Misconceptions and Misinformation about Suboxone

I love this site. The whole idea behind it and the sense of kinship it lends to people who would other wise feel alone is a good thing.
First off I am not a physician or an expert on pharmaceuticals. I do know a little bit about opiates, and that knowledge is based on use and research. And the use of one has led to the use and research of this maintenance drug called Suboxone. I have been taking it for almost two months daily. I'd like to clear the air about a few things people seem to either confuse and/or have been misinformed on regarding the two main ingredients in suboxone.

The main and functioning drug is buprenorphine. The reason I say "functioning drug" is because the second drug that makes the drug suboxone is called Naloxone. Naloxone was added to prevent the drug from being injected. When Saboxone is taken sublingually the Naloxone does nothing, that is to say, it does not do what it was put there to do. If Suboxone is injected intravenously the Naloxone causes severe withdrawal symptoms. The Naloxone is referred to as a full opiate antagonist. Being an antagonist it fights off the molecular interaction between opiates and the receptors in the brain. It is quite interesting how it does it's job when taken one way and it does nothing when taken another. It has to do with the size of the Naloxone molecule. It is too large to pass through the lining in the mouth or nasal cavity so it is forced through the gastrointestinal tract which neutralizes it's effects due to it's first pass characteristics. When taken properly the naloxone has no function.

The main ingredient buprenorphine is itself a very potent opiate. It is classified as a partial agonist. I think that it is classified this way because it is able to remove all other opiate molecules from the receptors instead of joining them. It has a much longer half life than most full agonists and remains active for 24-36 hours. Like it's paired ingredient naloxone, it is rendered neutral or ineffective if swallowed due to its first pass nature. Contrary to what people say, it is a very effective pain reliever, even in small doses. This is truer when buprenorphine is administered intravenously.

Suboxone will not provide the same euphoria that a full agonist provides but it certainly produces a pleasant "buzz" about 45min-1 hour after the dose is dissolved in the mouth. This feeling generally lasts at a noticeable intensity for several hours (even after taking the same dose for two months). This may not be true for everyone.

I will check back later for any opinions or questions about this. I have lots more to say but am probably pushing it a bit. One look at the length of this it probably won't be read by to many.

I hope everyone is well, playing safe and smart. All I can suggest is that you use in a way that gets you the most for the least. Least meaning the negative impact that the fun may cause physically,emotionally and financially. You have to survive it to have enjoyed it..and on and on..!;)
 
Welcome to BL, and to Blogs Cheshire!

I'm pretty ignorant about opioids, so I actually didn't know that suboxone had naloxone as a component. Since it was developed as an opiate cessation tool though, I'm not all that surprised. It's pretty convenient that the naloxone isn't active sublingually.

You seem like you've done a bit of homework on this; I'm sure you'll fit in just fine on BL! You've checked out some of the other focus forums, yes? Other Drugs is basically opiate central, and if you're keen on the more technical pharmacological discussion then Advanced Drug Discussion is an awesome read. I haven't kept up with my pharmacology enough over the years to really contribute there anymore, but it is a good read for interested laypeople.
 
Naloxone is a full opiod antagonist, but that does not mean it prevents interactions between opiod molecules and receptors. It is a opiod molecule itself. If it were to work as intended it would bind to the opiate receptors itself, and as long as it has a higer affintity it would block opiates with lower affinity's from binding untill it wore off. Bupe has a higher affinity for naloxone, and naloxone has a small half life to begin with. It won't cause withdrawals because it won't be able to bind. The bupe itself can cause withdrawals, in theroy any weaker opiate with a stronger affinity can cause withdrawals, it has to do with how many receptors are filled.

The reason bupe is a partial agonist is because at some sites it acts as an agonist, and at others it acts as an antagonist. It "removes" other opiods because it has a high affinity, and can take up a large amount of receptors. If you filled half your receptors with bupe, you could still fill the half with heroin, or whatever.

Here's a link to the bupe megathread where all this discussion takes place:
http://www.bluelight.ru/vb/showthread.php?t=499087

This is what I was trying to say about the naloxone and the bupe. And that link at the bottom is all I could ever hope to say to let people know about the drug suboxone. I am what they refer to as a "greenlighter" very fitting. I have never blogged before nor do I entirely understand it's actual purpose other than a public access journal. It is on whims that I find myself participating in anything internet. I have visited this site multiple times over the past year or so used it like it was wikipedia for the road trip with Hunter S Thompson. But now it has a different use for me. A more clinical and necessary use.
 
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