subutex

[sharonver]

I tapered off methadone (slowly)which I had been on for over 15 years,when I got down to zero after a couple of weeks of still being very sick I decided to go on subutex.  I take on an average of 6 mg. a day. Doctor prescribed 6mg. to 8mg. a day. So far I have felt great, no more withdrawal symptoms, and I feel normal a sense of "well being". Not sedated as I did when I was on methadone. My question is: How long should I stay on? I am also a chronic pain patient (arthritis) and I am currently on predensone for a short time. So this is also helping with my pain issue. The physician told me that I can stay on indefinietly or come off after a short period when I think that the most of the methadone is out of my system. I have heard it can take months before your body is rid of methadone, esp. being on it for so many years.  Thanks for your input.

Sharon

[biged560]

Subutex and Suboxone was designed for one purpose and one purpose only and it is meant to completely get off the opiates immediately. Both were designed to alleviate withdrawls and once the patient feels no one withdrawls from the primary opiate or opiate synthetic, then immediately stop taking Subutex and/or Suboxone! If you do not, then you will also become addicted to Subutex and Suboxone and experience depedence. The proper way, let's say if you were on heroine, is to substitute Suboxone and/or Subutex until such time as you stop sweating in the middle of the night which should be in most cases 5 to 7 days. During those 5 to 7 days you should be on Subutex and/or Suboxone and once you stop sweating, then you immediately stop taking Suboxone and/or Subutex and then immediately you will no longer experience withdrawals and the problem accomplished. However after 12 days on Suboxone and/or Subutex you will also experience addiction and then the circle starts all over again and you defeated the purpose. Please take it from a pro as I am, I know what I am talking about unfortunately.

[biged560]

Subutex and Suboxone was designed for one purpose and one purpose only and it is meant to completely get off the opiates immediately. Both were designed to alleviate withdrawls and once the patient feels no one withdrawls from the primary opiate or opiate synthetic, then immediately stop taking Subutex and/or Suboxone! If you do not, then you will also become addicted to Subutex and Suboxone and experience depedence. The proper way, let's say if you were on heroine, is to substitute Suboxone and/or Subutex until such time as you stop sweating in the middle of the night which should be in most cases 5 to 7 days. During those 5 to 7 days you should be on Subutex and/or Suboxone and once you stop sweating, then you immediately stop taking Suboxone and/or Subutex and then immediately you will no longer experience withdrawals and the problem accomplished. However after 12 days on Suboxone and/or Subutex you will also experience addiction and then the circle starts all over again and you defeated the purpose. Please take it from a pro as I am, I know what I am talking about unfortunately.

[chelebelle1229]

The buprenorphine is designed to gradually up your pain threshold. I just switched from suboxone to subutex this past weekend, and I feel like a different person. That feeling of wanting to go to sleep and never wake up is finally gone!! Prior to suboxone, I was on methadone for a couple years. In a freak incident, they put me on a 15-day detox that only took about 8 days. It was the worst thing I've ever experienced. I would willingly and gladly go through an entire year of oxy withdrawal's than to ever go back on methadone. Like I said, I'm on subutex now. People say the taste is worse than suboxone, but I couldn't even look at my bottle of medication without vomiting. My new doctor told me to take a couple tic-tacs and put them under there with the subutex. It works wonders, and I can see what I've been doing wrong in the way I was taking the suboxone. To be able to get it down, I would drink some juice with it, just enough to dull the taste. My first day on the subutex I was sick, but it was like being sick from getting the amount of medicine that I was actually lacking before. I am feeling better now and doing just fine. I finally have hope that I will get off this medication, and my days no longer revolve around having to take my medication. I feel the closest to normal I've felt in years, and I'm thrilled. To those of you who live in Michigan, if you are close enough, try coming into Indiana. That's where I just moved and my doctor alone has 8 different clinics in the nothern part of the state. Just a thought!

[mr.lucky66]

Yes Junig is very knowelable about sub and addiction, (he is a recovering addict), and advoctes sub and may take it himself. I don't believe it's a miracle drug as he says it is and it really hasn't been tested for lifetime maintenence.

[GA Guy]

Dr. Junig, who was at one time the Doctor who answered questions in the Addiction "Doctor's Forum" is an advocate of very long term Suboxone use for those he deems appropriate. He's done extensive research and makes some very valid points. I do know that he just wrote a new book that I believe that every Suboxone user should read. Anyone interested in his thoughts should Google his name or visit his websites. He was a great asset to MedHelp.

[avisg]

sharon,
That is a long time to be on sub or you ever planing on tapering off of it or do you plan on staying on it indefinitely .Do you get any recovery care