Buprenorphine / naloxone and Depression: What Users Say

• AM1...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• July 11, 2014

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "To anyone looking to get on Suboxone to overcome opiate addiction - DO IT!! I've been on Suboxone for 15 months now & have gone from 20mg to 2 mgs literally painlessly. The first time I took it, I knew within an hr I had found what I needed to get that damn monkey off my back. A slow yet STEADY taper is important. There's no reason a person can't easily drop 2mgs a mo. down to about 4mg. If it's making you sleepy, time to taper! It gets a bit slower once you get lower but still not hard at all. Once you get to about 3mg, you almost have an awakening! You get more energy and start to LOVE music and conversation again. I would say that those are the biggest side effects - sleepiness (taper!) and slight emotional dullness."

• Tom...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 19, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone was great for getting off of opioids (Percocet) and the $100/day habit, but it came with a high price. I was addicted to Suboxone now (under doctor's care) and we tried 6-7 times to wean me off. IMPOSSIBLE!! And I was a successful business owner who was a workaholic and could do almost anything. The insomnia and restless leg drove me back every time. Finally had to go to a medical detox place, RCA, to get off this stuff. In the meantime, I lost 400k, can't work, have crippling depression, and can't focus on stuff. I've been opioid/Suboxone-free for 7 months now, and guess what?? I'm still a mess. All I can say is don't take that stuff long term. It's BRUTAL to stop..."

• Ear...
• June 27, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone is a crazy drug. I raced pro motocross and got introduced to pills because of being in the hospital a lot. Lol, anyway, I was taking around ten 30 mg percs a day for a little over a year. Well, I got on Suboxone from a doc. He told me I'd be on it for the rest of my life. (Don't do that.) The transition from pills to Suboxone was a breeze. Slept a lot for three days, and then I felt like I had my life back. (Wrong.) Four years on Suboxone. All I did was sleep those four years and couldn't keep any relationships. I was taking anywhere from 8 to 16 mg of Suboxone a day. I cold turkeyed off 8 to 16 mg of the strips because I was tired of sleeping all day. Luckily I am self-employed because I would have lost my job. I'm on day 26 and am still having diarrhea, very little energy, but I feel like I have my head back finally. Not saying there's no depression or anxiety, but I already feel better in my mind. The first three weeks were the worst and still are. Suboxone should only be used for two weeks to get off pills."

• Thi...
• December 17, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I wanted to review because the negative comments I read beforehand actually made me uneasy about even trying this. I’m so glad it didn’t stop me from giving it a chance to work. I was on Suboxone 8 mg 2x a day for 6 months before switching to Zubsolv. As I just mentioned, I was a nervous wreck, thinking the worst, after reading many comments from those who have switched from Suboxone to Zubsolv. I had no choice but to give it a try. The first day, I woke up and felt a bit achy. Immediately I thought, “this isn’t going to work, the commenters are correct.” I still continued, and I have to say, while it says dosages are different, I absolutely feel MUCH better on Zubsolv than I did Suboxone. I feel much less of the “medicated” feeling and much more NORMAL and revitalized. For whatever reason, it doesn’t come with some of the side effects I felt with Suboxone (and even the down, depressed feeling I had while on Suboxone is gone)."

• Thi...
• December 17, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I wanted to review because the negative comments I read beforehand actually made me uneasy about even trying this. I’m so glad it didn’t stop me from giving it a chance to work. I was on Suboxone 8 mg 2x a day for 6 months before switching to Zubsolv. As I just mentioned, I was a nervous wreck, thinking the worst, after reading many comments from those who have switched from Suboxone to Zubsolv. I had no choice but to give it a try. The first day, I woke up and felt a bit achy. Immediately I thought, “this isn’t going to work, the commenters are correct.” I still continued, and I have to say, while it says dosages are different, I absolutely feel MUCH better on Zubsolv than I did Suboxone. I feel much less of the “medicated” feeling and much more NORMAL and revitalized. For whatever reason, it doesn’t come with some of the side effects I felt with Suboxone (and even the down, depressed feeling I had while on Suboxone is gone)."

