Suboxone or Methadone?

[fretboard]

How does suboxone make you feel as opposed to methadone?  What is the advantage of being on suboxone?  I'm new here and very familiar with methadone, but I know nothing about sub except that you take it less often than methadone.  later

[fretboard]

Sunny glad to hear that it wasn't a problem for you, how low was your dose and how long were you on for?  Some ppl seem to tolerate it alright, I think it has alot to do with your addiction pattern as a whole.  Of course I do keep a low dose now.  Becky, your husband did really well, he went down a bunch.  I remember tapering down once and hitting that wall at 20, ouch!  Anyways, yeah I had to retrace my steps, but back in 97, that's the last time I was around a clinic I remember they had Laam but, I don't remember any sub.  Maybe they had it, but I never heard about it.  Anyways, like I've said before, I don't worry much about using, well I'm on methadone I wonder why?  But really, I had that toxic thing happen to me prior to stopping this last time so I don't expect any problems.  It takes all the fun out of it when your liver clogs up and gets you all toxic.  Ugh!!  Anyways, good talkin'  God Bless

[Sunnyd210]

I just have to say methadone worked GREAT for me. I think it depends on the person AND the dr that prescribes it and how much u need to take. I did go see a sub dr who told me I was doing fine on the methadone. I was on a low dose and it didnt get me high at all and I had no problems tapering as directed a little withdrawel coming back but never once did I take more than I was supposed to. Good luck

[Becky102]

I agree that it's easy to just stay on the methadone when it's taking care of your pain.  It just becomes a normal part of your life.  My husband gets his from a pain clinic once a month now too.  
I don't think those doctors know what they're really asking when they ask someone to get off methadone like it's just something you can decide to do on a whim.  It's the rare doctor that understands a methadone patient.  It's even hard for my husband to admit he's on methadone when he gets a new doctor because of the stigma.
I wish that woulld change, but I don't see it happening any time soon.  My husband is always worried in the back of his mind that they're going to ban methadone someday.  I can't believe that they would do anything that cruel and inhumane.  Nevertheless it scares him.  
And yes, there's always the worry that something will happen to his doctor or his doctor will be afraid to prescribe the methadone because of pressure from the DEA.  What if something happened and he ended up in jail?  There are all kinds of dire scenarios that go through your mind.
Anyway, I'm glad you saw my post.  it was nice to hear from you.

[fretboard]

Yes, I remember you well, glad to hear from you and I'm glad your husband is doing well.  When I found a doctor, well like a team of doctors who were willing to go ahead and take care of my pain then, I jumped on it.  It was extremely disappointing to get the boot, from the clinical trial ppl.  Hell, I was under the impression that they've tx'ed some methadonians from the clinic.  I should have known, when they asked me if I would consider getting off of it, I said no.  And the look they both gave me like I was a freak of nature, I couldn't believe it.  Like I've told you before I have been off of it before, that was awhile back.  I'd say I've been comfortably taking my meds every day for overe 5 yrs.  Time flys when you're busy living fairly well, I don't mean moneywise by any means, I mean by staying clean.  Well it's clean for me, well you read my story up top and you know me cause we talked before.  I'm just checking my options, I'm a bit too old to try to get off of this stuff right this minute, I can't do a quick release, never could do one, except you know when you're forced, by the law. LOL  Anyways, glad you stopped by and I'll get back to you.  God Bless

[Becky102]

My husband treated for Hep C while on methadone and is SVR.  I talked to you once before when you asked a question about methadone on the Hep C forum.  At the time I didn't realize you were already on it and I was telling you that I wouldn't advise you to take it.  I totally agree with you and Mr. Lucky about staying away from methadone if you have any choice.
My husband is trying to do a slow taper off the methadone and has gone from a high of 135 mgs to about 75 mgs per day over the last several months.  As he comes down in dosage he'll have to take it slower.  He already feels a little more clear headed at this lower dosage.  
Honestly, after all this time (over 12 years), I don't know if he'll ever be able to get completely off the methadone.  I hope he can.  I'm sure he never would have started at the methadone clinic if he knew that he'd be trading one addiction for another one that's almost impossible to kick!  He didn't want to even try tapering while he was on the interferon/ribavirin.  That would have been too much for him.  Now that he's SVR and feeling better he's ready to try.
It's a shame that they won't let you into the trial because of the methadone.  On the bright side, if you have little damage to your liver you have time to wait for the new drugs and hopefully the treatment will be for a much shorter duration than it is now.  I've seen some of your posts on the other forum so I know you know a lot about your options as far as the Hep C is concerned.

[fretboard]

Nah, the reds really only tell how old somone is, I don't think anyone misses them.  I surely don't those damn things got me in alot of trouble.  Back to youngsters, it's terrible!!  There's like one major clinic here in town and the last time I was enrolled was back in 97.  I couldn't believe it, not only did I see the vicodin addicts and everything in between, but there was a small truckload of young ppl, like in their early 20's.  There were even cranksters using just to get on methadone, like it was a good thing to do.  Come on, haven't they heard of HepC, HIV, addiction, I mean serious addiction.  If you, meaning anyone reading this is thinking of going and getting on methadone.  You better think again, sure that's probably why ppl are going to sub, think again.  Hell the truth is when you are young you can kick at home.  "They could've kicked at home in 3-4 days and been done with it- but someone told them,"Get on methadone- you'll be jammed- it's great!"  Drugs aren't joking you, they are dead serious.  later