Bupe IV BUPE User Serious Swollen Feet

[paperchaser]

I IV buperenorphine tablets and films... I've been IVing 2mg bupe tabs put through a .2um whatman micron filter... filtered twice with two seperate filters... I IV about two sometimes three times a day the whole dosage throughout the whole day is between 1.75 and 2mg a day depending on how I feel. I recently tapered down to 1.5mg a day and the last two days have been living hell I have been exhausted and have not been able to get out of bed. I took a shot of bupe a couple of days ago and couldnt sleep I nodded out in my chair and woke up with my legs asleep. For the last two days my feet have been extremely swollen. I have been exhausted, not able to work, not able to eat, and restless. My feet are so swollen when I push down on them they stay indented. Im wearing sandals and when I take off the sandals you can see very clearly by the indents left where the straps are... I don't know what's going on or if it's even related but I am extremely worried... if nothing good happens by monday I'm going to the ER... what the hell is wrong with me? Should I switch to insufflated bupe for the next few days... I hate taking under my damn tongue but I can do that if it will fix my problem... What is wrong with me? Any ideas?

 

[lazylazyjoe]

Both feet swelling like that, especially if they're not injection points, doesn't seem like it's the bupe. The discomfort from the taper you describe sounds quite harsh for the amount described too.
Go see a doctor.

 

[Bubaleedo92]

Go see a doctor, I'm far from an expert, but you may have blood clot issues.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Get in bed.

Feet swelling = edema, namely from being on your feet all day long, isn't connected to buprenorphine usage.

 

[BIGsherm7272]

While edema can be caused by many things and is usually not a serious condition, it may be an underlying symptom of something much more dangerous, such as a blood clot. Are you having any pain or tenderness? Any red areas on your feet or legs?

 

[paperchaser]

My right foot is a little sore... there is red spotting where I should be able to see my ankle I'm a thin male so usually I can see my veins on my feet and I can't even see my ankles when I push down on the skin it stays where I push it down. Relatively no pain or tenderness... just mild soreness on the bottom of my feet. My legs are really muscular so its hard to tell exactly whats goin on there. It's been like ten minutes and I've gotten many replies from respected members of BL thanks for such a fast response.

 

[Tommyboy]

I highly suggest switching to the sublingual ROA if you are tapering off of the bupe. The dose lasts a lot longer that way, so you shouldn't need to dose 3x a day. The sublingual BA is obviously lower, but if you have the resources (enough pills or strips) I highly recommend making the switch. Another reason to switch to the sublingual ROA for tapering is because you should break the IVing habit while kicking your drug habit. If you IV until the very end then you never really break away from your dependence to the needle, which is an addiction in its own right.

As for the leg issue, see the doctor on Monday unless it gets worse before then, in which case you should consider going to the emergency room.

 

[paperchaser]

As of sunday afternoon my feet are almost back to normal... W T F happened and why did this happen?

 

[tricomb]

I really don't know you should be examined by a healthcare professional, you don't need to go to the ER if it's subsided, but I'd still get it checked out. The ER is so expensive too, you should really only use it for emergencies.

 

[Bubaleedo92]

Be sure you tell the doctor that the swollen area could be pressed in (left obvious indentations that did not quickly dissapear). This will let them know the severity of the swelling. My grandma had this health problem when I looked after her. It can be indicative of many serious health issues. Definately address it with a professional. U need blood work at the least.

 

[Tripman]

When this occurs you need to put your feet up. When I was in the psych ward my depakote (sodium valproate) dosage was ramped up drastically and caused oedema in my feet and legs so that I couldn't walk for 2 weeks.

I'm not sure why this happened to you but if it occurs again mention it to a doctor and always rest your feet up in that situation.

 

[Ashley]

Get in bed.

Feet swelling = edema, namely from being on your feet all day long, isn't connected to buprenorphine usage.

I disagree Captain.

Edema, which is fluid retention as I'm sure you all know. Is actually listed as a symptom or side effect rather pertaining to buprenorphine HCl (Subutex/Suboxone). Here is a quote from a well written article I found on a pain management site, after a quick Google, as below:

Is Buprenorphine Effective For Chronic Pain? By Dmitry M. Arbuck, MD

Lower leg edema is not uncommon in patients taking buprenorphine. It seems that switching from the buprenorphine-naloxone combination to buprenorphine monotherapy decreases this side effect; however, in other patients the exact opposite works. The addition of ultra-low doses of naltrexone to buprenorphine formulations (including Suboxone) helps to resolve lower leg edema.

Ashley.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Thanks for sourcing some information; it's interesting ULD naltrexone seems to reduce edema in the lower legs/feet.

 

[Ashley]

Thanks for sourcing some information; it's interesting ULD naltrexone seems to reduce edema in the lower legs/feet.

No worries mate. I also found it interesting that they found the combination of bupe/naloxone more effective for "robust pain control" than bupe on it's own. ULD naloxone is a strange creature.

The reason it interested me is because I woke up this morning with badly swolen feet and extremely sore ankles. It was hard to walk - and I had shot 6mg of Suboxone over the course of yesterday, and 2mg this morning when I woke up. They have since cleared up. So, it must have either been the 120mg oxycodone, 10mg alprazolam, 100mg methamphetamine, 0.25g cannabis, cigarettes, the 80mg diazepam or 150mg oxazepam that caused my swollen feet and sore ankles! :D

Yes, I had a busy day yesterday.

Ashley.

 

[Znegative]

While edema can be caused by many things and is usually not a serious condition, it may be an underlying symptom of something much more dangerous, such as a blood clot. Are you having any pain or tenderness? Any red areas on your feet or legs?

This is what concerned me at first as well, and forgive me for saying so if its already been addressed, I skimmed some of this thread. I really just wanted to suggest you try rectal administration instead of injecting your buprenorphine strips and tablets. I suffer from needle fever as well, but if we're to be honest with ourselves, IV buprenorphine is not worth poking your veins with a needle multiple times a day (I suppose you can make that argument with all drugs, but really, IV Bupe offers nothing but a quicker onset-not to be confused with a real rush). When you plug suboxone it hits you just as quickly (IV Bupe takes about a minute to really kick in as well), and it lasts a lot longer. You'll have to increase your dosage a bit, but you also won't need to dose as often so it evens out.. Just my two cents.