i have been suffering from opiate addiction and have been on and off using oxycontin 80mg and heroin for the passed 2 years. yesterday i was placed on suboxone induction to help with withdrawals and it is working but only to a certain point. i feel like the relief im getting dosent last as long as it should and i dont really want to increase the dosage i am on 12 mgs total daily ( 8 mgs in the morning and 4mgs at night). even at this point i feel like the sub dosent work as well as it should because i still am experiencing moderate withdrawals and i would like to switch from suboxone to methadone. i was wondering how i would go about doing this ? i am not sure if the psychiatrist i went to yesterday can prescribe methadone or i would to go to a clinic who probably wont accept me because of my age. but i would be willing to give methadone a shot because i know people who it has worked wonderfully for. anyhelp would be greatly appreciated
Suboxone to methadone ?
Question posted by chris79 on 17 Sep 2009
Last updated on 3 June 2018
83 Answers Page 5
suboxone
Do not do it! If you think it was hard to withdrawal from heroin and oxycontin, methadone is awful, they all are. If your Dr really wants what is best for you , you will stay on suboxone. You may need your suboxone dose changed. As a person that just went through this i remember wanting more because that is how my brain responded, I was scared of feeling withdrawal. Think about it before you go to methadone. 18 months later i am doing great, i do not think about that junk (oxy's) anymore. Got my life back.
they shouldn't evan have a methadone clinic its more addicting than heroin the withdrawals are horrible and long! and you can die from them and many people have
because you have been prescribed the dose you are on with it dispenced twice a day, it sounds like the doctors have done this to "make you feel buisy" so to speak. Suboxone is a long acting drug and only needs to be taken once a day to maintain the correct level in each individual. Because of this i suggest you think about methadone and your intentions of speradic untimetabled use. Please ask yourself if you think that is making life difficult for oneself chasing your tail round or if you would prefer to be well maintained without comedown effect. If im wrong im wrong, though it sounds like people are trying their best to have things easier for you yourself to take control. You cant do that chasing your tail round.
From my experience it does not matter if its taken early or late on any day as long as you take the correct dose.
Hi Chris. I would try a higher dose. I was put on 16mg a day and still am on that after 2 and half months. It's not as good as using was but if you give it a chance you can adjust. Just try to stay focused on the reasons you sought help. I actually only take 8mg most days, I save the rest in case something happens to my insurance. I feel slow when I take all 16mg. Plus that gives me a the ability to take a couple extra mg on tougher days. It def took me a few weeks to stabilize though. I don't like the idea of methadone because you have to go everyday and no one in my life knows I have an addiction. It's a lot easier to go once a month which is where you should be within a months time if your doctor operates anything like mine. Good luck, keep fighting.
Can someone please tell me what kind of dr i need to talk to about methadone addiction. Have been addicted to methadone since 98, off & on. Have got to get off this. But scared of withdrawals, know how horrible it is..
You want to speak with an addiction specialist, this falls into the mental health category. My advice is to first speak and meet with a therapist, and then have he/she refer you to a psychiatrist. Good luck-
Hi~This what "I" did... go to: ***http://suboxone.com*** then on that page there is a section that says "Find a Doctor" ( top right hand corner ) ~ Enter your Zip Code, and start making some phone calls and appointments. The transition is a little unconfortable ... but once you get used to the Suboxone... life gets "Good" again. I promise. At least it did for me. I'm not saying eveyday day life's up and downs aren't still there... but they are alot easier to deal with when you have a "clear head" off of that Methadone. Try it. I was scared to myself, until I saw a friend of mine turn their life around when they got off Methadone and on to Suboxone. I was real sick too on Methadone. Takecare and Goodluck!!
You need to contact a treatment center that specializes in opiods. That is where you will find the experts Dr. counselors and nurses that work with it everyday. You will also find a network of support other people like yourself. Good luck, I believe in you... get your life back!!!
yes of course your addicted , no sweat go on the subs, in a few months you will feel and look better than you have in years meth is death
Dont do it!!! Stay with Suboxone... Give it more time... it will work. Be patient. I was a 14 year HARD CORE OPIATE ADDICT and METHADONE did nothing but mess me up more. Suboxone has saved my life! I function now like a normal human being. Just give it more time up your dose. Maybe you are not dissolving it right... ask. Take care. Good luck!!
i dont know yet how hard it is to come off suboxone but i know it is hell comeing off methadone i went to the clinic for two yrs 120mg a day i came off of it cold turkey it put me in the hospital for60 days i think you should get your doc to put you on 16 mg of suboxone and dont mess with that methadone its a terrible drug.good luck if you just started yesterday you have to give it a chance to work give it some time before you switch.
most phsiciatrist dont prescribe methadone you would either have to go to the clinic or a chronic pain dr..if you are underage all you have to do to get in the clinic is take a parent with you who gives you permission and im sure your parents know your on suboxone so surely they would sighn for you to be on methadone. good luck
Hi chris79,
I am addicted to OxyContin, heroin, I have been taking Suboxone 8-12 mg, and now weening myself down. I want to get off everything but I guess I was doing it to fast.
