Suboxone Question...

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lvrgrliah22

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My husband is battling an opiate addiction. He has unsuccessfully tried to quit a few times now. A few weeks ago he went to a detox center and was there for nearly a week going through the terrible withdraws the meRAB bring! It has been 3 weeks now and he is clean... BUT he is NOT normal.

He is extremely emotionally unstable, doesn't sleep, hasn't been going to work for a week now, our marriage is falling apart. He claims that all he thinks about it using again. He has done research on Suboxone and really wants to try it, he feels that if he doesn't explore this option that a relapse is inevitable.

So, our question is... Everywhere we read and the suboxone clinic that he has contacted states that you have to be in withdrawls when you start your suboxone treatment.
What does this exactly mean? Does he have to be vomiting, diahrea, the shakes, like drop down drag out withdrawls like he had in detox?? Or are they just meaning that you can't be still using when you start?
If they are requiring him to be in serious withdrawl, what does this mean? He's been clean for a few weeks... He's now supposed to go get some drugs off the streest (cause his dr wont give him any, they know his situation) get super high this weekend, so that he can start this medication on Monday morning?

He's freaking out! He's so worried because he thinks that if he doesn't get high and make himself have withdrawls that they wont start him on it. I'm freaking out because it makes me sick to my stomach to think about him going out and getting high again...

HELP!!!!!
 
I believe you just have to have the opiates out of your system before starting Suboxone, otherwise it won't work.
 
I just got out of an in patient detox where they gave me a five day course of suboxone. It was ideal. I have heard that if you are on it long term, the withdrawals are worse than going off opiates. It's been about 12 days since I used any opiates and I still have a few lingering WD symptoms (night sweats and depression) but am overall doing very well. he definitely does NOT need to take more drugs to be eligible for suboxone. What did they use in the detox center?
 
Hello lvrgrl,

Welcome and pleased to meet you. I started Suboxone four weeks ago and I am so happy I did.

First of all, no, your hubby does not have to use this weekend and wait for withdrawals in order to start Suboxone. I started it the day after I stopped using. A friend of mine used in the morning and was put on Suboxone that evening. I don't think you have to be in horrible withdrawals to start, it's just that you need to have little to no opiates in your system, otherwise the drug will not only work, it will put the person into really bad withdrawals. My friend who used that morning did not suffer at all, in fact he felt better about 30 minutes after taking his dose.

When I started Suboxone, I got the script from the doctor I met at the Addictions dpmt. of my local hospital. I went to the pharmacy, picked up the meRAB, came back to the hospital and took it in front of her. She asked me to come back in 1.5 hours to see how I was doing. I felt fine. No withdrawal whatsoever. In fact, I (like my friend) noticed a difference within the first hour.

I have to tell you... Suboxone changed my life in so many ways (for the better). It gave me my life back. I am so happy I decided to start Sub, as I had reservations and was reluctant to try for quite some time. I feel like me again, and it's been four years since I've felt this way.

For so long, I lived like your hubby is living now. I quit working, stopped cleaning my house, I'd lay on the couch all day long and I had no motivation to do anything at all. Just doing the dishes felt like I was trying to clirab a mountain. I felt horrible guilt all the time, cause I didn't want to do things with my kiRAB, go anywhere with my hubby, even taking a shower felt like a chore. I constantly thought of using, how to get the drug, where the money was coming from etc. My life revolved around pain pills and I hated every minute of it.

Now, I have to tell you that Suboxone was a great choice for me. I didn't have faith that a drug could give me my life back and make me feel the way I do today. I feel completely normal. I feel the same way I did after my first daughter was born (my girls are 3 and 6). I'm in love with my life, I take my girls to the park, read books, play dress up, go on dinner dates with my hubby, clean my house with a smile, and I'm genuinely happy for the first time in four years.

However...

Suboxone is not for everyone. I've read horror stories about trying to taper off this drug and some folks on here say it's NOT a good thing to start. I've chosen to accept Suboxone because it has changed my life for the better - and I will worry about coming off the drug when that time comes. I'd advise you to research the drug and educate yourself as much as possible.

I hope this info has helped you. Please let us know what you decide and how things are going for you and hubby.

