This guy know his stuff. Ive been on suboxone for 18 months and have steped back from 90 pills a month to 42. But im not ready to stop them. I might never be ready. Happy to see someone telling the truth. Suboxone withdraw isn't as bad as the other stuff. Everyone hang in there soboxone isnt the silver bullet but its close.
i am a thirty one year old recovering heroin addict who has been clean and on 16mg a day of suboxone for a year and almost three months.what i wanted to add was that the people i come in conact with who say that being on suboxone is not truly being clean or as one counselor told me,'suboxone is your higher power'they are usually recovering alcoholics or addicts themselves and being alcoholics,they are prone to BLACK AND WHITE THINKING. great keep it up and keep speaking the truth!
A magic pill is not the cure...the same problem is still there and that problem is I, me. You need meetings, meetings, meetings and God. We have a thinking problem and the cure starts within. Its all about change. Get into a 12 step program and have complete abstinance
It is a great fantasy-- no doubt. But the simple fact is that such an approach is not saving our young people. The steps occasionally (not very often, to be frank) help a person stop using opiates, but the relapse rate remains very high. And a 95% failure rate is no longer good enough. Not for a fatal illness.
this quack would like to see people on some form of opiates for their entire life. If you've been clean for a year then you dont need a maintenance medication
This, people, is the type of arrogant ignorance you are up against. I see people every day who get clean for a few months and consider themselves 'experts'-- and I see them again three years later, after they relapse and lose everything. Thanks, pop, for the demonstration.
Not necessarily the only way-- just like you don't always need bypass surgery for clogged arteries or chemo for cancer. You can exercise, or pray, or take vitamin C (no 'dis' on prayer intended). You don't need a 'pill' for lots of things they are used for-- but when a 'pill' can save your kid's life- a kid who is too young to 'get' the steps-- I hope the kid goes for the pill. Beats dying. Sorry it doesn't fit YOUR model of perfection.
Hi doctor, I am David, I am 31 and a long term opioid addict. I have been on fentanyl, oxycoone, and hydromorphone last 8 years. I am cold turkeying this at home, I've CT'd many a time in inpatient, I HAVE to do it this time. If I don't, I'll accept methadone for a while, but I will taper. Any advice, thank you!
I have been off heroin and oxycontin for 3 months now, but think about using everyday. It has definitely been hard but seems to be getting better. However, I am thinking about getting on suboxone. I have taken it before and like it, but do you think it would be ignorant of me after being clean for three months?...and would a doctor put me on it after being clean?
I don't think any doc would, or should, start you on buprenorphine if you are not using. Most opiate addicts have cravings off and on for life-- the 'non-med' way to treat them is through meetings and talking to a sponsor, or exercise, meditation... I hate to 'wait for an inevitable relapse', ad they CAN be deadly. But at the same time, a zero opiate tolerance is a precious thing to give up. Truly a complicated- and personal-- decision.
Had another question for you Dr....after you have stop taking opiates, how long do the craving last? I'm talking about the nervous jittery panicky feeling that comes over you...i hate this. Hope you can help me...thanks.
There are different stages of withdrawal, some worse than others. For many people, cravings will last for years. But the jittery feelings usually end after a few weeks.
It depends on your level of tolerance. A person who takes 400 mg of oxycontin or methadone per day and spends a few days on Suboxone will havve much worse withdrawal than a person who takes 40 mg of oxycodone per day and takes a few days of suboxone.
It takes work getting your tolerance down to zero. When a person goes on buprenorphine, they are avoiding the work of getting all the way down to zero, instead getting down to a tolerance equal to 40 mg of methadone per day. If they stop suboxone, they still have to go down the rest of the way.
doc id like ur opinion. I have bout a 5 year history with the opiates, with the last 2 years being every day, b4 that was like every other wk end. so on xmas night was my last use of heroine(half a bundle) which is what i usually do, to give you an idea of my current use. i went cold turkey and detoxed at home. here i am almost a month later and just now considering sub. u think thats stupid? i mean im clean now but the paws is a bitch. is it true ur brain can start to heal wile on sub?
Addiction has many aspects-- some chemical, some emotional, some psychological. Buprenorphine removes the physical craving and obsession, allowing the psycholocal addiction to fade a bit and be 'in remission', but when a person stops buprenorphine the addiction tends to become active again-- which is why most leaders in addiction science are moving toward buprenorphine as a long-term medication. I wouldn't use the word 'heal', just because opiates don't really cause 'brain damage'.
Really wasn't that hard to get off of subs! Why substitute permanently? Just fucking grown some balls and quit, I abused hard core opioids for over 5 years and I finally feel good
but since i m a real pain in the ass with everybody.
Really grumpy and aggressive since 2 years. i started to infuse weed ...now i m as i was in my teen years.. A social being. I thought i was a lost cause but we humans are stronger than we think. Never underestimate your powers to change. Never give up..
jeff, it's so nice to see a doc taking the time to inform addicts about suboxone. I have been taking it for over a year and you answered quite a few questions. Lately, i have been scared that my sub doc is going to make me stop taking the suboxone and i'm not ready. I really like the way my life is going right now and i'm afraid to interupt my success with such a difficult and seemingly impossible challenge such as that. I don't want to think about it too much though. I'm not ready to stop.
As you know, I am a fan of long-term treatment; I am full now, so I can't help-- but make calls and hopefully you will find a new doc who believes in long-term treatment as well. In fact, I should try to set up a matching system for new docs looking for stable patients-- people who are doing well are usually 'easy' patients and a good way for a doc to get started. Check back at my blog and forum in the next few weeks-- I will try to address that issue. Good luck, and I hope things work out!
The facts are that some of us create a significant number of additional receptor sites the very first time we use opiates. Without opiates we have no way to fill these additional sites naturally. Suboxone and methadone allow us to fill our additional receptors legally. Don't listen to some of the internet "docs". Dr. Jeff does know what he is talking about though.
I don't 'have to'-- but I prefer to. Otherwise some idiots use the space and time that I spend trying to help others by promoting misinformation. I have no interest in giving those people a platform.
I think you are providing info for people that are in a life or death struggle of opioid addiction. I wouldn't doubt if they start to use it as a anti-depressant and other conditions such as anxiety. I think we can utilize the medicine for many other conditions, but I am no doc.
My doc told me to stop at 16mg per day cold turkey. I am on day 6 now and out of the 3 times I have quit suboxone this seems to be the easiest. I have tapered and I dint feel better for a week and I went back on them. Why would stopping at 16mg per day be easier than tapering?
Keep us up to date-- my concern would be that it just takes longer to HIT the withdrawal. The w/d doesn't start until your blood level drops below the ceiling level, so usually it doesn't start until you taper to the lower doses. So let us know-- if it kicks in soon, I was right; if it never kicks in, I have no idea what is going on!
I stopped for a little less than 2 wks. I had to go back on them due to cravings and for the simple reason that I am not prepared psychologically to deal with all of the feelings I was having. I got back on the suboxone yestarday. Feel defeated but I know this is better than the alternative.
Try to avoid being too hard on yourself-- it is NOT a matter of 'strength' or 'weakness'-- in fact, very few people can taper off opiates, and the relapse rate even after long periods of sobriety is very high. Staying on Suboxone and not actively using are significant accomplishmnents by themselves!
Hey doc, im at the end of day 3...of quitting cold turkey from suboxone. I started out with 8mg twice a day down to 2mg a day... im on day 3 without anything.... im going insane to say the least but im quitting this crap for good... and im doing it cold turkey..... My jimmy legs are ridiculous....is there anything you can recommend any supplements or anything that would help me....I refuse to let this take over me anymore... im over it.... How long does the physical misery last?
exercise, fresh fruits and vegs if you can eat. plenty of water. I am drinking pedialite now. Im on day 6. It gets better. Try a heating pad wrapped around you leg or legs but I would not sleep with them on. Baths showers and all of that good stuff. Hang in there. you can do it. I know how you feel and I can feel your pain literally.
It is hard to stop, but it can be done. It took me a very long time and discomfort. Suboxone helped me get my life in order so I was in the right enviornment to stop using. If you have the same life that you did when you used. Example: not going to meatings, having using friends, no job, isolation, poor hygine. Then why would you expect anything to change? I am not cured, by any strech, but suboxone helped me learn how to live and take care of my self again. Thank You
Been on suboxone for approximately 4 months now and am down to 12mg/day and have never been better. Haven't used once, have craved for about 30 second two or three times a few months back, and with the help of a scar massager and removal cream, my arms are getting a lot better.
I also have a great doc!
Suboxone works wonders for those that need it. For those that don't really need it, STOP GIVING US THAT DO A BAD NAME!
very important TO GO FROM 2MG TO 1MG to .90micrograms then .80micrograms and set a time of however u feel u need there will be no harsh withdrawls they dont tel u that buprenorphine is given in MICROGRAMS yet they are giving it in miligrams way too much
hi doc, ive posted an maybe i should message you but i cant find my messages. ive been on heroin years, methadone years, subox. 1.4 yrs and quit 5 days ago. I went over the course form 18mgs to 8 and just jumped off from 8. I cantolerate the physical w/d's, but im anxious, insecure, depressed in a crippling way. please can you tell me when i should be able to atleast go outside again. or any other input would be VERY appreciated.
@SpiritofVersaille it's just going to take time, if you've been on opiates for more than 5 years then you can expect to be going through weeks of withdrawals with depression lasting as much as 6 months.
Why in the hell would you snort vicodin? You young whipper-snappers are so dumb nowadays. Besides burning like hell half of the pill anyway is just fillers and such. Now oxycontin you can snort that all day.
I have been on Suboxone for some time now. I agree with Dr. Junig that it will be hard to ween down to 2mg and harder yet to quit. However, I have a good program of recovery and clear memories of how shitty and miserable my life was while using so I know I will be able to get off of Suboxone. Working a good program is pivotal to getting and staying off Suboxone. People that use Suboxone as a crutch to stay sober will almost always relapse after. Recovery, Honesty, Spirituality....DAILY.
I'm posting a video later tonight or tomorrow about meetings and buprenorphine-- I respect your thoughts on the issue but have some difference of opinion as well. I'll try to get it posted by tomorrow-- thanks for your thoughts!
I am so very thankful there are people like Dr. Junig out there who take time out of their lives to post helpful videos like this. Those who have never dealt with addiction cannot possibly understand what any of these issues he addresses are like. Furthermore, if you have never used Suboxone to treat your addiction you cannot even come close to understand. Thank you Dr. Junig- your ROCK!
is it true that doctors who prescribe new medications such as suboxone; gets "kick backs" from the drug manufactures???? Even thouh I like my psychiatrist, sometimes I cant but feel that ALL doctors are nothing more than Over Glorified Drug peddlers. I have been on suboxone for 1.5 years, and there has been no mention of weaning off. Is he keeping me on this for the kick backs? or does he really care about me?
