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Dr. Bob is Robert Hsiung, MD,
bob@dr-bob.orgShown: posts 1 to 9 of 9. This is the beginning of the thread.
Posted by phidippus on March 17, 2012, at 20:29:56
I was prescribed Buprenorphine sublingual tablets to treat some pesky depression that has been hounding me.
I ended up killing 2 birds with one stone. My OCD went into remission and my depression evaporated. My sleep was even improved.
Has anyone else had experiences with Buprenorphine?
Eric
Posted by SLS on March 17, 2012, at 22:09:52
In reply to Buprenorphine info-want experiences..., posted by phidippus on March 17, 2012, at 20:29:56
> I was prescribed Buprenorphine sublingual tablets to treat some pesky depression that has been hounding me.
>
> I ended up killing 2 birds with one stone. My OCD went into remission and my depression evaporated. My sleep was even improved.This is great news. It must feel like a miracle to you. I hope it continues.
I wish my doctor were more receptive to administering buprenorphine. This is my only complaint about him. I am not sure of what all of his reasons are for not prescribing it to me. I don't think he regards buprenorphine as a sustainable treatment and that it might lead to addiction. I don't share is concerns, but he is usually right about things. If my current treatment doesn't bring me to remission, I might have to find another doctor. I would rather not, of course.
> Has anyone else had experiences with Buprenorphine?https://www.google.com/search?q=buprenorphine&sitesearch=dr-bob.org
Good luck.
- Scott
Posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2012, at 0:06:20
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences... » phidippus, posted by SLS on March 17, 2012, at 22:09:52
Scott seriously a new doc? How long have you been with your current doc? Phillipa
Posted by SLS on March 18, 2012, at 5:14:10
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences... » SLS, posted by Phillipa on March 18, 2012, at 0:06:20
> Scott seriously a new doc? How long have you been with your current doc? Phillipa
I guess I'll cross that bridge if I come to it. For now, I acknowledge that I would not be responding to treatment if it weren't for my doctor.
- Scott
Posted by uncouth on March 18, 2012, at 18:05:15
In reply to Buprenorphine info-want experiences..., posted by phidippus on March 17, 2012, at 20:29:56
very interested, can you provide more details on the specifics including dose, titration, what your dx is, what you've tried, and how this subjectively felt? how long did it take before depression and OCD symptoms improved. do you feel qualitatively different than you have on other antidepressants when they have worked?
i've long been interested in buprenorphine and was considering it for a while. i also have significant obsessional/compulsive issues and bipolar depression and would love to simplify meds.
Posted by emmanuel98 on March 18, 2012, at 19:37:36
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences... » phidippus, posted by uncouth on March 18, 2012, at 18:05:15
Don't docs need a special FDA number (starting with X) to prescribe buprenophine. That was the case a few years ago, but maybe things have changed.
Posted by phidippus on March 18, 2012, at 19:55:30
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences... » phidippus, posted by uncouth on March 18, 2012, at 18:05:15
I started at a dose of 2 mg for the first day and titrated up to 4 mg the second day of use. I found a single 4 mg dose was sufficient to treat my symptoms through the next day. I took the dose in the evening as it made me pretty sleepy.
Depressive symptoms abated within a couple hours of dosing and this effect lasted through the next day. As for my OCD, I noticed I wasn't having any symptoms aboout 4 hours into the dose, however they returned the next morning. I imagine if I took two 4 mg doses a day, both my depression and COD would abate.
The antidepressant qualities of Buprenorphine were quite pronounced and accompanied by a little euphoria. The great difference between Buprenorphine and standard antidepressants is the speed it took to work.
Eric
Posted by SLS on March 19, 2012, at 6:40:41
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences..., posted by emmanuel98 on March 18, 2012, at 19:37:36
> Don't docs need a special FDA number (starting with X) to prescribe buprenophine. That was the case a few years ago, but maybe things have changed.
As weird as it first sounds, this requirement does not apply when a doctor prescribes buprenorphine for treatments of conditions other than addiction. I guess the FDA feels that it takes a special training and an additional assumption of responsibility when one prescribes an opioid to an opioid addict.
- Scott
Posted by europerep on March 19, 2012, at 8:38:38
In reply to Re: Buprenorphine info-want experiences... » uncouth, posted by phidippus on March 18, 2012, at 19:55:30
> I started at a dose of 2 mg for the first day and titrated up to 4 mg the second day of use.
I just want to add a comment regarding dosage, for other members who come across this thread: for patients without opioid tolerance, 2mg is *WAY* too high as a starting dose. It can actually be dangerous at that dose, even if the potential for respiratory depression is not as pronounced as it is with other "typical" opioids.
In all studies and accounts of buprenorphine treatment for depression that I have come across, starting doses never exceed 0.2mg or maximum 0.4mg. Unlike conventional antidepressants, buprenorphine doses can be raised slightly more quickly, but this should also depend on how pronounced side effects are.
But again, for those who are reading this thread and contemplating using buprenorphine for depression: DO NOT start at doses above 1mg!
This is the end of the thread.
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