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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 11 of 11. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 9:53:15
Is long term use better than rapid withdrawal
Posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2010, at 10:26:38
In reply to opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 9:53:15
What and how high of a dose of meds are you withdrawing from. I have heard from another babbler that suboxone works well for opiod withdrawal. Phillipa
Posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 10:47:11
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal » Charlie B, posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2010, at 10:26:38
Phillipa my question is not pertaining to me. I I am a chemical dependency counselor and I have experienced varied success with my clients and patients that have used suboxone for heroin and narcotic pain pill detox and maintenance. There seems to be very little success with those that use long term maintenance. Along with other professionals opinion on this subject I am looking for current research about success rates and outcomes for each of these methods of use of suboxone if anyone is familiar with such data
Posted by morgan miller on September 9, 2010, at 12:18:36
In reply to opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 9:53:15
You may also want to look into Naltrexone. Not sure if a normal dose or a low dose would be best for opiate withdrawal/cessation.
Posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 12:58:48
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by morgan miller on September 9, 2010, at 12:18:36
Morgan.... I am very familiar with Naltrexone, it is combined with Bupinorphine to make Suboxone and as a blocker that initiates withdrawal if Suboxone is injected. Still looking for research studies on outcomes of long term agonist therapy with use of Suboxone. Thank you for your post
Posted by emmanuel98 on September 9, 2010, at 19:19:28
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 10:47:11
I took suboxone to withdraw from about 80mg oxycodone a day. The doctor who prescribed it -- who was the only doctor I could find who took insurance and was honest and not using suboxone as a new entrepreneurial business -- told me that little is known about long term suboxone use, but he expected it would turn out to be like methadone -- on it for life, worse to detox from than the opiates themselves. I took it for three weeks under his constant (every third day visit)supervision. It is easier to taper and stop than opiates over the short term because the molecule is huge and stays attached to the mu receptors much longer than other opiates. However, when I stopped, I went on naltrexone for a year, with my husband giving me a pill each night. So little is known yet about long term suboxone use, but it's an opiate, it's addictive and it may be a problem to get off of after long-term use.
Posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2010, at 20:27:20
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by emmanuel98 on September 9, 2010, at 19:19:28
Yes my friend met here still on it as far as I know. And I think she had to increase the dose at first. Phillipa
Posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2010, at 20:31:04
In reply to opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by Charlie B on September 9, 2010, at 9:53:15
Guessing no professionals posting on here when I worked as RN in chemical dependency it was not yet available. Isn't there a site for professionals? I don't know. Phillipa
Posted by Charlie B on September 10, 2010, at 8:10:49
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal » Charlie B, posted by Phillipa on September 9, 2010, at 20:31:04
Emmanuel and Phillipa.... Thank you for your post. I have found some information about rapid detox from opioids using Suboxone. It is a four day detox. The theory is that in a 4 day period of abstinence from from opioids those drugs will be out of your system, and by replacing it with Suboxone for that short term the patient does not devolop a dependence on it. What I read seemed to show good outcomes. It was a Tx center in Penn. that uses this method. I still havn't been able to find research on outcomes for long term use.
Posted by SLS on September 10, 2010, at 9:44:42
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by Charlie B on September 10, 2010, at 8:10:49
> I still havn't been able to find research on outcomes for long term use.
A friend of mine has been "stuck" on Suboxone for at least two years after discontinuing heroin. I think cravings return if he tries to reduce the dosage. I'll see if I can find out.
- Scott
Posted by sigismund on September 10, 2010, at 17:12:40
In reply to Re: opinions on suboxone use for opioid withdrawal, posted by SLS on September 10, 2010, at 9:44:42
> I think cravings return if he tries to reduce the dosage.
That's to be expected.
The question is how difficult is it to give up compared to the alternatives, and then there's the unknown about long term use.
This is the end of the thread.
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