elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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Hi,
My dr. gave me a scrip for Subutex, and the pharmacy told me they could order it and get it in on Monday. (I live in CA) The doc was supposed to start treating me on Monday. I have tried Darvocet for w/d, but it makes me extremely depressed, and doesn't work well for me.
the pharmacy just left a message while I was at work and says the dr. needs to order it, they cannot fill this scrip. Is this true? How have others gotten the subutex from their dr's? This is the 3.5 injectable.
Also, my dr. planned to treat me with this for 10 days. I have been taking 1--15 5/500 vicodin a day. Is subutex hard to withdraw from?
Thanks in advance for your responses.
K
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Anglwink
Veteran
Reged: 04/29/03
Posts: 605
Loc: East coast
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Hi K,
Your Dr. probably has to order it because it is an injectible and he is going to give you the shots at his office I pressume?!? They do have these in pill form. There is a thread on this from Bman on the VIP board. He has kept us updated with a daily journal of his taking the Subutex (I think he has t take them for 8 days, and he is doing wonderful! People have great success with this drug. It is a tapering dose medication, and from what I hear, you have absolutely no withdrawel symtoms and it takes away the pain to boot. I don't know if he belongs to the freeboard as well, but his user name is Bman. Talk to him & good luck! Anglwink
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"Believe"
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elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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Thanks for your response and info. I don't think my dr. knows it's available in pill form? Because, if he did, I'm sure he would give me that instead I guess I need to check with the pharmacy on that one. I'm just hoping to avoid withdrawal symptoms at this time--can't take any time off of work (except for the holidays--and I don't want to go through w/d at that time as my family has no clue about my use)-will have a few days off around the 1st, so i figure if I do w/d from the subutex, at least I will be at home and can then suffer through it.
Thx, K
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4Now
Member
Reged: 07/24/02
Posts: 133
Loc: USA
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When i get my script (8mg suboxone) I have to wait 1 day for the pharmacy to get it. They just don't keep it around...10 days! Good luck! It's the best pain med IMO...I've cut back my dose to 4mg. once early morning...
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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ELO,
I'm sure your doc knows that it is available in pill form - he/she probably just isn't allowed to prescribe it. Suboxone/Subutex was just approved for detox in Oct. 2002. In order for docs to be able to prescribe this - they have to take a special class, follow federal guidelines and may only treat up to thirty patients with this med at any one time. If you do a google search on this - one of the first hits will be the federal website. It is a WEALTH of info. It also has a link to a "doctor locator" for every state in the US that gives a list of the docs in the state you chose who a licensed to prescribe this med. If you can't find it - let me know- I'm sure that I can find the link somewhere.
That being said - this is a WONDER drug for people detoxing from opiates. I know several people who have gone this route and they have ABSOLUTELY NO WD AT ALL!
You can not get this med online. The closest you can get is temgesic from a foriegn IOP. Tems only come in 0.2mg strength. The suboxone/subutex that is prescribed in the states comes in 2mg or 8 mg strength.
IT's ridiculous that "any" doc can order buphrenophine in injectible form - but very few can order the sublingual tablets. Even most rehabs are not doing it yet. My best friend is a rehab nurse and their docs are just signing up for the federal course to be able to prescribe it - right now they use the injectible.
Gotta love our gov't. There is literally a WONDER drug out there that can help with (cure!) wd - but they make it as hard as possible to get it. 
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gottadoit
Enthusiast
Reged: 10/21/03
Posts: 269
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Just found the link that I mentioned in the above post- here it is:
www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov
For a direct link to the doctor locator:
www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator/index.html
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elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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Hi,
thanks for your info. I actually went to the haight street clinic, but since I had a "valid" scrip for vicodin, they wouldn't treat me! I know, I shouldn't have told them that I still had a valid scrip for them but I wanted to get some help. Plus, I think they would have treated me with phenobarbital according to what I saw in the pharmacy and what I overheard being discussed.
