Bupe Suboxone/Buprenorphine FAQ & Megathread v2; 2010

[StoneLove]

Boomboxer : not sure if you're still able to or if it would help but i used to buy tramadol OTC when i lived in Spain a few years a go.

*This might be a bad idea so hopefully someone else can chime in.

 

[JUNKSTER]

suboxone changed my life ....i was on it for 3 months & didnt have no urge to do any other pills i am addicted to opiates & suboxone made me feel 15 years younger & healthy again..i bought them off the street but my guy got kicked off them ...he got 90 2mg a month & even half of one worked for me but a whole one lasted all day & nite about 36 hours.

 

[jamesBrown]

suboxone changed my life ....i was on it for 3 months & didnt have no urge to do any other pills i am addicted to opiates & suboxone made me feel 15 years younger & healthy again..i bought them off the street but my guy got kicked off them ...he got 90 2mg a month & even half of one worked for me but a whole one lasted all day & nite about 36 hours.

Changed my life too....id be dead or in jail if it werent for suboxone.

And I can get by(with some euphoria too!!) at doses of .5 mg's or less even.

STAY AT LOW DOSES PEOPLE....IT WORKS BETTER

I was IV'ing $200 of heroin a day and I was able to switch to 2mg of suboxone instantly without weaning down from a higher dose...

I dont understand people who need more suboxone. It simply works better at lower doses. Every time I lowered it from 2 mg's it felt better. I would even get euphoria. but at high doses all it would do would make me feel normal and tired and maybe have a headache.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

It simply works better at lower doses. Every time I lowered it from 2 mg's it felt better. I would even get euphoria. but at high doses all it would do would make me feel normal and tired and maybe have a headache.

This tends to be my experience too.

 

[HeavyHanded]

I haven't kept up with every v. of this megathread, but I've read quite a bit of it and I don't remember ever seeing these questions pop up. Here's my situation and questions:

I'm currently paying out of pocket for my subs (very expensive) but I'm getting married and going on my fiance's insurance in a couple weeks. Three questions I guess.

1. I know it depends on the plan, but does anyone know if they will cover my subs or exclude coverage of it since it's pre-existing? (Her plan definitely covers substance abuse/dependency issues but will they in my case?)

2. If I tell BCBS that I'm currently on suboxone, but get off the drug in the future, will I have a problem obtaining narcotic painkillers for legitimate issues, like a broken bone.

3. Will all Drs I go to from now on know that I've been on subs?

Any insight anyone could give me on this would be very greatly appreciated.

 

[HdoubleODeezy]

This tends to be my experience too.

mine also.

 

[tablehead]

Heavy handed:

1- No telling its covered on some plans, but alot its not

2- I wouldnt tell anyone other than your doc/insurance if you wanna avoid having issueas later

3- No not all docs will know. None will know unless you transfer your records over or ell them yourself. I never had issues.

I had a question for the thread and prefferably CH.

I starte tapering my dose recently, I went through about 4 days of w/d from Sub and I would take 10 mg of oxy every now and then to help... So not quite w/ding completely. But I found 1 more sub and have been splitting up the 8mg over the past month. I have been on the last 2 mg for over a week, and Im taking about as much powder as half the letter O on most kepoyboards for the past few days, what Im guessing is about .2 mg maybe a little more?

Anyway I know its a low dose and cause of that I have some w/d symptoms; stuffy nose and notably High blood preasure which my doc noticed and warned me about. it was like 160/80 or something. What im womdering is if I ta=ake these last miniscule doses how will the w/d be coming off so little? Before I was w/ding off of 1-2 mg a day and this is a bunch less.

 

[tablehead]

Changed my life too....id be dead or in jail if it werent for suboxone.

And I can get by(with some euphoria too!!) at doses of .5 mg's or less even.

STAY AT LOW DOSES PEOPLE....IT WORKS BETTER

I was IV'ing $200 of heroin a day and I was able to switch to 2mg of suboxone instantly without weaning down from a higher dose...

