Suboxone question and thanks to all

[got2bfree]

Hi everyone...I've been around here for a week and I'm amazed by how much I have learned, and I am so  impressed by the earnestnes of you guys wanting to be clean and no fooling around with it...sticking to your decisions...I know I've read a few take this or that  to get over a really bad hump time.  For me I have no problem with that if it's not a slip back....you all seem to be doing so well.....I'm really amazed at how any of you were able to get off the methadone by tapering...I couldn't do it, get off the meth (and I do agree with the general consesus here that methadone is no life, no great standard of life anyway), but my docto switched me to ms contin an equivilent dose to get off that, and then there has never beenany urgency to get off the ms contin, not his mind anyway as I ahven't been abusing it.  Still that is no reason, well it is one, but life on a drug is life on a drug....and it does have its side effects no matter what the theroroists say.I've been able to lower some from 300mg down to 200 mg...I've been a little lower at times but 200 seems like a good dose for me.  I can control my use to what I'm prescribed but I dont' think I would have much success tapering lower...it takes too long....I have zilch pain tolerance, and I panic easily at any signs of w/d symtoms....I think I stuffered a real emotional trauma when I first got addicted because I was already 50, and i didn't have anyone to relate to...either they were younger people, or the older folks seemed to have a life time habit, or many years of experience.........I kinda got paralyzed....I felt so much shame, and guilt and my family who are all very conservative uptight straight people really looked at me like I was a wacko for getting addicted...plus living in a rural area, there was no good help on dealing with the trauma or options for help..  Does anyone knwo of any really good books dealing on the emotional impact of becoming drug deendent?  I just had a horrid horrid experience with a pharmacist who stood in front of other people and accused me of using multiple doctors and pharmacists, and saying she would touch my prescription with a 10 foot pole.  Honestly since the Dilaudid addiction an tha was 5 years ago I have never doctor shopped and if  I used another drugstore it was only because I was going to be late to get to mine...Nothign hidden....It was jsut an awful experience and  I will be following it up...This just happened a few days ago and i'm still feeling sick inside by her treatmetn of me.  You know that saying small towns can be cruel, well it's true...if you are different in any way....

So I'm have this 200mg /day prescription morphine habit....I ahve definitivly decided to go on suboxone.....my reason for htis is I believe from what I've read, and from my doctor, I will not feel the heaviness that comes with the morphine, the morphine haze, the deep separation I am feeling from mind and spirit and life....and because I am such a wimp about detoxing, from morphine I'm hopeful the suboxone will be a good stepping stone down to nothing.  I'm hoping switching over to the suboxone will give me back some clarity in mind, and it is  my plan that once I'm stable on it 3 weeks or so to start to taper...From what I've read even being maintained on a very low dose 2mg/day will be far cry from methadone or morphine....I saw my doctor today as I had so much to figure out about cost, and insurance, when I could do it, getting the drugstore to have itin stock, and arrange a drive again....All 6 of my doctors patients are on 8 mg...he started them on that and it seems they are maintained on that and doing fine....so he thought 8 for me.....I ahve read here that some start on alot more....I"m not drug smart and being a Canadian i don't know what norcos or hydro or vics are....so i can't compare with coming off thsoe and morphine sulphate..

My question is this.....since I'm withdrawing from a time release form of morphine and it takes longer to withdraw from  that, wouldn't it be advisable to start on a higher dose of sub for the first week?  at least until the w/d from the morphine is gone....Though I feel a morphine haze, (just a dullness, lack of interest in things Iuse to be involved in) I don't think I will have a big problem with cravings becasue I know I take the morphine because my body needs it.  I can feel it wearing off, but I don't get any real good feelign from it.....buat I may be wrong about that.... What I have heard, or maybe just my assumption because i ahve heard how hard the Methadone detox is and because I experienced myself the dilaudid detox i thought that the synthetic drugs were harder to w/d from than the natural ones.  Since Suboxone is synthetic wouldn't it be harder.? I've read how it only attaches to the mu receptor and not the other two.....is it this mu receptor that is the one for pain?  I do have some pain issues, back surgery, knee surgery, and I had fibro myalgia but ihaven't felt those symptoms....  

You know I had to leave this post for a few minutes and that turned into hours and that turned into a day and half so I can't even remember what my main question was.....lol...I'll think of it...