I tryed methadone, only if I couldnt get my other drugs, it is addicting.
I know it is hard. When I first came off the Oxy's, heroin for about 1 week it took to feel better. My dr. started me on 2mg which definitley was not enough. I now know that you are not suppose to Feel High, you even have to feel some pain in order to get well. I think that is Plenty of Suboxone. But im not a Dr. so whatever the dose try and stick it out. Remember you are going to go thru withdrawls this will just make it a little more bearable.
Hang in there.
You have to want it.
Jenn
Just some personal input on my part, for anyone who decides to read this. I was originally on 12 milligrams of suboxone to replace taking six 10 milligrams lortabs daily. I was told this is what I should do by an outpatient clinic. I probably should have just taken a week or two off from work and detoxed, but, I was told this was best. The clinic folded after about 8 months,(I have been on it since april 29, 08) and no one really tried to get me to reduce my amount. I can't explain how I knew to do it on my own, it was just some physical sensations, that let me know that I could reduce my dose. I also went faithfully to my group meetings and still do. I am now only on 2 milligrams and decided to tell that at group. My counselor assured me that that meant my neurotransmitters were healing and that was the only explanation she had. There is hope of getting off of the suboxone and each person is different.
Some are saying that you should get off after only a few days, weeks or months. This is an issue that each person should discuss with their doctor and counselor and no one should scare anyone else about them needing to take it for more than a few days, weeks or months. If you want to get off of it eventually, talk to your doctor and counselor and do everything they tell you to do. For those who are not feeling like they are out of withdrawals on the dose they are on, LET THE DOCTOR KNOW. There are a few other meds they can add to help and the doctor needs to know if you think there is a problem. Don't give up hope.
i have been on suboxones for about 4 years now... they gave it to me to stop shooting oxys. they started me off at 8mgs x 3 a day. i'm tryin to lower my dose myself. i no longer have insurance but my hubby does and he gets subs. my problem? my docter told me they are not addictive... um, i have been on them 4 flipping years and CANNOT GET OFF!! the half life makes it impossible. i was off of them one time for almost a month and was in angony!!! now my only choice is to take my husbands script since he has insurance because these stupid docs are telling u they are not addictive?? i have been in a state of worry ever since the first time i tried to quit and then found out about the half life of subs, omg, this is horrible! i'm scared to death of the w/ds from subs. i have a 3yr old daughter and i have to be 100 percent for her but honestly i have never experienced w/ds so bad, not even from narcotics.
beware of subs!! do not believe them when they tell you that they are not addictive and are easy to get off. YES they helped me get off the oxys but i traded one evil for another. i am ready to get a script for some tabs just to get off the subs!! i have heard u withdrawal up to 4 months on subs! i dont know cuz i only could do it for a month! it never got better, only worse!! so pretty ridiculous i have to get tabs to get off the subs that got me off narcotics in the first place. !!! Suboxones ... if i ever get off them i will never do them again!!! help!!!
Chris- Both are very highly addictive. Suboxone is relatively new so many of the side effects have not been as widely communicated. It most definitely helps with the withdrawals, but you are switching from one addictive medication to the other. My advice is to check into a rehab that offers Librium treatment. This is used more with alcoholics, but it does help to relieve the withdrawal symptoms. Also, you would be under 24 medical supervision in the event that a medical emergency does arise from the withdrawals. (Yes, I know that only secondary withdrawals from opiates result in death). Best of luck to you, friend. I, too, fought that battle for sometime. My worst day sober is by far much better than my best day high. You are in my prayers.
