To Sub or not to Sub - - That is the question?

[ochooked]

This subject seems to keep popping up every few days as more people read or hear that Suboxone or Subutex may be “The Answer” to their addiction problem.  About two months ago the debate raged pretty intensely between those who were pro or con on Sub.  Most of the regulars on this site know of my negative experience with Sub –as I have tried my best to share it, but I may have, in my zeal, discouraged some from even wanting to quit their DOC.  That certainly was (and is) not my intention.  Let me share that after 3 months of being totally clean, life has not been this good in a very long time.  Sub is a tool that can be successfully used to stop Opiate addiction.  It works very well as almost everyone will agree – the point of disagreement among present and past users is whether it is appropriate for use in all Opiate addictions.   My take on it is that if a person is on Heroin or Methadone, then Suboxone is probably justified.  Perhaps even for those on very heavy doses of Oxycontin -  (over 200 mg/day) may be justified in using Sub to kick the addiction.  However, anything short of that may result in only swapping one drug for another.  Sub is 40 times stronger than Oxy and although it does not give the ‘high’ we were accustomed to, it is more addictive than most people’s DOC.  Knowledge is power – and those who are serious about quitting need to know both sides of this debate.  Again this is only my opinion but using Sub to kick an addiction to a class 3 narcotic like Norco (Vicodin) would be like using an atomic bomb when you only need a hand grenade.   Even heavy doses of Hydrocodone can be tapered and then quit with only a week or two of withdrawal symptoms.  However Sub withdrawals can last for months.  As long as someone is taking Sub they will not have W/D’s but only a very few on this site have testified that they are glad they used Sub for their addiction.  Many have said they felt deceived by the doctor who started them on Sub.  Once hooked on Sub they felt helpless to free themselves from it. To add insult to injury, most have also stated that the doctor started them on a dosage that was far too high – thus increasing their potential addiction.

So, the point I want to make is – Buyer beware – get educated as much as possible – read all you can and then decide how you will get clean.  I encourage all who are considering using Sub to read the post that Avisg put together on the Health Pages --- The title is “Members experiences coming off of Suboxone.”  I do appreciate the posts of those who successfully used Sub to come off of their DOC -  I hope that more people will continue to post their own experience with Sub --- This is a great forum to air all sides of this issue and I hope it will continue.  All the best.

[weaver71]

You can read the subutex/suboxone FAQ on the bottom of the community page. You are on a high enough dose, that I can see the doctor recommending subs. I am in subutex withdrawal right now. If you don't have the craving and compulsion of many addicts, you can taper. If you want to use subs for pain management, I have one friend with screws up and down his neck and he says it helps. He went back to work after taking oxys for 10yrs, during which time he could not work. Hope that helps. Good luck.

[kellkell2184]

I have been an addict for ten years and I use many different kinds of pills at once. After ten years of mixing drugs and failing to get clean and failing at cold turkey I knew suboxone was right for me. It helped me get off of everything at once. Otherwise I was trying so hard to detox of all four drugs one by one and it was almost impossible so I kept relapsing. I will tell you from my experience that suboxone should not be used for a lower dose addiction on vicodin or loritab etc. I think it should be used when there's nothing left. I tried to read most of the comments but I failed to much to read. But I agree with a lot of people who say use suboxone with care! That's my two cents!

[Jon_2121]

My pain doc has been treating my back problems with opiates.  I started at a low level but over the course of 4 yrs he has increased my dose up to 2 80 mg OxyContin 3 times a day 100 mcg fentanyl patch every 72 hrs and up to 6 30 mg Oxycodone for break through pain.  I have stopped the patches on my own so I'm on 480 mg oxycontin ER and up to 180 mg Oxycodone for breakthrough pain.  My doc now thinks I should switch to suboxone - will this treat my chronic pain and is it something that I will stay on?  I'm interested in the sublingual route.

Any help would be appreciated,
Jon

[xaviersdad]

I have been taking methodone for about two years and have tapered from a high of 140mg down to 40mg. I have seen the Doctor to make the switch to saboxone. He perscibed me 60 oxycodone and told me to stop taking the methodone. I go back in ten days to start the saboxone. I have done quite a bit of research and it seems to be that there are the pros and the cons just like in anything else.
The doc said it is easier to go from oxycodone to sabox than methodone to Sabox and that is his reasoning for giving it to me. However WARNING going back on oxy for just a few days brings your brain back to the addictive thinking. Make sure to have support in place. This is a very dangious way to make the switch.
I will keep you informed of my progress. Xaviersdad

[scarlettbegonias]

methadone is the devil. worse than any other opiate. trust me. i was forced to detox CT off Mdone in jail after getting busted for a DUI .....only there 2 days but then the detox at my moms house then a recovery home for women fornthe rest...... it was a living friggin HELL ! i will nvr forget!

i stayed off opiates .....i used to be a heroin addict...thats why i was on Mdone...... anyway.... i got hurt, got diagnosed with a chronic illness 6 years later and was off to pain managenmnt...... 200 mg of opiates a day....oxy and roxy.....so after 4 years....i wanted off ! i have not been myself...my soul and spirit shackled to opium....lost interest in some rlly gr8 things !

my point.....i followed the amino acid protocol , exactly , at home , cold turkey , off over 200 mgs opiates .... and i did it! the detox was Nothing like methadone....thank GOD...... just follow the protocol....and get a clear head....dont be a slave to anything and live the life u were meant to live.....and LOVE :)

hug:::::::
mama k.

[Hollaatme]

Oops kinda posted the same thing twice