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Subutex/Suboxone experience?

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Posted 9/1/2007 8:09 PM (GMT 0)
Hey, has anyone tried Subutex or Suboxone to limit the w/drawal symptoms of stopping pain meds?  I have heard wonderful things about it because not only does it lock out other types of opiates from binding to opiate receptors in the brain, but it eliminates the no energy/fatigued feeling you feel after you stop taking the pain meds.  God, guys, I love the pain relief I get from my pain meds (methadone and fentora) but I hate not having my absolute freedom.  Pain doctors make you jump through hoops for treatment, they distrust you no matter how honest you are, and make you feel bad for needing a treatment that works so well.  For me, and for a lot of us, the question is, can you tolerate your pain in exchange for your freedom from pain meds? 

Anyways, In my experience, even with a slow taper, your still left feeling pretty crappy for awhile.  I'm just trying to get the best info that I can. So, if you have any familiarity with this drug, I would appreciate you sharing with me. Also, any one that has successfully been weaned off of methadone, I would sure appreciate your input...

Hey Paniacs, have a great rest of your weekend, I promise to send good vibes out to all of you~;)

painKILLER

Posted 9/6/2007 3:06 AM (GMT 0)
I have been on subutex for 2-yrs now. I had a really bad addiction to pain killers 40 a day. and like any good opiate as long as you have it your just fine,but when you dont god help us all. I started at 8mg's and am now at 2mgs. it is th best thing that ever happened to me. it takes away all w/d symptoms and gives you your life back and yes it does take care of your pain. you are on some heavy duty pain meds.,but subutex is alot easier to get off of than methadone when you are ready you must be ready in order for anything to work. you cannot take pain meds while on subutex or you will have major withdrawls and promis me you won't did it anymore than i did. if i can answer any questions please let me know.
Posted 9/6/2007 6:39 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on suboxone for over 6 months now and I can tell you. This is a miracle drug. I have my life back and more important I remember how I used to feel. It also helps with depression becasue you feel so different and you are not always looking for your next fix or hocking something to get the money for it. Mine started innocent enough but quickly became a habit and my doctor dumped me and so on. I am in heaven right now. God bless technology and this medicine. You have to be ready to quit but at the same time, someone could stick a bottle of percocet in front of me right now and I can honestly say that the suboxone has taken away the urge. I just dont want that life back. Good luck to all. Feel free to email me for support. It's important to get accurate answers from people.
Posted 9/6/2007 11:09 PM (GMT 0)
Butterfly1414, missyprissy, that is really valuable information. I have heard only positive things about the buprenorphine based drugs. I'm looking in to it because if I get to a point where my pain has been treated and no longer needs pain meds, I want an alternative to the taper method. I have used the taper method before, and it always leaves you feeling poorly at the end of the taper. I like the pain relief that I get from my pain meds, but I do not like what I go through to get them. By nature, I have a lot of pride and don't like to be told what to do. The doctor I see is so paranoid about drug diversion and abuse that my pain control is becoming a cost/benefit analysis...Is it worth the hassle for the treatment? I'm just not sure anymore. In ways, I do feel grateful because I have access to medication that others don't. But, at what point does a person give up their personal dignity for pain control? Now, if my doctor was a compassionate, understanding physician, I probably would not be having this conversation with you. However, I have come to the point where I do not want to go and try out another doctor. There have been too many of those. By leaving the pain medicines behind, I still have control over my life. So, that is why I am looking into the suboxone treatment. I'm getting very close to entering a nurse practitioner program in my state, and I certainly do not want to be tethered to my pain doctor forever. Butterfly, I would appreciate your personal email if possible so that I can ask you some personal questions about the program. Thanks so much for the info!
painKILLER
Posted 9/7/2007 1:03 AM (GMT 0)
Painkiller, I am so sorry you have such a rotten pain mgt dr.. He should not be allowed to hang his shingle out in my opinion. Drs that make patients feel bad because they need certain medicine to get thru a day and have a half way decent life, are not drs, they are control freaks. If you have the option of finding a different pain dr, I surely hope you will consider making a change. You would be amazed at how much better you feel having a dr that you know is in your corner, not one that is trying to put you in a corner. Susie
Posted 9/7/2007 5:25 PM (GMT 0)
After reading this thread, I am really confused. Isn't Suboxone an opiate? I read a thread a few months ago about a person who said that Suboxone was really hard to come off of - withdrawal just like any other opiate, despite the claims that there were was no, or very little withdrawal from this drug. This didn't surprise me at all, since it seems to be an opiate, and I've never met an opiate that wasn't hard to get off of.