I dont understand people who need more suboxone. It simply works better at lower doses. Every time I lowered it from 2 mg's it felt better. I would even get euphoria. but at high doses all it would do would make me feel normal and tired and maybe have a headache.

I always wondered why this works this way for most people.

Could it be that at higher doses more of the naloxone is absorbed sublingualy and intranasally than normal, diminishing the high because its actually distrubting the bupes attachment?

 

[HeavyHanded]

Thanks for the input TableHead.

1. Her plan definitely covers it, I'm just worried about the whole preexisting thing.

2/3. I don't want to tell anyone period, that's why I'm in this situation. My question is, if I do tell Blue Cross Blue Shield (my fiances insurance carrier) will I still be able to obtain pain meds for injuries etc once I'm off the bupe, or will Drs not give them to me cuz of my past?

It's unlikely but if there is someone involved with health information management/insurance/the medical field, or has had similar experiences/situations with this in the past, I would LOVE to hear from them. CH, your advice is always more than welcome too. I know that not many people will have definite answers, so I appreciate all responses.

Thanks in advance fellow BLers.

 

[tablehead]

Thanks for the input TableHead.

1. Her plan definitely covers it, I'm just worried about the whole preexisting thing.

2/3. I don't want to tell anyone period, that's why I'm in this situation. My question is, if I do tell Blue Cross Blue Shield (my fiances insurance carrier) will I still be able to obtain pain meds for injuries etc once I'm off the bupe, or will Drs not give them to me cuz of my past?

It's unlikely but if there is someone involved with health information management/insurance/the medical field, or has had similar experiences/situations with this in the past, I would LOVE to hear from them. CH, your advice is always more than welcome too. I know that not many people will have definite answers, so I appreciate all responses.

Thanks in advance fellow BLers.

Let me clarify, if you do get a script under BC insurance they will know about it, cause they pay for the script. So they will know and what ever doc will know. Now if you wanted a narcotic painkiller laiter in life thats is easy/ Go to another doc but you can still use the same insurace. Once the new doc prescribes it the insurance cant and wont flag anything like that, they are just an insurance company and have npo reason to deny medacation to someone thats a docs job. Just switch docs after ure done with sub or when ever u want or need a narcotc, just dont transfer over records. If they ask say no, for personal reasons. They didnt send my suboxone stuff to my GP cause I told them it would be emberassing to me since I had a great relationship with her, which is true and I also wanted her to keep giving me my ambien and klonopin

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I had a question for the thread and prefferably CH.

I starte tapering my dose recently, I went through about 4 days of w/d from Sub and I would take 10 mg of oxy every now and then to help... So not quite w/ding completely. But I found 1 more sub and have been splitting up the 8mg over the past month. I have been on the last 2 mg for over a week, and Im taking about as much powder as half the letter O on most kepoyboards for the past few days, what Im guessing is about .2 mg maybe a little more?

Anyway I know its a low dose and cause of that I have some w/d symptoms; stuffy nose and notably High blood preasure which my doc noticed and warned me about. it was like 160/80 or something. What im womdering is if I ta=ake these last miniscule doses how will the w/d be coming off so little? Before I was w/ding off of 1-2 mg a day and this is a bunch less.

The WD's are a lot easier to endure I have noticed. I barely get any WD symptoms now a days, when I was at a larger dose it was more than apparent that I was in WD.

Then again it varies from person to person. I also have high blood pressure too; when jumping off you may want another agent to reduce your blood pressure (that isn't an addictive drug, preferably). This will help reduce some symptoms.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Thanks for the input TableHead.

1. Her plan definitely covers it, I'm just worried about the whole preexisting thing.

2/3. I don't want to tell anyone period, that's why I'm in this situation. My question is, if I do tell Blue Cross Blue Shield (my fiances insurance carrier) will I still be able to obtain pain meds for injuries etc once I'm off the bupe, or will Drs not give them to me cuz of my past?