• War...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 13, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This medication is excellent for suppressing my cravings for opioids! Unfortunately, I cannot stay on it for more than a month due to the horrible side effects. I literally would not sleep more than 1-2 hours a night, therefore causing hallucinations after 4 days. No bowel movement for a week at a time, and even then, I would have to drink magnesium citrate. My legs would swell so bad, my lower back would hurt, and I put on 10-15 lbs of water. Severely agitated and depressed."

• jen...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• August 3, 2015

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone worked a miracle for me. I suffer from hydrocephalus and have a shunt in my brain. For 8 years, I had a neurologist tell me all he could do was treat me for pain. It didn't take long to realize they were addicting. I didn't know anymore if I was treating pain or the addiction. After all, I had an excuse. Then one day it hit me. I had been using the word 'excuse.' I tried to stop cold turkey. But each time, I'd get severe depression, anxiety, RLS, insomnia, headaches. I wasn't aware that my body was opiate dependent until I talked to a different doctor. He took my blood pressure, which was really low, and informed me that it was dangerous to quit like that after so long and suggested I try Suboxone. It works!"

• Jim...
• November 1, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Had OxyContin addiction, went to methadone for 2 years, tapered from 150 mg to 25 mg, then switched to Suboxone for 2 years. Tapered from 32 mg to 0.5 mg. Initial taper was quick, and I was at 2 mg and below for the 2nd year. I was on 0.5 mg (a quarter of a 2 mg pill) for 2 months before I stopped. I stopped Sept 1309 (7 weeks ago). Withdrawals are not as severe as OxyContin's but long. The first week was hard, and the 2nd week was better, and by week 3, I was much better. Here is the thing: I am still not sleeping well (5 hrs/night), not solid. My motivation and energy are low, skin still crawls, and Jimmy legs are the worst! (7 weeks). After research, it looks like I will be dealing with this for 6 months to a year."

• LaN...
• March 25, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been addicted to opiates, opioids, or anything like it for the past 8-10 years. I recently was addicted to poppy seed tea, which I had a good supply of high potency seeds, so I was extremely dependent on the tea for the last 7 years or so of my life. I was spending $20-$30 a day on it, and it took 1-3 hours a day of my life away from my family to get and make the tea. Not to mention the embarrassment. After losing my good supplier, I switched back to codeine, which wasn't doing the trick. Needless to say, I was hooked and had no easy way out. Anytime I tried to quit, I went through horrible withdrawals, crushing depression, and anxiety. Even after a week of not taking, the depression was getting worse and worse. I had to use, just so I wouldn't kill myself, it felt like. Totally trapped. I made the decision to start taking Suboxone last week. Best decision of my life!!!"

• Why...
• February 4, 2014

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I've only taken the Suboxone for two days now, waiting for this 'miracle' everyone is talking about to happen. Started 8 mg yesterday after a month of trying the methadone treatment that made me feel awful. Withdrew appropriately as to not cause precipitated withdrawal and was even worse yesterday than when I had tried cold turkey on my own. Deep depression. Today, 12 mg. Still waiting to feel good, still waiting to not have cravings, still waiting to stop crying. I'm paid up for two weeks, this needs to be the answer. Everyone is saying they felt amazing the first day, doesn't anyone struggle the first few and then feel amazing? I don't want to hold my breath, but I really need this to be my answer too."

• Opi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "1st day on Zubsolv. I have no history with Suboxone, and I can't compare the two. For the last year, I was averaging 20 days of the month on 150 mg of MD per day and 200 mg of Hydro or Oxy for the other 10 days of the month. My source of MD went to the clinic every two weeks, so I always would be out of MD with 4 or 5 days remaining before this person went back to the clinic. Sad but true, and I accept that I am an idiot. Anyways, 24 days ago I just jumped CT. It was as bad as all you have read about MD. I was desperate and called a clinic and got on Zubsolv. Within 30 minutes, all the anxiety, pain all over, lack of motivation, etc. was fading. 1 hour later, I am like a different person. Based on 1 day, I am a fan."

• Lon...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 14, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I've had an extensive history with pain meds. My whole fam literally has drug problems and is addicted to alcohol. I was sober 11 years back in 2001. I was 21. Since I married, we had a child and moved cross-country. When we moved, I found out I had breast cancer. After being diagnosed at 36, finding out I carry the gene, an 18-hour surgery to save my life, throw a pulmonary embolism 3 weeks later my disease took over again. I was put on Zubsolv over 2 years ago. I thought this is a lifesaver! Now, day 15 into detox, I have never in my life had withdrawal this bad! I'm 44, healthy now. I have awful restless leg, flat affect, emotional, fever/chills... all for 11 days now! I have never in my life been in withdrawal for this long! You think it's saving you, you're switching an addiction for another one! No lie."

