med student
failed two one week outpatient programs w/suboxone (3 days 4 mg, 4 days 2 mg) - made it the week but when it was over, on the 8th day, utter relapse :( this was back at around 80 mg/day oxy
at the last crossroads was up to 240 mg oxycodone a day...spent about four grand in a month...somehow held a job, kept up grades....must be the luckiest SOB alive not to have utterly destroyed everything.
but then one day at a music festival, found some people talking about suboxone. they happened to be from the same city, and gave the name of an exceptional doctor. having failed the impersonal, expensive, in-and-out incomprehensive 7 day thing twice, went to this doctor and got a full assessment and got put on maintnence. best friend also went to the same doctor the same day. doing the next 44 days with 16 mgs/day prescribed, but have been trying to take just 12. after that, gonna start the official taper. looking to get as far away from oxy as possible. it's a dream come true to be free
it has been over 3 weeks now since the last oxy. its like having a new life. it's being normal again. having back all that time...having some cash left when you get your next paycheck... amazing stuff. suboxone really is a wonder drug and what cannot be stressed enough is the amazing change it will bring to your life. the spiral of addiction - craving, compulsion, drug-seeking behaviors, withdrawal - opiates become more important than food, sex, friends, anything. Freedom from those bonds - the sudden return to a life without the desperate, ravenous, weak powerlessness - is invaluable. It is an absolute miracle.
Your life is at stake and finally you have a tool, a chance, a way to take control and be the normal you. When the steel serpent of addiction is no longer strangling your mind and screaming softly in your ear you suddenly realize how much of your life you already have sacrificed for nothing.
DO NOT HESITATE! SAVE YOUR OWN LIFE! CHOOSE TO LIVE! CHOOSE TO LIVE! CHOOSE TO LIVE!
Dear MedStudent,
What a great post...I love the end....Save your Own Life..Choose to Live!
Just wanted to let you know I hear you and support you...good job!
What a great post...I love the end....Save your Own Life..Choose to Live!
Just wanted to let you know I hear you and support you...good job!
Dear Med Student...way to go, I am happy for you! I hae 17 months in clean on methadone but I would like to be free from it as well as it feels a bit like an albatross around my head.....can you go from methadone (170mg) to suboxone? Do you know if it is available in Canada?
Canadian jen
Canadian jen
Jen,
Im pretty sure they have sub in canada, and yes you can go from methadone to sub. However you have to be on a dose of 30mg or less per day of methadone before they will switch you to sub.
Best Regards and God Bless
Oxyhead
Im pretty sure they have sub in canada, and yes you can go from methadone to sub. However you have to be on a dose of 30mg or less per day of methadone before they will switch you to sub.
Best Regards and God Bless
Oxyhead
thanks for the replies everyone
every day is better than the last!!!
this has been the best decision of my life and I feel like it would be a wrong not to spread the word. It is possible for YOU too, you can cast those demons out!!!
i also feel like i owe everything to this doctor who was willing to help me. I have to thank him for saving everything I am & have....
every day is better than the last!!!
this has been the best decision of my life and I feel like it would be a wrong not to spread the word. It is possible for YOU too, you can cast those demons out!!!
i also feel like i owe everything to this doctor who was willing to help me. I have to thank him for saving everything I am & have....
i have a question, med student -
i'm blown away at your enthusiam and new found freedom and congratulate you on your clean time. most people that i know who have chosen subutex/suboxone have been required by their prescribing physicians to embrace a program of recovery; one that produces a psychic change.
is this what your doctor has suggested to you? what measures have you put in place for behavior modification and spiritual empowerment?
namaste'
sammy
i'm blown away at your enthusiam and new found freedom and congratulate you on your clean time. most people that i know who have chosen subutex/suboxone have been required by their prescribing physicians to embrace a program of recovery; one that produces a psychic change.
is this what your doctor has suggested to you? what measures have you put in place for behavior modification and spiritual empowerment?
namaste'
sammy
dear med student
I am from massachussetts and I need to find a doctor to prescribe suboxone can you help me, please i can not find one around here to help me, I live near springfiels area help
I am from massachussetts and I need to find a doctor to prescribe suboxone can you help me, please i can not find one around here to help me, I live near springfiels area help
For star, there is a physician locator on the web... search an engine for physician finder/suboxone... click on your state and they list them all (all doctors who are eligible to prescribe the medication). Good luck.
