DEA and suboxone

[nowfree555]

When you sign up for suboxone are you listed on some kind of DEA list? I have been getting Dilaudid from a dr for pain management. If the suboxone doesn't work I might want to go back to my doctor, but fear he could find out. Thanks

[philnoir]

What are your side-effects from suboxone?

[zen58]

I know the feeling my Dr. thinks I am addicted so they put me on Suboxone but it has bad side affects so I want to go back on oxycodone but I might have to go outside the VA to do it

[philnoir]

I would use two docs for controlled Rx only if both docs were aware of the situation. Frankly, I don't like the idea. You don't ever want to get into a situation where you appear to be manipulating either doctor for extra medications. And, it is so easy for docs to check on all your Rx these days, through prescription control databases that are being instituted in just about every state these days.

[navallon]

Can you go to one doctor for subutex and another for diladid

[Tuckamore]

Sorry it took me a while to get back to you. Molly is correct. You cannot take Suboxone with opiates. We almost lost our Mollyrae in an unfortunate similar incident. Please heed her warning.

If you want my opinion I think you are overly concerned about dependancy and addiction for nothing. When our bodies are in trouble they send a pain signal to our brains to alert us that something is wrong. It's like when a small baby cries. They are usually telling you something is wrong, help me. Well that's what your pain was telling you. You listened and found out the reason for the pain. Your body continues to send the pain signal because it is still hurting....but there is no longer a good reason to continue to suffer with pain.

Your physician is correct. I too think you are jumping the gun. You are on a very small amount of an opiate. In fact studies have concluded that darvocet is normally no more effective than a prescription dose of ibuprofen for most ppl. Why do you have such an aversion to taking the darvocet?  In my opinion your description of the amount and severity of your says that you are not on a potent enough opiate to obtain proper pain control. Pain has no reason once there is a diagnosis. In fact it is a statistical fact that uncontrolled pain can even interfere with the healing process.

I highly doubt that you need to detox but I am far from an expert. I would never suggest that you request or need suboxone at this time. As others have said it is an potent drug.

I encourage you to follow your physicians directives. If you weren't so overly concerned with taking opiates I would even suggest that you request something stronger to achieve pain control. Ask any of us here and we will all tell you that we hate taking a narcotic. But far worse is the daily severe chronic pain that keeps us from functioning and having any type of normalcy in our lives without the opiates.

See your new Physiatrist just as you are and as your physician has recommended. Follow their advice. And please let us know how you are doing.

Best of luck and take care,
Tuck

[Mollyrae]

God forbid.....DON'T take suboxone when your taking opiates......You will crash very hard and go through W/D's that you never thought possible. In fact....it's dangerous!

If you want my story, I will send it to you via PM

My best,
Mollyrae

[sarassuicide]

I have to report any new pain issues with my doctors, and get the appropriate tests.  If you are not in a situation where your health issues will never go away and will get worse eventually where surgery will or may be for me anyhow an emergency matter then am guessing yur in acute pain meaning it will get better in time, and for that reason taking meds of any kind long term will not be needed right?  Suboxene is used to withdraw but like methadone it is sometimes prescribed for pain which doesn't make much sense since suboxene has only a small amount of opiate in it the other part of this drug from what I was told blocks the opiate as Tuck said if I read that right.  Suboxene is an extreme drug from what I've read for anyone to use in general like methadone is extreme.

[Pattyfrances]

After knee replacment surgery in October of 2009, I have taken loritab first then darvocet. Not over the amount prescribed which is why I am having a hard time knowing what to do. I want to stop taking all the pain medication and told my Doctor who thinks I'm jumping the gun and worrying too soon since I still have pain. My problem is that I took the medication while waiting on surgery and spend most of my time worrying and feeling dependent on the stuff. I'm only taking two per day 100/500 but still have pain along with not fuctioning. I didn't leave my house all week until dinner last night when my husband insisted that I get out. Something is not right with me and I feel that until I get off all pain meds that I will not. I have an appointment with a specalist (Physiatrist) next week and am wondering if I should be going to the a Doctor who uses suboxone to detox instead. My phyciatrist does this but hasn't offer it to me because I don't appear to have the usual symptoms. Doesn't seem to believe me. He keeps wanting to up Cymbalta. Have not taken any today and feel horrible. As a patient in pain, you don't take more of it as you would run out and have to ask for it again which is awful. Need help.

[Tuckamore]

TrayCee, If you look again at my second post on this thread you will see that you added exactly what I posted. When you goggle this subject you will find two very opposing answers.