Well thanks again for all who have given me their support and those who ahve taken the time to wirte their story becasue jsut reading all the posts has educated me so much....

will keep you posted.
Deb.

[wait2long]

8 mgs is not going to work for everyone...i transitioned from 30 mgs methadone to sub, started out at 4 mgs and worked my way up to 32 mgs my very first day, i found sub to be very weak in my case...and stayed at 32 mgs for about 6 weeks, then was able to do a rapid taper down to 16 mgs within 2 weeks.    habit, weight, length and severity of addiction most certainly does play a role in what ones dose may be or time frame you should be on sub. methadone withdrawals can last up to 6 weeks, 8 mgs for 14 days just wasnt going to work for ME.  everyone needs to do their research read and talk to your doctor about what is best for you.
everyone reacts differently to this medication and even at 32 mgs i still felt like **** for about 2 weeks...no 2 people are the same, i have never heard 2 stories the same.  everyone has their own reaction, dose and effectiveness. and this has to be worked out between doctor and patients needs.  the average dose for the (with the exception of methadone) first week or two seems to hover around 16-24 mgs, but not always, then tapered down after your doc has left your system, then its easy to taper to a lower dose with no WD symptoms.

[SOCAL742]

I think 8 mg is plenty no matter what anyones daily habit was, I had a oxi habit that was pretty bad and I found the sub to be very strong. It doesnt knock you on your butt or anything it just doesnt take much at all to stay well and you dont get high or anything by taking more so just take what you absolutly need too!

[shady55]

No, 8mg is perfect. It might even be too much. Suboxone is VERY powerful, do not let the *8* mg fool you. It works for 24 hours. Gr anted it doesn't make you completely sedated, but when I first took suboxone sub lingual I felt an intense rush of energy and feeling of exctasy overcome my body. The next dose ( day later ) Made me feel back to normal. You don't feel high, you don't feel Any withdrawl, no cravings, good mood elevator, and you're just loving life. Trust me, try the 8mg and you will have no worries.

[fishmeal]

Hi Deb, I come here from time to time and use to be a regular of sorts.  There is a website that is very suboxone specific, NAABT  The people there can help with much experience.  If your doctor is experienced, he will probably be best to figure out your dosing.

[FriaryGrad]

I'm 56 with almost 4 years of sobriety; my drug of choice was LOTS of alcohol but to our brains, alcohol and drugs are no different.  I'm wondering if you're dealing with in your life made drug use a better choice than being clean and sober?  In my case, I finally discovered that I had had "low grade" depression all my life, but didn't start drinking heavily until menopause, when my depression worsened and couldn't be abated (I thought) except with alcohol.  I went to an excellent rehab and learned about WHY I drank, and started taking an antidepressant (Lexapro), which totally turned my life around. I had been self-medicating, and I had to admit it.  I always thought it was a cop-out excuse, but I finally had to admit it was true, and FORGIVE MYSELF. You can't possibly recover emotionally until you find self-forgiveness.  It isn't easy, even when one had (as I did) outstanding family support.  Their support didn't help because I was sabotaging their support by constantly berating myself for getting to be an alcoholic.  It's a disease, and it must be seen and treated that way.  I couldn't have handled tapering off - I tried it for several years. You have to detox from opiates under medical supervision;(same for alcohol), so I'd recommend working closely with a doctor. Addicts don't have a good track record with the medical profession, so upholding your end of the trust bargain is important - don't adjust your dose on your own, either higher or lower. Prove to your doctor and yourself that you can take meds as directed.  It's necessary but has the added benefit of making you feel in control. Best of luck to you - hold your head high and take charge of your life. Don't worry about family at this point in time.  If you've lost their trust you'll have to earn it back, but that will come in its own time.  

[allaboutmary]

It's possible you might need more than 8mg starting. You will probably just have to wait and see. Everyone is so different and Sub can be confusing, as the symptoms of taking too much can be similar as too little. One thing I have found (3 family members on sub) is it seems to be easier to taper down in the first month. So, I recommend getting down to the lowest possible dose as soon as possible. I did this and only need a crumb of Sub now to feel normal. My sister's didn't and are having to taper down much slower now.
It took me a week on the Sub to feel normal. Everyone is so different. My other sister felt great from day 1 and had no adjustment period.
Keep us posted and good luck.