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Bupe SUBOXONE TABLETS a Thing of the Past

D

dawnalla

Greenlighter
Joined
Jul 27, 2010
Messages
28
Location
Northeast Ohio
I have been taking Subuxone tablets for 2 years. I went to get my RX from the doctor today and they said that Suboxone Tablets were no longer available and that everyone had no choice but to switch to the film. When I went to get the prescription filled it was rejected by my insurance because I only had pre-authorization for the tablets, not the film. What a nightmare this turned out to be. My question is: Are people taking the tablets aware that they can't get them anymore. According to reports they have stopped making them and when the pharamacy runs out they will get no more! Also has anyone taken the tablets for a long period of time and switched to the film. What was your experience? Thanks much.
 
have you seen any kind of article relevant to this which supports what you've been told - these so called reports? if so it'd be handy to post it in here.

otherwise it just sounds as if your dr is no longer going to prescribe the tablet form.
 
I have no idea about the availability question, but I did switch from being on the tabs. I had been on the tablets for a few years and was offered the chance to switch to films by my doctor. I felt no discernible physical or mental change. Much the same deal. Only difference I noticed is in ease of use. The films dissolve quicker than the tabs and don't taste near as bad.
 
From suboxone.com

suboxone.com said:
Dear Patient,

If you are currently on SUBOXONE® (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablet (CIII) treatment, it's important for you to know that within the next six months, or possibly sooner, the tablet form will be discontinued. However, you will be able to receive a prescription for the product with the same active ingredient in a different form: SUBOXONE® (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Film (CIII).

The decision to take SUBOXONE Tablets off the market was a voluntary choice made by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. as a result of recent information the company received showing higher rates of accidental pediatric exposure (when a child accidentally takes the medicine) linked with the tablet form.

If you are currently taking SUBOXONE Tablets, continue taking your medication and ask your doctor about how to transition to SUBOXONE Film. Only your doctor knows you and your unique situation and is in the best position to help you. It's important to remember that SUBOXONE Tablets and SUBOXONE Film both contain the same active ingredient and are clinically interchangeable. The transition from SUBOXONE Tablets to SUBOXONE Film does not require that you go through induction again, but there are some differences in how you will need to take SUBOXONE Film. Your doctor will teach you how.

Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc. understands the concerns you may have about how this transition will impact you. We are committed to supporting you throughout your treatment experience, and we encourage you to click here to see questions and answers that can help you learn more. You can also call 866-973-4373 (HERE) or visit this site to get updated information.

Remember to talk to your doctor about transitioning to SUBOXONE Film.

Please see full Product Information and Medication Guide for SUBOXONE Film.

For more about SUBOXONE Tablet, please see full Product Information and Medication Guide.

Sincerely,
Tim Baxtor, MD

Tim Baxter, MD
Global Medical Director
Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc.

Please see Important Safety Information below.

Indication:

SUBOXONE® (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Film (CIII) is a prescription medicine used for maintenance treatment of opioid dependence as part of a complete treatment plan to include counseling and behavioral therapy.
Important Safety Information:

Do not take SUBOXONE® (buprenorphine and naloxone) Sublingual Film if you are allergic to buprenorphine or naloxone as serious negative effects, including anaphylactic shock, have been reported.

SUBOXONE Sublingual Film can be abused in a manner similar to other opioids, legal or illicit.

SUBOXONE Sublingual Film contains buprenorphine, an opioid that can cause physical dependence with chronic use. Physical dependence is not the same as addiction. Your doctor can tell you more about the difference between physical dependence and drug addiction. Do not stop taking SUBOXONE Sublingual Film suddenly without talking to your doctor. You could become sick with uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms because your body has become used to this medicine.

SUBOXONE Sublingual Film can cause serious life-threatening breathing problems, overdose and death, particularly when taken by the intravenous (IV) route in combination with benzodiazepines or other medications that act on the nervous system (ie, sedatives, tranquilizers, or alcohol). It is extremely dangerous to take nonprescribed benzodiazepines or other medications that act on the nervous system while taking SUBOXONE Sublingual Film.

You should not drink alcohol while taking SUBOXONE, as this can lead to loss of consciousness or even death.

Death has been reported in those who are not opioid dependent.

Your doctor may monitor liver function before and during treatment.

Keep SUBOXONE Sublingual Film out of the sight and reach of children. Accidental or deliberate ingestion of SUBOXONE Sublingual Film by a child can cause severe breathing problems and death.