• man...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 4, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Dear hopeful, I wish you all luck, because you will need all the luck in the world if you choose this way to get clean from an addiction problem. It will never happen, it is actually 100 times harder to get off subs than any drug. It will make you lose any personality you have, not to mention friends, significant others, all your sex drive. You will be depressed, tired, mean, moody, and miserable all the time. Trust me, this is no way to end your problem, it will only create bigger ones than before. You will lose interest in your family, your dreams, and life. So suck it up, it's 7-10 days of being sick. Trust me, it will beat the most of misery getting off of subs. I promise, don't put a Band-Aid on something that you will live through. Trust me, the hell isn't worth it."

• mea...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 22, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I switched to this medication after being on methadone 130 mg for 10+ years. I had to drop the methadone down to 40 mg for 5 days, then stop completely for 4 days before I could take Zubsolv. I lost the weight I gained from methadone, got through the depressed feeling by using Lexapro. I'm now coming off Zubsolv after 1 year of 5.7 mg daily. It seems fairly easy so far, wish me luck!"

• Dta...
• November 2, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was on OxyContin, Methadone, cocaine. NOT ALL AT ONCE. It started with Percocets, Vicodin. Then I started trying OxyContin, then when I was coming down from Oxys, I would binge on coke for days to relieve the depression and sluggishness from not having oxy. Then a friend gave me a Suboxone. And I got a script and help for my addiction. I've been on the Suboxone program for a little over a year. I have lapsed a few times but never like before. I'm almost done with this, and I can see a light at the end of this long tunnel finally! Suboxone takes away the physical withdrawal symptoms and blocks your opiate receptors. So if you do use opiates within 24 hrs, it won't let you get as high, and withdrawal symptoms come on stronger and faster. So not advised to use both."

• Hat...
• January 25, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This medication is a joke! Stay on subs before you try this. Omg, it's horrible. I can't believe the scam these pharmaceutical companies are pushing out with this horrible medication. Feels like I'm withdrawing all over again!"

• JGN...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 8, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Came off prescribed Percocets and started taking Suboxone strips 8/2 for 4 months, then Zubsolv for a month that worked very well as well. Then they switched me to the new Bupe/Naloxone 2/.05 mg tablet generic twice daily, and all I got to say is this drug is absolutely horrible. I'm getting the sweats, extreme anxiety, depression, you name it - almost like I'm going into withdrawals a few hours after taking. Think I might just do an at-home detox and be over with all this medication nonsense. I wish you all the best with this product and also hope your insurance will pay for the real Suboxone or Zubsolv. Stay away from the generic, it will mess with your head, especially if you have a high sensitivity to medications. God bless, and please stay clean, don't ever give up."

• mna...
• November 18, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I started on 2 mg of Suboxone, I worked my way up to roughly 5 mg. I could no longer take the migraines and constipation. When I switched to Bunavail, I went from 5-6 mg of Subs to 2 doses of 2.1 Bunavail daily. CONS: 2.1 mg Bunavail is not even close to 4 mg of Subs, which is what the manufacturer claims. Initially, I had WD symptoms when transitioning to Bunavail, 2.1, twice daily. Yes, the film can 'scroll' in your mouth and takes time to dissolve. I wait 45 min before spitting out 'goo.' PROS: Fewer migraines. I have regular bowel movements. My body is still trying to 'level out' with this new dosing, and I'm struggling a bit with lethargy, motivation, and sleep, but I'm committed to giving it time. In about three months, I have a plan to start tapering. IF you're someone who is in survival mode because of side effects of the Suboxone, TRY Bunavail, but KNOW the dosing is NOT what the manufacturer indicates. It's closer to 2.1 = 2 mg of Subs. God bless anyone struggling with addiction."

