Suboxone help needed.
Professional Hanger On'er
Thread Starter
Join Date: Jan 2005
Location: Way out of Town, MI
Posts: 103
Suboxone help needed.
Is Suboxone like Nicotine patches? I mean, does it stop the physical part of the addiction and the mental part remains? I am sorry if I am oversimplifying because I am really just trying to understand what I should expect if I pay for this for my son.
He recently say a psychologist. The psychologist says that my son is emotionally seven years younger than his stated age because of drug use. During his 75 days since rapid detox he has really had a hard time with emotions and perceptions of pain. As a nurse, I understand he has avoided all of these feelings with his use of opiates to block out anything uncomfortable and he is being flooded perceptually with everything. Now that he has admitted to relapse and wants further treatment I wonder what Suboxone can do and can't do for him.
He recently say a psychologist. The psychologist says that my son is emotionally seven years younger than his stated age because of drug use. During his 75 days since rapid detox he has really had a hard time with emotions and perceptions of pain. As a nurse, I understand he has avoided all of these feelings with his use of opiates to block out anything uncomfortable and he is being flooded perceptually with everything. Now that he has admitted to relapse and wants further treatment I wonder what Suboxone can do and can't do for him.
"Welcome To The Future..."
Join Date: Mar 2008
Location: WV
Posts: 224
Hi wenchris,
It is a pleasure to meet you and see you seeking some advice for your son. It reminds me of how wonderful parents can be. My own mother is financially supporting me, and paying for my suboxone treatment, which as you know is pretty expensive if insurance doesn't cover it.
I've been on suboxone since 4/21, and I can tell you that yes it does help tremendously with the physical feelings of withdrawals. It is an opioid agonist/antagonist. Since you work in the medical field, I figure you have an idea of what this means. To put it simply, the buprenorphine in it is an opioid and it attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain. At the same time, the naloxone in it is the antagonist which also attaches to the same receptors but with less power than the bupe. This allows the person to still be getting an effect of an opioid without getting high off of it.
I like to refer people to this website which describes it in better detail and helps people find addiction specialists: Buprenorphine treatment and opioid addiction resources from The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment
You can request a packet that will be mailed to you that includes a helpful CD.
As far as mental cravings, well the suboxone can only do so much. I've been dealing with the mental aspect a lot here lately, and it is tough. As part of the program I am in, I see a therapist and discuss ways to manage the mental cravings as well as discussing the root of the problems that caused me to want to numb myself with narcotics for nearly five years.
Sounds like your son may have some issues he needs to work out. That really can only be accomplished by himself with the help of a psychologist. Unfortunately, there is no medication to "fix" that part of addiction.
I've also worked in the medical field for 7 years, which goes to show you addiction certainly doesn't discriminate. I wish you much luck with your son! I'm always happy to lend some advice and help if I can. I'll keep you and your son in my thoughts and prayers!
Love,
butterfly19
:ghug
It is a pleasure to meet you and see you seeking some advice for your son. It reminds me of how wonderful parents can be. My own mother is financially supporting me, and paying for my suboxone treatment, which as you know is pretty expensive if insurance doesn't cover it.
I've been on suboxone since 4/21, and I can tell you that yes it does help tremendously with the physical feelings of withdrawals. It is an opioid agonist/antagonist. Since you work in the medical field, I figure you have an idea of what this means. To put it simply, the buprenorphine in it is an opioid and it attaches to the opioid receptors in the brain. At the same time, the naloxone in it is the antagonist which also attaches to the same receptors but with less power than the bupe. This allows the person to still be getting an effect of an opioid without getting high off of it.
I like to refer people to this website which describes it in better detail and helps people find addiction specialists: Buprenorphine treatment and opioid addiction resources from The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment
You can request a packet that will be mailed to you that includes a helpful CD.
As far as mental cravings, well the suboxone can only do so much. I've been dealing with the mental aspect a lot here lately, and it is tough. As part of the program I am in, I see a therapist and discuss ways to manage the mental cravings as well as discussing the root of the problems that caused me to want to numb myself with narcotics for nearly five years.
Sounds like your son may have some issues he needs to work out. That really can only be accomplished by himself with the help of a psychologist. Unfortunately, there is no medication to "fix" that part of addiction.
I've also worked in the medical field for 7 years, which goes to show you addiction certainly doesn't discriminate. I wish you much luck with your son! I'm always happy to lend some advice and help if I can. I'll keep you and your son in my thoughts and prayers!
Love,
butterfly19
:ghug
Member
Join Date: Feb 2006
Location: East Tawas, MI
Posts: 3,683
I agree with Butterfly19. My daughter did not have withdrawals from the opiates so the physical part is taken care of. But I do believe that she is in denial about the mental part. I think she craves that numbness that opiates can give an addict. She is overwhelmed by life right now and has pulled back from working her recovery. When that happens they are setting themselves up for a relapse, suboxone or no suboxone. Hugs, Marle
Member
Join Date: Feb 2008
Location: Chicago area
Posts: 4,269
The flip side:
Suboxone has a street value and is used in a pinch when opiate supply is not forthcoming or when the addict desires to temporarily reduce tolerance. Some who are prescribed this drug sell it and use the proceeds to buy their DOC.
Suboxone is not a magic pill cure to addiction. It can however, serve as a bridge to recovery, when and if ........
Suboxone has a street value and is used in a pinch when opiate supply is not forthcoming or when the addict desires to temporarily reduce tolerance. Some who are prescribed this drug sell it and use the proceeds to buy their DOC.
Suboxone is not a magic pill cure to addiction. It can however, serve as a bridge to recovery, when and if ........
remember to breathe
Join Date: Dec 2006
Location: philadelphia pa
Posts: 1,280
My son was on suboxone twice, it did help him physically but without a program to follow I don't have much faith in it's success. My RAS is 7 months clean without suboxone, he is 12 stepping. Would he have succeeded when he was on suboxone, probably if he had the program too.
just my opinion.
good luck
just my opinion.
good luck
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