Wow-- it is funny the things that people think out there... there is no way of getting a 'kickback' of any kind-- in fact, as of a few months ago pharmaceutical companies or their reps cannot give a doctor anything of any value-- even a pen! Before that they could provide up to $100- worth for a an educational gift for a doctor-- say a coupon toward a book. But no-- I can't even get the company that makes Suboxone to pay ten bucks for my web site about Suboxone!
not really, you see in order to even prescribe suboxone you need to be a specialist in opiate addiction - at least in my area, so the people prescribing this stuff are to really help patients.
great vid doc i have been on the drug for 4 years its been a life saver for me i have did so well on it i would like to try to come off but im alittle afraid i think i can do it i came off methadone was on it almost a year it was very tough but i see a bright future with me and i say if it's not broke don't fix it
I tried 5mg vicodin about a month ago and have had a strong urge for it since. I've moved up and have started snorting up to 20mg a day. I haven't done it in a few days and my urge for it is subsiding... I'm 15 and I get my molers out in a few weeks meaning I get a fairly large dose of vicodin.
Even with my extensive knowledge of opiate addiction, because both of my parents were addicted to opiates, I don't know if I can override my temptation..
I've taken Subutex for 9 months but for refractory depression, not opiate addiction.
When I wanted to stop taking it I had terrible withdrawals--mental anguish with some light physical w/d's. I only last about 4 days.
I tapered my dose and REPLACED it with a short acting opiate (Dihydrocodeine). I have been able to avoid w/ds completely; instead of TREATING the w/d symptoms with Benzos & Clonidine, the DHC CURES w/ds.
Than quitting DHC should be easy compared to Subutex. That's the idea!
I have to say after reading most of your blogs and watching most of your videos. You have got to be the most respectable doctor I heard of. I want to thank you for all of your help and will continue reading your blogs and watching your videos... Counting down the days till Suboxone goes generic.
I fear that Im never going to be 'normal' again. I wish I would of gone off the pain killers and dealt with it, but now two years later Im completely dependent on Suboxone and scared to death of withdrawls and if I'll ever be 'normal.'
Hello Doctor. Just a question if I may. At this very moment, I'm coming off a 2-4mg daily suboxone regiment that has lasted about a year. So far, it's day 2 without suboxone, and I feel alot better than I did yesterday. My question being; In your personal experiences with this, how long will my withdrawal last? Right now, the chills are the worst part of it. Could you please give me a common length of time or just an opinion of how long this detox will last. Thank you for your time, doctor.
I just started last week on Sub's. It's a WONDERFUL drug!!! I had a serious oxy and norco problem for YEARS because of a back injury!! I said "fuck it, I'm tired of this shit!" and dropped the $400 to get help! ANYONE that has a opiate problem grow some balls and find a Suboxone Clinic or straight ask your Family for help!!!! I haven't touched a oxy or norco in in 7 days!!!!!! I never even had a want for one!
SUBOXONE IS AWESOME!! IT'S THE BEST MEDICATION FOR OPIATE ADDICTION!!!
Yea. Your right. But thats going to go away soon too cause then your going to tell yourself, 'Now its time to get off the Suboxone,' ..."
And so Sub is better than abusing pain killers, yet your still dependant. Ive been on Suboxone for two years now, and Im trying to find a way off. I went from 24mg's a day to now 4mg a day. Some days are better than others, but my goal is to get the hell off of these. I just want to be 'normal' withoug any drugs n me...
Too late. That's like a person who lays on the train tracks to kill himself surviving and wanting his legs back. Addiction is like memory-- you cannot 'intentially forget' how to recognize your home or ride a bike. Opiates who spend all their time wishing they were 'normal' end up going from relapse to relapse. Accept the disease, and be grateful that while others used to die, you now have an option that allows you to live. Learn to consider yourself, on buprenorphine, as 'normal'.
Jeff, people have had options for years with methadone. I'm starting to think that you are very biased. You say you're not getting paid by the suboxone makers, but you certainly seem to be making an income from suboxone. With your website and your practice. You're totally biased, and your posting wreak of biasness.
Hmm... anyone who doesn't agree with you must be 'biased' or paid off-- bright argument! My position on all of my sites is quite clear: I got clean 16 years, then 9 years ago without buprenorphine-- but I was lucky. I never consider myself 'cured' from addiction. If you can stay clean without bupe, don't take it! But get a hobby and leave others alone. BTW- bupe accounts for about 20% of my income; I am closed to new patients, and I've taken R-B to task repeatedly. You're an idiot.
Do you even have an addiction? If you only knew what the drug has done for millions of people you would probably promote it too. You are right, he is biased, but only because he knows it works and keeps the risk factors to a minimum. I take suboxone and I will tell you that it is hard to come off of but it is worth it. I hope you are not really 34yrs old but if you are, I hope you can open your eyes and see the world. You are missing a lot.
Actually, I am thankful and blessed to say that Iv been off this poison for almost a month and a half. It wasn't easy, but then, not as hard as I anticipated it to be.
I believe a lot of it is in our minds. We fear it, and then it becomes what we fear. If we believe that we can, then we will and it will be much easier. At least for me it was....
I would say to everyone, get off of this poison-the sooner, the better, and faster you can begin living drug free.
Mike, I sincerely wish you well. Regulars here know MY philosophy; Staying clean for a few months is easy, but staying alive for years as an opiate addict is a challenge. I hope you never relapse; mine took 8 years, and it took everything I had-- almost including my life.
I do hope you avoid going back; if you are still clean in a year, drop a line, and as they say at meetings, tell us 'how you did it'. In the meantime, I hope you live and let live. Some people will die without bupe.
Jeff Junig helped me immensley. Hes more then just a addiction specialist, hes also a psychiatrist. I think that combonation is terrificly helpful. He knows FIRST hand what its like to lose your life to opiates. Suboxone gets you off the streets. I made the mistake of stopping. Way too early. And thats my fault. If you listen to dr junig, he wont lie to you. He wont push anything on you.
You know my philosophy-- for most people opiate addiction is a chronic illness-- but there is nothing to be ashamed of in trying to stop. Thanks for your nice comments, and once you are a patient, you are always a patient- if you need help, by all means come on in!
Suboxone makes my head hurt and it didn't help with my cravings at all but other than that I think it's a very good product. I quit it then I immediately relapsed then went to jail and got locked in a cell with nothing but clonidine witch I only got about half the time because my blood pressure was too low. Then I relapsed again my first day out now I have to detox all over again because I'm looking at more time.
Ouch. In my detox in 2001, every time I heard the nurse coming I would tense my muscles, trying to get my systolic blood pressure high enough so they would give me clonidine! I was so dehydrated from the diarrhea and not eating that I never got a dose! The shrink came in each morning and grunted at me a couple times... I wouldn't treat my dog the way that addicts are treated. Good luck-- detoxing in jail must be horrible. Be angry-- at the drug. That anger can help during w/d and after.
been on suboxone for about 4 years. in the begining i received it thru a doctor but when i lost my insurance i started getting it off the street because of the withdrawls. I just cant seem to kick it im on day 6 now without it i didnt ween and i know that is not recomended but i cant get it anymore and cant afford drug treatment. i have already started to go to meetings on my own but what can i do if anything to help with the withdrawls mainley the leg cramps and my heart racing
clonidine is cheap and relatively safe, if you can get a script-- maybe an urgent care? If we have someone who leaves treatment for some reason we will at least give clonidine-- will your treatment center at least do that?
I was on Suboxone for six years and I feel my life was greatly diminished. I feel you doctors are somewhat cavalier about the effects. For one DO YOU KNOW THE LONG TERM effects?REALLY KNOW??? I know my ability to recall words and concepts has taken a hard hit. There's clearly damgage to my brain not to mention my love for life.
Is Suboxone better than a terrible Heroin addiction??probably- (mainly the legal part though) The withdrawal IS BRUTAL: I have to laugh at how you docs claim it isn't.
Laugh away. Buprenorphine has been around for over 30 years. I can't claim that ANY medication is completely safe, but bupe has a track record longer than 90% of the meds out there. As for your problems, untreated addiction damages 'love for life'-- not to mention frequently destroying life literally. 'Addiction' is a mental obsession; buprenorphine can relieve that obsession IF TAKEN PROPERLY. As for W/D, people coming off bupe sure LOOK less miserable than those coming off OC.
"Given that you couldn't stop pain meds, why SHOULD you be able to stop Suboxone?" _Suboxone takes away cravings and the typical addict behavior but let's not get it twisted. The reason it's so difficult to stop suboxone, is because of its long half life. In other words, the withdrawal extends way beyond any street opiate. And, it is trading one addiction for another. Suboxone is a partial opiate agonist. It binds to the same receptors as any other opiate except they're partially activated.
A common but misguided thought. There is no 'trading' involved; a person has, or doesn't have, opiate dependence-- and there is no cure once you have it. Addiction consists of obsession to use-- the mind becomes 'all about opiates'. Suboxone stops the obsession, therefore putting addiction into remission. The important thing isn't 'taking' or 'not taking'; dry drunks are miserable addicts who take nothing! Buprenorphine removes the obsession, which is by my definition treating addiction.
Hi jeff I am from wisconsin and am prescribed suboxone I used to go to a clinic in brown deer but they shut down! so now I go to acecia clinic in milwaukee recently my doctor quit to do something else but before he quit he gave me a 2 month script of suboxone now I am running low and I am still on the waiting list for a new doc! I pay out of pocket for everything even the pills I am wondering is there any way I can get help paying for my treatment I dont want to go back on opiates
My husband currently takes suboxone. I don't understand addiction @ all. I am unsure if he is actually an addict. I am unsure if it is a want or a need for him. I have never been around anyone that has these problems until him. We have been together for 3 years off and on. I would leave him about every month because of his pill problems. I have decided to try to stay and understand and help him work through it. Can you offer me some pointers or advice...anything?
So true. Thanks so much for this. I truly admire the time, effort and honesty you're putting into posting your videos on youtube. You are a saint and an inspiration to me!
ttiger u dont know shit....unless u have experienced it first hand then u r in no position to pass judgements on someone else..... as with everything it is all situational and dependent on the individual. just as some people can go coldturkey from nicotine and others use patches, gum etc...
You know, it really makes me angry that there are so many negative people that feel the need to post comments to keep struggling addicts & themselves down! Knowledge is power, ignorance is blind! Take a minute to figure that one out! This dr./addict didn't HAVE to risk being sued, getting ridiculed by nay-sayers, and put his shameful past out there for the world to see! He did it to HELP US! Please, you guys, if you don't want to learn then move on...
Great info.!! Thanks soooo much Jeff! I will surely go to your other sites immediately!! I, personally, needed to hear exactly what you said, how you said it! Your unfortunate addiction has had a 'silver lining', its helped me! I thank you!!
Suboxone has literally saved my life, my veins (what's left of them), my mindset, my body, my libido and my social life.
