You are here:
Addiction to Drugs/suboxone
Advertisement
Question
My husband has been taking a prescription of 80 mg of Oxycontin for 3.5 years for back pain. When this dosage failed to work any longer, he doubled up, ran out and checked into rehab. After 2 weeks, he returned home. He has an addictive personality and still shows signs of pill seeking.
The rehab place put him on Subutex, on which he claims to be for the most part "pain free". Subutex is an opiate, but with a ceiling effect. It covers pain, but has a limited effect. It is harder to abuse because no matter how much you take you get the same effect.
I visited the local doctor today and he suggested that my husband switch to Suboxone which is Subutex with an additive that indicates any other drug used while on Suboxone. He said that since 90% of all addicts abuse again, we should keep my husband on Suboxone for as long as he needs it(?). He will not feel pain and cannot abuse like before. He will also be drug tested periodically to ensure there is no abuse. Dr. says there are no side effects to this drug. How does he know? The drug has not been around long? By the time I know what they are, he will be retired and cruising the Carribean Sea.
This sounds great at first. Win-win! He gets to keep his addiction and be "pain free", I get a "normal looking" husband, Doctor gets to write prescriptions, insurance company gets low cost treatment! What about the pain? Is there really any pain? Who knows, who cares? This still feels wrong to me. What do you think?
Hello Christie,
Please note: I am going to give you a website to look up and it contains ALL the information you need on Subutex/Suboxone and you will find out all you want to know-its a good site:
www.fda.gov/cder/drug/infopage/subutex_suboxone/default.htm
Yes tolerance does increase the longer the pills are taken. They no longer have the potency as they did when first taken-thats common across the board for most drugs esp..addictive ones.
Look up this website as it can explain to you what you need to know far better than I could explain!
Good luck,all the best and if I can help anymore then feel free to write in again, Caroline
Related Articles
Answers by Expert:
Caroline West
Expertise
My expertise in this area is in illicit/street drugs as well as some over the counter and prescription drugs/meds. I can answer questions about most illicit drugs and prescription drugs. I can offer advice on Opiate maintenance drugs like Methadone, Subutex and Suboxone,and the process of going through a Detox and/or Rehab. I understand the problems Drug use can cause regarding convictions and debt problems. There is a difference between recreational drug use and drug addiction and can answer questions on both. Relationship advice if you or your partner is using and can offer help there too. Drug addiction is no joke and it can shatter the lives of the family as well as the user so I can also offer help and advice to friends and family. Drug dependency creates a great deal of issues both mentally and physically and left untreated can lead to poor Mental Health, Psychological and Physical harm and worse. Life can become unmanageable in many ways including work and schooling alongside breakdowns in relationships,risk of convictions and a reduction in personal care. I can offer advice and support in all these areas having been in them and now out of them.
Experience
I have had multiple drug addictions in the past that have included Cannabis,Heroin,Crack,Benzo's,Codeine and over the counter tablets as well as prescription medicines and taken near enough everything. It caused a great deal of problems in my family and I also had suffered breakdowns,Hospitalizations,suicide attempts,convictions the lot. I had been in a 7 year drug using relationship which was tough. I've come out the other end now and haven't used illicit drugs for 5 years. I really do understand what it is like for the user and those around them.
Organizations
I am in 4 other categories here at All Experts: Abusive Relationships; Borderline Personality Disorder or BPD and Dialectical Behaviour Therapy or DBT which can simultaneously help those with BPD and with Drug/Alcohol Problems; and Teenage Problems.
I also belong to Care2.com which helps various causes all over the world.
Education/Credentials
I have schooling up to A-Level standard,College Diplomas and what I offer here is valuable 'life experience'.
Past/Present Clients
I have done this voluntary job here at All Experts for about 3 years now.
©2012 About.com, a part of The New York Times Company. All rights reserved.