Still Confussed about the Subutex

[redrodeo]

Today is the 21st day of not taking oxymorphine and taking Subutex. My original plan was to take this stuff for 21 days, but now I am not so sure. Maybe its too soon. I was taking about 150mg of oxymorphine. What do you all think?
ps Britney1663 I tried to send you a message but it wouldn't go thru?
Red

[christos24]

what i would do with the amount of oxymorphone you were taking is switch to suboxone from subutex. subutex is generally only used in the induction phase of sub treatment and then switched to suboxone(which is the same drug except having naltrexone in it- 8mgs buprenorphine to 2mg naltrexone ratio per pill).  it is better than the straight buprenorphine in that it keeps you from getting high completely from other opiates, whereas bup will genrally has a good blockade effect but the naltrexone elleviates any chance for abuse of the drug(i.e IV drug abuse) and abusing other opiates, whereas subutex you can inject.best of luck to you, stay strong and meetings are crucial in staying sober.

[britney1663]

Hi red,
Sorry your message didnt go through. Did you ever check out naabt.org? Lots of great info and support there for Sub users. I think that 21 days is going to be too short for me as well. This is just my opinion based on all the info I have gathered. Your brain needs time to heal and the taper needs to be done really slow in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms. I wouldnt stress so much about the time span...just as long as you are tapering...you should be fine. Ill try to PM you...
Brit

[worried878]

Problem being is that your brain can not heal while the receptors are covered up with suboxone....we are talking strong stuff here...not felt as much as other narcotics but the receptors/nuerotransmitters are not adjusting to functioning on their own while they have globs of sub stuck on them....long term sub may help u get ur life get in order but does not help ur brain heal as it is still functioning like u r on narcotics....cos u r!.....i see so many get on for short detox and then they dont want to get off...and it depends on ur goals...most quit posting so i dont know what happens to them....it is a choice u have to make but do u think u will be ready next month?  or the next?  or the next?   never a good time to get off if u can remeber trying to get off of oxy...there will never be a good time....depression can set in when u stay on this powerful narcotic when u try and take it away...taper slowly on day/if the day comes/ if u want to go off  and be safe
Do u have any aftercare right now?

Tricky drug and i know u feel good right now...u dont want to have to fight cravings and stuff...i dont blame u....no one does...this is the mental aspect of quitting..the tough part...i am not sure u can just skip it....who knows....5 years from now u may come off and make it...what ur brain will feel like....dont know...it will be in shock most probably....after u get the sticky drug off of it that has been there for years...i am all for sub in the right circumstances, but u cant bypass reality with it...be safe

[marcatj]

it's a tough one..

some research i have read says Suboxone does just that very thing: allows your receptors to heal FROM the narcotics, not blocking the healing process at all.

that said, for anyone, i would suggest doing as much research on your own as possible, then making the best choice for yourself.

if you can get off the pills without substituting for another, that is likely the best choice.  for people who can't, or who still need some sort of pain relief that Sub can give, then it might be worth considering.

again - a very personal choice.

[DannyBoy443]

I am an alcoholic and have been recovered since 11/16/1991.  I am a medic at a treatment facility that has suboxone therapy.  The initial fee for our program is $290 with a $95 fee to see the doctor each visit thereafter.  We do not accept insurance.  A client will see the doctor two days in a row, being dosed with our medication on those two days.  Each day requires a couple hour commitment.  The doctor doses multiple times and observes the clients reaction to the medication.  We do require that the client be in mild withdrawal.  The reason for this is to insure that we don't put the client into complete withdrawal and make them deathly sick.  Also, it helps the doctor determine the appropriate maintenance dose.  After the two days, the doctor writes a 5-6 day script.  Then she writes a 14 day script.  Then she sees them monthly.  The first month costs $470 in professional fees.  After that, it is $95 a month for the doctor’s fee.  All along the way, the medication is covered by insurance; at least I haven't seen one that doesn't.  Even Medicare part D covers it with a pre-cert. and Maryland State Medicaid covers it too.  Now, let's be honest about the cost.  How many folks were feeding there addiction with $1 a mg.  At 80 mg to 400 mg a day, do the math.  Even for those folks that switched to IV Heroin, that cost could be $100 a day.  With an average of two 8-2 mg Suboxone tablets a day, you're looking at $395 a month (approximately) with a possibility of insurance picking up 75% of that cost.
All that being said, first, it is not called sub.  That is a street name.  The medication is Suboxone.  The difference between it and Subutex is the naloxone in Suboxone.  The naloxone only prevents a Suboxone client from getting high if the tablet is transformed to liquid and injected.  If it is desolved under the tongue, the buprenorphine gets through to the receptor site.
If a client is dosed properly, they don't get high.  The medication satisfies the need of the brain and it allows the client to be functional; get up in the morning, be there for their kids, be there for their spouse, go to work.  It allows for the once beaten addict to become reasonably happy and usefully whole.  There is a counseling component required by law.  While the addiction is treated through counseling and the medication managed by the doctor, over time the medication is withdrawn.  And  buprenorphine is easier to stop with a clinical plan than the other opiates.  I hope this helps.

[tommm70]

"There is a counseling component required by law.  While the addiction is treated through counseling and the medication managed by the doctor, over time the medication is withdrawn.  And  buprenorphine is easier to stop with a clinical plan than the other opiates."

I disagree with this. SUB withdrawal might be slightly milder, but it lasts much longer. The physical W/D symptoms lasted almost 2 months, with some symptoms as long as 4 months. I was only on SUButex for about 6 months at a pretty low dose. I tapered and it still sucked.
Everyone might be different, but the shorter you stay on this the better off you will be.