I went from a 3g/day IV tar habit to 16mg/day Suboxone. First 2 days I went through massive withdrawal, but life has been grand since then. I do not desire to use, my arms are healing tremendously, I am interested in women and going out again, and I just feel fantastic altogether.
just because you couldnt handle your addiction and need suboxone daily, doesnt mean everyone does...ive never been to meeting and only took subs to get off oxys....its called creating a life worth living, if you dont have that then you will use, and if you have the urge to use that means you need to change an aspect of your life to make it worth living....your a fool to bigpharma if your convinced you need a pill to live
This company is actually 'little pharma'-- this is their only prescription med, and they are based in the UK. Unfortunately many people do need medication to live- for addiction and for other diseases as well. Congrats to you though.
I had been on 60mg of oxy 2 times a day.. a 40mg and 20mg . My dr. would not refill due to he wanted to see a special list 10 from then. I have been on it for 8 months. He cutt me off cold. I just fould out about suboxone and scared to go on it. I AM IN DAY 4 OF W.DRAW. I AM IN HELL ,HURTING SOSICK ,TERRIBL.E; HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE ?
I AM GOING AFTER THE DR FOR NOT TELLING ME ABOUT HE WITH DRAW OR ABOUT SUBOXONE. HIS CLINIC DOES IT. THIS IS INHUMANE . ANY SUGGESTIONS ? PLEASE ITS PURE HEL
Wow half of the people here know nothing about suboxone. I am an addict of oxycontin or oxycodone in high doses, and suboxone has helped me stop. Yes its an opiate but it is an opiate antagonist, and gets rid of your cravings and withdrawls and makes you not want the drug, plus if you take more opiates while on suboxone nothing happens. And Suboxone was not addicting for me, I can use it for a week and stop and I have no withdrawls of anything. It really helps those who are struggling.
I had a comment from some some guy here that I deleted-- claiming that 'SUBOXONE IS USED FOR TREATMENT NOT MAINTENANCE' (followed by 'YOU IDIOTt'). 70% of current scripts are for maintenance; short-term use has been proven to do little or nothing for addiction. It is not 'treatment' by any definition of the word, but it DOES induce remission as long as a person takes it. Why is it that the more ignorant a person is, the more CAPS he uses?
guys i need a question answered asap....i have a problem but have had axicety before and during it....i am scared that if i ask and get suboxone percription....that they will take away my anti axiety medication!!! please let me know if they can/will do that asap ....its very very important...thanks guys
The deaths from combos of buprenorphine and benzos are a bit overblown-- most have occurred in people without a tolerance to at least one of the medications. So many docs will continue a benzo or SSRI-- but some won't, more from an addiction standpoint than from a danger standpoint.
Lets see...Oxycodone (Percocet, Vicodin) are narcotic medications. you don't treat one narcotic addiction with another one.
The only way to kick this habit is to go cold turkey. It sucks.Its hard, it makes you sick. But it also reminds you when you have the urge to go back how much it sucked withdrawing. He even says it himself. get clean, go through the pain. When you come out of it, find a hobby, ride a bike, go on a long walk, listen to music, do whatever..but stay off the junk. Period
If only addiction was anything near that simple, there would be much less misery out there. Buprenorphine is nothing at all like 'replacing one wiith another one'-- that would be like saying chemotherapy doesn't make sense because it is 'treating cancer by giving poison'.
It's much more complicated- if you don't have the problem, consider yourself lucky. Telling an addict to just stop would like me telling you to just run a marathon next month. Hey, just do it!
there are also those that want to quit but take so much, or cant afford to withdrawl, or want to go through it. Im on suboxone, I was taking Oxycodones 30mgs multiple pills a day. Suboxone has taken me off of these. Suboxone is a tool for recovery. You do not get high off of it unless you have zero opiate tolerance. Thats is why it is a narctotic, it has a small chance of dependence. if you follow as prescribed and want to quit then it makes it 1000times easier and you can go on a walk....
It aint that easy man. I admit the sub Wd's last a little longer but no where near as acute as a Oxy. I'd recommend Bupe to anyone especially if you "have" a job.
For anyone viewing this video and contemplating using suboxone as a means of getting off opiates...please don't. Go to a meeting. The disease of addiction is spiritual in nature, not medical. Therefore the solution must be spiritual in nature, not medical. This stuff doesn't treat addiction, it treats withdrawal. Eventually you'll have to kick whatever you're on. Might as well be now!
I don't recommend using Suboxone as a 'means of getting off opiates'-- I recommend using Suboxone as a means of treating opiate dependence, which is as much a medical condition as any other medical condition. Suboxone treats the essence of addiction-- the obsession to use. Addiction as 'spiritual problem' is what keeps people sick; even most 12-step groups accept that addiction is a disease! If you think you should burn in Hell from becoming addicted, go to a meeting with Imntgraf.
Wow! Are you really that defensive?!?! First I said nothing to demean you, 2nd I said nothing about religion, 3rd the 12 step fellowship I attend (arguably the most relevant) regards the disease of addiction as three fold...spiritual, mental, physical. It is a spiritual disease which can't be treated with meds. I AM an addict with several years clean who kicked opiates more times many many times. Just giving a word of advice to those not yet on it. Not opining on whether it's right or wron
Not certain where you see 'defensive'-- just stating the facts as I see them. The success rate for treating opiate dependence through 90 days residential in a 25-y-o person is below 10% for 5-year sobriety-- 'going to a meeting' is first impractical, as people just DON'T, and for the few that do, the success rate for opiates is minimal. For the other 99%, I can tell you without 'defensiveness' that your remarks are dangerous... and annoying.
I decided to leave this comment here-- those of you who have people telling you that you are better off 'at a meeting', take a look at the comments by this person and decide if this is the type of 'recovery' that you want to have!
i was addicted to street methadone for 5yrs, then joined dome clinic for a yr, ive now been on subs 8mg/day for 8 months,i HATE it when people bust my balls 'when r u gettin off that shit?' its like godamn ya know im not hittin u up for money or stealin shit, i got a career/car/girl i guess its never enough for some people..
i was on opiates for 2 years, then on subox for a year and a half. as soon as the subox ran out i relapsed with oxy again. was addicted for another year, habit got expensive started doing dope. eventually what worked for me was a half ass detox, followed by a real detox. was in teh hospital for a week. then just toughed it out the rest of the way...im 17 weeks sober tomorrow.
this doctors insight made my day today! he is exactly 100% right about every single thing he has said. i am on 16 mg of suboxone a day and had been on subutex before that for 9 months. both drugs work wonders in regaining your life back from the powerful vice grips of opiate addiction. i am able to live a normal life and am capable of many thing that i would be unable to do w/o these drugs. i am worried about the taper and eventual stopping of this drug, but i am taking it 1 day at a time. :o)
This Dr. is EXACTLY right about everything he says. I know because I was on Suboxone 8mg a day for 18 months and I got my life back. I tapered off Suboxone (quit on my own) and my mind and body DID NOT recover from the 9 Norco a day I had taken for 3 years. If you know you have a real problem and are on Suboxone no one is saying not to try and quit. Just don't let people who have NO experience with the drug or especially people who have never been addicted opiates dictate what you should do.
suboxone ain't gonna work unless you know that YOU ARE DONE with all that other stuff - YOU GOTTA GET TO THAT POINT and have NO RESERVATIONS about ever using heroin "successfully" again - I've been off dope for 19 months and have no cravings for heroin, I've gone from 16 mg of Suboxone down to 4mg - over the months, without experiencing any (major) withdrawl simptoms - my Doctor told me that you will start to notice it more and more when you taper down in the really low dosages
suboxone is exactly what he says it is. its great. been off junk for 8 months now and have had zero cravings for it. was amazing to me it works this well. also thnx for the info doc.
I've been on it for like 2 years now. I have a job, but im in college trying to find a new job. There are people who come and go often at my job. Many of them suffer with what i suffered with 2 years ago. I will be ready to quit Subs when i get completely away from everyone who has ties to drugs. I am not naive enough to try and quit now, especially with the anxieties of school and starting a career. THX for the good video!
suboxone is the best thing ive found since i first did smack. if anyone reading this is a junkhead just try suboxone for 1 week. been on it 8 months with no cravings or freaking out. and aa or na wasnt for me so subx is the best i swear
Thank you sir! Your wisdom has helped my self rehad so much. My life has been hell since starting percs/vics when i was 11 or 12 and then i moved to snorting oxycontin when i was 15 then before i knew that i was shooting heroin. But now im 20 still a addict to opiods but suboxone has kept me clean for almost 2 weeks life is life now and it sucks but now i dont need a needle and dope to make me not want to kill myself and that alone is worth it. Once again thank you and good luck & stay sober!
Off Suboxone - ~ appx 60 days clean. First 10 days=hell with almost zero sleep; next 10 days=bored/depressed; next 10 days=80% back to myself; 60 days after the last Suboxone? 100% good luck everyone. One last thing: destroy your connections! And stop thinking about drugs and remember the first 10 days of hell/withdrawals next time your mind wonders about getting an 80MG/Oxy or 60x10MG Hydro. Such a small high for a giant price to pay. Again, good luck from Montreal, Que.
Tell me something though, how big was your last dose in mgs? This is a very important question. Did you stop at like 2mg and then go cold turkey, or did u taper down to like 0.5mg and less?
Me and a family member have been opiate addicts for 5 years. they have insurance through their job and was able to get on suboxone while i have no insurance so i have to buy them from her and its making her run out and we have to look for them on the streets. My withdraw symptoms are still lingering and i f been off opiates for 2 months now. How much longer will i be feeling them and is there a way for me to get on suboxone with no insurance?
I appreciate your videos and the advice you're giving. I also appreciate your openness and honesty and your winning replies to the ignorant criticism that was posted by some of the users. I've been on suboxone for 5 years and it saved my life. It got me off of prescribed opiate painkillers I was taking for a back injury and got too dependent on after about six months. I may be taking suboxone every day, but I don't feel like a drug addict, I just feel normal. I take 4mg/day.
if the nerves are damaged by opiates, will this damage ever be repaired if you use suboxone? if you quite all drugs, will the nerves not regenerate to normal and the person will have enough endorphins to feel ok?
does snorting subs do damage to your brain over a long period of time, cuz my friend has been doin subs for heavily and it changed him, like he is a mean apathetic person who is very insecure and hateful, he is 21 and he acts like he is 16, the only time he is happy is when he is all narfed out from sub and high off weed, me myself i am addicted 2 subs my self when i dont have them i dont wanna get out of bed and go to work , why is suboxen like coke 2 me, and i never did heroin or Os only dosub
I have a question I hope some one can answer for me. I own a small company and recently walked in the bathroom at work to the site of my employee snorting suboxone up his nose. I found out he is in a rehab program, he says he has been clean for 12 months or so. He says he is snorting because subocone tastes bad. My question is: If he is snorting suboxone is he really using it to rehab or is he developing a new addition?
At best, snorting is repeating addictive behavior and would NOT be anything that I would recommend-- more likely, he is trying to get a buzz.. If he was my employee I would want to get releases signed to talk to his 'rehab program'. It would ultimately be in his best interest to get this straightened out-- snorting Suboxone is usually a step toward eventual relapse. You can easily deal with the taste- by chewing an altoid or life-saver.
