I am currently taking 16mgs of Suboxone from a nearby clinic. Since I started taking Suboxone (started on 24 mgs) I have not slipped up once. I cannot say enough good things about this drug, it is life changing. I regret not starting this 20 years ago.
I do not like the clinic I currently go to, it is all about $$. I have to pay $35 co-pay for my consoler , $35 for the doctor, and $190 co-pay at the pharmacy.
Yes, this is far less than I used to spend, but $260 a month hurting our budget. My wife cannot work as she is the primary caregiver for her Dad, so we have one paycheck for the 3 of us.
How can I get a subscription for Subutex, this way I can go generic?
Thank You in advance,
Matt
How can I get a subscription for Subutex?
Question posted by pjpenzotti on 18 Dec 2011
Last updated on 29 July 2018
Answers
barizona
20 Dec 2011
I asked my own pain specialist if I could get a prescription for Subutex, then have my local pharmacy get the "generic" version, in order for my Medicare part D, to cover the generic version. So, when I asked my pain specialist if he could do this, he refused to allow me to have a percription for it, and instead, makes me get it directly from him--despite the fact that I have a very low income, and, am "disabled" ! I asked him to then, get some of the generic into his office, in order to save some of the high cost of this --he did so, but, is still charging me for the cost of the "real" Subutex, and taking the profit from me, the disabled person. Then, I called around to see if any other pain specialist would do that, and their answer was "We do not prescribe it, only a detox specialist status can do that... if at all ! All I get is a receipt for the high cost of the generic, sold as the real one, and cannot even turn that into my part D coverage--they can only cover it, through a pharmacist ! So, it becomes a "catch 22"--due to my allergic reactions to all other pain meds--- I cannot substitute it with anything else, either. Soon, I will have to go off of this, altogether, since I cannot afford the high cost of his generic, being sold to me at the high cost of the Label brand of Subutex ! Then, I will be quite unable to function, sit, or stand, and my life as I live it now, will be reduced to living flat, on my couch, crying from pain, and not be able to sit, stand, take care of my animals, or property! This is so unfair! Good luck with your situation!
Kimmieb52
29 July 2018
Welcome to America..I feel your pain,it's hard to find a good doctor,our system sucks !!! Good luck
rvnew
19 Dec 2011
I don't have an answer to you question but do you know the difference between the two drugs? Subutex does not have a narcotic blocker therefore there would exist a potential for abuse. You could taper down to a much lower dose of suboxone and it would still do the same job. Then you would spend less money for less pills. I only take 2mgs a day and it still keeps from being able to get high on a narcotic drug. Just something to consider.
rvnew
pjpenzotti
19 Dec 2011
Thanks rvnew, Your input is much appreciated.
Yes, I am aware of the differences in the two drugs, I have done lots of research on this.
I was never an IV drug user... is that what you mean by potential abuse?
Being realistic, suboxone definitely is a deterrent, I don’t have any desire to take a pain med, but that may be because deep down inside, I know the buprenorphine would negate any narcotic taken, so I do want to stay on buprenorphine, or Suboxone until I am sure I will not be at risk of screwing up. My wife has had a shoulder replacement, and has a legitimate need for pain meds. She is still on Roxy 15’s.
I also do not want to feel like I did last time I quit. I was clean a long time, but it was very difficult to smile, ever, the whole time, then I started back up again.
I don’t want to ever go back down that rabbit-hole!!
From my understanding, the naloxone in the suboxone, is put there so people can't inject the drug.
Is there any other affect from the naloxone?
And, how many mgs did you start with, and how slow did you taper down?
I like my doctor, he really knows the full scope of addiction, but I don’t like anything else about the clinic.
It’s dirty, most clients don’t function like main-stream people, my mandated therapist is useless, very matter-of-fact, and lacking intelligence. My last two visits she was reading the wrong chart, and asking me questions that did not pertain to me at all. I was told that if I went with buprenorphine by itself, I would have to visit the clinic daily, pretty much the same schedule that methadone users must follow.
Currently, I go to the doctor once a month, and must see the therapist before seeing the doctor.
Would my family doctor be able to take me under his care. And if he did, would I be forced to have therapy, thus costing the same or more.
I’m not sure if the rules state that I must see a therapist in order to get a subscription of buprenorphine.
I’m not afraid of therapy, nor do I think it is useless. It’s just that my therapist (mandated by the Suboxone program) is useless, & another $35 co-pay, and another visit which is difficult to accomplish.
I asked my doctor about lowering the dosage, and he was against it. He was very insistent that my brain needs to heal before I start weaning down, and that the dosage should always remain stable, and consistent.
I don't want to make any mistakes concerning dosage. This drug really is a gift, and in all reality, I am spending much less than I did in the past, but now that “the real person” is back, I feel bad about the costs of the med.
Thank You for your input.
Related topics
suboxone, subutex, opiate dependence
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