AmazonGirl, I am sorry that you are battling cancer. It is nice of you to post with your experience with Suboxone. You prove once again that we are all different. I am very glad that this is working for you.

Nowfree, It sounds like you may have a good shot with this medication. I hope it all works out for you.

[TrayCee]

very interesting -  Thanks


I found this on Suboxone ******* -
"SUBOXONE® (buprenorphine HCl/naloxone HCl dihydrate sublingual tablets) (CIII) is indicated for the treatment of opioid dependence. SUBOXONE is not indicated for pain management. Patients with a clinical need for pain management should not be transferred to a SUBOXONE regimen."

lots of different info out there RE: Suboxone.

[AmazonGirl]

I use Suboxone for severe chronic pain and it has been a Godsend for me....I have tried every other pain medication that is FDA approved in the United States....Even now being diagnosed with cancer, I've choosen to stay with Suboxone for pain conrol cause I know switching to anything else would not help me pain at all.....And I have absoutly no history of addiction....and more and more pain doctors are using Suboxone for chronic pain cause it REALLY does work for "some" people whether anyone likes it or not....Just the way Methadone was once used just for heroin addiction, and now it is prescribed alot for chronic pain, Suboxone is headed the same way also....

But to answer the question....Nope....the DEA does not keep tabs on people on Suboxone...they have no reason to.....Suboxone is prescribed off label all the time for chronic pain and depression and they know it.....BUT like any medication you've had filled at the pharmacy, any doctor or medical person can pull up your prescribing history and know what you've taken....especailly now that every state has a database where all your information is kept on a computer which is there to stop doctor shopping....

I dont know why people think Buprenorphine (the main ingredient in Suboxone and Subutex) is a med JUST made to stop withdrawals, it IS a pain medication and has been used for severe pain for many years in other countries....and the FDA is about to approve a patch that has Buprenorphine in it that will just be approved for chronic pain...same med just diffrent routes of administration....

[Tuckamore]

Goggle Suboxone for Pain Mangement.

[TrayCee]

source?

[Tuckamore]

Suboxone was always used for to block withdrawal symptoms and to control the desire to use opiates. Just recently there have been some articles that are stating otherwise.  One is in part and follows....

BEGIN "There is now an effective medication for both opiate addiction treatment and/or maintenance pain management that is FDA (Food and Drug Administration) approved.  The medication is buprenorphine, which is an opiate agonist/antagonist and a very effective pain medication for appropriate patients. It has been used in pain management for many years--mostly in its injectable form." END

Buprenorphine is one of the active ingredients in Subutex and Suboxone.  Buprenorphine is many times more potent than injected morphine. However even the Suboxone's Website has this notation: "NOTE: SUBOXONE is not indicated for pain management. Patients with a clinical need for pain management should not be transferred to a SUBOXONE regimen, even if they are physically dependent on opioids."  

Patients with true Chronic Pain have a very low addiction rate. There is a huge difference between being dependant and being addicted. Don't be confused by the two, very different terms.  I will send you a PM with that information that may help you clarify the differences.

I think I was able to follow your post. If I understand it correctly you are not taking anything but the Suboxone but were formerly on the Dilaudid. Please correct me if I have misinterpreted your statement.

Peace,
Tuck

[chasingthehigh3]

I can't follow your original post. Are you taking both Diluadids and Suboxone and/or wanting to? Like TrayCee said, Suboxone's is primarily used for withdrawal. Are you seeing two different doctors?

[TrayCee]

no, youre not placed on a Suboxone/DEA list. Also, Suboxone is not for pain relief.  Its meant for opiate withdrawal.

[nowfree555]

Hi,

Thank you for answering me. No I'm not addicted, I take for pain and only what is prescribed, it's just after hearing so many horror stories, I don't want to become addicted. However, I am worried that if I tell my dr he will think I am already addicted and either refuse to treat, or something. It is very hard as I am sure you probably know to find a dr that will treat chronic pain and I don't want him to think I am an addict giving him the runaround. I have a feeling they are 1st suspicious, 2nd understanding.

Thanks a bunch!

[Tuckamore]

Hello Nowfree,

Welcome to the Pain Mangement Forum.

I don't know the answer to your question. I know that there are pharmacy lists that physicians can access. I would assume that if you obtain the Suboxone from a pharmacy your physician will have access to that record if he checks.

I am a bit confused. Are you addicted and trying to get clean or do you have chronic pain and are trying the Suboxone route?  If you have chronic pain I am not sure why you decided to get off the pain medications. If you are just addicted I would hope that you would not return to the opiates.

Best of luck to you.

Peace,
Tuck