It's unlikely but if there is someone involved with health information management/insurance/the medical field, or has had similar experiences/situations with this in the past, I would LOVE to hear from them. CH, your advice is always more than welcome too. I know that not many people will have definite answers, so I appreciate all responses.

Thanks in advance fellow BLers.

I'm not exactly sure how getting pain medication after Suboxone works for most people. I have heard some people have no problems with this, while others may find issues getting real pain medication.

I think the problem is more with doctor's attitudes if anything.

Some US states have a "database" so doctors can find out what medications you have been RX'd recently. This violates people's privacy, and also leaves the information vulnerable to hackers (our state's database has been hacked at least once....) - which is why I disagree with this whole system.

However if I were to go to a doctor in my state, they would be able to find out if I was on Suboxone or not. Whether or not the doctor is actually going to check is a different story...but they still have the potential to do so.

If you are a pain patient, you can always say that you went on Suboxone to help reduce tolerance/help quantify your pain symptoms/severity. That's probably your best bet.

 

[HeavyHanded]

Thank you both so much CH and TH. Your words make sense, and was basically what I was thinking myself. Tomorrow I will call my bupe Dr., whom I have a really good relationship with (never missed an appt, never failed a test, he knows I'm a teacher, etc.) and get his input on it.

On that note, early in this thread I was reading comments from Mike Indy 317 and about how horrible his Dr. was, and I just wanted to put this out there for everyone: I know it is tough to switch docs once you're in a program, some areas are more difficult than others, some seem near impossible. BUT, I strongly encourage you to look for a new and GOOD Dr. if you are unhappy with yours. I'm on my fourth Dr and it took me over a year to find this one but he is GREAT, and he's in the same clinic/program as the other 3, so sometimes it's as easy as looking within your own program. He genuinely cares about me, hasn't given me a hard time about the occasional MJ/benzos/and even once barbs (yeesh) showing up in my urine. He shows genuine concern and tells me to keep it in check or we'll have problems. He shoots the shit with me, and every month asks me about whatever was going on in my life a month ago when I last saw him. I'm lucky, I know, but these Drs ARE out there.

/Sub doc love fest

All that being said, I'd still love to know if anyone's ever been in a similar situation as me (with the insurance and subs), I've been scouring any resources available and haven't found anything. I live in Il if that helps with insurance law and such. Thanks everyone.

 

[tablehead]

The WD's are a lot easier to endure I have noticed. I barely get any WD symptoms now a days, when I was at a larger dose it was more than apparent that I was in WD.

Then again it varies from person to person. I also have high blood pressure too; when jumping off you may want another agent to reduce your blood pressure (that isn't an addictive drug, preferably). This will help reduce some symptoms.

I cant get clonadine, but my mum has hydrochlorothiazide or sumthin like that prescribed for high blood pressure. Can I palm a few of those since she doesnt take it all the time/ would they work?

 

[defective_lise]