I think i have heard it all now and no i dont have all the answers but putting an opiate addict where they offer Librium for withdrawel dosent sound right.Maybe codeine and valium which they offer here would make more sensce.I understand were all different but opiate addiction needs to be treated as such.Havent heard of Librium for over 20 years.there are no detoxes here in Canada thatt use it.Do youre homework and get the best possable treament.Go well my freind.Peace and Love ,John
John Archie,
I have done my homework. First, I was detoxed off of oxycontin with Librium. Secondly, I work in a treatment facility that uses Librium. The primary reason is that both Suboxone and Methadone are highly addictive. There are treatment centers in Canada that use Librium. I have checked since reading your post. P.S. There isn't any reason to get so defensive, we are simply sharing our own experiences.
hey i think that you really need to go to a methadone clinic. they have concilers their that can help with ANYTHING that you have going on in ur life and meetings there too! you can increase ur dose by 5mg when ever you need to if u feel like the methadone is wearing off during the day, just talk 2 ur conciler. methadone lasts 24-36 hours so you don't have the craveings for oc's. I've been going for 2 years and im on leavel 6. i go once every 2 weeks and get my liquid methadone. i know have a great job as a pharmacy tech and im around meds. all day and have no desire to steel them or take them. i couldn't even hold a job 2 years ago and know i have a full time job wear im respected and trusted around the hard core meds. methadone has changed my life! I don't care what anybody says bad about it, it has gave me a chance to LIVE again. i hope you try it. and they take all ages.
you have to be 18 or older to go by ur self or if ur not 18 i think u have to have a parent with u. not sure. look up (Mcloud methadone clinic) on the internet. THats were i go. good luck
<sweety26>
No Way! Stay away from the methadone! Suboxone has that piece that does not allow you to feel other opiates that are introduced into your body, helps decrease the temptations at first. Even when your ready those temptations are there. Stay on suboxone... and good luck... get your life back, I have and it feels great.
I can agree w/most when I say methadone clinics are like A&P stores... yeah there still but! they are there gotta look hard to find a good one, willing to let you fall whenever you cant pay your bill... who in the hell would wish that on anyone? Meth clinics have usually a doctor that you dont even get to see when you NEED to... and when you do you know hes just clearing the red tape... just a bunch of wannabe "healthcare" workers that are there to put drugs in a little cup."heres a little more" They will let you take too much... knowing it will be that much more difficult to get off narcs altogether. I am not adressing those people who HAVE to be on methadone, so exuse me. Suboxone has a "ceiling effect" @ 32mgs hence you cant OD if you wanna take 60mgs! FINE! you wont OD. Suboxone forms almost little triangles when it binds to the receptors I dont know who said it coats(?) but that was false.
It does a great job of blocking the sorrounding receptors hence the needing less part. If those receptors are being activly binded by an existing opiate than the suboxon will bind, block... and put the hurt on you... for up to 36 hrs count on being in the ER (ESPECIALLY GOING FROM METHADONE TO SUBOXONE.(as it does VERY WELL)
and it will force you in withdrawl as the person said before. IT DOES NOT WORK THE OTHER WAY AROUND. STOP TRELLING PEOPLE NARCS WILL MAKE YOU SICK WHEN YOU DO THEM ON TOP OF SUBOXONE. All that is happening is your wasting you lortab vicoden ect... You have to do so much as to flood your brain with so much to push off the sub. NOT THE NALOXONE. LOOK IT UP! I go to one of the best addiction specialists in the country, he's got a book about it. The cost of suboxone is a little bit more expensive but the suboxone is ALOT more accepted and less bad memories at the meth clinic... listening to peoples dope stories while your in line is something no person wishing to remain clean should be subjected to.(ill climboffmyhighhorsenow)
2yrs into methadone allowed me to feel like it was working, but after 13yrs on 150mgs(yep, had to keep going up on dosage each year)I lost my life! I was unable to function by the 4th year and went into a slow downward spiral until I lost my job and will to even get out of bed. DO NOT, I REPEAT, DO NOT GET ON METHADONE! It will catch up to you eventually. Now, a year on Suboxone(started at 32mg and now on 4mg)I have my life back. I am active and engaged in life for the first time in years. Methadone is a fast-track to more misery than one can imagine. It's much more easy to kick heroin or any other opioid than methadone. In 13yrs on it I never witnessed or heard of anyone being successful in getting off methadone cold turkey or tapering. Well, that's all I have to say on the matter.
I would agree that Methadone is NOT the road to travel! I was also on the clinic for 13 years. I think that methadone only prolongs addiction, maybe even makes the addiction worse... well it did for me. If there is anyone reading this and is serious about freeing themselves from opiates for good, just know that Methadone is NOT the way to go! Its a degrading place to be. I felt like I was on probation or something, because of having to ask before leaving town, or having to talk to a counselor about every little thing, and having to pee in a cup every other freaking day. Its a terrible terrible place to exist for 13 years, let alone 1 day!
I have been on Suboxone for 1 year and have gone from 3-8mgs a day down to .25 in a year. Yeah it's been tough, some days were hell, but I am serious about being free from opiates. I never could have made this kind of progress at the clinic. I was there for 13 L-O-N-G years and always had to increase my dose. My highest does was 132 mgs, and I still felt like I needed to shoot dope. Now there is something wrong with that picture!