I want to thank the original poster (oxy-head med student, with whom I can relate) for your words. I'm seeing my suboxone doc tomorrow morning and have been terrified... I'm afraid of being sick again (I just gave a shot at cold turkey for 9 miserable days!)... I'm now nothing but excited to get there and save my life and be normal again. Thanks for giving me peace of mind and enthusiasm, of which I started losing to fear. Thanks again and good luck always.
I want to thank the original poster (oxy-head med student, with whom I can relate) for your words. I'm seeing my suboxone doc tomorrow morning and have been terrified... I'm afraid of being sick again (I just gave a shot at cold turkey for 9 miserable days!)... I'm now nothing but excited to get there and save my life and be normal again. Thanks for giving me peace of mind and enthusiasm, of which I started losing to fear. Thanks again and good luck always.
>> is this what your doctor has suggested to you? what measures have you put in place for behavior modification and spiritual empowerment?
Actually, my doctor spoke to me very little about this; however, this may be because of some of what I said to him.
My enthusiasm comes from waking up in the morning thinking about food instead of pills - from being able to go out for the night or the weekend or on the town with friends and to be completely THERE, with them - rather than craving and secretly wishing I could drive away to feed the monster in my mind.
My enthusiasm comes from going to work and solving problems and staying all day and feeling rewarded from my accomplishments - rather than leaving early to meet up with someone, feeling miserable and sleeping at work, getting nothing done, and hating myself.
My enthusiasm comes from being able to treat my friends to dinner, or a movie, or to treat myself to a new video game or gadget - rather than scrounging for every last dime just to feed the habit and to feel normal! I had forgotten what it was like to feel normal - to feel GOOD - on my own. It's absolutely beautiful.
to Subwannabe - I cannot express how happy I am for you - I wish you the best of luck and am both ecstatic that I could help by relating my experience and hopeful that you will be back here in a few weeks saying the same things I am. It can be hard to find a good doctor! You have made the most difficult step and you will thank yourself every day the moment you wake up for having the strength to face your enemy within.
I wish all of us the strength and the wisdom to heal ourselves.
Actually, my doctor spoke to me very little about this; however, this may be because of some of what I said to him.
My enthusiasm comes from waking up in the morning thinking about food instead of pills - from being able to go out for the night or the weekend or on the town with friends and to be completely THERE, with them - rather than craving and secretly wishing I could drive away to feed the monster in my mind.
My enthusiasm comes from going to work and solving problems and staying all day and feeling rewarded from my accomplishments - rather than leaving early to meet up with someone, feeling miserable and sleeping at work, getting nothing done, and hating myself.
My enthusiasm comes from being able to treat my friends to dinner, or a movie, or to treat myself to a new video game or gadget - rather than scrounging for every last dime just to feed the habit and to feel normal! I had forgotten what it was like to feel normal - to feel GOOD - on my own. It's absolutely beautiful.
to Subwannabe - I cannot express how happy I am for you - I wish you the best of luck and am both ecstatic that I could help by relating my experience and hopeful that you will be back here in a few weeks saying the same things I am. It can be hard to find a good doctor! You have made the most difficult step and you will thank yourself every day the moment you wake up for having the strength to face your enemy within.
I wish all of us the strength and the wisdom to heal ourselves.
It's amazing how even an experience such as this one can end up bringing positivity into your life. How you can realize even more that every detail of every thing is a gift - like waking up in the morning feeling rested and comfortable, like having a normal appetite and not being constipated day after day after day after day, like being able to clear your mind and spend time with friends and family, like being able to actually get things done; like being alive . They are gifts , and I may not have realized until they were taken away that I am by no means guaranteed these things. I need to find my own peace and big surprise it's not kept in any kind of bottle.
i bought "Meditation for Dummies", now i gotta find some time to do it :)
and the thing is, I will be able to find time for it now! Reading a book for pleasure - imagine that!
and the thing is, I will be able to find time for it now! Reading a book for pleasure - imagine that!
Med student, After re reading your threads I now know you have to be the same person on the other board. If I am wrong please let me know and I am sorry. I am not sure what the rules here are, but I think that we can at least e- mail one another. Post back and let me know.
Sorry if this sounds negative but i loved my Subutex untill I started to taper that is when the trouble started. Below 2mg and the withdrawals were horrible. I have come through that only to find that I am now substituting with alcohol. I think my doc is going to suggest going on Sub long term.