I feel like an asshole right now so please don't make fun of me. Also I'm sorry if my writing is disorganized, I have problems with that and I'm not trying to be a snob, or if this should be in dark side or something, I just got here and then this happened, ha.
So I'm tapering off klonopin which I've been addicted to for 3 years and I've been really strict about the tapering but it sucks. None of the really bad symptoms of w/d because I've been strict with the taper, but you know, I am still craving it and my anxiety is higher, and my sleep is much less so I have been very tired and irritable. I started doing heroin and I did it a few times in small doses recreationally but also because I'd been advised of a benzo-opiate switch idk. It helped a lot. I didn't get addicted and only did it a few times but I did crave it later on, especially because of the sleeping problems of getting off klonopin so someone gave me suboxone. I last did heroin maybe a week and a half ago and I had sort of a breakdown anxiety-wise and did 2mg suboxone last night. It gave me an AMAZING nights sleep but I woke up feeling like SHIT. I smoked weed and took pepcid so I was able to eat and I haven't thrown up or anything. By feeling like shit I mean very very anxious and in pain (I have chronic pain issues that are flaring up lately but it seemed like once the sleep effect of subox wore of they were x10 worse). The weed made me feel better at the time. I also snorted a fuckign TINY bit of sub because I thought it would make me feel more "normal" coming down. Then I messaged my friend (the one who gave it to me and knew I had it the entire time) and apparently they changed their mind and said oh, I was way too small to take that dosage (I'm 95 lbs) and I shouldn't take it unless I'm addicted, and taking more will make me sicker, blah blah blah, well thanks. Now my pupils are all pinpricked and I'm having constant anxiety attacks. I called my boyfriend saying I was sick and he just w/e'd me and made fun of how silly my voice sounded and turned his phone off when I was like "okay hanging up now" um he's the one who did the H with me, when I msged him like 'wtf was that for" he just blamed me for "ODing on opiates two nights in a row" and turned off his phone. Great now I feel x100000 shittier. I feel like a total idiot who got duped by these people and now they think it's hilarious for some reason. Seriously am I still feeling it or am I just anxious, is the weed making this better or worse, etc?? I don't know what to do or what to take and what not to take right now. I'm thinking maybe some dramamine might help me sleep but idk....feel free to IM me or help at all obviously I'm not sleeping tonight I'm so anxious and afraid to take anything for it, at all. Btw I don't get anxious or paranoid from weed, I have that normally.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

He genuinely cares about me, hasn't given me a hard time about the occasional MJ/benzos/and even once barbs (yeesh) showing up in my urine. He shows genuine concern and tells me to keep it in check or we'll have problems. He shoots the shit with me, and every month asks me about whatever was going on in my life a month ago when I last saw him. I'm lucky, I know, but these Drs ARE out there.

/Sub doc love fest

That's nice your doctor is understanding about weed/benzos/barbs, however I don't do urine analysis with my Suboxone doctor, I wouldn't have ever gotten on Suboxone if I had to do UA's.

Plus, I have done way too many hard drugs while on Suboxone (cocaine, heroin, meth, benzos, weed) I imagine if I had to do UA's while on Suboxone, my doctor would never let up, lmao.

For a long time though I haven't used heroin, cocaine, or benzos. I haven't used meth in a long time either, though I would use it again in the future if I could.

I cant get clonadine, but my mum has hydrochlorothiazide or sumthin like that prescribed for high blood pressure. Can I palm a few of those since she doesnt take it all the time/ would they work?

I would just use some OTC doxylamine succinate.

I would also invest in some l-arginine.