Do not take SUBOXONE Sublingual Film before the effects of other opioids (eg, heroin, hydrocodone, methadone, morphine, oxycodone) have subsided as you may experience withdrawal symptoms.

Injecting SUBOXONE may cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleep problem, and cravings.

Before taking SUBOXONE, tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant. If you become pregnant while taking SUBOXONE, alert your doctor immediately as there may be significant risks to you and your baby; your baby may have symptoms of withdrawal at birth. If you are pregnant or become pregnant while taking SUBOXONE, you should report it using the contact information provided below.*

Before taking SUBOXONE, talk to your doctor if you are breast-feeding or plan to breast-feed. SUBOXONE can pass into your milk and may harm the baby. Talk to your doctor about the best way to feed your baby if you take SUBOXONE. Breast-feeding is not recommended while taking SUBOXONE.

Do not drive, operate heavy machinery, or perform any other dangerous activities until you know how SUBOXONE affects you. Buprenorphine in SUBOXONE can cause drowsiness and slow reaction times during dose adjustment periods.

Common side effects of SUBOXONE Sublingual Film include nausea, vomiting, drug withdrawal syndrome, headache, sweating, numb mouth, constipation, painful tongue, redness of the mouth, intoxication (feeling lightheaded or drunk), disturbance in attention, irregular heartbeat, decrease in sleep, blurred vision, back pain, fainting, dizziness, and sleepiness.

This is not a complete list of potential adverse events associated with SUBOXONE Sublingual Film. Please see full Product Information for a complete list.

*To report negative side effects associated with taking SUBOXONE Sublingual Film, please call 1-877-782-6966. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.
Click to expand...
 
I am so sorry I did not include this earlier. Here is 2 links to support info.

http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/09/25/us-reckitt-benckiser-idUSBRE88O0GQ20120925

http://www.thepharmaletter.com/file...iscontinue-suboxone-tablet-supply-in-usa.html

Thank you for pointing this out!!
Also, some doctors might not know yet. My doctor just got a FAX FROM RECKITT BENCKISER Yesterday. It said to stop prescribing the tablets immediately, and that the pharamacies will not be getting anymore of the tablets just the film.
 
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This seems crazy to me, they could just alter the packaging if that was the real reason. I think the real reason is because Suboxone tablets were facing impending generic competition following the recent loss of patent protection. The film, meanwhile, continues to enjoy patent protection and Reckitt has petitioned the FDA to prevent other drug manufacturers from selling generic tablet versions of Suboxone. I also believe this is the reason Suboxone is more widely prescribed than Subutex - Subutex comes in a generic version, so Reckitt has spread the false idea that naloxone in Suboxone prevents abuse in order to decrease the sales of generic Subutex.

This also sucks because several studies have said the sublingual film might be more dangerous than the tablets, since it may be more prone to degradation (buprenorphine and naloxone degrade into into toxic byproducts).
 
Let it stand for the record, that although the buprenorphine/naloxone brand name Suboxone may no longer be available in tablet form anymore, the old school generic buprenorphine (with no naloxone) is still readily available for prescription anywhere, for those of you who wish to remain on tablet form for whatever reason, just ask your doctor to write the prescription for the generic buprenorphine which has been available since the 80's if I remember correctly.
 
nice one on the links guys:)

i wonder how long until this hits australia. as is we haven't even seen the strips, yet were first to really get on the bandwagon for the transdermal patches (norspan) for pain management when they arrived in 07.
 
That sounds like a bunch of BS about it being over child safety. seems to me the film would be even easier to take by children and even worse they might take a handful of them now
 
tentram said:
have you seen any kind of article relevant to this which supports what you've been told - these so called reports? if so it'd be handy to post it in here.

otherwise it just sounds as if your dr is no longer going to prescribe the tablet form.
Click to expand...

No this is true, my sub doctor asked me which i preferred back in February, but told me that either way, I would have no choice come later in the year, because they were gonna stop making the tablets....

doesn't really matter, though, does it?
 
I think it's bullshit honestly. Both the films and the tablets look like fucking candy, and I feel the real reason they're doing this is to try and convince everyone of the films being a superior product so that they can hold on to their BMT monopoly they got going. Watch, in a few years they'll come out with a buprenorphine/Naloxone 'Suboxone Nasal Spray-4/1mcg per pump and 2mg/.5mg per pump dosaging-now with improved absorption and more discreet dosing ability, with the advantage of a child-proof nozzle"...Shit, I can even see the day where they come out with Suboxone Intramuscular Injectable Ampules-just don't shoot it into your veins!!
 
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