From: Echo  (Original Message) Sent: 9/28/2003 10:58 AM 
Hello everyone-
My boyfriend is interested in getting on bup.  I'm REALLY happy that he is finally considering treatment, as I am on methadone and it's been working great for me.  Anyway, I've done a little investigating on it, but I'm still pretty uneducated.  I got a list of doctors prescribing bup in our state, MA.  Could anyone give me some info on where to start?  Should we look into any dr available?  Is there anything really important that my bf needs to know about this medication?  I know that Marco and Beth are on it, so I'd love if you could give me your opinions/experiences with it.  My bf has a small habit- he stopped doing H when I did (when I went onto the clinic) and he uses mainly pills and illicit methadone. 
Any info would be so very appreciated!
Echo

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From: Marco Sent: 9/28/2003 2:04 PM 
Hi Echo-  As you know I've been on bup for quite awhile now- since about Feb.  It's taken me a long time, but I'm starting to get my use under control.  For a long time I was using every week on top of the bup, but have been doing better lately.  While I'm not completely clean yet, I'm putting together strings of 2-3 weeks at a time without using and feel like I'm getting there.
 
I'd strongly recommend that your b/f give it a try.  I think it's probably especially effective for someone who doesn't have a big habit (as opposed to someone like me).  I don't know if any one doc is better than any other; I'm sure there are differences.  My doc is great.  I began seeing him once a week and now seem him once every two weeks.  He has never urine tested me and I have been honest with him about my usage.  He believes that as long as I'm showing progress I should continue to stay with bup.  My only altenative is meth and I don't want to do that again.
 
The worst thing that could happen if your b/f tries bup is that it won't work for him and maybe he'd have to switch to meth.  I think it's all a matter of motivation.  There's a part of me, as much as I hate to admit it, that still loves dope so much and that part of me keeps winning out over the part of me that truly wants to stop.  But I am doing better as time goes on.  And as I've said before I think a lot of my continued use has to do with boredom, coming from not working.  I truly believe if I had something positive going on in my life I'd be able to quit.  I mean I do have a lot of positives- a great wife and kids, money is not a problem for me, I live a pretty upper-middle class life despite not working for a year and a half.  So I've got a lot going for me.  But my self-worth was always so tied to my career and I get really discouraged and down about being unemployed.  I had worked in the same field for over 20 years and losing my job was a blow that I haven't recovered from (I don't mean to whine).
 
Anyway, enough about me.  I do think your b/f sounds like an ideal candidate for bup.  It's easy, you pick up a script once a month.  You can't abuse it cuz it doesn't get you high.  And despite the fact that I haven't quit completely I'm using less and less and I believe it has also helped with my depression.  I would strongly try to encourage him to give it a try.  There's absolutely nothing to lose.  At worst, it doesn't work for him and he's exactly where he is now.  At best, he's no longer using illicit drugs.  And I feel that since he's off H and doing mainly pills that it'll be much more effective for him- provided he's motivated to quit using.
 
Hope this has been helpful and feel free to ask any other questions.
 
Marco

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From: Echo Sent: 10/3/2003 6:43 PM 
Hey Marco thanks for the info.  I think bup would benefit my bf and your opinion only furthers this belief.  His main doubt I'm sure will be about getting off of it.  I know he'll worry about that, just as it worried me when I got on meth.  The thing is he is going to have to detox off of the meds he's taking on his own right now anyway so it's really not a valid reason not to try bup.  I will talk to him more about it and hound you later with more questions    Do you know if private medical insurance generally covers bup? (the dr visits or the scripts?)  If not, is it terribly expensive?  I self pay for my methadone and it's driving me to bankrupcy seriously.  I'm at the point now though that I am going to fight my insurance co to pay for and reinburse me.  Such a headache but worth it
echo

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From: Marco Sent: 10/5/2003 2:32 PM 
Hi  Echo-  I don't know how difficult it is to come off of bup, but from everything I've read and from what my doc has told me it's very easy compared to H or meth.  If you taper you can do it relatively quickly and virtually symptom-free from what I hear.  But I don't know anyone who's come off it, so I don't really know.
 
About insurance paying for it, I guess it depends on the insurance company.  My insurance pays for both my doc and it also pays the cost of the medication except for a $25 co-pay.  I think that bup is pretty expensive if it's not covered by insurance, though.
 
Marco

 

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