Finally, if you have it (

) use as needed.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

I feel like an asshole right now so please don't make fun of me. Also I'm sorry if my writing is disorganized, I have problems with that and I'm not trying to be a snob, or if this should be in dark side or something, I just got here and then this happened, ha.
So I'm tapering off klonopin which I've been addicted to for 3 years and I've been really strict about the tapering but it sucks. None of the really bad symptoms of w/d because I've been strict with the taper, but you know, I am still craving it and my anxiety is higher, and my sleep is much less so I have been very tired and irritable. I started doing heroin and I did it a few times in small doses recreationally but also because I'd been advised of a benzo-opiate switch idk. It helped a lot. I didn't get addicted and only did it a few times but I did crave it later on, especially because of the sleeping problems of getting off klonopin so someone gave me suboxone. I last did heroin maybe a week and a half ago and I had sort of a breakdown anxiety-wise and did 2mg suboxone last night. It gave me an AMAZING nights sleep but I woke up feeling like SHIT. I smoked weed and took pepcid so I was able to eat and I haven't thrown up or anything. By feeling like shit I mean very very anxious and in pain (I have chronic pain issues that are flaring up lately but it seemed like once the sleep effect of subox wore of they were x10 worse). The weed made me feel better at the time. I also snorted a fuckign TINY bit of sub because I thought it would make me feel more "normal" coming down. Then I messaged my friend (the one who gave it to me and knew I had it the entire time) and apparently they changed their mind and said oh, I was way too small to take that dosage (I'm 95 lbs) and I shouldn't take it unless I'm addicted, and taking more will make me sicker, blah blah blah, well thanks. Now my pupils are all pinpricked and I'm having constant anxiety attacks. I called my boyfriend saying I was sick and he just w/e'd me and made fun of how silly my voice sounded and turned his phone off when I was like "okay hanging up now" um he's the one who did the H with me, when I msged him like 'wtf was that for" he just blamed me for "ODing on opiates two nights in a row" and turned off his phone. Great now I feel x100000 shittier. I feel like a total idiot who got duped by these people and now they think it's hilarious for some reason. Seriously am I still feeling it or am I just anxious, is the weed making this better or worse, etc?? I don't know what to do or what to take and what not to take right now. I'm thinking maybe some dramamine might help me sleep but idk....feel free to IM me or help at all obviously I'm not sleeping tonight I'm so anxious and afraid to take anything for it, at all. Btw I don't get anxious or paranoid from weed, I have that normally.

It sounds like you are just frustrated/upset with people in real life, that's all.

If you already have pain issues, using any opiates will render you in rebound pain when they wear off, that's normal.

Try to avoid using heroin while you are still tapering off of benzos, only because they are both CNS depressants. Coming off of heroin will seem worse than it really is because the rebound BP/HR increase will aggravate the benzo WD indirectly.

Once you're done w/ benzos all together, heroin may not be as bad of an idea, but it's still a very addictive substance for a whole lot of people.

 

[defective_lise]

It sounds like you are just frustrated/upset with people in real life, that's all.

If you already have pain issues, using any opiates will render you in rebound pain when they wear off, that's normal.

Try to avoid using heroin while you are still tapering off of benzos, only because they are both CNS depressants. Coming off of heroin will seem worse than it really is because the rebound BP/HR increase will aggravate the benzo WD indirectly.

Once you're done w/ benzos all together, heroin may not be as bad of an idea, but it's still a very addictive substance for a whole lot of people.

Thanks I was wondering about that because I have broken cartilage in between my ribs that flares up after I do opiates, I had no idea if I was sitting in some weird position or what. Huh.

Benzos have always been my choice over opiates long term because if I accidentally take enough to barf my blood sugar can dip and cause seizures. I am thinking an on-and-off may be the best if nothing else works for anxiety but I'll have to see how I am off benzos, I'm sure my chemicals have changed a lot since I've started taking them and I can't really remember how bad it was before them.

 

[Captain.Heroin]

Thanks I was wondering about that because I have broken cartilage in between my ribs that flares up after I do opiates, I had no idea if I was sitting in some weird position or what. Huh.

Benzos have always been my choice over opiates long term because if I accidentally take enough to barf my blood sugar can dip and cause seizures. I am thinking an on-and-off may be the best if nothing else works for anxiety but I'll have to see how I am off benzos, I'm sure my chemicals have changed a lot since I've started taking them and I can't really remember how bad it was before them.

Oww, sorry to hear about that! I hope it's not too painful.

Yeah, vomiting is definitely a negative aspect to opiate use. That's why I am glad I don't vomit anymore on buprenorphine (I used to vomit from it daily when I was taking it sublingually).

 

[tablehead]

Oww, sorry to hear about that! I hope it's not too painful.

Yeah, vomiting is definitely a negative aspect to opiate use. That's why I am glad I don't vomit anymore on buprenorphine (I used to vomit from it daily when I was taking it sublingually).

Reallly? I dont think I have EVER vomitted from any opiate/ especially not from suboxone.... A big bell ringer of crack after a break will do that to me tho.