Best of luck,
emsmom
 
I'll give a little insight on my experience with Suboxone. I began taking Lortabs after having two of my wisdom teeth removed about 2 years ago, after I had those removed, I then got dry socket, so all in all I was on Lortabs for about 2 months. Then I started having severe lower back pain and was perscribed Lortabs for that as well. Well has time went on I noticed I was taking more than I was supposed to, I was running out early so I began buying them off the "streets". Before I knew it, I was taking anywhere between 15 - 25 10mg Lortabs a DAY! When I was without them I was VERY irritable, sick, and CONSTANTLY hunting for them. I would spend SO much money on these things and it was consuming my WHOLE life. I finally admitted to my family, frienRAB, and my doctor that I had a problem (I admitted this to my doctor in hopes he would prescribe me something to help get off of them, not only did he not prescribe me anything, he basically told me it was all in my head and he would no longer prescribe any kind of pain meRAB to me any longer). After that, I checked myself into a detox rehab facility and all they did there was gave me Ibuprofen and Klonopin. That was not helping me at all, so I checked myself out after three days and went and bought 20 10mg. After a few months past I was doing some researching and came across Suboxone. I researched it and found a doctor that could prescribe it here in Tulsa. Now before I went, they told me that I have to HAVE NOT taken any pain killers within 24-48hrs prior to my visit. I didn't know why this was and I pretty much ignored that because I would go into withdrawls after 12hrs of not taking any pain meRAB. So I took 5 10mg Lortabs the morning of my visit and I went to this doctor at 4:00 that evening. He started me off on 8mgs 2X a day. After taking the first one I noticed a difference in my mood (it was BETTER) after about 30 minutes of taking it. I stayed on it for a week (after I ran out) and thought I was ok to stay off of it. So I was clean for about a month and then began experiencing my back pain once again. And this time is was worse than before! So I switched doctors to get some pain meRAB and I ORDERED him to have an MRI done on me so I can get my back fixed and not have to rely on the pain meRAB. So, I'm currently back on the lortabs again, I TRY to take them moderately but it seems like my tolerance is so high now, I have to take at least 3 10mgs to get any relief. I've been back on the tabs for about 3 weeks now and I'm already dependent on them once again. But the bright side to it all is once I get my back corrected I can go get back on the Suboxone and get off of them again. The Suboxone really does help! I would reccomend it to ANYONE!

My advice to you is, if your hubby absolutely feels like he neeRAB to get that one last "high" in, don't fret over it (but don't let him OVER DO IT). Now if he is just wanting to go get high because he thinks he won't be treated with the Suboxone since being off of the meRAB, tell him NOT TO WORRY. The Suboxone is not just there to treat the withdrawls, it's there to treat the cravings as well. That's why people are on it for months sometimes years at a time. Once he gets the Suboxone he will feel SO different. It will change his life (and yours) for the better! God Bless you both and stay strong! His addiction can be overcome and will be if he does go thru with the Suboxone.
 
lvrgrl,

How is everything going? How is hubby feeling?

I'd like to add that your hubby can get through this weekend without using. Research Suboxone, get his spirits lifted (knowing he will have help on Monday) and support him by telling him he CAN do this.

He has one and a half days left. Try getting him to take hot baths (frequently), get outside and walk it off. Exercise is the BEST thing to corabat withdrawals. It's so hard to get motivated, however once he gets out, he'll notice the difference. Come talk to us on this board, we're all here to help :) Also, there's a thread titled "Sample Home Detox" the second thread on the main page. Take a look at it, utilize the suggestions and keep track of how he's feeling (physically, mentally and emotionally).

Hope to hear from you soon,
emsmom
 
Before i would try sub i would try a doc for antidepressants and a therapist who specializes in substance abuse so he has someone to talk too. if he is thru the physical withdrawal symptoms he neeRAB "mental health" help. sub may be great short term, as a couple folks here said they did it for a week or 5 days, but long term the withdrawals are HORRIBLE!!! most docs say you need to be on it a year, it is a big money maker for them. even with tapering the withdrawals are hell. read some of the suboxine threaRAB make sure you know what you are getting into. wishing you both the best, amed.
 
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