Buprenorphine Experiences

[Ranke]

Swim has an update on suboxone sub q. It appears to work, as mentioned by another member or someone else swim can't rememember. It appears that the company that manufactures suboxone either doesn't add enough naloxone or naloxone is shitty unless it's given IV. But as far as swim could tell, .2-.3 mg sub q worked fine. He had some trouble distinguishing it though as he had already gone through 12mg in the past day and a half. He tried to watch transformers but kept nodding off in the middle. Lol might have been that half a gram line he railed up and snorted off a credit card halfway through the movie. Boy it felt nice to use drugs so flagerently and see peoples reactions.

[painfully_lost]

swim broke a 8mg suboxone in to 1/4s, then added water and slammed, not bad, not great, but no immediate detox. Swim has not used morphine since last week, no suboxone pills since monday. Please do not IV pills, that would make you a moron, just like swim.

[Ranke]

Swim did not IV the pills as he clearly stated. He used the sub q (won't try to spell it) method rather than risk damage to veins.

[rodent]

I'd have to agree with painfully_lost

Please do not IV pills, that would make you a moron, just like swim.

[painfully_lost]

does that mean I can have my infraction reversed now?

[rodent]

Infraction of rules? or of being stoopid?


The first take up with Alfa the second, you can recover from stoopid mistakes (usually) but it is non the less smarter to not do said stoopid stunt in the first place. Comprende?

[painfully_lost]

better yet, cancel my account asshole. Fucken useless POMs

[greeneye22]

more of an update-on 4mg now, starting to freak bout coming off-aaagh SWIM originally posted bout going from heroin to sub now and was freaking bout that now SWIM posting bout coming off...least its progress I guess, any words of wisdom anywhere?X

[rodent]

Keep at it greeneye22! You WILL get there and be clean if that's what you want. SWIM did it not once but twice..... He never did learn the easy way, the dope (pun intended).
Go about it slow and easy and don't try and jump right off and be clean as I think that's how many fail.

As for painfully_lost, I don't know wtf you are talking about. I don't have the ability to delete accounts and frankly I don't know what I said that was so bad. *shrug*.

[greeneye22]

Thank you Rodent,
I know what good advice that is , Swim has already had a few experience of detoxing and going straight "back out there" but something inside has finally changed and finally there might be some light at the end..perhaps...hopefully!
Just hope when SWIM takes the plunge in a few weeks in will not be like the W/D from Heroin.
But as is so clearly written on your accounts "Resistance is useless"! will just have to do it.Take care.

[Santa]

Swim posted this before but didn't get much response. Swim hopes this is a better thread for it:

Swim has used heroine (IV) and methadone for over 23 years. The last 7 years she only used methadone (about 30 to 40 mgs). For several reasons she wants to switch to subutex now.
She has heard positive as well as negative stories about making the switch from methadone to subs but has hardly read posts from longterm methadone users (using about 15+ years) who switched to subs.
So if you are one of them long-time-done-heads who actually swapped them for subs: what's your experience? From what dose did you jump? How bad was it? And do you consider it an improvement or not? Swim would really like to hear other stories before making the switch herself.
By the way: Swim is now on 20 mgs methadone and wants to make the jump at 15 mgs (waiting at least 2 days after last methadone-dose). Will this be too painfull? Thanks in advance for any advice.

[is_today_monday]

SWIM has been on Bupe maintenance for about 4 weeks now. 10mg holds her comfortably, however, she is getting it increased to 12mg so that she only has to turn up to the dosing clinic every second day. This will give some freedom back. Before going on the programme, and even on it, SWIM hears all sorts of stories, good and bad, the main one being it blocks the effects of other opiates. Now, she doesn't deny this to be true, as she has enough science-intelligence in her head to understand the mechanics of the drug. However, she was given a grey (100mg MS Contin) and decided to experiment. Not expecting to feel anything, SWIM received a wonderful surprise when the shot hit her full-on! She had a couple of other tries in following days to see if it was consistent, and it is.