I do know that Suboxone is gaining popularity as a pain management drug on its own - you don't have to be an "addict" to take this. My understanding was simply that if you took this drug, it would provide analgesia as well as block the effects of any other opiates you take.
Posted 9/10/2007 4:06 AM (GMT 0)
can anyone tell me what suboxone feels like. I have been on methadone and am about to switch. I would greatly appreciate any feedback of those who have experience with taking suboxone.  Thanks

Posted 9/10/2007 4:17 AM (GMT 0)

butterfly -

what does suboxone "feel" like? I am about to switch from methadone to suboxone. I have "heard thru the grapevine" that it has an opiate feel. I hope it helps, but I don't want to get hooked on suboxone. your feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Butterfly1414 said...
I have been on suboxone for over 6 months now and I can tell you. This is a miracle drug. I have my life back and more important I remember how I used to feel. It also helps with depression becasue you feel so different and you are not always looking for your next fix or hocking something to get the money for it. Mine started innocent enough but quickly became a habit and my doctor dumped me and so on. I am in heaven right now. God bless technology and this medicine. You have to be ready to quit but at the same time, someone could stick a bottle of percocet in front of me right now and I can honestly say that the suboxone has taken away the urge. I just dont want that life back. Good luck to all. Feel free to email me for support. It's important to get accurate answers from people.

Posted 9/27/2007 10:49 PM (GMT 0)

kleanver how is the suboxone going - what was your habit like? i am on day 2- No withdrawls which is awesome but i am sooo groggy ( and scared).

Thanks

J

Posted 9/27/2007 10:56 PM (GMT 0)

Butterfly your story is very inspiring. I am a mother of 2 little ones and getting off these vics has been the most consuming scariest thing ever. I heard about suboxone and have been so scared to try- Now i am on day 2 and its insane how there is no WD's, except i feel kinda groggy- i am take 8 mg a day. I cant imagine never wanting that pill again. Also do you ever occasionally drink on it?

This is all so overwheming but so far thank god for sub!

Posted 10/15/2007 11:09 AM (GMT 0)

HI  I am Marrie I usually don't post here, mostly in the Fibro forum but was here reading some threads.  I wanted to give you my 2-cents on Suboxone.

Two years ago a decided to check myself into rehad for rx pain meds,  I was being rx'ed various narcotic meds by various doctors.  The meds were for dibilitating headaches I was having.  One day I woke up and decided no more of this crap.  The headaches would never go away because they were mostly caused by rebound from the drugs.  So anyway..I thought the best thing to do was check myself into rehab for a while to get the help I needed. They starting me on Suboxone and many other drugs the day that I got there.  I experienced NO withdrawl symptoms.  Tho only bad thing I can say is that I was exhausted all the time and it constipated me really bad.  I took it for the two weeks I was inpatient tapering in down the second week.  Again it did make me very sleepy but I am sure it was a combination of a lot of other things too.  I did not come home on Suboxone but it was ok.  I felt fine and to this day have not abused pain meds.  I do take them sometimes as I have Fibromyalgia but I take the dose that is rx'ed.  It works now since my tolerance is a lot lower from not abusing.  I know this is kind of an old thread but thought the info may be helpful.  Oh, btw..the Suboxone I was given was sublingueal (sp) melts under your tongue.

Let me know if I can answer any questions.

Hope you ar having a pain free day! 

Posted 1/6/2008 6:24 PM (GMT 0)
ANYONE, HOW DO YOU GET OFF SUBUTEX .5 MG X3 PER DAY ONE YEAR?  CAN YOU DO THIS ALONE?
Posted 6/20/2008 5:31 AM (GMT 0)

Suboxone is an opiod. When you're put on it your going from one opiod to another. My withdraws from suboxone were absolutely as bad as my withdraws from oxycontin and fentanyl. I got through it with alchohol because i dont really like alchohol and it was the only way to ease the extreme pain and suffering when i was given no more suboxone. I did that for a while and only had to eventually wean from alchohol which is 100x's easier than from opiods. God Forgive these doctors that put you on suboxone and tell you its not an opiod and that there is no withdrawal from it.