I wish that there was someone there to tell me when I was a kid that Methadone was not a good idea. If someone had told me all of the terrible side effects and the terrible life I would have had to endure, then maybe I wouldn't have gotten on it. If anything I would have taken a second look and reconsidered my options.
Best of luck to all of you out there that need the advice and opinion of those of us who have been thru what you don't want to go thru! xoxo!
-stopthepain
can you help me? I take between 200mg & 400mg oxycodone per day when I am out I have even turned to H but never shoot it. My doc wants me to try Methadone how many mg do I need not to be sick? I don't know much about it I just know I cant continue my life this way
hi !
I was hoping u can give me sum insite ?
I just joined the meth clinic and i want 2 stay at a low dose cause of an up comming court hearing! My lawyer says he is not sure if im, going 2 do jail time! I would like 2 stay at a low dose in case jail time may b in the near up comming future! I was on methdone 4 about 8 yrs, 10 yrs ago ! I was administratedly detoxed for non compiance 2 the program.! Which ended up as the worst withdrawl I ever had gone through! 85 mgs to 0 in a length of 2 weeks. This is why I need 2 stay at a low dose especially if jailtime is in my near future! My plan is 2 stabilize on 30 - 40 mgs for a few more weeks ; and obviously stay clean ! I would like 2 transfer from meth to soboxone ! I have successfully detoxed myself from subs in the past & found its nothing like the withdrawls i endured with methdone! I was just wondering if any one knows a good dose of methdone 2 start sub treatment.
Or do i need 2 to b fully detoxed from the meth? If any one has n e insite on this matter i would love 2 hear from u ! Thanks , and good luck 2 all of u in the struggles of this addiction im sure most of us have been battling 4 yrs! if ne 1 would like ne support ,Please reach out ! If I cant help u im sure someone else can. thanks! paully g
Hi,I have been on Suboxone here in Canada which is new here,mostly methadone which i was on for 10 years and it worked at the proper dose.I went off it and within days i was shooting dilaudid for the next 5 months until i found a clinic that put me on suboxone,they started at a low dose 4mgs and increased it daily until i was comfortable.Im now at 24mgs daily and feeling well again.Just my humble opinion youre dose is to low and from what i have read most people do well between 16mg and 24mg but i know one girl who needed the max dosage they can give which is 32mgs,everyones different.Hope you get to where youre feeling better.Peace,John
Suboxone, Methadone, the same...
Two things:
Suboxone poses a longer withdrawal than any other opiate known. This is because of of the blocking agent than locks in the opiate. Once dissolved, the Buprenorphine) is immediately absorbed and the powerful opiate (almost 3 times stronger than Morphine) attached to your receptors (opiate/endorphin). Then, the Naloxone (blocking agent) 'coats' your receptors, locking in the opiate but blocking any opiate that may come in, hence why you will get very sick if you were to take any other opiate, or too much Suboxone. It is because of this mechanism of action that makes it incredibly difficult to withdrawal from. The withdrawal from Suboxone is reported to be significantly worse than almost any other opiate, except Methadone.
Methadone is another nightmare. The withdrawal may not be as long as Suboxone, but it is much worse in severity. Either way, you're just trading one addiction/dependency for another.
Also, think about drug companies, big pharma. They want you hooked-in essence their just like the tobacco industry. Once they get you, they've got your for life, or at least that's how it seems. Most patient attending a methadone clinic are told that they won't get off it, or now's not the time, or they're scared into believing that they'll 'relapse' if they do come down or off. This is not fair... They want you there for you money, you pay their bills. That's it. I've spoken to so many patients who just want to be free from the 'liquid handcuffs' but are told they can;t do it or won't make it. It's this sort of belittling and undermining that they use to 'counsel' their patients. I'm sure some people are happy to be on Methadone and maybe it did save their life, but there comes a times when the patient has a right to be off of it and not live life tied to a clinic.
So, in conclusion, don't buy into everything your sold and please look into using a doctor's help in treating you symptomatically through the withdrawal. There's a whole world of medications out there that can relieve some of your symptoms with out the risk of cross-addiction. Talk to a primary care physician or a psychiatrist in your area and make sure to be clear that you do not want exchange one addiction for another and that your ready, you just need a little help. Remember, you pay them, don't feel intimidated by them. You are the boss. I wish you the best of luck...
bre.
