nobro

Did you talk to your Primary about it first? I don't see many people saying anything about a Primary doctor involved all I see are "addiction doctors" and "sub doctors" Do I try and find an addiction doctor myself or talk to my Primary??

dragonfire613

You can certainly talk to your Primary... but in my experience most Primarys will just refer you to an addiction specialist of one sort or another, since they typically know little about the condition (that's what my old Primary did, and I did talk to him first). Doesn't hurt to try though.

SeekingGrowth

In my experience, a regular primary care physician can prescribe antidepressants and sleep aids (and other things, of course), but can't prescribe Suboxone. You'd need to go to a certified "addictionologist" for that. But based on everything I've read here, and on my son's experience, I think that Suboxone should be a last resort, at least as any kind of long-term thing. I know that many rehab facilities use Suboxone as a "step-down" drug to help a person through the first few days of withdrawal from opiates, but after that, they get you off it. Suboxone is a "partial opioid" that is also addictive, and getting off it can lead to nasty withdrawal symptoms, just as with opiates. So it usually doesn't make sense to use it long term, in my opinion.

As I understand it, Suboxone was initially used not only for detox, but also as a maintenance drug, and some doctors still prescribe it that way. But because of its addictive potential and withdrawals after long term use, many rehab facilities are getting away from prescribing it as a maintenance drug and are using it only for detox, if at all.

I hope you realize that getting over the physical addiction is only part of the problem - and a small, short-lived part at that. Opiate addiction is really tough to kick and some kind of long-term recovery program is essential to long-term recovery. If you don't have some kind of plan in place, especially at the beginning, odds are good that you will be right back at it in short order.

IvanKatz

I went to my pain mgm doc and explained how the meds were taking over my life. He worked well with me. While I still have to take meds, it's nothing like I used to. At my worse, I was hammered every day... No pain but useless and pathetic. Now, I'm extremely functional despite my spinal issues.

dragonfire613

@Seeking... I agree with what you said about subs. I went on thinking I'd be on them a month, I was hooked 4 years, 13 days off now. The only good thing subs did for me was give me time to distance myself from the drug scene, such that when I did kick, I had no easy access to temptation. Once that happened, it still took me 3 years to kick... well I'm still kicking, but I'm through the worst of it. Regardless of some info out there, kicking subs for me was the same experience as any other opiate withdrawal I've ever experienced (and I've pretty much experienced them all at one point or another). So proceed with caution, if considering subs.

IvanKatz

From everything I've ever read, from sooo many people... Subs are no different from oxy or other opiods. You're simply trading one addiction for another! In fact, W/D from subs can be worse.

dragonfire613

Well, they are different in that they have a ridiculously long half-life, unlike most other opiates... (which to me, seems to be the reason the detox seems, or can be, worse). Detoxing from 1mg/day was just as bad as any other detox, as I stated. The worst detox I ever suffered was when I tried to jump at 4mg/day. The hell I suffered in week 1 is what keeps me motivated (along with much help from here @ SR, and elsewhere) to make this my last detox. I'm doing so much better now on the cusp of 2 weeks, I never ever want to go back.

lonestarTH

I had health problems from my drug addiction so one of the first things I did after I got clean was see my primary doctor. I told him what was going on with my drug abuse and although it was scary it felt really good. I knew that I could never manipulate him to give me medication that I don't need, and I could take care of my medical problems. Basically he just asked me if I was doing anything about it and supported me attending Narcotics Anonymous. Being honest with doctors is really important to my recovery because for a long time I just lied and manipulated them.