Anyhow, I called my doc's office and left him a message about him needing to order the medication for me. Then I called Long's pharmacy, and they said they DO give it out with a TRIPLICATE (wish I had known that) any way, my doc never called me back (by this time I had left a mesg. a day, so 3 msgs total)--so when I went in for my injection appt. with his nurse, she told me no one had ordered the meds for me! I asked to see the doctor to discuss this and she said he wasn't in and wouldn't be in the next day!
(this was on 12/23)! So I am trying again tomorrow, going in at 11 to see if them have the meds for me, but I somehow don't think they will.
Was able to get a few fiorocets w/ codeine from urgent care because my hydro holiday migraine was SO bad, I couldn't stand it! Does anyone know how to help with this w/d symptom? I am going to go through w/d again tomorrow, and the headache is the worst side effect I get. Since I wasn't taking a huge amount, I don't get leg shakes, but the headaches make me want to scream! I'm also taking immodium and some SOMAS and that seems to help.
Thanks for your advice!
K
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prudence
Stranger
Reged: 08/23/03
Posts: 17
Loc: Florida
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See if you can get some Clonidine. I'm almost sure migraines was one of the uses listed for this drug on the information sheet that came with it from the pharmacy. CHECK WITH YOUR DR. FIRST. It is not scheduled.
I'm convinced from personal experience that Buprenorphine is the way to go. I also made an appointment to see one of the Doctor's on that link. The first thing they want to do is a drug screen. I'm not sure if they want to find opioids or not??? I've heard that Bupe, being a partial agonist/antagonist, can put you into withdrawals if you are heavily addicted to an opioid agonist.
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elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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Thank you for your response. I was able to get the Buprenex from LONGS DRUGS--I can't believe that NO one else carries it in my area. (I live in the Bay Area in CA) And can't understand how longs can carry it legally if no one else can? Anyway, i'm treating this stuff like gold, only hope I don't break the vials before I get my appt with the dr. on how to use it. (I have 10 3 oz/mg? vials) for 10 days. Not sure on the correct quantity and too lazy to get off this chair to check!
I go in Friday for my first injection. I'll keep you posted on my progess. Also, thanks for the warning about opiate agonists. I'm assuming your talking about Ultram and other meds? I don't take any of those--but do take Prozac, but my dr. knows this--so hopefully it's not a problem!
I know this is the EASY part, the hard part will be the psychological need I have for my Vic's--I will need to attend several NA meetings to help me stay clean. If anyone has been down this road and wants to be a "sponsor" to me by email, please pm me. I sure could use the support!
Thanks again for your responses and support. Happy 2004!
K
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elo2003
Stranger
Reged: 10/20/03
Posts: 12
Loc: Bay Area, CA
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BTW--Subutex is indicated for migraine treatment. But the accompaning sheet I got with the medication that gives you detailed info on the drug was virtually blank! No side effect info, drug interaction precautions, etc. pretty scary!
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prudence
Stranger
Reged: 08/23/03
Posts: 17
Loc: Florida
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By opioid agonist I mean drugs like Morphine, Oxycodone, Hydrocodone, Codeine which are probably the most well known. Your Vicodans contain Hydrocodone.
One would think the Bay Area in CA, especially the Haight district, would be current on the latest treatments for drug problems. Are you seeing one of the doctors on this link:
www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov/bwns_locator/index.html
I don't understand why the doctor couldn't call Longs and have them order sublingual Buprenorphine (Subutex or Suboxone) for you. Maybe they want to administer the Buprenex in an office setting. Since Buprenorphine unmasks a withdrawal syndrome if an individual is heavily addicted to an opioid agonist, maybe the doctor wants to be present in case you have a reaction. You would think they would get you to take a drug test first to determine this. They won't even talk to me until I take one.
Happy New Year and best wishes with your treatment. I think Buprenorphine is a miracle drug.
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