I've used all opiates that i could name and bupe is piss easy to kick on the body. I detox regurarly. There's a drug that's sold otc that reverses and masks any cold turkey. I'd say come off morphine. Just one week of light tapering, then bam go to high dose codeine ie:400mg max. Codeine ain't that bad and 1 or 2 mil? that's a 10c detox, unless you pop them like pez. I'm usually 24mg the quit colt turkey without codeine some times, it's just that you need a good week off work. Good Luck
when you get off suboxone, you'll be the same as the day you started it. do it right the first time, get in meetings and work the steps. i always used suboxone as a crutch, id relapse but not worry because i didnt have to withdrawal with suboxone by my side. get off the opiates for good, suboxone is not being clean
I don't agree- Traditional recovery saved my life, but my relapse after 7 years took my career and almost killed me; I have seen many people with great recovery, going to meetings, working the steps, who relapsed and could never get it back. Is it a 'crutch' to treat hypertension? Is it a 'crutch' to treat bipolar disorder? Your thinking was appropriate 10 years ago, but thankfully we now have treatments that can help everybody-- not just the 4-5% who survive a 'rock bottom'.
Wow, you were an anesthesia doc with an opiate habit!! Holy smokes if I had access like that I would be dead. I'm sure you're will power is already stronger than most peoples which is kinda depressing actually.
I have great 'will power'-- but none when it comes to opiates. If I thought I had will power, I would have no reason NOT to use right now; I would use now and quit tomorrow! I am clean BECAUSE I have no will power! This simple change in thinking is the key to staying clean using the steps.
i take a half of a 2 mg tablet of suboxone once a day, which is 1 mg a day for me....and i cannot get off of it...the withdrawl is torture....my doctor gave me something called trazadone (50mg) and that was suppose to help me sleep. well it doesnt. and i cant even get off a 1 mg a day regiment. i went 72 hours without taking suboxone, and that was 72 hours without sleep and the trazadone wasnt doing crap...so i jumped back on to 1 mg a day.. i hate it. wish i just cold turkied heroin
u need to get down to .25 mg every other day at least to jump dawg, buprenorphine is very very potent and your still on a high dose, much too high to jump!
Good gravy people are fowl, he was respectful & he's not just a jerk w/o knowledge of junkie life. Anyway, he is saying why go off of something that is very much working for U if you're not sure you're ready. I'm on a very low dose of S & hope to be done soon. I've not used for 2 yrs. If down the road I feel I'm going to use, you can bet I'd jump back to S. Well worth it. I think situations are just too individual for U to dismiss it's benefit. It saved my life & some sanity. Thanks Doc
The part about not having an anxiety issue unresolved hit a resounding note with me . I remember saying (while still on heroin) "Hey , i guess I beat the panic attacks I had for years " , not realizing the heroin was taking care of that. So when I got off the Heroin , then off the subs , the anxiety came back , and it was a killer ..... Drove me right back.
bottonline a person has to want to quit... coming down of suboxne is a peice of cake compared to heroin, as long as u don't over use the suboxne and wing off it using less and les untill your completly off it
the real hard part is staying clean, once an addect always an addect
While SuboxDoc knows what he's talking about in his videos, not everything he says is always true. Not everyone needs permanent blocker therapy. Everyones willpower varies. The simple fact is, the worse withdrawal is, the more likely that person is to not want to go through it again, meaning abstinance. The easier withdrawals are, the more likely that persons mindset will be "one more can't hurt". Pain builds you, it builds character, personality, and maturity.
What is your source for your assertion that "the worse withdrawal is, the more likely that person is to not want to go through it again, meaning abstinence"
you claim it is a fact, to me it sounds like your belief, but if you have some data to back this, I'd like to see it
It is worth letting this post stand, as I think the guy does a good enough job at making a fool of himself! "Sober for a year"! Many people can do that-- with both hands tied behind their backs! My relapse didn't hit for over 7 years. Come back after 5 years-- if you find a better way to stay clean, tell me and the world all about it. Doesn't seem to be humility based! You can also let me know how to make some money off my 'own website', as you put it-- I would love to!
You relapsed because you have constant access you or your doc buddies writing scripts and a doctor ..your loaded and can afford it. You have just came up with a drug to make you a "functioning addict" so yea I see your point of constant threat to relapse just as if I worked in a crack house and was trying to stay clean how long will that last? I believe if i could get clean I would stay clean because access is hard as hell already and I wont constantly be around it same as if you were not a doc
I relapsed for one reason only-- because I am an addict. I wish I WAS 'loaded'-- I wish success to everybody-- but financial status is not a factor in 'who relapses'. If you think that you can stay clean simply by staying physically far from opiates, you are going to be disappointed; EVERY addict is at 'constant threat' of relapse.
As for the 'coming up with a drug' comment, you are ignoring or don't understand the differences in action between bupe and agonists.
Are u fuukknn kiddin me? F this guy, and f this doctor! What an idiot seriously.. do you hear him?? No dont get off suboxone, you should stay on it bcuz u cant quit, thats BS you can quit and be off EVERYTHING!! Then he says if u do get off sub YOU HAVE TO be on sumthn else or you will relapse again! Just another doctor tryn to make money, off prescribing sub and off his own website. I was only subs for a month, tapered down.. and barely felt any w/d, for 2 days and im good and been sober 4 a yr
Not sure who you are referring to-- I did it the old fashioned way-- but had Suboxone been around I would certainly have used that instead-- probably BEFORE losing my anesthesia career!
thank you doc i will be going to my apt and maybe just fill a partial script. I was using such twisted logic in thinking I could just quit right now and I know I would have wound up back on methadone in no time. I wish I were in your area because I would like to have a long convo with someone as knowledgeable as you.
i had been on 16 mg for about 18 months, and went away to school and couldnt find a doctor. I was able to get down to 2mg a day to stretch out the length of my script, and to make withdrawal not as bad. When i ran out, the withdrawal started 2 days later and i was looking for opiates but luckily couldnt find them. After the sickness was over I didnt have any significant cravings so If you do have to stop abruptly, lower your dosage to minimize withdrawal, and work through it. good luck
I have been on suboxone for about 16 months from methadone and am going to have to quit kind of abruptly due to a loss of insurance. I am very frightened and was wondering if you think it can be done... I have no desire to use any other drug but I am afraid of the sickness. I have been on about 4-6 mg a day. what advice do you have ( I cannot afford it without insurance)
4 mg per day of Suboxone-- that costs less than $3 per day. Are you sure that is too much? I realize that it adds up, but if you did end up using-- 3 bucks would be nothing!
If you really want to stay clean, I strongly realize getting involved in NA or AA.
k I will keep my appointmentt and maybe fill a partial prescription. Thank you I was teetering and I think you gave a shove in the right direction.
I wish I lived in Wisconsin because I would love to have a long healthy chat with you. p.s. I was looking at your website and wanted to say its AWESOME that you helped that patient's doctor understand the suboxone needs
for surgery (that has been one of my fears and having you on board would make all the difference. thank you, M.P.H
Thank you for uploading. It feels so good to hear your story and know that I am NOT alone and that help CAN be provided. Please continue to upload. :)
This guy know his stuff. Ive been on suboxone for 18 months and have steped back from 90 pills a month to 42. But im not ready to stop them. I might never be ready. Happy to see someone telling the truth. Suboxone withdraw isn't as bad as the other stuff. Everyone hang in there soboxone isnt the silver bullet but its close.
zuspan69 1 year ago 4
hey doc,
i am a thirty one year old recovering heroin addict who has been clean and on 16mg a day of suboxone for a year and almost three months.what i wanted to add was that the people i come in conact with who say that being on suboxone is not truly being clean or as one counselor told me,'suboxone is your higher power'they are usually recovering alcoholics or addicts themselves and being alcoholics,they are prone to BLACK AND WHITE THINKING. great keep it up and keep speaking the truth!
MAYNZx 1 year ago
Thanks!
SuboxDoc 1 year ago
suboxone withdrawals were hell for me.
mildew2yahoo 2 years ago
A magic pill is not the cure...the same problem is still there and that problem is I, me. You need meetings, meetings, meetings and God. We have a thinking problem and the cure starts within. Its all about change. Get into a 12 step program and have complete abstinance
just4today131 2 years ago
It is a great fantasy-- no doubt. But the simple fact is that such an approach is not saving our young people. The steps occasionally (not very often, to be frank) help a person stop using opiates, but the relapse rate remains very high. And a 95% failure rate is no longer good enough. Not for a fatal illness.
SuboxDoc 1 year ago 10
hey doc..
what do you think of ibogaine treatments?
do you know when the generic subs will finally get thru the patent lawsuit?
ezniehe 2 years ago
this quack would like to see people on some form of opiates for their entire life. If you've been clean for a year then you dont need a maintenance medication
poptube87 2 years ago
This, people, is the type of arrogant ignorance you are up against. I see people every day who get clean for a few months and consider themselves 'experts'-- and I see them again three years later, after they relapse and lose everything. Thanks, pop, for the demonstration.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
alright i see, a pill is the only way to stay sober
poptube87 2 years ago
Not necessarily the only way-- just like you don't always need bypass surgery for clogged arteries or chemo for cancer. You can exercise, or pray, or take vitamin C (no 'dis' on prayer intended). You don't need a 'pill' for lots of things they are used for-- but when a 'pill' can save your kid's life- a kid who is too young to 'get' the steps-- I hope the kid goes for the pill. Beats dying. Sorry it doesn't fit YOUR model of perfection.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago 3
Hi doctor, I am David, I am 31 and a long term opioid addict. I have been on fentanyl, oxycoone, and hydromorphone last 8 years. I am cold turkeying this at home, I've CT'd many a time in inpatient, I HAVE to do it this time. If I don't, I'll accept methadone for a while, but I will taper. Any advice, thank you!
~ Alex
gorgoroth 2 years ago
Hi Dr. Junig,
I have been off heroin and oxycontin for 3 months now, but think about using everyday. It has definitely been hard but seems to be getting better. However, I am thinking about getting on suboxone. I have taken it before and like it, but do you think it would be ignorant of me after being clean for three months?...and would a doctor put me on it after being clean?
