About to start suboxone, but afraid...

D

Dreamingoutloud

New member
Hi--

I'm about to begin suboxone. I had been able to taper off of the drug that i'm using/abusing, percocet before...but this time it's been extra hard, so I decided to try suboxone.

I was referred by my neurologist to a doctor that she was very fond of. Apparently she hasn't spoken with him in a while, because I didn't find him that great. He treated me badly, which I could deal with...but the worst thing was that he didn't really explain the suboxone process at all! He didn't tell me how to take it, just wrote the rx for sixty 8mg tablets (for two times a day) and that was it! He did get right in my face, I mean very close to my face and tell me that if I mixed it with percocet or any opioid I could die and that he wouldn't be held responsible! He at least told me that I had to be off of the percocet for 24 hours before starting the suboxone.

I thought that most doctors gave the first couple of doses in the office? I'm a bit nervous about taking the first dose by myself...but here's the thing. When I filled the rx the pharmacy label just said that I should take one tablet twice a day. It didn't say anything about putting it under my tongue. I went back in and asked my pharmacist about it, and he said that this was a newer form of suboxone and that it could be swallowed! He said that it was stronger than the under the tongue version. I told him that I was feeling nervous about taking it and he said that I shouldn't be...and that it was spectacular! When I got back home I noticed that the factory label on the tablets states that it's sublingual! That means under the tongue, right? So...i'm very confused and scared...does anyone out there know of this new sort of suboxone? I'm planning to take my last percocet tonight and then take the suboxone tomorrow night...but I want to make sure that i'm taking it the right way. My pharmacy's closed today...and i'm not sure if the doctor's in...I'll try and reach him...

Thanks in advance for anyone's help...

Dream...
 
Soboxne goes under the toungue. That is what sublingual means. The medicine is absorbed in the big bood vessels under your tongue. It the pill is orange, has a line on one side and the characters "8N" on the other, it is the sublingual version. I have never heard of suboxne that can be taken orally. Subutex has the same active ingredient, buprenorphine (spelling), and it normally goes under the tongue as well. There are injectable versions of subutex.

Suboxone is one part naloxone for every 4 parts subutex--hence the name suboxone. Naloxone is a full agaonist and subutex is a partial aganist. If you swallow a suboxone tablet, you will absorb the one part naloxone, and little, if any, buprenorphine. To get the full effect of the drug, you must let it dissolve slowly under your tongue. It should take about 10 minutes or more per dose. Don't hurry it up--just let it sit there and slowly dissolve. You don't need to hold your breath or worry about swallowing. Breathe slowly, relax, swallow excess saliva, and try to forget the pill is your mouth. I like to listen to some soothing music while I am waiting for the pill to dissolve. Once its gone, then run of to that 12 hour project that just cant wait to get finished, ha-ha

If your nervous about the dosage, that a half of a pill and see how it goes. 16 mg is a lot of medicine--most people don't need that much. It you have chronic pain, suboxne works well for people who are active and have chronic pain. It kills pain (it is an opiate!) Duh! What makes it good for busy people is there are very few side effects, like nausea, fatigue, tirednesssssss...yawn, and itch.

Good luck in your recovery,

mk
 
I am in recovery right now for 1 year. I went to rehab and was placed on this medicine when I was there. It was awesome, it took all the cravings and withdrawl symptoms away. I think at this time, they only have one type, and that is the sublingual, which means under the tongue. Let it completely dissolve by itself, don't chew or swallow even tiny pieces that are left, it works better that way. Good luck! SounRAB like you got stuck with some idiot docs and pharmacist. Sorry you had to deal with that.
 
Hello Dream,


There is only one type of Suboxone - the one you put under your tongue. You should call the pharmacist who told you that you can swallow it whole (not sublingual) cause he/she probably wanted to get rid of you quickly. It's unfortunate, however it happens all the time.

I started Suboxone almost two months ago and I've never felt better. It helped me in so many ways. Now...I have a great doctor who is thorough, listens when I speak and who pays attention to my progress. SounRAB like you got a really crappy dpc. First of all and MOST importantly, ANY doctor giving a patient a new drug, should explain exactly what it is, how it works, how to take it and if it's a drug that should be monitored (and Suboxone definitely should be) they usually make follow-up appts. to see how you're coping. Suboxone is ALWAYS taken in front of your doctor the first time. Some people react badly to it (according to how much opiate is in their system) so the patient is usually given half the dose, then comes back in an hour or two for the other half.

Now, what strikes me is the fact that you took the Sub home. That is beyond me!!! For the first two months (at least), you are supposed to take the Sub in front of the pharmacist (did you read that on the pamphlet as well?), wait until it desolves, then you can leave. I'm appalled at how you were treated, not only by your pharmacist but by your doctor as well. Looks like you have to fnd a new doctor AND pharmacist. On the same note, if you showed concerns about taking a specific drug, it is the pharmacists responsibility to explain whatever you need explaining, until YOU are satisfied.

