DrugBuyers.Com: Buph?

Yes, it's an excellent drug to slowly withdrawl from hydrocodone dependency. However, if you can manage to titrate (reduce) your intake of hydrocodone by 10% per day, you can wean yourself off of hydrocodone in approximately a week to 10 days or so and that will take care of your physical dependency. As for your psychological dependency, that's another story for another thread. Of course, this depends on how much you are taking. However, if you've found it difficult to stop takine hydrocodone by tapering off, then Buphenorphine (Brand name-Buprenex) is used in some detox. centers to lessen the withdrawl symptoms of mu-agonist narcotic addiction/dependencey. Buprenex has to be administered carefully and preferably with a physicians advice. If medical supervision is not available or not a viable alternative, it can be self administered but just make sure you are well informed. The best source of information is the Physicians Desk Reference (PDR) and other books relating to detoxification of opiates. First off, Buprenex is called an agonist/antagonist narcotic analgesic. For those of you who do not know what that means, whithout getting too technical, the antagonist aspect of the drug actually inhibits or counteracts the full euphoric effect of the drug and may immediately initiate full blown withdrawl symptoms if taken within 24 hours of a typical narcotic such as hydrocodone, codeine, dihydrocodeine, Oxy-contin, etc. Basically, if you begin taking the buprenorphine within 24 hours after the last dosage of your Norco or whatever narcotic analgesic you're taking, this time period would be considered safe and would not result in typical withdrawl symptoms and will minimize the most prevelent withdrawl symptoms, such as cramps, muscle/bone pain, rhinorhea, dysphoria, lethargy, etc. THE MOST IMPORTANT THING TO REMEMBER IS DON'T TAKE BUPRENEX AND YOUR REGULAR PAIN MEDS SIMULTANEOUSLY. DEPENDING UPON YOUR PREVIOUS DOSAGES OF HYDROCODONE AND HOW YOUR BODY METABOLIZES BOTH DRUGS, YOU CAN CAUSE SOME SEVERE SIDE EFFECTS. If you're going to stop the hydrocodone, do just that and then you can start taking the Buprenex. One thing you'll have to remember, buprenorphine is still a powerfull pain killer and you can easily bocome psychologically dependent upon it's effects. Physiologically, there's a potential for dependency and tolerance, but you may not become dependent and probably won't suffer physical withdrawls if taken as directed.

It's been my professional and personal experience that the Buprenex comes in 1 ml. snap ampules. Technically, the ampules are disigned for intramuscular or introveinous injection, however, sublingual administration of Buprenex is the method most widely used by detox centers. The ampule is broken open and simply poured underneath the tongue and slowly absorbed. This method of administration leaves little chance for physical or psychological dependence/addiction. The Buprenex may come in tablet form now but I've been retired from the field for some time and I'm not aware of current revisions.

That's probably alot more information than most wanted to know, but I felt compelled to convey my experience and opinion.

PS- Just for information, there are other agonist/antagonist pain meds out there that has the same effect and sometimes less side effects. What I would suggest, is speaking to your OP doctor at your next consult and ask about alternatives to the hydrocodone and suggest the buprenorphine. If that doesn't work, call any detox center and they also can provide some options. You don't necessarily need to check yourself into one of "those" places, but for some, the're a godsend.

Good luck and good health!!!

Edited by painster (08/30/03 01:01 AM)