I was taking painkillers for 11 years straight every single day. Get off the suboxone any way you can. The only reason to be prescribed it is if you're planning on staying on it as maintenance the rest of your life.  

Posted 6/22/2008 12:24 PM (GMT 0)
MedicareB, as with any other opiate a proper taper is the best bet for success. If you want to assure that you get off and stay off tapering is the most comfortable way to achieve this and should be done under a Doctors care if at all possible and I am not going to get into whether you got here on your own or thru a legit source but if the latter is true then your Doc should be able to assist with this once you let him or her know you want off with the least amount of discomfort and with a greater chance of staying off.

Good luck to you and as with all the other meds that have come and gone that were tooted as "miracle drugs" SubX has its share of good and bad but the thing to remember is it also is an opiate and must be tapered like one and given the same respect as one.
Posted 7/28/2008 6:53 PM (GMT 0)
I have been on subutex for about 2 full years now. I accidentally got hooked. I had given birth to my beautiful little girl (naturally) and for the pain the docs gave me percocet. ...............(post edited)....

That was my life for 3 years. 3 LONG years. I got into a program at a hospital. Here I am 2 years later, married to a wonderful man who understands me and a gorgeous little woman asking me for a sibling. GOD allowed me to get better but I still can't give her a sibling because I am scared to get off this med. I try and it hurts. I am down to 2mg. a day. I want to get off but every time I start skipping doses & days, I start hurting. I have a great job that I love and have to be very active; I can't afford to be sick. Please help me. I am so scared.

I am wondering, when am I going to be able to live my life free from a little pill!!!!!!! I want babies. I want my life back!!

Can anyone please give me advice?


{Hi Mama, I had to edit your post so it conformed to our rules. But I did leave the core of what you were trying to share. I know you are serious about asking for help and suggestions. Good luck}

Rule #1. No discussion of any illegal activity or threats of violence. (ie. illicit drug use, including medical marijuana use, threats of suicide or self-injury, or threatened or intended physical harm). Discussions of suicide or self-harm that are deemed negative and therefore potentially injurious to others are also not permitted.

Post Edited By Moderator (Chutz) : 7/28/2008 9:26:22 PM (GMT-6)

Posted 7/29/2008 3:30 AM (GMT 0)
Hi Mama Monkey,

I'm so sorry you're in pain and having such a hard time with meds. Narcotic pain meds are a double edge sword...they work wonders for those who live with chronic pain, but for a small percentage addiction takes a tight hold and can ruin a life.

I can see you are a bright woman who truly wants to be rid of the med's but also have issues with pain. What is causing your pain? Is it the withdrawal or a physical condition? Either way my suggestion would be to get into detox. I may likely be the only way for a permanent solution. You are so young and intelligent, you have such a wonderful family and a great life ahead...please give yourself the gift of being 'clean' so you can enjoy that life...and those wonderful kids.

We are here to support you, especially when the going gets tough. You may also want to search out a forum that is devoted to recovery.

Hugs,
Chutzie
Posted 7/29/2008 7:47 PM (GMT 0)

Just wanted to let you all know that Tramadol (ultram) is definetly the best when it comes to knocking out withdrawals from pain medicine.

It is a non-narcotic pain medicine and does help the pain a little too.  However, the best thing is when you are getting off the pain pills and start taking Tramadol, you have no withdrawals at all.

Posted 7/29/2008 8:03 PM (GMT 0)
Dear Mama,
I wanted to welcome you to the forum. I would also support what Chutz has said.

Some people have genetic predispositions to dependence and addiction happens very easily because of that in just the way you describe - being put on some pain medication for a legitimate reason and all of a sudden you're hooked and don't understand why. I would recommend you try to seek out a recovery program, but also an addictionologist, who is doctor that is has a specialty in addiction medicine. There are protocols for dealing with not only addiction. I am not sure that you have any chronic pain issues - I didn't read that. If you do, the addictionologist is the best person to help you manage that along with trying to be in recovery. It is hard, but it is doable. Many people recover from addiction, but slips and relapses are part of the process. It's just important to get back up on the horse if you fall off. And for that you need the support of recovery professionals, along with your family and spirituality. They can all play a role.

I posted a thread which has a link to an article which clarifies dependence, tolerance and addiction. I think it's on the second or third page so you shouldn't have to search much. It's worth reading to give you some understanding. And you will see that genetics stands out as one of the factors that can lead to addiction. You may not even know about people who could be in your family tree who may have been addicted. So work with the professionals, so you can get "clean" and move forward with your goals in life!