Paul
Paul
God bless you, med student.
i wish you much peace and serenity.
namaste'
sammy
i wish you much peace and serenity.
namaste'
sammy
Med-Student: Every time I get anxious, I come here and read your threads. The transition from the "contins" to suboxone is sketchy. It's been good so far (after only a few days), but I wondered how long it took you to feel the way you do now? I also had a huge social life and was executive bound when this all started so many years ago. I'd be happy just starting out small, but reading the things you say makes me so excited for what life can be for me again. I know it's different for everyone... do you wake up without feeling horrible? Are you almost off of the suboxone? My doctor kept saying about keeping me on a maintenance dose (I want out completely ASAP, but I want it to stick so I'm all for whatever he says) but right now I'm on 8 mg/2 times a day. Your life sounds so appreciated and wonderful and I am so happy for you. Just wondered about your dosing and how the initial days felt. From your message, I assumed a few weeks before feeling real good (I'll wait however long it takes - I'm just excited - - - thanks to you!). Thanks for all your enthusiasm expressed here for us all to build from. Wish you the best always.
PS: Do you always let the entire tablet dissolve under your tongue or do you ever swallow any of it? (I did accidentally).... it's tough waiting for that orange thing to disappear under the tongue (BUT IT BEATS THE OXY ALTERNATIVE)
Well I have my own feelings on Suboxone. I;ve been on the Suboxone board for a while. The side effects are what have myself concerned, alot of folks are complaining of numbness and tingling in both arms especially at night. This drug could be alot worst than what you think. I myself am making the choice to go off it. Good Luck.
my own transition from oxy to sub was pain-free. While I hear some people have more problems than others, for me there was absolutely no withdrawal period. It is extremely important to allow the whole tablet to dissolve under your tongue - if you swallow it , the naloxone inactivates the buprenorphine in the tablet and you can experience withdrawal symptoms.
It was only a few days before I started really feeling great about things. It became so much easier to make it to work on time, to focus, etc - the real big thing was having back all the TIME that I used to spend getting/doing/thinking about oxys. Now I can spend that time with friends/family actually going out and doing things and that may be what has made the biggest difference in my attitude.
s-wannabe keep us posted on how you are doing!! And probably the most important thing is to make sure you keep communication open with your doc - if you aren't feeling 100% OK make sure to let him know because it's his job here to keep you comfortable through this process!!
Cheers everyone :)
It was only a few days before I started really feeling great about things. It became so much easier to make it to work on time, to focus, etc - the real big thing was having back all the TIME that I used to spend getting/doing/thinking about oxys. Now I can spend that time with friends/family actually going out and doing things and that may be what has made the biggest difference in my attitude.
s-wannabe keep us posted on how you are doing!! And probably the most important thing is to make sure you keep communication open with your doc - if you aren't feeling 100% OK make sure to let him know because it's his job here to keep you comfortable through this process!!
Cheers everyone :)
by the way anyone who is interested in talking can email me at spiral5800@hotmail.com - i'd love to also hear from the individual(s) posting about some of the problems with suboxone, if they have the time
Medstudent
Wow! I was reading about your experience with the suboxone. Sounds like a miracle worker. I'm just coming off of percs - over 20 10mgs a day for over a year. Today is day 2 of no opiates and I feel like SH**. Sorry to be so crude but thats the truth. Some people have suggested suboxone to me rather than cold turkey. Since I'm on Medicaid right now, I couldnt find a Dr. that took my insurance. Yesterday I was referred to a Dr. in Tampa (not too far from me) by a friend. I'm trying to do this cold turkey - I dont know if I can handle it alone. I'm just so scared of getting addicted to another drug and have to start all over again.
Since you are a med student, I'll let you know that I do suffer from HBP, panic atttacks, 2 herniated discs in my back, just to name a few. The way I feel right now I dont know if I'm doing the right thing going c/t without medical supervision.
What's your opinion (or anyone who reads this)????
I've had alot of support from several people on this board and am very grateful for any advice?
Thanks,
Marie
Wow! I was reading about your experience with the suboxone. Sounds like a miracle worker. I'm just coming off of percs - over 20 10mgs a day for over a year. Today is day 2 of no opiates and I feel like SH**. Sorry to be so crude but thats the truth. Some people have suggested suboxone to me rather than cold turkey. Since I'm on Medicaid right now, I couldnt find a Dr. that took my insurance. Yesterday I was referred to a Dr. in Tampa (not too far from me) by a friend. I'm trying to do this cold turkey - I dont know if I can handle it alone. I'm just so scared of getting addicted to another drug and have to start all over again.
Since you are a med student, I'll let you know that I do suffer from HBP, panic atttacks, 2 herniated discs in my back, just to name a few. The way I feel right now I dont know if I'm doing the right thing going c/t without medical supervision.
What's your opinion (or anyone who reads this)????
I've had alot of support from several people on this board and am very grateful for any advice?
Thanks,
Marie