MrNgodfree 2 years ago
I don't think any doc would, or should, start you on buprenorphine if you are not using. Most opiate addicts have cravings off and on for life-- the 'non-med' way to treat them is through meetings and talking to a sponsor, or exercise, meditation... I hate to 'wait for an inevitable relapse', ad they CAN be deadly. But at the same time, a zero opiate tolerance is a precious thing to give up. Truly a complicated- and personal-- decision.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago 3
Had another question for you Dr....after you have stop taking opiates, how long do the craving last? I'm talking about the nervous jittery panicky feeling that comes over you...i hate this. Hope you can help me...thanks.
danswife100 2 years ago
There are different stages of withdrawal, some worse than others. For many people, cravings will last for years. But the jittery feelings usually end after a few weeks.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
if i quick taper subs and use em for a week to get off opi, would the withdrawls be really that bad? i mean im quick tapering it shouldint be bad
modshroom 2 years ago
It depends on your level of tolerance. A person who takes 400 mg of oxycontin or methadone per day and spends a few days on Suboxone will havve much worse withdrawal than a person who takes 40 mg of oxycodone per day and takes a few days of suboxone.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
ya know cause i want to know if im gona have to deal with this same level of depression, no motivation etc, when im done with the subs.
ods1ODS 2 years ago
It takes work getting your tolerance down to zero. When a person goes on buprenorphine, they are avoiding the work of getting all the way down to zero, instead getting down to a tolerance equal to 40 mg of methadone per day. If they stop suboxone, they still have to go down the rest of the way.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
doc id like ur opinion. I have bout a 5 year history with the opiates, with the last 2 years being every day, b4 that was like every other wk end. so on xmas night was my last use of heroine(half a bundle) which is what i usually do, to give you an idea of my current use. i went cold turkey and detoxed at home. here i am almost a month later and just now considering sub. u think thats stupid? i mean im clean now but the paws is a bitch. is it true ur brain can start to heal wile on sub?
ods1ODS 2 years ago
Addiction has many aspects-- some chemical, some emotional, some psychological. Buprenorphine removes the physical craving and obsession, allowing the psycholocal addiction to fade a bit and be 'in remission', but when a person stops buprenorphine the addiction tends to become active again-- which is why most leaders in addiction science are moving toward buprenorphine as a long-term medication. I wouldn't use the word 'heal', just because opiates don't really cause 'brain damage'.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Instead they cause 'memory traces' or 'conditioning' that cannot be erased-- anymore than you can specifically 'forget' how to ride a bike.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Really wasn't that hard to get off of subs! Why substitute permanently? Just fucking grown some balls and quit, I abused hard core opioids for over 5 years and I finally feel good
clintpro 2 years ago
i quit oxycodone / fentanil / hydrocodone/hydromorphone habbit. Cold turkey !
but since i m a real pain in the ass with everybody.
Really grumpy and aggressive since 2 years. i started to infuse weed ...now i m as i was in my teen years.. A social being. I thought i was a lost cause but we humans are stronger than we think. Never underestimate your powers to change. Never give up..
Cheers !!
Lepiratepoulpe 2 years ago
jeff, it's so nice to see a doc taking the time to inform addicts about suboxone. I have been taking it for over a year and you answered quite a few questions. Lately, i have been scared that my sub doc is going to make me stop taking the suboxone and i'm not ready. I really like the way my life is going right now and i'm afraid to interupt my success with such a difficult and seemingly impossible challenge such as that. I don't want to think about it too much though. I'm not ready to stop.
Manda9285 2 years ago
As you know, I am a fan of long-term treatment; I am full now, so I can't help-- but make calls and hopefully you will find a new doc who believes in long-term treatment as well. In fact, I should try to set up a matching system for new docs looking for stable patients-- people who are doing well are usually 'easy' patients and a good way for a doc to get started. Check back at my blog and forum in the next few weeks-- I will try to address that issue. Good luck, and I hope things work out!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
It´s so crazy in Europe you get treatment for free!
But we don´t have groups only single after-treatment...
Duganoff09 2 years ago
The facts are that some of us create a significant number of additional receptor sites the very first time we use opiates. Without opiates we have no way to fill these additional sites naturally. Suboxone and methadone allow us to fill our additional receptors legally. Don't listen to some of the internet "docs". Dr. Jeff does know what he is talking about though.
playinem121 2 years ago
i keep replying and they never go up, do you have it set to be like that?
cbarrett34 2 years ago
I don't 'have to'-- but I prefer to. Otherwise some idiots use the space and time that I spend trying to help others by promoting misinformation. I have no interest in giving those people a platform.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I think you are providing info for people that are in a life or death struggle of opioid addiction. I wouldn't doubt if they start to use it as a anti-depressant and other conditions such as anxiety. I think we can utilize the medicine for many other conditions, but I am no doc.
ericloyd82 2 years ago
My doc told me to stop at 16mg per day cold turkey. I am on day 6 now and out of the 3 times I have quit suboxone this seems to be the easiest. I have tapered and I dint feel better for a week and I went back on them. Why would stopping at 16mg per day be easier than tapering?
ericloyd82 2 years ago
Keep us up to date-- my concern would be that it just takes longer to HIT the withdrawal. The w/d doesn't start until your blood level drops below the ceiling level, so usually it doesn't start until you taper to the lower doses. So let us know-- if it kicks in soon, I was right; if it never kicks in, I have no idea what is going on!
Good luck, either way,
JJ
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I stopped for a little less than 2 wks. I had to go back on them due to cravings and for the simple reason that I am not prepared psychologically to deal with all of the feelings I was having. I got back on the suboxone yestarday. Feel defeated but I know this is better than the alternative.
ericloyd82 2 years ago
Try to avoid being too hard on yourself-- it is NOT a matter of 'strength' or 'weakness'-- in fact, very few people can taper off opiates, and the relapse rate even after long periods of sobriety is very high. Staying on Suboxone and not actively using are significant accomplishmnents by themselves!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Doc thanks very much for caring! You're a great person.
awyeahsonshityouknow 2 years ago
well that was very depressing!!!!!
bloozeman1969 2 years ago
Sorry-- opiate dependence stinks, no doubt about it.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Hey doc, im at the end of day 3...of quitting cold turkey from suboxone. I started out with 8mg twice a day down to 2mg a day... im on day 3 without anything.... im going insane to say the least but im quitting this crap for good... and im doing it cold turkey..... My jimmy legs are ridiculous....is there anything you can recommend any supplements or anything that would help me....I refuse to let this take over me anymore... im over it.... How long does the physical misery last?
DASMOINTJOKER 2 years ago 8
exercise, fresh fruits and vegs if you can eat. plenty of water. I am drinking pedialite now. Im on day 6. It gets better. Try a heating pad wrapped around you leg or legs but I would not sleep with them on. Baths showers and all of that good stuff. Hang in there. you can do it. I know how you feel and I can feel your pain literally.
ericloyd82 2 years ago
It is hard to stop, but it can be done. It took me a very long time and discomfort. Suboxone helped me get my life in order so I was in the right enviornment to stop using. If you have the same life that you did when you used. Example: not going to meatings, having using friends, no job, isolation, poor hygine. Then why would you expect anything to change? I am not cured, by any strech, but suboxone helped me learn how to live and take care of my self again. Thank You
PDS12 2 years ago
Congratulations-- keep up the good work-- and as you know, staying clean takes a great deal of work!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Just wanted to update ya doc.
Been on suboxone for approximately 4 months now and am down to 12mg/day and have never been better. Haven't used once, have craved for about 30 second two or three times a few months back, and with the help of a scar massager and removal cream, my arms are getting a lot better.
I also have a great doc!
Suboxone works wonders for those that need it. For those that don't really need it, STOP GIVING US THAT DO A BAD NAME!
Hope everything is well with you, Jeff.
reev2012 2 years ago 2
Thanks!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
very important TO GO FROM 2MG TO 1MG to .90micrograms then .80micrograms and set a time of however u feel u need there will be no harsh withdrawls they dont tel u that buprenorphine is given in MICROGRAMS yet they are giving it in miligrams way too much
cetnikz 2 years ago
hi doc, ive posted an maybe i should message you but i cant find my messages. ive been on heroin years, methadone years, subox. 1.4 yrs and quit 5 days ago. I went over the course form 18mgs to 8 and just jumped off from 8. I cantolerate the physical w/d's, but im anxious, insecure, depressed in a crippling way. please can you tell me when i should be able to atleast go outside again. or any other input would be VERY appreciated.
SpiritofVersaille 2 years ago
@SpiritofVersaille it's just going to take time, if you've been on opiates for more than 5 years then you can expect to be going through weeks of withdrawals with depression lasting as much as 6 months.
OpioidNate 2 years ago
What are the medications that help with Suboxone withdraws. Clonidine really helps, by the way.
dvs1572 2 years ago
Why in the hell would you snort vicodin? You young whipper-snappers are so dumb nowadays. Besides burning like hell half of the pill anyway is just fillers and such. Now oxycontin you can snort that all day.
downfan1 2 years ago
I have been on Suboxone for some time now. I agree with Dr. Junig that it will be hard to ween down to 2mg and harder yet to quit. However, I have a good program of recovery and clear memories of how shitty and miserable my life was while using so I know I will be able to get off of Suboxone. Working a good program is pivotal to getting and staying off Suboxone. People that use Suboxone as a crutch to stay sober will almost always relapse after. Recovery, Honesty, Spirituality....DAILY.
IgDrig5 2 years ago
I'm posting a video later tonight or tomorrow about meetings and buprenorphine-- I respect your thoughts on the issue but have some difference of opinion as well. I'll try to get it posted by tomorrow-- thanks for your thoughts!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I am so very thankful there are people like Dr. Junig out there who take time out of their lives to post helpful videos like this. Those who have never dealt with addiction cannot possibly understand what any of these issues he addresses are like. Furthermore, if you have never used Suboxone to treat your addiction you cannot even come close to understand. Thank you Dr. Junig- your ROCK!
5pointsoftruth 2 years ago
Thank you-- I really appreciate it.
JJ
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
is it true that doctors who prescribe new medications such as suboxone; gets "kick backs" from the drug manufactures???? Even thouh I like my psychiatrist, sometimes I cant but feel that ALL doctors are nothing more than Over Glorified Drug peddlers. I have been on suboxone for 1.5 years, and there has been no mention of weaning off. Is he keeping me on this for the kick backs? or does he really care about me?
barkergrl 2 years ago
Wow-- it is funny the things that people think out there... there is no way of getting a 'kickback' of any kind-- in fact, as of a few months ago pharmaceutical companies or their reps cannot give a doctor anything of any value-- even a pen! Before that they could provide up to $100- worth for a an educational gift for a doctor-- say a coupon toward a book. But no-- I can't even get the company that makes Suboxone to pay ten bucks for my web site about Suboxone!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
What about catering lunch and things of that nature?
ericloyd82 2 years ago
not really, you see in order to even prescribe suboxone you need to be a specialist in opiate addiction - at least in my area, so the people prescribing this stuff are to really help patients.
OpioidNate 2 years ago
great vid doc i have been on the drug for 4 years its been a life saver for me i have did so well on it i would like to try to come off but im alittle afraid i think i can do it i came off methadone was on it almost a year it was very tough but i see a bright future with me and i say if it's not broke don't fix it
jtmoney606 2 years ago
I tried 5mg vicodin about a month ago and have had a strong urge for it since. I've moved up and have started snorting up to 20mg a day. I haven't done it in a few days and my urge for it is subsiding... I'm 15 and I get my molers out in a few weeks meaning I get a fairly large dose of vicodin.
Even with my extensive knowledge of opiate addiction, because both of my parents were addicted to opiates, I don't know if I can override my temptation..
