Posted by TerriM on December 26, 2001, at 8:01:45
In reply to Re: methadone? » MB, posted by shellir on December 24, 2001, at 22:49:09
Buprenorphine is considered an opiate agonist/antagonist. Some compare it to Stadol. Buprenorphine (Buprenex) was approved by Congress last year for use as an addiction treatment medication. Private physicians are supposed to be able to prescribe the medication. Unfortunately, because there are concerns about patient diversion, our government has taken absurd precautions and added Naloxone (an opiate antagonist) to Buprenorphine, so if an individual attempts to inject it, they will go into instant, excruciating withdrawal. At this time, the FDA hasn't approved this Bup/Naloxone combo. There are some trials taking place throughout the country for those addicted to opiates. Buprenex is approved for the treatment of pain and many Drs. do prescribe it.
Methadone can be prescribed by private physicians for the treatment of pain. But, only licensed 'opiate treatment programs' (a physician can go through the tremendous hassle of becoming a 'med unit' if they desire, but few care to deal with the hassle) can prescribe methadone for the treatment of addiction. I have heard of a some psychiatrists that prescribe methadone for the treatment of depression.
Methadone is a wonderful medication with many uses. Unfortunately, because of our society's ignorance about the disease of opiate addiction, much stigma surrounds methadone because of it's association with heroin addiction. Physicians are allowed to legally prescribe methadone for the treatment of pain, but not for the treatment of addiction (unless they take the steps I mentioned above). According to federal law, Opiate Agonist Treatment Programs - Methadone Clinics - can only treat patients for opiate addiction, not for pain or mental health issues.
There is a web site called 'An Addict's View'
http://www.addict.f2s.com/medarticlemenu.html
that has several articles about treating depression with methadone.On a personal note, a good friend of mine was diagnosed as being bi-polar and his psychiatrist prescribed methadone. Methadone was the only medication that was effective for him.
> > > What about buprenex? It is an an opoid (is that the right term?) that isn't as addictive and habituating as the regular opiates. Maybe finding a doctor (who isn't sadistic) who would prescribe buprenex wouldn't be that hard. There are some people on the board who have had success with it.
>
> I don't think it *would* be very easy for me to get in the Washington, D.C. area. (It's a partial opiate.) I've never met any pdoc yet willing to prescribe it, anyway. It is probably easier to get off the internet, and when the pills are available here, rather than injectible form only, then I may look into it again. I actually was given some in the first hospital I was in for detox and it didn't help at all. Some company does sell it to hospitals in sort of jello form. Maybe they didn't give me a large enough dose or maybe I didn't left it desolve slowly enough. I totally freaked out and left that hospital after my doctor (the sado guy) would not prescribe anything else for detox, like a benzo. At the next hospital at least they gave me benzos for the first day every few hours.
>
> Shelli
poster:TerriM
thread:87700
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011222/msgs/87868.html