Buprenorphine (Suboxone) for the management of opioid withdrawal

[Jack-of-all-trades]

Katie,

Prayers your way for helping to get off meds. Being out of pain makes your quest a lot easier. Not being psychologically addicted helps too.

I feel that knowledge is the key. Learn all you can before you begin your quest so that you do not have a bad experience. No one I knew when I started Sub knew a doc that Rx it and I ended up using the yellow pages. I wouldn't do that again, even if it meant driving to another town.

Here are links to informative sites that I compiled back when I thought I could make it without pain meds, some of which give reviews from patients who have used this and other methods to stop opioids. Justin &/or Terry; feel free to delete any of this that seems inappropriate. I never know how some stuff I post will be taken. In addition to spine issues, I have basalar joint arthritis in both thumbs with arthroplasty and cuboid replacement with tendon tissue on the left. I have to do what I can to shorten posts and not type with my thumbs.

Helpful info for reducing or eliminating narcotics

Sample Home Detox Plan - HealthBoards Message Boards

Buprenorphine - Suboxone - Buprenorphine doctors - and opioid addiction resources from The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment

clonidine theraphy for narcotic withdrawal - Google Search


Opiate / Opioid FAQ That's Poppycock!

I'm new on Suboxone, what do you think of my situation? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Waismann Method - Rapid Detox Treatment from Opiate Addiction Under Sedation in CA

[Terry Newton]

Terry, thanks for sharing your expertise with the Forum. It is much appreciated.

I did make a mistake by stating it was Naltrexone when it is Naloxone that is the pharmacological ingredient in Suboxone. Nevertheless I hope that I add at least something to the conversation when I state I would like to see this medication utilized more in this country for the possible analgesic effects this medication produces with little impairment seen with other opiates. Unfortunately the length of pain relief is pretty short but six hours is longer than some of the short acting opiates on the market today with less chance of cognitive impairment or addiction.

Thanks for the vote of confidence Justin (even when I do make mistakes).

[Terry Newton]

Katie,

Prayers your way for helping to get off meds. Being out of pain makes your quest a lot easier. Not being psychologically addicted helps too.

I feel that knowledge is the key. Learn all you can before you begin your quest so that you do not have a bad experience. No one I knew when I started Sub knew a doc that Rx it and I ended up using the yellow pages. I wouldn't do that again, even if it meant driving to another town.

Here are links to informative sites that I compiled back when I thought I could make it without pain meds, some of which give reviews from patients who have used this and other methods to stop opioids. Justin &/or Terry; feel free to delete any of this that seems inappropriate. I never know how some stuff I post will be taken. In addition to spine issues, I have basalar joint arthritis in both thumbs with arthroplasty and cuboid replacement with tendon tissue on the left. I have to do what I can to shorten posts and not type with my thumbs.

Helpful info for reducing or eliminating narcotics

Sample Home Detox Plan - HealthBoards Message Boards

Buprenorphine - Suboxone - Buprenorphine doctors - and opioid addiction resources from The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment

clonidine theraphy for narcotic withdrawal - Google Search


Opiate / Opioid FAQ That's Poppycock!

I'm new on Suboxone, what do you think of my situation? - SoberRecovery : Alcoholism Drug Addiction Help and Information

Waismann Method - Rapid Detox Treatment from Opiate Addiction Under Sedation in CA

The only concern I would have here is the Waismann Method of rapid detox. This has been proven to be possibly extremely life threatening and I would highly discourage the mention of this method. Unfortunately I have seen many horror stories with this method including many deaths due to the shock of withdrawing in this manner. This is detox under sedation (anesthesia), which sounds promising but, is very hard on the body.

Clonidine or Catapres has been used for opiate detox withdrawal symptoms for a number of years. It takes care of some of the symptoms of withdrawals though does little to ease the bone aches and pains. We used to use Bentyl to relieve the irritable bowel stuff that goes on, catapres for mitigating withdrawal symptoms, ibuprofen to take care of some of the bone aches and pains, etc. Still the departure rate of leaving against medical advice was over 80% because opiate detox is not pretty. The clients would go through horrible cravings to use which became a huge mental obsession.

Your intentions are honorable and the information is readily available to anyone so I do not believe in censorship. Like all things here all should be discussed with one's own physician.

[trkdoc714]

I agree with Terry (soon to be 53) Newton. I've seen the struggle to get off of opiates and relative ease of substituting Suboxone for the opiates. The transition seemed smooth as an observer at least.

The ensuing days and weeks of treatment do not translate into normal withdrawal symptoms and the final withdrawal from the Suboxone is minor in comparison to the harsh reactions the body provides from other methods of detoxification.

Bob

[Justin]

The ensuing days and weeks of treatment do not translate into normal withdrawal symptoms and the final withdrawal from the Suboxone is minor in comparison to the harsh reactions the body provides from other methods of detoxification.

Bob

Bob, I most definitely agree with the above. I've been through withdrawal on short-acting opiates and long-acting opiates (Suboxone) and there was a staggering difference. Personally, Suboxone was a great choice for me.

Stepping off of a low dose of Suboxone mitigated many of the "nasty" withdrawals I've been fortunate enough to experience in the past.

[Jack-of-all-trades]

It seems my bad experience was not the norm. I found it quite unsatisfactory but this is just one persons personal experience. What worked best for me, and was much less expensive was stepping down off my prescribed meds. Twenty plus years working in medicine helped me understand the mechanics, such as half life, first pass of oral meds, etc. and helped greatly in develping a reasonable taper.

When I asked my pain management doc who is an anesthesiologist with pain management speciality about Suboxone and related, he just said he tapered patients off and didn't use it. It seemed like such a good thing on paper that I researched doctors in my area (none of which were pain management docs) that could Rx the drug. I still think it would be ideal for street drugs where relapse, poor quality control of the drug they are abusing and related issues would be great.

Anyway, I am all for anything that makes it easy for people to get off opioids. We as a people need as many arrows in our quiver to deal with narcotics as we can get. We need to also understand that when properly used narcotics do have a place in medicine and not always paint its use with an evil brush.

Just as info in passing, for me the warm fuzzies and cognitive loss was only an issue when I first started. There is a sweet spot where you get some pain relief but don't get wasted. This is not the case with numerous other side effects like itching, sweating, constipation and others.