OnlyHighWhenDriving 2 years ago
I've taken Subutex for 9 months but for refractory depression, not opiate addiction.
When I wanted to stop taking it I had terrible withdrawals--mental anguish with some light physical w/d's. I only last about 4 days.
I tapered my dose and REPLACED it with a short acting opiate (Dihydrocodeine). I have been able to avoid w/ds completely; instead of TREATING the w/d symptoms with Benzos & Clonidine, the DHC CURES w/ds.
Than quitting DHC should be easy compared to Subutex. That's the idea!
ufotofu9 2 years ago
I have to say after reading most of your blogs and watching most of your videos. You have got to be the most respectable doctor I heard of. I want to thank you for all of your help and will continue reading your blogs and watching your videos... Counting down the days till Suboxone goes generic.
bakersk8er564 2 years ago
I fear that Im never going to be 'normal' again. I wish I would of gone off the pain killers and dealt with it, but now two years later Im completely dependent on Suboxone and scared to death of withdrawls and if I'll ever be 'normal.'
mikeyes11 2 years ago
Hello Doctor. Just a question if I may. At this very moment, I'm coming off a 2-4mg daily suboxone regiment that has lasted about a year. So far, it's day 2 without suboxone, and I feel alot better than I did yesterday. My question being; In your personal experiences with this, how long will my withdrawal last? Right now, the chills are the worst part of it. Could you please give me a common length of time or just an opinion of how long this detox will last. Thank you for your time, doctor.
poppyplanet1 2 years ago
I just started last week on Sub's. It's a WONDERFUL drug!!! I had a serious oxy and norco problem for YEARS because of a back injury!! I said "fuck it, I'm tired of this shit!" and dropped the $400 to get help! ANYONE that has a opiate problem grow some balls and find a Suboxone Clinic or straight ask your Family for help!!!! I haven't touched a oxy or norco in in 7 days!!!!!! I never even had a want for one!
SUBOXONE IS AWESOME!! IT'S THE BEST MEDICATION FOR OPIATE ADDICTION!!!
psygn0sis 2 years ago
Yea. Your right. But thats going to go away soon too cause then your going to tell yourself, 'Now its time to get off the Suboxone,' ..."
And so Sub is better than abusing pain killers, yet your still dependant. Ive been on Suboxone for two years now, and Im trying to find a way off. I went from 24mg's a day to now 4mg a day. Some days are better than others, but my goal is to get the hell off of these. I just want to be 'normal' withoug any drugs n me...
mikeyes11 2 years ago
Too late. That's like a person who lays on the train tracks to kill himself surviving and wanting his legs back. Addiction is like memory-- you cannot 'intentially forget' how to recognize your home or ride a bike. Opiates who spend all their time wishing they were 'normal' end up going from relapse to relapse. Accept the disease, and be grateful that while others used to die, you now have an option that allows you to live. Learn to consider yourself, on buprenorphine, as 'normal'.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Jeff, people have had options for years with methadone. I'm starting to think that you are very biased. You say you're not getting paid by the suboxone makers, but you certainly seem to be making an income from suboxone. With your website and your practice. You're totally biased, and your posting wreak of biasness.
cbarrett34 2 years ago
Hmm... anyone who doesn't agree with you must be 'biased' or paid off-- bright argument! My position on all of my sites is quite clear: I got clean 16 years, then 9 years ago without buprenorphine-- but I was lucky. I never consider myself 'cured' from addiction. If you can stay clean without bupe, don't take it! But get a hobby and leave others alone. BTW- bupe accounts for about 20% of my income; I am closed to new patients, and I've taken R-B to task repeatedly. You're an idiot.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Do you even have an addiction? If you only knew what the drug has done for millions of people you would probably promote it too. You are right, he is biased, but only because he knows it works and keeps the risk factors to a minimum. I take suboxone and I will tell you that it is hard to come off of but it is worth it. I hope you are not really 34yrs old but if you are, I hope you can open your eyes and see the world. You are missing a lot.
ericloyd82 2 years ago
Actually, I am thankful and blessed to say that Iv been off this poison for almost a month and a half. It wasn't easy, but then, not as hard as I anticipated it to be.
I believe a lot of it is in our minds. We fear it, and then it becomes what we fear. If we believe that we can, then we will and it will be much easier. At least for me it was....
I would say to everyone, get off of this poison-the sooner, the better, and faster you can begin living drug free.
mikeyes11 2 years ago
Mike, I sincerely wish you well. Regulars here know MY philosophy; Staying clean for a few months is easy, but staying alive for years as an opiate addict is a challenge. I hope you never relapse; mine took 8 years, and it took everything I had-- almost including my life.
I do hope you avoid going back; if you are still clean in a year, drop a line, and as they say at meetings, tell us 'how you did it'. In the meantime, I hope you live and let live. Some people will die without bupe.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Jeff Junig helped me immensley. Hes more then just a addiction specialist, hes also a psychiatrist. I think that combonation is terrificly helpful. He knows FIRST hand what its like to lose your life to opiates. Suboxone gets you off the streets. I made the mistake of stopping. Way too early. And thats my fault. If you listen to dr junig, he wont lie to you. He wont push anything on you.
Your great junig!!!
allissongaffney 2 years ago
You know my philosophy-- for most people opiate addiction is a chronic illness-- but there is nothing to be ashamed of in trying to stop. Thanks for your nice comments, and once you are a patient, you are always a patient- if you need help, by all means come on in!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Thank you. I Will make that appointment soon. Its hard to find a dr who you can trust, and tell the truth to. See you soon. Thank you for everything.
allissongaffney 2 years ago
Suboxone makes my head hurt and it didn't help with my cravings at all but other than that I think it's a very good product. I quit it then I immediately relapsed then went to jail and got locked in a cell with nothing but clonidine witch I only got about half the time because my blood pressure was too low. Then I relapsed again my first day out now I have to detox all over again because I'm looking at more time.
024reredrum 2 years ago
Ouch. In my detox in 2001, every time I heard the nurse coming I would tense my muscles, trying to get my systolic blood pressure high enough so they would give me clonidine! I was so dehydrated from the diarrhea and not eating that I never got a dose! The shrink came in each morning and grunted at me a couple times... I wouldn't treat my dog the way that addicts are treated. Good luck-- detoxing in jail must be horrible. Be angry-- at the drug. That anger can help during w/d and after.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I agree sometimes when taking it I get a massive head, as if I turn my head a certain way I get very dizzy, its very uncomfortable
lilmark816 2 years ago
been on suboxone for about 4 years. in the begining i received it thru a doctor but when i lost my insurance i started getting it off the street because of the withdrawls. I just cant seem to kick it im on day 6 now without it i didnt ween and i know that is not recomended but i cant get it anymore and cant afford drug treatment. i have already started to go to meetings on my own but what can i do if anything to help with the withdrawls mainley the leg cramps and my heart racing
jasondoe1333 2 years ago
clonidine is cheap and relatively safe, if you can get a script-- maybe an urgent care? If we have someone who leaves treatment for some reason we will at least give clonidine-- will your treatment center at least do that?
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I was on Suboxone for six years and I feel my life was greatly diminished. I feel you doctors are somewhat cavalier about the effects. For one DO YOU KNOW THE LONG TERM effects?REALLY KNOW??? I know my ability to recall words and concepts has taken a hard hit. There's clearly damgage to my brain not to mention my love for life.
Is Suboxone better than a terrible Heroin addiction??probably- (mainly the legal part though) The withdrawal IS BRUTAL: I have to laugh at how you docs claim it isn't.
finley40 2 years ago
Laugh away. Buprenorphine has been around for over 30 years. I can't claim that ANY medication is completely safe, but bupe has a track record longer than 90% of the meds out there. As for your problems, untreated addiction damages 'love for life'-- not to mention frequently destroying life literally. 'Addiction' is a mental obsession; buprenorphine can relieve that obsession IF TAKEN PROPERLY. As for W/D, people coming off bupe sure LOOK less miserable than those coming off OC.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
"Given that you couldn't stop pain meds, why SHOULD you be able to stop Suboxone?" _Suboxone takes away cravings and the typical addict behavior but let's not get it twisted. The reason it's so difficult to stop suboxone, is because of its long half life. In other words, the withdrawal extends way beyond any street opiate. And, it is trading one addiction for another. Suboxone is a partial opiate agonist. It binds to the same receptors as any other opiate except they're partially activated.
MultiBlue29 2 years ago
A common but misguided thought. There is no 'trading' involved; a person has, or doesn't have, opiate dependence-- and there is no cure once you have it. Addiction consists of obsession to use-- the mind becomes 'all about opiates'. Suboxone stops the obsession, therefore putting addiction into remission. The important thing isn't 'taking' or 'not taking'; dry drunks are miserable addicts who take nothing! Buprenorphine removes the obsession, which is by my definition treating addiction.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Hi jeff I am from wisconsin and am prescribed suboxone I used to go to a clinic in brown deer but they shut down! so now I go to acecia clinic in milwaukee recently my doctor quit to do something else but before he quit he gave me a 2 month script of suboxone now I am running low and I am still on the waiting list for a new doc! I pay out of pocket for everything even the pills I am wondering is there any way I can get help paying for my treatment I dont want to go back on opiates
reaper1911 2 years ago
My husband currently takes suboxone. I don't understand addiction @ all. I am unsure if he is actually an addict. I am unsure if it is a want or a need for him. I have never been around anyone that has these problems until him. We have been together for 3 years off and on. I would leave him about every month because of his pill problems. I have decided to try to stay and understand and help him work through it. Can you offer me some pointers or advice...anything?
waylonmelisa 2 years ago
So true. Thanks so much for this. I truly admire the time, effort and honesty you're putting into posting your videos on youtube. You are a saint and an inspiration to me!
mrsbungle82 2 years ago
You are way too kind-- thanks for giving ME inspiration!
JJ
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
ttiger u dont know shit....unless u have experienced it first hand then u r in no position to pass judgements on someone else..... as with everything it is all situational and dependent on the individual. just as some people can go coldturkey from nicotine and others use patches, gum etc...
chiefz587 2 years ago
just want to say jeff is the TRUTH! in living form when it comes to the real-deal about suboxone.
MSK4200 2 years ago
You know, it really makes me angry that there are so many negative people that feel the need to post comments to keep struggling addicts & themselves down! Knowledge is power, ignorance is blind! Take a minute to figure that one out! This dr./addict didn't HAVE to risk being sued, getting ridiculed by nay-sayers, and put his shameful past out there for the world to see! He did it to HELP US! Please, you guys, if you don't want to learn then move on...
MBRN1 2 years ago
Great info.!! Thanks soooo much Jeff! I will surely go to your other sites immediately!! I, personally, needed to hear exactly what you said, how you said it! Your unfortunate addiction has had a 'silver lining', its helped me! I thank you!!
MBRN1 2 years ago
Doc,
Don't let these clowns bother you.
Suboxone has literally saved my life, my veins (what's left of them), my mindset, my body, my libido and my social life.
