What’s Wrong With Being on Suboxone Forever?
Question by Frankiesgirl Forever: What’s wrong with being on Suboxone Forever?
Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone and it’s prescribed purpose is to treat opiate (from pain medication to heroin) addiction. It works by binding to the same receptors as other opioid drugs. It mimics the effects of other opiates by alleviating cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
What I want to know is why do I continuously come across people that think “you need to get off suboxone” ?
Everyone has heard the saying, “Once a Drug addict, always a drug addict”, so why would staying on an approved medication be a problem? Isn’t it better for someone to lead a product life style content on the medication, than struggling with the temptation of a controlling dangerous drug such as heroin? The medication is pretty much a guarantee to living a sober life. Unlike methadone, it is impossible to get high while taking Suboxone. So, if a though turns into an craving, and a craving turns into an action (of getting high), a person taking Suboxone knows they can go out and buy their drug of choice, but there will be no satisfaction in taking it, because the Suboxone eliminates the high. How is this bad?
I need to make something CLEAR, before others answer who have never had to struggle with addiction, if someone is a drug addict, even recovered, there is always a craving. Some months maybe good, experiencing a brief thought, other months are bad, experiencing more than a dozen; some contain stomach cramps and anxiety attacks. It is truly a day to day battle. So, the idea of not “having any craving at all”. (Douglas B) isn’t realistic.
I decided to end this question, because three out of the four comment where based on ignorance and from those who have likely “found Jesus” in dealing with their addiction, this does not work for all of us. If the only answer I am going to receive, is that Suboxone is bad for reasons no more than the withdrawals, when you “choose” to stop taking it, than I can conclude that there is nothing wrong with taking it long term. The only reason anyone would have severe withdrawal symptoms is because they did not taper off gradually the way your suppose to. And for the last comment and others who are contemplating Suboxone, I have been on it for 5yrs and have been a normal functioning person. Picked my life back up, graduated college, give back to the community, and am being to get a little bit of myself back. Couldn’t have done this with a hand full of Oxy scripts or a limitless supply of heroin, what am idiot..
Best answer:
Answer by Douglas B
I see that as making as much sense as a alcoholic who says, “I can’t hold my liquor anymore, so I’m giving it up, I’m just gonna drink beer from now on.” It’s called stinkin thinkin, and those who use it are always looking for a way to cut the corners to get what they want because they have to have it. What’s wrong with kicking the habit so you don’t have any cravings at all? Seems if you wanted to make sense to the rest of the world you would be using that as your example rather than something that is only a substitute for something else. You want to be a big kid by graduating from a pacifier to a sippy cup, it doesn’t work that way.
Answer by Subpar
No, you are very wrong in your thinking. First off, addicts are not all the same, and almost none of them have cravings forever. Cravings are psychological and subside in time.
I can tell you have been brainwashed by a 12 step group of some kind…That once an addict always an addict bit is old and tired, and so not true. 12 step groups have about a 1% success rate, so …they suck.
Now onto suboxone. It is not some miracle cure. It is a very powerful opioid, 50 times stronger than morphine. It is a very long lasting opioid, with a 37 hour half life. Like all opioids, it stops working at some point. It might be 6 months, ot or might be 6 years, but it will stop working. When it does, you are going to find out what a really difficult detox is like. One that lasts months.
if that isn’t enough, suboxone has all the same negative side effects as every other opiate. Constipation, loss of libido, and all kinds nof negative health consequences.
i can tell you are younger too…thinking back about the craving issue. You have to have a true desire to be clean and improve yourself and that helps the cravings go away. If you sit around all day wishing you could get high, of course you are going to crave. Get busy, get some new friends who don’t use dope, get a job, become something your Mom and Dad can be proud of, instead of a dope fiend on yet another drug.
suboxone is a far cry from being clean. All you have done is made your addiction worse. yes you might be functioning better for now, but I promise you that will change. I’ve seen it with EVERY single person who gets on sub. They think it is the best thing since sliced bread at first. We call this the honeymoon period. It will pass.
There will come a time whan you realize suboxone was the biggest mistake of your life. I just hope you are strong enough to get off of it when the time comes.
Listen to this from a famed addiction doctor if you don’t believe me.
http://afflictedandaffected.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=248:steven-scanlan&catid=40:shows2008
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