Something you can learn from this experience - Recommedations don't always pan out, do they? I too, had to learn the hard way. I was having dental issues, had to have a tooth pulled so my dentist called the surgeon he had always dealt with. Well, just my luck, he was away for a couple months, giving free services in a third world country. His colleague (who he shares a practise with) could fit me in that same day (this should have been my first clue) so I went to see him. He took a look at my tooth, said it neeRAB to come out and told me to go up front again and pay the secretary $250. I live in Toronto, have dental insurance and was astounded at his policy (keep in mind, the other doctor who was recommeded didn't have this policy). I asked the secretary why I had to pay when my insurance covers all of it anyway. She, very rudely, said "How do I know you aren't lying?" Oh My Gosh! To make a long story a little shorter lol, when I left his office, I was no longer in pain (tooth extraction) however, I also left with a fractured jaw. I didn't find out until the next day when I saw my dentist again. I told him my jaw was killing me so he took an x-ray to see what was going on and he flipped out. He apologized for sending me to this "butcher" and left the room (to call him, I found out later). They had an altercation over the phone, then my dentist told me he was going to call around all over Toronto until he found a good doctor for my next surgery (extraction of all remaining teeth). The surgery (about two weeks later) went very well.

My advice to you is "trust yourself." Do you trust this doctor/pharmacist? How do YOU feel about it?

Good luck with your Suboxone therapy. I look forward to reading how everything goes.

Sincerely,
emsmom
 
Hi guys--

Sorry to not respond to you at an earlier date. My pc's been on the fritz for what seems like forever...but it was really just a couple of weeks..lol.

Thanks so much for your recommendations and answers to my questions!

Here's what's been going on...

I took my last percocet on April 18 started suboxone on the 19th. I broke an 8mg tablet in half (well it didn't break evenly so I took that smaller part, about a third of a pill), and waited. I certainly felt better after an hour or two...but it was too intense, and felt much stronger than the percocets I had given up.

The next day I took only a quarter of a tablet, and did that twice a day for four more days. I was on suboxone for a total of five days when I decided to stop, because I didn't want to become addicted to that, since I heard that coming off of it is a LOT tougher than coming off of percocet...some people it seems can never come off...

I was ok for a couple of days, but have been suffering with some anxiety, having trouble sleeping, and lack of appetite. Could I posibly have become physically addicted to the suboxone after just taking that small of a dose for only five days?? I've been off of the percocet for 11 days now...

I had an appointment with the stupid doc that prescribed the suboxone to me today. He didn't even come in to see how I was! I saw another doctor there instead, who was very nice, and congratulated me on being so strong. When I told him about the symptoms that I've been dealing with, and asked him if this could be withdrawal from the suboxone he told me that it wasn't...and that I was still dealing with coming off of the percocets. He congratulated me on making it through the acute withdrawal period, but told me that I wouldn't feel 100% back to myself for several months after I posed that question to him.

Do you guys think that he was right? I haven't had to miss any work during this whole withdrawal period, but being there the last two days wasn't much fun either. I felt very emotional and had to talk myself through it. I had a quarter tablet of suboxone with me, but didn't take it. After a few hours the anxiety passed and I was ok. I guess I just have to just get through this day by day, huh?

Last year I tapered myself off of percocets and didn't feel any anxiety when it was over. I started using them again due to falling down a flight of stairs and hurting me back. I guess the desire to be off of this horrible stuff, both the percocet and the suboxone will have to help me through this...

Emsmom...Thanks for sharing the tale of what happened at the dentists. It's so horrible that your jaw was broken by that quack!! I'm so happy to hear that you're doing better now...

Once again, thanks to everyone that responded to my post! You guys rock!!

----Dream
 
i think your doing the right thing, i have been reading about alot of nightmares, with suboxone an that it is like 10 times harder to get off , good job you can do this, if your going to work a+ just keep fighting the good fight because it sounRAB like this suboxone is alot like methadone. personaly i dont understand why they persribe a heroin based med for another . they all come from heroin , an the percs is the weaker one, it just does not make sence to me. they make alot of money off these clinics , an meRAB keep hanging in there it will get better . an dont give in to something stronger an more addictive it just does not make sence:):wave:
 
Good morning Dream,

Congrats as well, on making it through the acute withdrawal period! I am proud of you!

Regarding what the doctor said about the length of time it will take for you to be feeling like yourself again...

I remeraber Reachout telling some people that it could take up to a year to feel normal again. I mentioned this to my addictions doctor and she said that was correct. It can take "up" to a year. You could be feeling normal again after a few months, or it may be around the 12 month mark - everyone is different :)

Just hang in there. You seem like a very strong person. Take it one day at a time. You could be feeling absolutely wonderful today, then tomorrow hits you like a tonne of bricks. Keep posting and talk talk talk about how you are feeling. If you are feeling like using again, talk about it. It always helps :)

Have you considered going to NA meetings?

Hope you are having a great day,
Sincerely,
emsmom
 
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