PaLady
Posted 7/29/2008 8:08 PM (GMT 0)
Hi, Fibro,
I also wanted to welcome you to the forum. Not sure if you're also posting to the fibro section, but I'm guessing you'll find great support there, too. I think a lot of people, including our wonderful moderator Chutz, post to both. Fibro after all, is chronic pain. So feel free to join in on both groups.

I believe ultram is also a controlled substance, but a level 4 or 5 which means it's not as addictive as others, and doctors don't have the same regulations when writing scripts for it. I wouldn't necessarily recommend it for Mama, however, as it still is addictive, just less than stronger narcotics.

I'm glad if it worked for you, though. We all know how different medications can be!

Again, welcome!

PaLady
Posted 7/29/2008 8:10 PM (GMT 0)
Tramadol is a pseudo opiate that kinda tricks the brain by filling some of the same opiate receptors as other pain meds, therefor you do not get typical opiate w/d's because the receptors are still getting their fill from the tramadol.

Tramadol itself has w/d's similar to opiates so I suggest anyone on it NOT to just stop cold turkey, it should be tapered.

If you Google Tramadol/Ultram, you will also find many cases of people addicted to it and using it for their high as their drug of choice - especially taking large amounts. Some say it is non-narcotic, but others will say the opposite. It most certainly is physically addicting!

I do agree with fibrowoman that Tramadol can be a big help with withdrawals from other pain meds.
Posted 7/29/2008 9:07 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you for welcoming me PaLady, that was my first post actually.  Yes, fibromalgia is definetly chronic pain as well.  I do belong to another form on another site as well and I thought I would try this site too.

Tramadol is non-narcotic, and it is not a schedule drug, however, I have heard in some cases that it is addicting as well, however, some days I only take a couple and then there are other days where I have to take about 8 (which is okay, my rx is for 2 4x/day).

Some days I don't take any at all and I do not have any withdrawals from it.  I guess it just all depends on the person as well.  However, since it is non-narcotic, I would definetly suggest going on Tramadol to get off the heavy duty pain meds. 

Thanks for listening

Posted 7/29/2008 9:28 PM (GMT 0)
Firbrowoman,
Just FYI all you have to do to post to the fibro section of this forum is click on the drop down menu of the various medical conditions and move over to the fibro section. It's all part of the Healing Well family! You're welcome both places! Just wanted you to know how easy it was, should you have questions or concerns that more directly relate to firbro. You can also just go over there and read the topics. The administrator and moderators here are great and make things very easy for all of us!

PaLady
I think the quickest way to move around is where is says "Forum Quick Jump' right above the posts.
Posted 7/30/2008 7:08 PM (GMT 0)

Thank you PALady, I really appreciate your kindness towards me.

I did know about that, however I do have chronic pain as well and like this site as well.  I also like to help people in need, as I was once there especially when doctors give you pain medicine and then just stop all of sudden.  This is what happened to me, and the withdrawals were horrible.  After that, I went to another doctor and told them I did not want narcotic pain medicine and he gave me tramadol.

That is why I am here to help out and to get advice for my chonic pain.  I do belong to another site and I get a lot of advice for my fibro and arthrits. 

Posted 7/30/2008 10:26 PM (GMT 0)
Hi Fibrowoman, I want to welcome you to the CP forum. I hate it that you suffer as we all do with chronic pain. But, its like you posted, some days we have a fair day and then some days are just the pits. Today is my pit day, its very humid so I cannot be outside, I am an oxygen lady and with temps getting at 100 its no good for me. I usually sit outside very, very early in the mornings and do some watering but not today. I hate being couped up inside. I don't have fibro but have visited the site and see how alot of the ladies suffer and from what I have seen its no picnic. Back in the olden days none of this crap was heard of or complained of, it amazes me the numbers keep getting bigger daily of different disease & such w/no cures in site. Please stay with us here at CP, I feel you have valuable input for us. Hugs, Susie
Posted 7/31/2008 1:30 PM (GMT 0)

Hi Straydog, thank you for welcoming me.

I am so sorry that you have to be couped up in the house.  It is that hot where I am as well. 

Yes, Fibro is no fun, we have our days on and off too, it is pretty much the same as chronic pain, because you always have it.

Well, take care and have a good Thursday, gotta get back to work.

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