You said this:
You know I am totally weirded out. Maybe it depends on the person. Maybe the doctors have no idea what to do with opiate addiction. It is almost 6 am and I have not slept due to stress! My 5 year boyfriend, recent "fiance" has progressed from vicodin to snorting oc to snorting herion. Maybe that is a factor. Either way... Life has become horrilbe for us and for him at work and for him personally. I called doctors this week asking about suboxone which he did take befoe briefly. The doctor in lincon, MA told me that addicts need to stay on Suboxone for their entire lives (maybe this is heroin addicts or oxy addicts that snort and not people who use for pain legit,,) He told me that the relapse rate is so high with opiates that doctors will not treat unless patients are serious because they will die if they use while on this drug. he was not kidding
He was not talking wean anyone off. He was saying hopeless unless saved. Get back to me I am confused.
I just wanted to post to you so other's would see your post...
I have never been on suboxone but I have know someone that is personally and many people on this board have taken it. I don't believe you boyfriend would have to be on it forever. You could always get a second opinion and call some other suboxone doctor's in your area. Some people are on it for a few weeks, months or years it just depends. I hope he gets the help he needs. Take care! Rae
Subutex is generally used for opiate detox (including heroin) and this can be done in anything from 7 days - 6 months.. I would guess the average is around 2 months for detox. How long it takes depends on the persons frame of mind, treatment goals and history/severity of opiate abuse. Most Drs will switch from Subutex to Suboxone for anyone detoxing over a period greater than 4 weeks.
Suboxone is generally used for long-term use (aka maintenance, replacement therapy). It can be used for 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc. Some stay on it for life and others come off and go onto naltrexone or other treatments to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
It many ways, worrying about the length of treatment before you start is kinda of academic. If he strarts the suboxone. and it is working for him he can decide later as to whether he wants to be on iot long or short term. The only issue is access, ie can he get someone to prescribe the drug.
One thing I can tell you for certain is that *he* needs to figure this out. He needs to prove he is committed to staying clean and he needs to research his options. You can't do this for him and nothing you say or do will make a Dr prescribe sub for him. Take a step back and let him take control of his recovery.
Suboxone is generally used for long-term use (aka maintenance, replacement therapy). It can be used for 3 months, 6 months, a year, etc. Some stay on it for life and others come off and go onto naltrexone or other treatments to reduce the likelihood of relapse.
It many ways, worrying about the length of treatment before you start is kinda of academic. If he strarts the suboxone. and it is working for him he can decide later as to whether he wants to be on iot long or short term. The only issue is access, ie can he get someone to prescribe the drug.
One thing I can tell you for certain is that *he* needs to figure this out. He needs to prove he is committed to staying clean and he needs to research his options. You can't do this for him and nothing you say or do will make a Dr prescribe sub for him. Take a step back and let him take control of his recovery.
rae,
as you know i'm a heroin addict on suboxone. my doctor wanted me to be on subs for atleast a year, if not more. he explained it as this-
as heroin addicts are brains are damaged, all of our receptors are out of whack. filling it with something, ie.heroin, makes us feel normal. without these receptors full we get sick, ect...(withdrawl) now after time being clean, these receptors start to heal. it could be 5 or 10 years till we actually feel this.( ie. no cravings...ect..) our bodies don't produce the dopimine(sp?) that normal people's brains produce, and our receptors need this. now the longer we are on suboxone the better we learn to handle this daily things(stress) that cause cravings. he also said the longer we are on it the longer time our receptors have to function normaly. the ups and downs of drug use put so much strain on these receptors. having them full all the time with suboxone will teach them how it should be. so when we finally get off the subs, our brains are ready for the stress of life, and our receptors aren't so much out of whack.
now this is only what my doctor has explained to me. but maybe it will help you and your husband.
me- i'm trying to get off this, i'm tired of having to take a pill everyday and tired of worring.
bet of luck
post if you need me
raerae
as you know i'm a heroin addict on suboxone. my doctor wanted me to be on subs for atleast a year, if not more. he explained it as this-
as heroin addicts are brains are damaged, all of our receptors are out of whack. filling it with something, ie.heroin, makes us feel normal. without these receptors full we get sick, ect...(withdrawl) now after time being clean, these receptors start to heal. it could be 5 or 10 years till we actually feel this.( ie. no cravings...ect..) our bodies don't produce the dopimine(sp?) that normal people's brains produce, and our receptors need this. now the longer we are on suboxone the better we learn to handle this daily things(stress) that cause cravings. he also said the longer we are on it the longer time our receptors have to function normaly. the ups and downs of drug use put so much strain on these receptors. having them full all the time with suboxone will teach them how it should be. so when we finally get off the subs, our brains are ready for the stress of life, and our receptors aren't so much out of whack.
now this is only what my doctor has explained to me. but maybe it will help you and your husband.
me- i'm trying to get off this, i'm tired of having to take a pill everyday and tired of worring.
bet of luck
post if you need me
raerae
I agree, tho I havent started bup yet. I went in expecting to go on it for a month or so but my shrink said with my background she would recomend I stay on it for at least 6 months for some of the reasons you mentioned. I have weened down from 60 meth to 10. god only knows how I did it as meth is the most horible drug I have ever used. Ideally I would like to get to zero meth as Im not looking foward to the WDs I would have togo through for 3 days before starting bup Ray
Ramon,
The doctors do want you in withdrawal when you first get on Bup. But I don't think you have to go 3 days. I was without hydro for about 36 hours when my doc gave me suboxone. I was instantly better. Discuss this further with your doctor and get with the program!! Methodone will kill you!! Good luck to you and I know you will do the right thing.
The doctors do want you in withdrawal when you first get on Bup. But I don't think you have to go 3 days. I was without hydro for about 36 hours when my doc gave me suboxone. I was instantly better. Discuss this further with your doctor and get with the program!! Methodone will kill you!! Good luck to you and I know you will do the right thing.
ramon,
i went about 13hrs(i think) as long as your in full blown withdrawl when you start, you'll be fine.
best of luck
rae
i went about 13hrs(i think) as long as your in full blown withdrawl when you start, you'll be fine.
best of luck
rae
Hey RaeRae thanks for your reply but that wasn't my post. I posted what Jennifer Lee wrote in another post. My boyfriend isn't addicted to anything. Isn't he a lucky man.. Anyway hopefully Jennifer reads all these reply's and her husband gets the help he needs.How is your husband RaeRae? Did he start sub to? He hasn't sold any of your sub lately has he?
Ps. I think the reason why Ray said the doctor told him to wait 3 days before taking sub is because he is on methadone and that takes a couple days to get out of your system. The doctor told him when he is ready to start the sub to stop using the meth on a friday and start the sub on monday morning. I know it's different for everyone depending on what they are addicted to.
Ps. I think the reason why Ray said the doctor told him to wait 3 days before taking sub is because he is on methadone and that takes a couple days to get out of your system. The doctor told him when he is ready to start the sub to stop using the meth on a friday and start the sub on monday morning. I know it's different for everyone depending on what they are addicted to.