I went from a 3g/day IV tar habit to 16mg/day Suboxone. First 2 days I went through massive withdrawal, but life has been grand since then. I do not desire to use, my arms are healing tremendously, I am interested in women and going out again, and I just feel fantastic altogether.
I'd rather be on subs 1x/day than dope 10x/day.
reev2012 2 years ago
thanks Reev
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
just because you couldnt handle your addiction and need suboxone daily, doesnt mean everyone does...ive never been to meeting and only took subs to get off oxys....its called creating a life worth living, if you dont have that then you will use, and if you have the urge to use that means you need to change an aspect of your life to make it worth living....your a fool to bigpharma if your convinced you need a pill to live
mkings20 2 years ago
This company is actually 'little pharma'-- this is their only prescription med, and they are based in the UK. Unfortunately many people do need medication to live- for addiction and for other diseases as well. Congrats to you though.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I had been on 60mg of oxy 2 times a day.. a 40mg and 20mg . My dr. would not refill due to he wanted to see a special list 10 from then. I have been on it for 8 months. He cutt me off cold. I just fould out about suboxone and scared to go on it. I AM IN DAY 4 OF W.DRAW. I AM IN HELL ,HURTING SOSICK ,TERRIBL.E; HOW MUCH LONGER DO I HAVE ?
I AM GOING AFTER THE DR FOR NOT TELLING ME ABOUT HE WITH DRAW OR ABOUT SUBOXONE. HIS CLINIC DOES IT. THIS IS INHUMANE . ANY SUGGESTIONS ? PLEASE ITS PURE HEL
blackvipergs 2 years ago
Wow half of the people here know nothing about suboxone. I am an addict of oxycontin or oxycodone in high doses, and suboxone has helped me stop. Yes its an opiate but it is an opiate antagonist, and gets rid of your cravings and withdrawls and makes you not want the drug, plus if you take more opiates while on suboxone nothing happens. And Suboxone was not addicting for me, I can use it for a week and stop and I have no withdrawls of anything. It really helps those who are struggling.
shankozwell 2 years ago
I had a comment from some some guy here that I deleted-- claiming that 'SUBOXONE IS USED FOR TREATMENT NOT MAINTENANCE' (followed by 'YOU IDIOTt'). 70% of current scripts are for maintenance; short-term use has been proven to do little or nothing for addiction. It is not 'treatment' by any definition of the word, but it DOES induce remission as long as a person takes it. Why is it that the more ignorant a person is, the more CAPS he uses?
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
guys i need a question answered asap....i have a problem but have had axicety before and during it....i am scared that if i ask and get suboxone percription....that they will take away my anti axiety medication!!! please let me know if they can/will do that asap ....its very very important...thanks guys
JimmboSlice 2 years ago
The deaths from combos of buprenorphine and benzos are a bit overblown-- most have occurred in people without a tolerance to at least one of the medications. So many docs will continue a benzo or SSRI-- but some won't, more from an addiction standpoint than from a danger standpoint.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Lets see...Oxycodone (Percocet, Vicodin) are narcotic medications. you don't treat one narcotic addiction with another one.
The only way to kick this habit is to go cold turkey. It sucks.Its hard, it makes you sick. But it also reminds you when you have the urge to go back how much it sucked withdrawing. He even says it himself. get clean, go through the pain. When you come out of it, find a hobby, ride a bike, go on a long walk, listen to music, do whatever..but stay off the junk. Period
ttiger5050 2 years ago
If only addiction was anything near that simple, there would be much less misery out there. Buprenorphine is nothing at all like 'replacing one wiith another one'-- that would be like saying chemotherapy doesn't make sense because it is 'treating cancer by giving poison'.
It's much more complicated- if you don't have the problem, consider yourself lucky. Telling an addict to just stop would like me telling you to just run a marathon next month. Hey, just do it!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
there are also those that want to quit but take so much, or cant afford to withdrawl, or want to go through it. Im on suboxone, I was taking Oxycodones 30mgs multiple pills a day. Suboxone has taken me off of these. Suboxone is a tool for recovery. You do not get high off of it unless you have zero opiate tolerance. Thats is why it is a narctotic, it has a small chance of dependence. if you follow as prescribed and want to quit then it makes it 1000times easier and you can go on a walk....
ZooYork87123 2 years ago
It aint that easy man. I admit the sub Wd's last a little longer but no where near as acute as a Oxy. I'd recommend Bupe to anyone especially if you "have" a job.
hooper12586 2 years ago
For anyone viewing this video and contemplating using suboxone as a means of getting off opiates...please don't. Go to a meeting. The disease of addiction is spiritual in nature, not medical. Therefore the solution must be spiritual in nature, not medical. This stuff doesn't treat addiction, it treats withdrawal. Eventually you'll have to kick whatever you're on. Might as well be now!
lmntgraf 2 years ago
I don't recommend using Suboxone as a 'means of getting off opiates'-- I recommend using Suboxone as a means of treating opiate dependence, which is as much a medical condition as any other medical condition. Suboxone treats the essence of addiction-- the obsession to use. Addiction as 'spiritual problem' is what keeps people sick; even most 12-step groups accept that addiction is a disease! If you think you should burn in Hell from becoming addicted, go to a meeting with Imntgraf.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Wow! Are you really that defensive?!?! First I said nothing to demean you, 2nd I said nothing about religion, 3rd the 12 step fellowship I attend (arguably the most relevant) regards the disease of addiction as three fold...spiritual, mental, physical. It is a spiritual disease which can't be treated with meds. I AM an addict with several years clean who kicked opiates more times many many times. Just giving a word of advice to those not yet on it. Not opining on whether it's right or wron
lmntgraf 2 years ago
Not certain where you see 'defensive'-- just stating the facts as I see them. The success rate for treating opiate dependence through 90 days residential in a 25-y-o person is below 10% for 5-year sobriety-- 'going to a meeting' is first impractical, as people just DON'T, and for the few that do, the success rate for opiates is minimal. For the other 99%, I can tell you without 'defensiveness' that your remarks are dangerous... and annoying.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
YOU are dangerous... and a fag. Don't reply to this. I'm gonna try to wipe your shitty stain from my brain.
lmntgraf 2 years ago
I decided to leave this comment here-- those of you who have people telling you that you are better off 'at a meeting', take a look at the comments by this person and decide if this is the type of 'recovery' that you want to have!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
i was addicted to street methadone for 5yrs, then joined dome clinic for a yr, ive now been on subs 8mg/day for 8 months,i HATE it when people bust my balls 'when r u gettin off that shit?' its like godamn ya know im not hittin u up for money or stealin shit, i got a career/car/girl i guess its never enough for some people..
djn00nan 2 years ago
i was on opiates for 2 years, then on subox for a year and a half. as soon as the subox ran out i relapsed with oxy again. was addicted for another year, habit got expensive started doing dope. eventually what worked for me was a half ass detox, followed by a real detox. was in teh hospital for a week. then just toughed it out the rest of the way...im 17 weeks sober tomorrow.
Diplomat666 2 years ago
this doctors insight made my day today! he is exactly 100% right about every single thing he has said. i am on 16 mg of suboxone a day and had been on subutex before that for 9 months. both drugs work wonders in regaining your life back from the powerful vice grips of opiate addiction. i am able to live a normal life and am capable of many thing that i would be unable to do w/o these drugs. i am worried about the taper and eventual stopping of this drug, but i am taking it 1 day at a time. :o)
miked6417 2 years ago
This Dr. is EXACTLY right about everything he says. I know because I was on Suboxone 8mg a day for 18 months and I got my life back. I tapered off Suboxone (quit on my own) and my mind and body DID NOT recover from the 9 Norco a day I had taken for 3 years. If you know you have a real problem and are on Suboxone no one is saying not to try and quit. Just don't let people who have NO experience with the drug or especially people who have never been addicted opiates dictate what you should do.
MrJasonSATX 2 years ago
suboxone ain't gonna work unless you know that YOU ARE DONE with all that other stuff - YOU GOTTA GET TO THAT POINT and have NO RESERVATIONS about ever using heroin "successfully" again - I've been off dope for 19 months and have no cravings for heroin, I've gone from 16 mg of Suboxone down to 4mg - over the months, without experiencing any (major) withdrawl simptoms - my Doctor told me that you will start to notice it more and more when you taper down in the really low dosages
faroutspaceboy 2 years ago
!.If you think it's hard to get off Suboxone.....WHAT THE FUCK DO YOU THINK HEROIN IS LIKE!!!!!
Subutex/Suboxone has saved my life.
2. In the UK., if you are unemployed Suboxone treatment is FREE. No more risk of going out to score and getting ripped off/arrested.
Anyone who says Suboxone is bad is a snob, and I HATE SNOBS!!!
larjanus 2 years ago 2
suboxone is exactly what he says it is. its great. been off junk for 8 months now and have had zero cravings for it. was amazing to me it works this well. also thnx for the info doc.
1smackgod 2 years ago
I've been on it for like 2 years now. I have a job, but im in college trying to find a new job. There are people who come and go often at my job. Many of them suffer with what i suffered with 2 years ago. I will be ready to quit Subs when i get completely away from everyone who has ties to drugs. I am not naive enough to try and quit now, especially with the anxieties of school and starting a career. THX for the good video!
ajatkinson2004 2 years ago
Without suboxone I would probably be in jail or dead! PERIOD!
That's all I have to say!
ajatkinson2004 2 years ago 2
suboxone is the best thing ive found since i first did smack. if anyone reading this is a junkhead just try suboxone for 1 week. been on it 8 months with no cravings or freaking out. and aa or na wasnt for me so subx is the best i swear
1smackgod 2 years ago
Thank you sir! Your wisdom has helped my self rehad so much. My life has been hell since starting percs/vics when i was 11 or 12 and then i moved to snorting oxycontin when i was 15 then before i knew that i was shooting heroin. But now im 20 still a addict to opiods but suboxone has kept me clean for almost 2 weeks life is life now and it sucks but now i dont need a needle and dope to make me not want to kill myself and that alone is worth it. Once again thank you and good luck & stay sober!
steveyphilly 2 years ago
Off Suboxone - ~ appx 60 days clean. First 10 days=hell with almost zero sleep; next 10 days=bored/depressed; next 10 days=80% back to myself; 60 days after the last Suboxone? 100% good luck everyone. One last thing: destroy your connections! And stop thinking about drugs and remember the first 10 days of hell/withdrawals next time your mind wonders about getting an 80MG/Oxy or 60x10MG Hydro. Such a small high for a giant price to pay. Again, good luck from Montreal, Que.
habs66666 2 years ago
Tell me something though, how big was your last dose in mgs? This is a very important question. Did you stop at like 2mg and then go cold turkey, or did u taper down to like 0.5mg and less?
ajatkinson2004 2 years ago
Me and a family member have been opiate addicts for 5 years. they have insurance through their job and was able to get on suboxone while i have no insurance so i have to buy them from her and its making her run out and we have to look for them on the streets. My withdraw symptoms are still lingering and i f been off opiates for 2 months now. How much longer will i be feeling them and is there a way for me to get on suboxone with no insurance?
