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Posted 10/21/2009 2:15 PM (GMT 0)
I was addicted to painkillers, although I never took more than seven 10mg pills in any given day, it was everyday for at least seven years. I tried everything to get off of them and then I tried Suboxone after hearing how this "miracle" drug was available. I thought it was great at first, one pill a day and I felt "normal", with no ups and downs, no cravings, no more hunting for that high. Well, when I was faced with losing my job of ten years, I no longer had health insurance and needed to get away from the suboxone. I talked with my Dr. and he told me that since I was on such a low dose that I should not feel too many side effects........bullcrap. I literally felt like my skin was going to peel off and run away to get away from my body, I had a headache for four days, couldn't sleep, even drinking Nyquil like Koolaid. I actually had to track down a few pain pills to get me off the wonder drug. So I ask, what separates this from methadone? One addiction to another? I honestly believe that strong will and persistence, doing it yourself and living through the withdrawel is the only way to kick the habit. I have finally escaped the clutch of the opiate. I will probably struggle with it for the rest of my life, but isn't that what addicts do? I still crave the high, especially when I need to be motivated. But I remind myself of the forgotten side of the high.....the coast down, which really, really sucks. For all of you out there struggling, just keep moving and even though it feels like you may never emerge, you will, and it is all up to you. Get away from everything that reminds you of pills, friends and all. If they are really your friends, they will understand. Good luck and please do not take Suboxone unless you want to detox anyways.
Posted 10/21/2009 5:24 PM (GMT 0)
Suboxone has naloxone in it. Naloxone blocks some opioid receptors in the brain so it's not liable to abuse (taking a bunch would be no more effective as taking your normal dose), and if any other opioid is taken while on suboxone, it can throw one into instant withdrawal.
Posted 10/21/2009 5:35 PM (GMT 0)
Thanks for the story, but this isn't an addiction forum...we are here because we suffer with CP and need to take our meds... As some of us have struggled with the whole addiction vs. dependence thing I don't think it's good to come here if you aren't suffering like we are... I understand the whole addiction thing and a strong will isn't the answer...that's like saying if you can't kick a habit it's because you aren;t strong enough....I happen to think that's BULL(*&^&%.....I don't speak for the others on this site, I only speak for me...

Me.
Posted 10/21/2009 7:02 PM (GMT 0)
A lot of people are under the impression that you don't become dependent on Suboxone and that it doesn't have withdrawal symptoms, but that's not true.

Suboxone has that information available on their website, and it seems pretty clear to me:

suboxone.com said...
6. Does SUBOXONE just substitute one dependence for another?
A: All opioids can cause physical dependence. SUBOXONE belongs to a class of opioids called "partial opioid agonists." As a partial agonist, buprenorphine appears to produce less physical dependence, limited euphoria, and less potential for abuse compared with a full agonist, eg, heroin, oxycodone, and hydrocodone. SUBOXONE has potential for abuse and produces dependence of the opioid type with a milder withdrawal syndrome than full agonists.

When patients are ready to stop taking SUBOXONE, the dose is slowly and gradually tapered. The withdrawal symptoms of SUBOXONE are milder than those seen with a full opioid agonist and can be managed with your doctor's supervision.

Posted 10/21/2009 9:15 PM (GMT 0)
Honestly,
I think uniquelyme said it. While we're glad you're getting treatment for your addiciton, this is not an addiction forum, and I think you may want to try finding a forum that deals with your issues. This is a forum for Chronic Pain patients, a forum for support and understanding, and we get enough judgment already. We don't take our meds for the same reason you did.

Good luck in maintaining your sobriety, but again, please don't judge us here. The overwhelming majority of chronic pain patients are not addicts.

I do hope a moderator catches this thread and edits it or more.

PaLady
Posted 10/22/2009 12:11 AM (GMT 0)
I'm sorry, but I dont have much to add for the Suboxone eventhough I take it for pain, but what Gcoin said is wrong about taking another pain killer on top of the Suboxone, it will NOT throw you into insant withdrawals, it will just block it. The only way you get instant withdrawals from it is if you begin taking suboxone while dependent on another pain killer at the same time, thats why you must be in withdrawals to start it.

I'm sorry about this being off topic, but it seems like their's so much misunderstanding about Suboxone out there.

-Carmen
Posted 10/22/2009 1:23 AM (GMT 0)

Hello~Kitty said...
but what Gcoin said is wrong about taking another pain killer on top of the Suboxone, it will NOT throw you into insant withdrawals, it will just block it.

I was just repeating what I'd heard from former heroin addicts who were on it. Maybe they're wrong, who knows.
Posted 10/22/2009 3:50 AM (GMT 0)
GCoin,
I don't think that's a very stable source for your information. Your post is wrtten in a way that makes it sound like it's fact. We're not here to give medical advice. If you want to share knowledge from a reliable source, you can identify the source as BionicWoman did above. Otherwise, I think it's best to only offer support and understanding to others, and share our experiences and identify them as such.

I know you're knew to the forums, but please be more careful and just share your opinions or experience. Mostly we're here to support and understand eachother.

PaLady
Posted 10/22/2009 6:04 PM (GMT 0)
GCoin, just repeating things as fact without actually understanding them is never a good idea. The error in your post is the result of someone confusing Naloxone with Naltrexone. The names are similar, but they act differently.

Suboxone.com said...
The naloxone component in SUBOXONE is included to help discourage diversion and misuse. Naloxone has very limited bioavailability when administered sublingually, as intended. However, if SUBOXONE is crushed and injected, the naloxone will precipitate opioid withdrawal. In the absence of an opioid, the antagonist has no effect.

Posted 11/2/2009 3:58 AM (GMT 0)
Well, I am on day 7 of suboxone. I wanted to check in with Carmen and any of the others I chatted with last week. I do seem to have side effects from the suboxone still. However, I am not achey from my back. It still hurts on the site of the disc injury but the radiating pain seems much better. I do hope that the other side effects go away. I still feel lethargic, spacey, insomnia (some nights), low appetite(could live on candy right now, force feed myself healty foods. I have periods where I feel buzzed(my psychiatrist said this was normal but will go away), I did not feel buzzed on the vicodin, My pain seems less on the suboxone. I hope this lasts, and I hope the side effects go away. Number one thing I am happy about is my anxiety is much more under control now, so I am sure the vicodin was making it worse. Can anyone share side effects they had on Suboxone, and how long they lasted. I know everyone is diff and I know I am sensitve to meds, just make me feel less alone if I know what others experienced.
Posted 11/2/2009 4:01 AM (GMT 0)
One more comment. My new psychiatrist is an addiction specialist. I told my therapist this made me alittle uncomfortable, for if my pain becomes unbearable in the future I will use what I need. I know I cannot while I am using the suboxone for treatment. I am going to interview another psychiatrist and let him know what I am going through. I need Dr. who see me and understand pain, and what goes along with that.
Posted 11/2/2009 8:49 AM (GMT 0)
Breathe12,

Suboxone is very known for insomia, I have that issue also. I know some people have to take their last dose of suboxone very early in the day so they an sleep at night. The other side effects you say your having makes it sound like your still adjusting, but remember that Buprenorphine is 25-50 times MORE stronger then morphine, so be careful, get a 2nd opinion if your still not feeling right after a while. Well anyways, sorry I cant think too much right now, halloween was very crazy for me (it ended up with one of my kids at the emergency room) and I'm very tierd, also my kids had a slumber party last night so I'm very wiped out.

-Carmen
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