Can Talwin be used to treat addiction just as suboxone? It does have the same ingredient that stops other narcotics from having an affect? I dont understand... I cannot afford the suboxone and dont want to go the methadone route... is this a viable alternative?
Answers (5)
Hazey Sec...26 Apr 2010
I was hoping somebody would get back to you sooner on here... I'll tell you what I know. Talwin would NOT be a very good substitute for Suboxone because it doesn't last nearly as long. I'm not exactly sure what the half life is, and I won't guess and sound like an idiot, but I do know it doesn't have the same half life length as Suboxone. I'm not even sure if its FDA approved to treat opiate addiction. When it first came out, they purposefully made it with the antagonist making it a little less attractive for recreational purposes. It clearly didn't carry the benefit that Morphine did in relieving pain, and doctors ended up just using other opiates instead, thus Talwin was plunged into the endless pharmacopeia with all the other opiates. You stated that you didn't want to go the "methadone route"... whats wrong with methadone? Just asking. I'm not on it, but it works almost the same as getting my Suboxone.
lady from...16 Nov 2011
Don't even try!
I've been on Talwin. It's like any other opiate pain medication.
I know this is a very old posting and I don't even know if you'll see this. On the chance you do pop in, I'm adding my two cents.
If you can not afford suboxone-and it is expensive, I know I am on it-try the Meth.
Good luck, and good health
pup676716 Nov 2011
Dear kissypoo... from a purely academic perspective one would think that Talwin (pentazocine) could work just as well. They are both of the agonist/antagonist family. As Hazey stated the Talwin doesn't have the long half life as suboxone and it has not been approved for treating opiate addiction from the FDA. I would discuss this with your doctor. I know that subutex is less expensive than suboxone. Perhaps that is an option for you???
It is not so much that it has the same ingredient as suboxone because it is pentazocine where the suboxone has buprenorphine in it. Being that the two drugs are of the agonist/antagonist type they have a stronger affinity for the mu opiate receptor site... they basically kick the other opiate from the receptor site and then attach on to it.
Again, I would discuss this with your sub doc and see what he/she recommends.
Mary63200916 Nov 2011
Hazey is right about Talwin. I used to take it 4 to 6 times a day with Darvocet back in the early 90's. One day I get a phone call from the doctor saying I had to come in & get some emergency blood test, & when I did, they stopped the talwin on the spot. THEY would never tell me the truth about what was going on & it is still used on occasion as an injectable drug, but to get a script for pills is very rare, & if the FDA knew about it WATCH OUT!! They didn't take it off the market, but had serious warnings of using it for extended periods like they were having me do at the time. This was all explained by an ER doc to me when they were about to give me an injection & I asked what is it? I always do because I have severe allergies, & sometimes they don't get it right. I told him about my experience & he said I should be ok for a one time injection, but they do not use it for everyday use anymore at all. Hope this helps. If you have a doc prescribing this way, he could be in the cross hairs with the FDA is my understanding...
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They would never approve talwin because have you priced talwin companies to saboxone? Why, they wouldn't be making a killing, like they are on saboxone. The Dr. Here in my town charges 1500$, plus the price of the pills. In my case, the Drs. are the ones who got me addicted to these drugs, then when the methadone clinic, decides to put me on administration detox, which is being detoxed on 85mg. In 21 days, which comes to 4.5mg. aday. That leaves a person sick as a dog. And can I afford 1500 a month? There's no way!!! Do they care? Hell no!! And will I try the talwin, hell yes!!!
Methadone is the WORST, WORST drug you could ever ever come off of. Never ever go there!!! Believe me, I'm getting ready for my 3rd. Time leaving the methadone clinic. Before I had a Dr. helping me. This time I'm on my own. God help me, cause I know its gonna be pure Hell!!!