• Bra...
• April 23, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was recently prescribed Suboxone by my neurologist to detox off of OxyContin. I was taking 180 mg of OxyContin daily and struggled with keeping a regulated amount constant throughout the day and had many side effects from the OxyContin. My neurologist prescribed me 8 mg/2 mg tablets full-time for not only detoxing off of the OxyContin but also to treat chronic pain that I deal with daily from damage to discs in my spine from T4 - T11 and L5-S1. On Suboxone, my pain levels are very low (1-2), depression is minimal, and the obvious withdrawal symptoms from the OxyContin were suppressed completely 20 minutes after my initial dose approximately 16 hours after my last dose of OxyContin. Excellent drug for pain management."

• Alc...
• November 1, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This medicine initially killed the withdrawal, but after five days, I realized I was still having cravings really badly. Also, it felt like I was dragging a thirty-pound weight around with me, coupled with severe depression. Most pharmacies do not carry this medication, and most pharmacists I spoke with had not even heard of this drug. All in all, I had to hunt this med down and special order it, only to find out it sucks. And yes, I was taking it correctly, the printed side facing out towards my inner cheek lining. I am going back to the doc to ask for the one and only Suboxone."

• 659...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• May 5, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Been taking Suboxone for 8 years, and it saved my life, but generic Sub came out, and Medicaid would only pay for that. Right off the bat, trouble. I began to have depression and even withdrawal symptoms. I ended up in the hospital. I felt relief if I doubled up, but even then, it didn’t always work. The degree of anxiety was beyond what I could tolerate. The generic Sub doesn't seem to have any active ingredients in them - or very little, this is really a big problem."

• pia...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• July 8, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on and off Suboxone for years from taking pain pills for bad neck pain and headaches. I was doing great for a few months until my doctor prescribed me Zubsolv 2 months ago. I noticed immediately I felt withdrawal symptoms and shortly afterward I started having stomach problems. I gradually became deathly ill and have been in and out of the ER 3 times with all kinds of GI problems, along with a feeling of gas pains all over from my feet, head to my hands. Bad headache, trouble breathing, blurred vision, cannot think clearly, depression, and so on. I think there is something else in Zubsolv that is doing this as I have racked my brain with how this all started. I have episodes of delirium and feel like I'm not going to make it."

• Ree...
• March 3, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "Subutex. What can I say? I was on methadone when my clinic decided to switch everyone to Subutex. I was told so many wonderful things. My doctor couldn’t say enough good things about it. The first lie I was told was, “It’s a schedule 3, I can call it in for you.” ...A year later, not one call in. Even after tooth extraction. I was prescribed this for pain, and surprise!!! I’m still in pain. Lie 2. Oh, it’s so much cheaper than methadone!! Lie 3. $275 for one month cash payment, not including the ridiculous doctor fees each month (low-income veteran here)....I had surgery, and would you believe my surgeon had never heard of it? So when I was pumped full of hard opioids, it was a nightmare. So, I’m done with it. I’m on day 3 zero subs, and I feel decent. I gained 50 pounds on this drug and now not as hungry. I lost interest in everything, becoming a shell of my true self. Enough is enough. Just dump it if you REALLY want to be free!"

• ede...
• January 12, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This is the real deal. I was smoking a gram a day of heroin for about a year. I had tried to quit cold turkey-didn't work. I didn't even last two days before I went out again. Then I was prescribed other medicines to help with the detox. I gave these up after three days of insomnia and being anxious and depressed. Finally, I tried Suboxone, and it made all the difference in the world. I was super cold the first two days, but on day three, I woke up feeling great. I've been on one 8 mg pill a day for about three weeks now, and I feel better than I have in years. Even people who don't know I was a junkie have commented on how much better I look. The best part is I have no cravings, and I have money again."

• pun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• December 29, 2014

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I was reading some of the reviews on how well Suboxone works on opiate withdrawal. The one person had only been on it for three days, 8 mg a day. I as well went that route over 6 years ago. While Suboxone is a lifesaver while trying to kick narcotics. The Suboxone also comes with a price! If you are only on it for a short time, meaning a month or so, you should do well. What always brought me back to the narcotics, after the Sub's, was the depression. I would become so depressed, I had considered suicide. If it comes down to staying on Suboxone or pills, even heroin, stay on the Suboxone! They even have a better drug out there now. It's called Butrans, it comes in patch form only, it comes in 5 mg, 10 mg, and 25 mg patches."