Do any of you have any experience with Suboxone? It's supposed to be in the same category as Methadone and used to treat opiate addiction. Unlike Methodone, though, it's not handed out at a Methadone Clinic. There's doctors all over the country that write a script for it. Instead of going to a clinic every day, you get a 30 day supply at each doctor visit.

I know a couple of people on it, but it's been so short term that it's hard to tell if it's going to work. They swear by it, though, and say it kills withdrawals and cravings.

I was just wondering if anybody else had ever used it or knew somebody on it. If so, how successful were you/them?

Well yes, we do have experience with Suboxone, and it works. It works. It works.
First of all, no more clinic visits at 5am. No more having to wait in line for a dose of something out of a cup, every single day. No more being afraid of something happening to your lock box and wondering how your going to explain "that!" (know what I mean?)
Your first visit to the doctor, he keeps you in his office basically the whole day to see what kind of "dose" you need to be on. After that, he moniters you. You get what he prescribes and then you see him when you run out. His ultimate goal is to lower your dose and get you off, much like methadone. The pharmacists are VERY strict in what they give you.
It should be much more available then what it is, in my opinion.
:)
Any more questions? Just ask! :)

I have a friend who has been on it a while. And when he sticks with it, he does well, but I haven't seen any progress to get him off of it. And missing a dose of it isn't as obvious as a missed dose of methadone.
Jenn

Hiya Jeni! Thanks for the info!

How long do they anticipate somebody being on Suboxone? I've read cases of people being on Methadone for 20 years or longer. Is Suboxone supposed to be that long term?

Also, do you have any idea what a month's supply would cost?

P. S.
You're so great! :D

Thanks MrsBenji - I need all the answers I can get. :)

That's good about missing a dose vs. missing a dose of Methadone.

Here is a relatively good site on suboxone detox, and state listings on what doctors and clinics supply this.

http://www.suboxone-directory.com/

http://www.etfrc.com/SuboxoneResources.htm

I searched everywhere for the cost of this drug and can't find. It might vary.
I personally have not heard of this drug, but from what i have read it appears ok. I personally am leery of a drug to limit withdrawl unless done in a medical detox. I would be concerned about dependence on the drug and avoidance at treating the addiction itself. jmho. I do know about Methadone and at the program I work at, they don't allow clients to be on methadone maintainance unless they are pregnant. also methadone can delay the withdrawl and although might not be as intense, it is a much longer process.

I just asked my friend. He pays $100 for the doctor visit and for 12 mg a day dosage, he pays right at $200 for the meds.

Hope this helps.
Jenn

The one thing about Suboxone, in my opinion, is that if you don't allow it to work, it won't. All you have to do is stop taking it, and you can get high. You have to want to quit, and this makes it easier.
I think one month supply costs around $60-$80, somewhere in there.
I just happened on this drug one day while searching the internet. I read up on it, found a list of doctors in the Michigan area that were able to subscribe it, and that was all it took. The doctor was very nice, he didn't treat you badly or act like you were lower then low cuz you were an addict (like the way you can feel standing in a line at a meth clinic)
I know it is relatively new, but so far so good. :)

The beuprenorphine/suboxone programs have evolved somewhat. There is now a maintenance type program similar to methadone but not as addictive. In a previous response a website was given. That is the site I used. I found a place In Saramento Ca that was going to start my son on the program. You have to get down pretty low on heroin before you can start. It is a very promising treatment.

There has also been another new treatment in the news lately. IBOGAINE...

Hi everyone, I just found this forum and I thought I would post some helpful information for those of you who have or had my problem. I am 34 years old and a divorce with 2 children. About 3 years ago I had gastric bypass surgery and as of today I have lost a total of 165 pounds, I was 270 and am now 105. I went from a size 24 to a zero or a 14 in kids size. About 6 months after my surgery I found out I had gotten and insicional hernia as a result of my surgery and had to go in for repair, unfortunitally it didnt take so 6 weeks later I had to go under the knife once again. This time it took but as a result of these surgerys in a years time I became addicated to pain pills ( percicet, oxy cotten and methadone ) I was taking the pills for almost 2 years and it got to a point to where I had to take 15 to 20 a day to even keep going, I soon realized that I was going to have to try something stronger to get that high I craved so much but I was afraid that if I didnt try to get help I would end up a crack head. It could easily happen and has to many people. I however value my life and my children more than that so one day when the depression had gotten so bad and I wanted to commit sucidide I knew I had to make a life altering decision and I chose to live. I had tried to quit one time before and the withdrawls I endured were horriable. Night and cold sweats, tremors, severe depression and physically I felt like I had been hit by a semi. I remember being high and wishing I could have a normal life again, a life where I didnt wonder what it would be like to not be high 24/7, I wanted my life back. I did not know where to turn so I went to my private doctor and told him everything and it was the best thing I could have ever done, it was january 5 2005 and the last day I have had any pills. He told me about this new drug called SUBOXONE, well thats the generic name for it. It comes in 2 mg or 8 mg, it looks like a timy methadone and disolves under your tongue. What it does is take away any craving and bypasses all side effects of withdrawl and the best part is it is non narcodic. It is something he recommndes I take for at least as long as I abused which like I said was 2 years and after that he will ween me off the drug, it also helps with depression but I have since started taking prozac as well because it doesnt help it that much......lol, I tell you it saved my life, it is the best thing I have ever been fortunite enough to be able to have to help me. Recovering is a very hard thing to do without any help which is proubly why so many people relapse but this stuff works and I am proof. It takes the craving totally away. Do I still remember what it felt like to get high, yes. Do I feel like I can not make it without the drug, NO! I do not know how many of you know about this since I know it is new but it works. Like I said it is for opiet addication, ( pain pills, herion, ect: ) if any one has any questions that I might be able to answer feel free to pm me. If this information helps one person then thats 1 less person out there using. Thanks for listening.......... Chrissie:thumbsup:

This has been an interesting thread to me. I have a few family members who have taken all kinds of opiates and have had an awful time breaking free of them. One of them said she felt like she was being kicked in the stomache and back when she did not have the pills. She did go thru a program to kick the habit, and it was successful for her, but it was so costly most people won't even consider it for themselves. Maybe this is something the courts can consider when ordering people thru some kind of program. Thank you for the information.

I just found out my husband is a heroin addict, any info you my have will help.

I also know that in florida where I am from that suboxone IS covered by medicaid, I do not have regular health insurance but thank god I have medicaid, this medician has saved my life, literaly

We have one doctor in our area that prescibes it. Unfortunately Jason took off before they could get him in the program. His D&A counselor was getting him into it. It is covered here in PA too. I don't know any of the details but what his counselor told me.