SWIM is still a junkie, she hasn't been on the programme long enough to change those mindsets. While she isn't going out of her way to score, afterall, the Bupe holds her very comfortably, she finds it nice that she can still have a nice time once in a while, without hanging out, or whatever.

She does realise though, that the blocking effect could take hold anytime. SWIM just asked me to post her experience, because it's a question she has seen/heard many times before.

[Santa]

Thanks Swiy, hope to hear some more experiences of other bup-users

[madpad]

SWIM says temgesic was a very common street drug around 20 years ago in the UK and as long as the user didn't have a substantial habit it seemed to work well enough but injecting even one or two when you have been using substantial amounts of opiates or even methadone increases withdrawals considerably (as others have mentioned.) In a what the hell have I done, I thought it might take the edge off way.

[staphinfection]

BE CAREFUL WHEN TRYING BUPRENORPHINE THAT HAS NALOXONE IN IT!!!!

AKA SUBOXONE.....

If SWIY has opiates in their system, taking this drug will THROW you straight into the most miserable hardcore withdrawals ever. It gave SWIM near seizures because SWIM thought he could lie to the doctor and take the SUBOXONE with METHADONE in his system... BOY WAS THAT STUPID!!! PAIN like no other.......

If SWIY can find PURE BUPRENORPHINE, SWIY is lucky as it is a very strong opioid, but care still needs to be taken so SWIY does not end up in the hospital. SWIM once tried Buprenorphine patches from SPAIN that were pure, and they were heavenly.

[is_today_monday]

SWIM had been steady on 10mg of Suboxone/day for about five weeks, but ran into problems when trying to double dose; while 10mg would hold her for the 24 hours, when taken as a double dose, it wouldn't last anywhere near the full 48. The doctor bumped it up to 12mg, and now she finds that when doubled, it holds her comfortably for the 48 hours. This is great news in terms of convience. It means she can dose every second day, given her slightly more freedom than going to the clinic every day. The staff think this is brilliant, but SWIM is not too keen at all, still prefering to single dose everyday, and doubling only when needed. You see, when she doubles, she ends up feeling lethargic, hasn't got much motivation at all, and doesn't get that general feeling of well-being; however, when she sticks to single dosing, she gets that lift in mood and motivation that she's grown to love about being on this programme. SWIM thinks she would be one of the few people dosing at this clinic who prefers to just come in every single day!

[Santa]

Can Swim switch to sub from 12 mgs of methadone, which is 2 and a half pill (when I wait 48 hours in between last dose of methadone and first dose of sub?) or will that still put Swim in withdrawals?

[IdahoSpeed]

SANTA

SWIY MUST wait until SWIY starts feeling poorly. Methadone is the worst to switch from due to its long half life. Wait it out. After you start feeling bad, wait as long as SWIY can just to be sure. Just remember that help will be on its way very soon!

[Santa]

Yep, Swim will definitely try to wait as long as possible.
The doctor told Swim to wait 'only' 24 to 36 hours after taking the last methadonedose. Because I'm on such a low dose he thinks that the switch will be no problem but Swim has read enough info on subs to do it her own way. Swim decided to wait untill pupils are very big (in daylight), and the sweating, chills, goosebumps etc. have set in severely. And then even wait a little longer if tolerable.
Swim takes a split dose so 1,5 pil (=7.5 mgs) in the morning and 1 (=5 mgs) in the evening so if Swim would wait - for example - 36 hours after last dose of 5 mgs that means it will already be 48 hours after last 7,5. That might help against precipitated withdrawals too.

[Santa]

I do have one question: here we get prescribed 'temgesic' (which is buprenorphine as far as I know) but does anybody know whether this is the equivalent of subutex or subuxone (whick they prescribe in the US) or neither of the two?
I mean does 'temgesic' have the extra naloxone in it or not????? As far as I know it only has buprenorfine-hydrochloride in it.