Waynelds 2 years ago
I appreciate your videos and the advice you're giving. I also appreciate your openness and honesty and your winning replies to the ignorant criticism that was posted by some of the users. I've been on suboxone for 5 years and it saved my life. It got me off of prescribed opiate painkillers I was taking for a back injury and got too dependent on after about six months. I may be taking suboxone every day, but I don't feel like a drug addict, I just feel normal. I take 4mg/day.
Chloey23 2 years ago
if the nerves are damaged by opiates, will this damage ever be repaired if you use suboxone? if you quite all drugs, will the nerves not regenerate to normal and the person will have enough endorphins to feel ok?
c3contact123 2 years ago
does snorting subs do damage to your brain over a long period of time, cuz my friend has been doin subs for heavily and it changed him, like he is a mean apathetic person who is very insecure and hateful, he is 21 and he acts like he is 16, the only time he is happy is when he is all narfed out from sub and high off weed, me myself i am addicted 2 subs my self when i dont have them i dont wanna get out of bed and go to work , why is suboxen like coke 2 me, and i never did heroin or Os only dosub
CHEEZEBURNATHADON85 2 years ago
I have a question I hope some one can answer for me. I own a small company and recently walked in the bathroom at work to the site of my employee snorting suboxone up his nose. I found out he is in a rehab program, he says he has been clean for 12 months or so. He says he is snorting because subocone tastes bad. My question is: If he is snorting suboxone is he really using it to rehab or is he developing a new addition?
whalen1939 2 years ago
At best, snorting is repeating addictive behavior and would NOT be anything that I would recommend-- more likely, he is trying to get a buzz.. If he was my employee I would want to get releases signed to talk to his 'rehab program'. It would ultimately be in his best interest to get this straightened out-- snorting Suboxone is usually a step toward eventual relapse. You can easily deal with the taste- by chewing an altoid or life-saver.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
I've used all opiates that i could name and bupe is piss easy to kick on the body. I detox regurarly. There's a drug that's sold otc that reverses and masks any cold turkey. I'd say come off morphine. Just one week of light tapering, then bam go to high dose codeine ie:400mg max. Codeine ain't that bad and 1 or 2 mil? that's a 10c detox, unless you pop them like pez. I'm usually 24mg the quit colt turkey without codeine some times, it's just that you need a good week off work. Good Luck
Peace
Nath6023 2 years ago
when you get off suboxone, you'll be the same as the day you started it. do it right the first time, get in meetings and work the steps. i always used suboxone as a crutch, id relapse but not worry because i didnt have to withdrawal with suboxone by my side. get off the opiates for good, suboxone is not being clean
mikeadever 2 years ago
I don't agree- Traditional recovery saved my life, but my relapse after 7 years took my career and almost killed me; I have seen many people with great recovery, going to meetings, working the steps, who relapsed and could never get it back. Is it a 'crutch' to treat hypertension? Is it a 'crutch' to treat bipolar disorder? Your thinking was appropriate 10 years ago, but thankfully we now have treatments that can help everybody-- not just the 4-5% who survive a 'rock bottom'.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Wow, you were an anesthesia doc with an opiate habit!! Holy smokes if I had access like that I would be dead. I'm sure you're will power is already stronger than most peoples which is kinda depressing actually.
nocmonkey 2 years ago
I have great 'will power'-- but none when it comes to opiates. If I thought I had will power, I would have no reason NOT to use right now; I would use now and quit tomorrow! I am clean BECAUSE I have no will power! This simple change in thinking is the key to staying clean using the steps.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Is Suboxone like Methadone???
Jeffluvs80s 2 years ago
I started in Jan 08. Still taking them now. 1/4 of a pil 2-3 times a day...
Quite frankly I am scared to run out... I know if I do I will go right back to Lortab....
: /
seanadam 3 years ago
i take a half of a 2 mg tablet of suboxone once a day, which is 1 mg a day for me....and i cannot get off of it...the withdrawl is torture....my doctor gave me something called trazadone (50mg) and that was suppose to help me sleep. well it doesnt. and i cant even get off a 1 mg a day regiment. i went 72 hours without taking suboxone, and that was 72 hours without sleep and the trazadone wasnt doing crap...so i jumped back on to 1 mg a day.. i hate it. wish i just cold turkied heroin
fawsta 3 years ago
Check out the post on Suboxone Talk Zone from tonight-- I hope it helps a bit.
SuboxDoc 3 years ago
u need to get down to .25 mg every other day at least to jump dawg, buprenorphine is very very potent and your still on a high dose, much too high to jump!
a692poundgorilla 2 years ago
Good gravy people are fowl, he was respectful & he's not just a jerk w/o knowledge of junkie life. Anyway, he is saying why go off of something that is very much working for U if you're not sure you're ready. I'm on a very low dose of S & hope to be done soon. I've not used for 2 yrs. If down the road I feel I'm going to use, you can bet I'd jump back to S. Well worth it. I think situations are just too individual for U to dismiss it's benefit. It saved my life & some sanity. Thanks Doc
vinkail98 3 years ago
thank you so much,doc
quarrybarry 3 years ago 2
The part about not having an anxiety issue unresolved hit a resounding note with me . I remember saying (while still on heroin) "Hey , i guess I beat the panic attacks I had for years " , not realizing the heroin was taking care of that. So when I got off the Heroin , then off the subs , the anxiety came back , and it was a killer ..... Drove me right back.
saintjudesteve 3 years ago
bottonline a person has to want to quit... coming down of suboxne is a peice of cake compared to heroin, as long as u don't over use the suboxne and wing off it using less and les untill your completly off it
the real hard part is staying clean, once an addect always an addect
rawjc 3 years ago 2
While SuboxDoc knows what he's talking about in his videos, not everything he says is always true. Not everyone needs permanent blocker therapy. Everyones willpower varies. The simple fact is, the worse withdrawal is, the more likely that person is to not want to go through it again, meaning abstinance. The easier withdrawals are, the more likely that persons mindset will be "one more can't hurt". Pain builds you, it builds character, personality, and maturity.
Neeseius 3 years ago
What is your source for your assertion that "the worse withdrawal is, the more likely that person is to not want to go through it again, meaning abstinence"
you claim it is a fact, to me it sounds like your belief, but if you have some data to back this, I'd like to see it
johndela1 3 years ago
my point exactly-- sometimes the more beaten down a person is, the more they continue to make the wrong choices!
SuboxDoc 3 years ago
Definitely.
newmanfrigan 2 years ago
Agreed...the worse the withdrawl, the more I went back..
embrassemoi04 2 years ago
It is worth letting this post stand, as I think the guy does a good enough job at making a fool of himself! "Sober for a year"! Many people can do that-- with both hands tied behind their backs! My relapse didn't hit for over 7 years. Come back after 5 years-- if you find a better way to stay clean, tell me and the world all about it. Doesn't seem to be humility based! You can also let me know how to make some money off my 'own website', as you put it-- I would love to!
SuboxDoc 3 years ago
You relapsed because you have constant access you or your doc buddies writing scripts and a doctor ..your loaded and can afford it. You have just came up with a drug to make you a "functioning addict" so yea I see your point of constant threat to relapse just as if I worked in a crack house and was trying to stay clean how long will that last? I believe if i could get clean I would stay clean because access is hard as hell already and I wont constantly be around it same as if you were not a doc
caddy1010 2 years ago
I relapsed for one reason only-- because I am an addict. I wish I WAS 'loaded'-- I wish success to everybody-- but financial status is not a factor in 'who relapses'. If you think that you can stay clean simply by staying physically far from opiates, you are going to be disappointed; EVERY addict is at 'constant threat' of relapse.
As for the 'coming up with a drug' comment, you are ignoring or don't understand the differences in action between bupe and agonists.
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Are u fuukknn kiddin me? F this guy, and f this doctor! What an idiot seriously.. do you hear him?? No dont get off suboxone, you should stay on it bcuz u cant quit, thats BS you can quit and be off EVERYTHING!! Then he says if u do get off sub YOU HAVE TO be on sumthn else or you will relapse again! Just another doctor tryn to make money, off prescribing sub and off his own website. I was only subs for a month, tapered down.. and barely felt any w/d, for 2 days and im good and been sober 4 a yr
ftballqrtbck05 3 years ago
So basically, you did in fact use subs to get clean. You didn't do it on your own either, pal.
newmanfrigan 2 years ago
Not sure who you are referring to-- I did it the old fashioned way-- but had Suboxone been around I would certainly have used that instead-- probably BEFORE losing my anesthesia career!
SuboxDoc 2 years ago
Thanks-- and good luck!
JJ
SuboxDoc 3 years ago
thank you doc i will be going to my apt and maybe just fill a partial script. I was using such twisted logic in thinking I could just quit right now and I know I would have wound up back on methadone in no time. I wish I were in your area because I would like to have a long convo with someone as knowledgeable as you.
mph1985man 3 years ago
i had been on 16 mg for about 18 months, and went away to school and couldnt find a doctor. I was able to get down to 2mg a day to stretch out the length of my script, and to make withdrawal not as bad. When i ran out, the withdrawal started 2 days later and i was looking for opiates but luckily couldnt find them. After the sickness was over I didnt have any significant cravings so If you do have to stop abruptly, lower your dosage to minimize withdrawal, and work through it. good luck
TalkinTom723 3 years ago
I have been on suboxone for about 16 months from methadone and am going to have to quit kind of abruptly due to a loss of insurance. I am very frightened and was wondering if you think it can be done... I have no desire to use any other drug but I am afraid of the sickness. I have been on about 4-6 mg a day. what advice do you have ( I cannot afford it without insurance)
mph1985man 3 years ago
4 mg per day of Suboxone-- that costs less than $3 per day. Are you sure that is too much? I realize that it adds up, but if you did end up using-- 3 bucks would be nothing!
If you really want to stay clean, I strongly realize getting involved in NA or AA.
SuboxDoc 3 years ago
k I will keep my appointmentt and maybe fill a partial prescription. Thank you I was teetering and I think you gave a shove in the right direction.
I wish I lived in Wisconsin because I would love to have a long healthy chat with you. p.s. I was looking at your website and wanted to say its AWESOME that you helped that patient's doctor understand the suboxone needs
for surgery (that has been one of my fears and having you on board would make all the difference. thank you, M.P.H
mph1985man 3 years ago
Thank you for uploading. It feels so good to hear your story and know that I am NOT alone and that help CAN be provided. Please continue to upload. :)
JTurbinator 3 years ago
Hi Doc,
What is your opinion on indefinate suboxone treatment for pain control? I've been on it for 2 years at 4mg/day and I see no reason to ever get off it.
My doctor supports whatever I want to do, but he has little experience with pain control, he generally writes it only for addiction.
Anything you can offer would be valuable to me. Thx
zbyszek654 3 years ago
You will devel