the factors, because my doctor prescribed me 4mg of sub a day and it is not cutting it?  I just assumed the more you took, the bigger the "void" you were creating that needs to be filled with sub, but this is not the case?

[GA Guy]

Suboxone dosage is NOT determined by the dosages of your drug of choice. It is NOT a linear scale. You can't make a linear correlation between an agonist drug and an antagonist-agonist drug. It's impossible. I wish more people understood this.

[abritt121222]

Go on www.suboxone.com they have a help line I know you are not taking suboxone but it is pretty much the same thing I would think if u gave the help line a call or I think they have a live chat they could probably help u out.
Good luck and hang in there
abritt

[martikadragoon]

Your right about imitrex. That class of medication is known as "triptans". It makes my migraines 10x worse to the point that I'm throwing up and crying from the pain.

[salsinator]

Sorry - can't type today - few typo's in the last post.

[salsinator]

Subutex is an opiate and at the right dose, it will completely take away all of the w/d symptoms - that primarily why most people go on it - to avoid going through withdrawal.  Your dose of subutex would have been factored by the amount of your drug of choice that you were taking.  From what you have described, it is highly possible that your sub dose is too low and you are experiencing some withdrawal.  I too suboxone for 4 years and never had one withdrawal symptom - that is until I withdrew from the sub.  Some people do get headache from sub, and some people take a few day to adjust to the medication too.  I found that regular old Ibuprofen worked just fine for me and I have migranes.   Sub can sedate too - especially later in the day, but that should go away within a week.  I don't know about the Treximent and comments that kajama added, but she is probably right - although other than benzo's, sub usually does pretty good with other medications.  Hang in there, try to relax and continue with your dose - best taken in the morning.  You should stat to get used to the sub very soon.  See what the doc says next week and if things do get worse, call the on call number like those have suggested or if things get really bad, go to the ER.  Good luck.

[kris123]

i agree i don't think subutex will take away all the w/d symtoms.  I think you still go through some of that.

[kajama]

just in my experience with working for a neurologist Treximent is the same as immitrex (just under another name) some people can't take it cause it can cause you to have migraines, shortness of breathe and chest tightness. Being on Sub, it also has side effects that can cause migraines.  Almost all meds will cause headaches. Now Sub doesn't alway take away all withdrawal symptoms and of course Headaches are withdrawal symtoms.  As far as going to doctor with all side effects, just call the office and a nurse will be able to answer questions for you or get in touch with doctor to give you an answer.  If you can't do that then call the pharmacy and ask them and they should be able to help you....Hope that helps some.

[GA Guy]

What was your drug of choice and dosage before taking the Sub?

[avisg]

vicki is right your doctor most likey has an on call number i would check into it

[vicki595]

Okay...we're not doctors here,as you know.  But,I have two suggestions : Read about Sub. in our health pages,upper right corner. There's much info there .  Next,call the NP. Someone should be on call to answer a question,I would think.
Take care~
Vicki