Heritics of Heroin

Important Announcement

The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More

Buprenorphine is not working for me at all! First off, my doctor started me out on Suboxone from the get go. He told me to wait 24 hours and then take a quarter of a tablet every 4 hours as needed---BUT the max amount of pills I'm prescribed is one and a half pills daily. The script bottle says Suboxone 8mg/2mg. Weird? So my dose of one and a half pills is what 12mgs daily? I'm not taking the bup, haven't been taking the bup, and won't take the bup because it makes me sick. It doesn't matter if I wait until I'm in withdrawal, not throwing up and shitting on myself sick. He told me I didn't need to wait until I was that sick to take the medication. He said I should wait until I had watery eyes, runny nose, some chills and sweats, some cramping of the legs. I waited until I felt that degree of sickness and yes it did help me feel better the first time I took a quarter pill. But when I took more it made me worse like non-stop leg cramping and really bad mental withdrawal symptoms. Mentally I felt like I did when I was on Naltrexone in the past. It messed with my head so much I never had success with it. Back to the bup, so I took it for I think two days and went back to the heroin. I've continued to see the doc every two weeks since mid December because my Mom doesn't know I'm using heroin again. She takes me to the doc and pays for it. She told me if I didn't stay on the bup program I would be kicked out of the house. At the doc's office I acted like the medication was working, but really I've just been stocking up on the pills. I fill my script because my Mom goes with me to do so. I just don't take them and stash them in my room. What's wrong with me? I think I need to be started on the Subutex first, then switched to the Suboxone. Some people think you can't feel the blocker unless you crush the pill and try to shoot it, that's bullshit! Once I took the Suboxone two hours after doing a small shot to see what would happen, I was sick as hell! So last night I spoke with my Mom and told her I was still using and that the bup wasn't working and how I felt that it wasn't working because I was started on the Suboxone from the get go instead of being switched over to it from the Subutex. I called around and all the other doctor's start you out on the Subutex first, actually that seems to be the norm. Also from what I gather it seems most people are successful the bup is prescribed that way, the Subutex first then the Suboxone. I have a fairly large heroin habit so maybe that has something to do with it? I called and left messages with some other bup doc's in my area to see about switching doc's. I'm thinking of giving bup one more try before totally writing it off, but only if I can be prescribed the Subutex first. What do you guys think? I'm at my wit's end? Does this sound normal? I've tried to take the bup as prescribed twice and lasted two days the first time and only one day the second time. I've never been able to function on the bup because it's just made me sick and insane. I've been on methadone in the past and it helped me not use heroin. I just don't want to deal with the whole clinic bullshit and the side effects so I won't get back on methadone unless I absolutely have to. I was off methadone for a good four months before starting bup so that had nothing to do why the bup wasn't helping me. Any input would be great.

Sorry if this message is kinda loopy, I'm really stressed.

Suboxone 8mg/2mg = 8 mg of Suboxone and 2mg of naloxone HCl.

Subutex, Suboxone and Buprenex are all the same active drug.

Sub is Sublingual..Buprenex is for IM injection (however it works SL too) and Suboxone has naloxone in it to keep people from shooting it. Then the naloxone is not absorbed SL in any significant amount

Sorry if this message is kinda loopy, I'm really stressed.

hi tk, let me tell u that your not alone on this one. i have been to three inpatient detoxes with the same results. i get sick and go into immediate withdrawel after my first shot bupe every time and then refuse any more further shots. so i'm still using but i now have a scrip for methadone and it keeps me from being sick when i don't have my dope or cash.soon i hope to just stick it out and detoxe myself with the meth anyway bupe works for some and for some it don't good luck

This doc won't start you on Subutex. He starts everyone out on Suboxone. He is actually a very educated addiction medicine specialist that I've known for years. He has a private practice where he prescribes kick kits that include promethazine, dicyclimine, soma, lorazepam, flurazepam, clonadine, and a pill for the shits. He also works part time at a methadone clinic. He has his hands in everything that has to do with opiate addiction. I was very sick today waiting for dope but I wouldn't take the bup because I was scared of getting sicker. Maybe if I start out on Subutex, the one without the blocker than switch to Suboxone things will be different?

Here's an idea TK why not tell him..the doctor what's up..how sick you've been, it messes with your head...etc. If he's as 'in the know' as it sounds like he is..he should be able to guide you through this one. You never know there may be some people who this particular treatment doesn't work 'as perscribed' for. He can't help if he doesn't know.

I just got back on methadone today. Actually I just got home from my sick intake where you get your first dose after prouving you are in fact a real heroin addict. It's so stupid. You're supposed to go to the intake in complete withdrawal but I refuse to do so. I'm a good actress. I went sick to my very first sick intake and I realized that it wasn't necessary for me to be that ill. So now I always do a shot three hours before the intake so I'm not too well but not sick either. The reason I wouldn't tell my bup doc the truth is because I didn't want him to demand I bring in all the pills I haven't used. I don't have all the pills because I've given some to my brother and I've traded a couple. I didn't want to get into trouble. I just said screw the bup I'll just get back on methadone. It's a major pain in the ass but it's better shooting $100's of dope on the daily. Thanks for the suggestion though.

Good deal TK..how goes it so far?

I'm slowly going up on my dose and starting to feel better. I'm still having to use a tiny bit of heroin daily, but that will stop once I get stable on my dose. I've been on methadone so many times I know when I'm stable and when I'm not. I decided to do a few things differently this time around though. For one I'm seeking treatment outside of the methadone clinic. The clinic's just don't provide the level of counseling and structured treatment I need. So I found a really cool program that will suit me perfectly and it's free! It's called the Matt Talbot Center here in Seattle, WA. They help people get into detox or inpatient treatment if they need it and they give you shelter while you are in treatment. Once the person gets out of detox or inpatient then they can start the program at Matt Talbot. If you don't need to kick then you can start right away. I don't need to kick since I'm on methadone so I can start next week. I will be going to the center from 9am-2pm Mon thru Thurs. I will get counseling, job training, help getting in school, help finding housing, anger management, special Women's Issue's counseling, and the list goes on and on. They also do a lot of activities like hiking and camping. I'm really looking forward to it. I remember the first time I got on methadone I recall saying to myself that I couldn't get clean on methadone alone. So I joined NA and I stayed clean for about nine months that time. I really liked belonging to a organization, I just didn't click with the 12 step program. So maybe this time I will be more successful in my recovery with this outside help. I'm 27 now and it's time I get my life together. I don't want to end up a homeless old junkie running the streets begging for a fix in the next 15 years. I want to finish school and move out on my own again. I want more out of life than what I've been getting.

TK I can't tell you how happy it makes me to hear you're doing this for yourself..way to go.

I just turned 49 last month and I am here to tell you..it doesn' t get easier. Getting off the dope I mean..we're stronger when we're younger..physically at least. You do this for yourself girl and the world is yours for the asking.

I happen to think and

believe you can and will. Imagine all the energy you can spend on making your life a good one when not looking for that next fix. You're right about methadone alone not being enough..we nned to be busy..we need structure..the kind the right type of people in a group can bring. If you've checked this place out and it suits who you are..then you're doing the right thing by going for it along with the methadone. Sounds like they have alot of excellent and realistic tools to help start you off.

Hope you keep us posted TK..and my best thoughts go out to you in this new endevour of yours.

What's the status quo

It's been some time and inquireing minds want to know?

Where are things at? How you doin?

anyone can respond...............

Important Announcement The MSN Groups service will close in February 2009. You can move your group to Multiply, MSN’s partner for online groups. Learn More
Heritics of Heroin	[email protected]