I hear a lot of scary stories about the switch from methadone to subs but those are all stories from subusers in the US.
So, is there any difference between switching from methadone to subuxone or switching from methadone to temgesic?
I would really like to hear some facts that motivate me to make this switch instead getting scared shitless... (I will be on 12 mgs of methadone daily when I'll make the switch btw).

[is_today_monday]

Temgesic doesn't have the added Naloxone, such as Suboxone does. If it's taken correctly, the Naloxone isn't even an issue, given it's only active when taken via the IV route. When it's dissolved under the tongue, the naloxone has no effect.

Basically, the short answer to your question is no. There would be no difference, if you took it the ways it's designed to be taken.

As for motivating you to switch, instead of being scared, I can't speak from personal experience, since I've never been on methadone. I honestly don't think you've got anything to be worried about. I know a few people who have made the switch, and prefer 'bupe to methadone. It doesn't make them drowsy at all, and in fact gives them a nice energetic, motivated feeling... kind of like they've taken an upper of some sort.

I'd say go for it - you won't know unless you try. Suboxone has been a miracle for me - it holds me very comfortably, and each day after my dose, I feel energetic, motivated, and have a definite lift in my mood

All the best, no matter what you decide to do!

[Santa]

Thanks for the info, that made wsim feel a lot better!
Swim is hoping to be on bupre soon. Any feedback from methadone-users who made the switch to temgesic is still appreciated btw.

[Be]

Just wanted to post my personal experience with this when I went to rehab for oxycodone addiction. From what I experienced if you are into heavy withdrawals then this drug is a miracle. I went through two days of hell before going to rehab and within 30 minutes of getting my first shot I felt normal, not high and not uncontrollably sick, I felt normal again. So if anyone is looking to kick the opiate addiction I would recommend a center that uses this drug for detox. It took 5 days and I received an injection IM every six hours when the dosage was cut slightly, when I was released I felt a little tired but that went away with in a few days and there was absolutely no withdrawals from the detox drug.

I hope this info helps someone out.
Be

[IdahoSpeed]

Swim personally switched from 60mg liquid Methadone to 8mg Suboxone. Switch was easy as pie. Swim suggests following Dr's orders, but if self medicating Swim recommends starting with 4 - 6mgs and adding 2mg every two hours or so until Swiy feels "better". Swim has heard of people needing 12 - 16 and 24mg daily.

Santa, at 12mgs of Methadone swiy are in great shape. It will be an easy switch. Stick to it! Among many others, Swim is living proof that Suboxone can defeat Methadone!

[IkBenDeMan]

SWIM will report later as to his full experience with Suboxone, however, in short he is recently off of heroin, which he started using at the end of 2006, however, has been on oxycodone, fentanyl and related drugs on-and-off since 2000. He is on 24 mg/day. He has injected a whole 8 mg and the naloxone had no effect, he believes due to buprenorphine's high receptor affinity. However, buprenorphine provides no "high," nor does he even feel quite normal. He's not sick, that's about it. He still experiences very intense cravings and will be talking to the doctor soon about switching to methadone maintenence, because he knows there is no sense lying to himself... detox alone isn't going to stop him. He already knows he'll go back sooner or later... most likely sooner. Suboxone is a wonder drug for some people... he just seems to be in the smaller percentage of people who don't fit well for it. Has anybody had a similar experience? SWIM's thoughts are that he likely has an endorphin defiency, whether created by abuse, born with, or a combination thereof and doesn't believe that he will ever be able to maintain a life free of opiates. He doesn't show an addictive personality with any other drugs in his life, and he's tried most (with the exception of sex and cigarettes of course ). If anybody has been in a similar situation and switched to methadone, please help because SWIM is close to giving up on this life if he's left with the two options of a miserable sobriety, or living illegally. Everything in his life is well, except for his drug habit and relationship problems caused because of it. However, he feels no reason to have always (even before opiate use) to feel so miserable. He performs well at University, is social and well-liked (though doesn't feel like it most of the time) and performs plenty of community service (voluntarily, not mandated). So... opiates are the only thing stopping him from living a normal life. Please advise. SWIM has been very suicidal since going off of heroin.