Suboxone/Subutex, which is Buprenorphine, is a controlled schedule III opiate drug which is 20 to 30 times more powerful than morphine (see the letter from the FDA). It is a very common replacement opiate drug that most drug rehab centers across the United States and a few of the 6 rapid detox centers use to maintain an opiate addiction as part of their opiate detox treatment.

This drug causes dependence/addiction very quickly and once a patient is addicted to this drug it is very difficult to “just wean down and get off of it with mild withdrawal” as we have heard many people were told by a physician when they were prescribed this drug. Once a patient is on this drug and they consult with their physician that they want to stop the drug, it is very common that doctors will tell their patients “you will be on this drug the rest of your life” or “you need to stay on it for another year”, etc. Most physicians will not tell their patients the truth about the addictive nature of this drug leading them to believe it is a “MIRACLE DRUG” and is a cure for their opiate addiction when the truth is they are still addicted to an opiate that for most patients is far harder to detox from than a traditional opiate. Suboxone physicians are an advocate of this drug and the ability to have 100 patients at a time on it, with monthly visits ranging in price from $100 to $300 per month make monetary sense for doctors to prescribe this drug.

Even the pharmaceutical company claims the drug has mild withdrawal and is easier to come off of than a traditional opiate, yet the company claims they have never done any studies to determine that. Why is that?

RDD quotes below from the pharmaceutical Professional Prescribing Information for physicians, also known as the insert that comes with each bottle supplied from the company:

Buprenorhine is a partial agonist at the mu-opioid receptor and chronic administration produces dependence of the opioid type, characterized by moderate withdrawal upon abrupt discontinuation or rapid taper. The withdrawal syndrome is milder than seen with full agonists, and may be delayed in onset.

Reducing dosage and stopping treatment:

The decision to discontinue therapy from SUBOXONE or SUBUTEX after a period of maintenance or brief stabilization should be made as part of a comprehensive treatment plan. Both gradual and abrupt discontinuation have been used, but no controlled trials have been undertaken to determine the best method of dose taper at the end of treatment.

For most “the end of treatment” never comes without suffering long lasting withdrawals  or “does not come with “mild withdrawal” and again the patient is faced with yet another addiction which can be equally or even more difficult to detox from.

This is reminiscent of the sales tactic the Bayer Pharmaceutical Company used in the late 1800’s when they came up with the “miracle drug” for the cure for morphine addiction, which they named Heroin.

I have been on suboxone for the last few years after being addicted to pain pills from my many surgeries. I was never told about the many negative side effects from this drug. After reading about them I realize I suffer from all of them. I went from a happy, confident, popular guy to now having no friends, very depressed, and isolated, basically feeling like hell. I’ve been trying to get off of it for more than 6 months now and every time I stop taking it, the month or two of withdrawal outlasts my will.

I need help to get off of it and if I don’t, my fear is I won’t be alive in a year. It has ruined me in every way; most of all financially. I need advice, please help me.

What is Suboxone?

Used to treat users with opioid addiction, Suboxone/Subutex (Buprenorphine) is an addicting opiate drug. Approved in October 2002 by the FDA, the high-dose sublingual pill Suboxone/Subutex has also recently been introduced in European countries as treatment for chronic pain. It can be used both for chronic cancer pain as well as chronic non-malignant pain.

Why is Suboxone prescribed?

Many doctors prescribe this drug for withdrawal and/or addiction without warning the patient about the drug’s addictive nature, and the fact they are trading one opiate for another. Some Anesthesia Detox Facilities (2 facilities at this time) give it to patients for up to 6-12 weeks after the detox procedure, and approximately 99% of in-patient rehab centers are using it. These patients do well while taking the drug, but after being discharged and within 3 days, patients typically suffer from withdrawal and seek help for Suboxone/Subutex addiction.

What are some Suboxone side effects?

Suboxone side effects may include:

• Drowsiness, dizziness, weakness
• Constipation
• Headache, nausea, or vomiting
• Slow, shallow breathing
• Heavy feeling in the chest
• Mental and mood changes
• Stomach/abdominal pain
• Dark urine, yellowing eyes and skin, vision changes
• Symptoms of an allergic reaction include: rash, itching, swelling, severe dizziness, trouble breathing.
• Loss of libido
• Frequent night time urination
• Anxiety
• Depression/sadness
• Lack of interest (no “zest” for life)
• Personality changes

What are symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal?

Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal can be very uncomfortable and cause patients to revert back to their original drug use. Suboxone withdrawal symptoms can also last up to 2-5 weeks.

• Severe anxiety, thoughts of suicide, malaise & severe depression
• Diarrhea & sweating
• Cramp-like pains in the muscles, leg kicking, convulsions
• Severe and long lasting sleep difficulties (insomnia)
• Goose bump skin (cold turkey)
• Cramps, abdominal pain
• Dehydration & fever

How do I choose a Suboxone detox program?

Talking to a trained detox or medical professional is the right first step in choosing the appropriate program. Call the Rapid Drug Detox Center at 1-888-825-1020 or contact us if you’d like to learn more.

Suboxone is used to treat heroin addicts; it’s being touted as a drug that saves lives. But used inappropriately the drug is highly dangerous and often deadly.

Investigators and specialists say that the drug world is ‘trendy’. These days Suboxone is becoming the street drug of choice and is an emerging threat in the U.S. Police are stepping up efforts to get the prescription drug off the streets. In 2008, the number of ‘busts’ for Suboxone was increasing. This year, as the demand for Suboxone on the streets increase, drug units across the country are making even more arrests.

Suboxone is fast becoming a much abused illicit opiate drug. Undercover officers believe the rise in Suboxone is tied to an increase in heroin use. They say that if users can’t find heroin or don’t want to go through the withdrawals they will seek out Suboxone. It is popular among younger people because it is relatively cheap; Suboxone is sold in pill form, which can go for as little as $3 on the street.

A few states have reported problems with doctors who are selling Suboxone prescriptions. It is ‘officially’ used to replace the opiate that addicts need to prevent withdrawal, but Suboxone is highly addictive and users often suffer tougher withdrawal symptoms than they would with a traditional opiate. Taken the wrong way Suboxone is deadly. Users, teenagers especially, often mix Suboxone with other drugs or alcohol; leading to higher chances of overdose and death.