Have to disagree with you as i have shot 2 8mg dilaudid on 24 mgs of suboxone and dint even feel a tingle let alone go in withdrawal.Its when you first start suboxone that you will go into precipated withdrawal if you are still high on dilaudid etc.Do your homework before giving false info.Regards,john archie
Then I wonder why it is they put a blocker in it. Could you answer that? Hummmmm...
I, too, had the same experience where I did not feel ill, however, what Bre33 has written about the drug is absolutely correct. Also, I agree to not take either drug. There are many other drugs, such as Librium, that can be taken for the withdrawal. Also, the drug is meant to be used for a short period of time, 3-5 days, not for years. She isn't the one who needs to do their research.
Thank you, I was becoming wishy-washy about getting off Suboxone, u changed my mind. I want the peace of not being ruled by a drug.
Thank u.
so i read your post and ive taken suboxone for 4 years and also have taken methadone for a year once and i totally disagree suboxone withdrawl yes is not easy and yes methadone and suboxone are alot alike because the cravings are gone but i will say i disagree because comming off of methadone for even taking it for two weeks the withdrawl is a nightmear you might as well go get a rig and shoot em up. suboxone is not easy to come off of espically over a long period of taking it but methadone to me is satan and mabe its diff for you but i will never recomend someone take methadone over suboxone guess its all diff for everyone i just know i was getting just as high off the methadone a i was dope, totally diff with suboxone.
the blocker only works when it's shot. Thats why its in there, to discourage shooting subs.
If anyone has read bre 33's lil comment he's got things alil wrong and im not trying to critique but suboxone withdrawel is no where near as bad as methadone and doesn't take near the amount of time methadone will to withdrawel from methadone withdrawel takes 21 days minimum because the drugs locks into ur bone marrow taking longwer to get out but suboxone withdrawel does hurt its no walk in the park but it wont last but around 10 days the worst of it. The withdrawel from oxycontin was way worse for me than a suboxone withdrawel..
and when he said clinics try to make u stay on it that's wrong as well they don't force u to do anything u can drop your dose when ur councelors an u feel u are ready to drop but don't rush it, an noone trys to scare u into a life long maintanence program but shit if it keeps you o me from shooting dope and abusing pain meds what is the big problem with spending my life or what's left of it on a medicine that keeps me happy and keeps my relationships and my work sucessful bc before this when I was using noone trusted me or could trust me and I was constantly blowing thousands of dollars a week and now I spend around 100 a week on methadone and if u need u can find insurance to help with that sooo its your choice and yours alone don't let anyone make it for you
I want to correct you on your pharmacology of methadone because you are a little confused.
First off, buprenorphine is almost 30 times stronger than morphine, not 3.
You are correct in saying that Naloxone is a blocking agent for most opiates. However it does not 'coat' the receptor or 'lock' in buprenorphine. Naloxone binds to the opiate receptor very strongly, but buprenorphine has an even stronger attraction to the opiate receptor than naloxone, so the buprenorphine will either find another opiate receptor or it can 'knock off' the naloxone from the opiate receptor it was attached to.
You are correct in saying that you can get withdrawals from taking Suboxone too early. This is mostly because of the buprenorphine 'knocking off' the heroin/oxycontin/vicoden/morphine from the opiate receptor they were attached to. Naloxone also has the ability to do the same thing and buprenorphine (to knock off the molecule), but nalaxone is given in a 1/4 of the dose and is broken down quicker in the body that bupe. You get the withdrawals because buprenorphine is only a partial agonist and naloxone is an antagonist, which will give less of the needed opiate signaling needed to maintain wellness when compared to a full agonist like oxy or heroin.
If you are taking suboxone and shoot up heroin or ingest any type of opiate, most likely it will not have an effect because opiates like oxy/heroin/vicoden/morphine do not bind as strongly to the opiate receptor as the buprenorphine does. It is widely confused that you can't get high from other opiates after taking suboxone because of the naloxone, but its mostly due to the buprenorphine.
Hope this makes sense. I just read your first paragraph and thought I should clarify things a little bit.
Good luck with the recovery!
-cap
You got it backwards on methadone withdrawal. Methadone withdrawal takes longer than any other opiate. It took me a year to detox from methadone after being brought down to 4mg. Since then I asked everybody I could about methadone withdrawal and they all agree that it takes around a year depending on the dose you are on and how long you were on it.
Dear Bre,
I experienced no withdrawal symptoms from suboxone. Suboxone can put you into immediate condensed detox if you take suboxone when you still have opiates in your system, but as long as you wait long enough until you take suboxone it really does work. i was very surprised to read your post. What were the withdrawal symptoms that you experienced?
Related topics
oxycontin, suboxone, opiate dependence, opiate withdrawal, heroin, methadone, addiction
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