Is taking Suboxone long-term a viable plan to treat depression?
In my opinion, no.
This is why.
Mainly- When you take a drug
, on the regular, that stimulates the pre-mature release of neurotransmitters into your brain (such as dopamine in this case) you're causing the brain to 'expect' that stimulation every day (or whatever time interval you use). Thus, actually
decreasing amount of dopamine you have overall since your brain will be trained to constantly 'wait' for that next stimulation. Your brain actually gets lazy. So, instead of having a nice regular flow of dopamine throughout your day, you have these wacky spikes of dopamine being released, making you have an even more unstable mood.
Unless you're taking Suboxone after Suboxone. Like, literally timing their half-life and then taking the next one when its' half life is over like a perfectionist. You're taking a drug from a completely different class, and trying to apply it to psychiatry, which I'm not saying is a bad thing, just saying why it isn't a long term solution.
Suboxone is way different than ketamine because ketamine infusions are not everyday, and ketamine does not nearly produce the same amount of dopamine suboxone does.
Another point of interest. When you're depressed you are often lonely too right? Well, a lot of heroin (also opiate/opioid) users (including myself at one point) are lonely and depressed. An interesting study was done on mice. Basically, they could choose to do heroin, or press a lever to 'see a friend' and socialize. Surprisingly,
90% of the time they chose to press the lever and socially interact. (
https://www.drugabuse.gov/news-even...cial-interaction-to-heroin-or-methamphetamine). So, one of the best ways we can fight addiction (and depression) is trying to socialize, although it may be hard (I know). So many times I've felt depressed, but when I have forced myself to call a friend, or a friend has forced me to go out (not literally lol), I feel SO much better!
I say this because
not all treatments to depression are medications. I say this from experience. I'm on five different medications for my five different mental illnesses, and it's still not enough. I'm finally doing non-drug things such as: attending therapy, support groups, and enjoying hobbies again (which is a sign of non-depression... yay!). A lot of people also exercise and release natural endorphins, I used to horseback ride and man, there was not a better feeling in the world than to jump over a fence or to gallop in a pasture. There really is a "runners high". Just to keep in mind. When medication
and some sort of therapy is used, success rates of curing depression are way higher.
Also, the usual treatment to depression, SSRI's prevent the reuptake of serotonin in the brain (basically more serotonin is available to be used in the brain). SSRI's don't work for everybody, and I'm sure they were part of the six you tried, what six medications did you try? Have you been diagnosed with any other mental health disorders? Because with Bipolar, SSRI's make you go hypomanic and to treat depression they usually start you on lamictal (which is usually used to prevent seizures).
Overall, I do not believe using
any opioid long-term is good. Sure, have fun here and there if you can handle resisting the temptation of opioids (which is far and few between). But with daily use-
Yes, your tolerance will build to a huge amount.
Yes, you will get dope sick if you don't use the second you wake up- after you develop a dependency. Which, are not fun side effects at all. Please don't use an opioid to cure your depression long term.
I am all for ketamine infusions, shrooms, acid, molly, etc. when it comes to mental health (on a therapeutic scale); but opiates/opioids? No. Save those for their intended purposes, or if you please, recreationally.
