New To Suboxone- Need Help

[Mollyrae]

Hi Everyone,

I have recently started using the Suboxone strips prescribed to me by a Suboxone Counselor. Here's my story:

I have had 6 back surgeries starting back in 1991 to present, the last being in 2011. In 2001, I was prescribed  10mg Oxycontin and 5mg Oxycodone...this began my opiate journey. I have been prescribed everything from Hydrocodone to Fentanyl. At one point, I was using a 150mcg patch every 48 hrs. along with 15mg Oxycodone 4x per day. My tolerance was through the roof.

To make a very long story short, in march, 2013 it was time to wean off of all the opiates and see if I could manage my pain with other types of medication. By May, I was a complete wreck. I was out of the w/d phase but craved the opiate like nothing before. My depression was as bad as it's ever been even though I was seeing my Psychiatrist every week and was heavily medicated for it. He had suggested that I might want to think about starting a drug called Suboxone to stop the cravings...so I did. I found a Suboxone Counselor who he had recommended and started taking the drug in late May.

I am now starting my 4th week of treatment and it is going very well, the cravings are gone and it actually helps my pain issues.

Here's the part I'm worried about... Since the Sub as taken it's full effect, I'm getting that same feeling of drowsiness in the morning that I did when I was using the Fentanyl Patch. I am sweating buckets when I exert myself and this scares me. I certainly do not want to get myself into a situation where I will be extremely sick like that of being on the Fentanyl Patch if I don't take the Suboxone.

I am currently taking 8mg per day.. the 6mg didn't seem to work very well. Can someone else please help me out and tell me what I can expect from this drug??

My best,
Mollyrae

[Mollyrae]

Thank you for the advise...All is appreciated and the comments I have received have helped tremendously.

Happy Fourth to you too!

Molly

[justsomeadvice115]

I normally wouldn't recommend sub but it sounds like a good option for you if your only alternatives are opiate use or severe pain.
Looks like others have already said some good stuff, splitting your dose to twice daily, looking into subutex.

My only other words of wisdom would be to be aware of the withdraw. It seems like a lot of people start on sub and their dr downplays this factor. Between 48-72 hours after your last dose you will go into withdraw, just like from opiates. The withdraw might not be quite as nightmarish as opiate withdraw but it will last longer. Some have reported 3-4 weeks of it when jumping off from a dose like you are taking. Just something to be aware of and it might be a good idea to have a contingency plan in case your run out early or your dr stops practicing unexpectedly, ect. Best of luck to you

[Mollyrae]

Happy fourth to you too. Thanks for your input in my situation. I greatly appreciate it.

Molly

[Mollyrae]

Hi Nursegirl,

Thanks for your input. The drowsiness has gotten much better this past month. I have been taking Suboxone since the first part of June. I did talk to my Doctor about the issue of drowsiness and he took me from an 8mg strip to 6mg. Well, that didn't cut it as far as the pain went. It worked fine for the cravings but let me down in the afternoon as far as pain went.

The Doctor was made aware of this and took me back up to 8mg. I do spit it now and I am getting good relief. This drug is amazing for what it does. I no longer dream of opiates or Oxycodone but am now focused on life it's self.  

With me becoming ill again, I have had additional pain in the abdomen because of my liver. I'm at grade 3, stage 3 liver disease. I am very close to end stage or grade 4. I will need a liver transplant at that time but don't have hopes for that as I have a rare blood type. I was informed by my Hepatologist that it would be a struggle trying to find one.

Thanks so much for caring.
Molly

[nursegirl6572]

Hi there Molly!  :0)

How are you taking the Sub?  All at once in the morning?  If so, a simple dosage adjustment may help at least with the drowsiness.  You could ask your doc if it's okay to split up the doses to 2 or 3 times a day.  With it's long half life, for effectiveness purposes, it doesn't need dosed multiple times a day, but to combat these kinds of side effects, it can definitely make a difference.  Often times, that was the first change we would make with people in the clinic, if they were experiencing side effects (drowsiness/lethargy being the most common), and it usually did the trick.

Another factor is that you're fairly early into the Sub treatment.  The way the buprenorphine binds with the opiate receptors, it takes about 2 weeks (minimum) for the body to adjust, going from a full opiate agonist, to a partial opiate agonist, like bupe.  You will still continue to adjust to it, and should notice an improvement with the side effects after another week or two.

Another option would be to switch to Subutex.  Some people experience more drowsiness with the Suboxone, that has the Naloxone in it.  So, you definitely have some options.  

My advice would be to ask the doc about trying to change your dosing schedule a little bit, and also give it some more time.  If after another month or so, you're still noticing these symptoms, then reassess with your doc, and maybe ask if the switch to Subutex is something you could try.

Hope it works out for you!!!

[weaver71]

That's great Mollyrae. If it works on the pain, that's about as good as it gets. Tolerence doesn't build up and taking more doesn't get you high or kill you. That's good news. My buddy who uses them for pain has been very happy with his suboxone. He has steel all up and down his neck, the Oxys where killing him, he couldn't function and lost everything. In the past 5 years, he has built up his life again, his family life is good, and he is back to work. His only issue is getting up in the morning. He has to take his sub and lay back down until it kicks in. He's too stiff to move without it. He can skip a day, but he can't really work on those days. I'm really happy for you and thanks for your support on the forum. I'd like to hear updates on how it's working for you over time. Happy 4th of July, free at last.

[Mollyrae]

Sorry for the late reply.

My plan for the Subs are to take it long term as my Psychiatrist suggested. It really helps with the chronic pain and I actually feel more human then when I was taking the opiates.

Things have gotten better on the Subs. My drowsiness in the morning is better and the sweating I had was cause mainly from menopause. I had no idea that I was in the beginning stages of that. I thought it was from the Subs. At any rate... I feel better, thanks.
Molly

[weaver71]

The morning need is there with subs. If taken as prescribed, that should be the only side effect that's obvious. Long term use seems to have a variety of side-effects. Memory is a little effected, teeth, constipation, trouble urinating, and a numb, zombie like effect have been reported. My close friend uses sub for pain, for 5 yrs now. He was taking 1800mgs of oxy before that, but he is doing well and a functioning member of society. i've noticed he is not totally present, but he is doing fine and the subs work for his pain. when you detox off subs, it is usually tapered down to .5 mg or less before quitting. The withdrawal is not as bad as fentanyl, but insomnia, digestion, RLS, and lack of motivation and energy are normal. Fentanyl is the only opiate stronger than subs, glad you got off it. This is all very general to give you some ideas. What is your plan with subs?