[wilddriversb]

Having finally realized the negative effects an opiate addiction can have on one's life and finances, I decided to make an appointment with a qualified Suboxone doctor in my area. I read all the literature about what to expect from the website and decided I was ready to accept the fact I needed help. Using the physician finder, I got the phone number I needed. I called and was told no appts. were available until April. Which was not good news. But the receptionist assured me if there was an opening sooner, she would call me. Yesterday, after only a week, I got the call. My appt. was for 11:30 today. I arrived early and filled out my paper work, gave them my insurance, etc. After waiting 35 minutes for the doc to show up, he finally did. I was taken immediately into his office. There was some idle chit-chat and then he asked about my usage. I told him what I use and what I read about Suboxone. This is where I expected to be drug tested, interviewed, given a dose, evauluated, and all that. Nope. He told me how to take it, wrote me a script for 4mg QID (1/2 8mg tablet 4X per day)and sent me on my way. It took ten minutes in his office. I went in at 12:06 and was in my car to the pharmacy at 12:25. Does anyone else find this odd? He's not going to drug test me and my next appt. isn't for a month and a half. I guess he's right when he says "It's all up to you." I expected more. Comments? Thoughts?

[Missfortune]

This is how it was with me.
In fact, ive never even heard of the drs. doing it the way you said.
Next appointment is kinda weird though...why a month and a half?Why not monthly?Or do you have enough meds till then?

[wilddriversb]

Originally Posted by Missfortune

This is how it was with me.
In fact, ive never even heard of the drs. doing it the way you said.
Next appointment is kinda weird though...why a month and a half?Why not monthly?Or do you have enough meds till then?

He wrote it for sixty (60) with two (2) refills. I guess he's really busy. Like I said, at first my appointment wasn't until April but they found a sooner one for me. I have plenty to make it until the end of April. I read about the treatment process on the website, which is why I expected it that way. My friend wanted to try methadone treatment and it took the clinic like almost two weeks just to tell they were denying her treatment. She also had to do an initial drug screen (give the clinic a urine sample) whereas I did not have to provide my doctor with one. I felt bad for her that she expended time, effort, and money only to not be helped. I suggested Sub to her but she can't afford it. I have a job that provides me with health insurance. So the doc visit would have been like $150 (USD) and the Sub would've been $385 (USD). But, the insurance will probably cover the doctor visit and they covered all but $65 (USD) of the Subox. I hope it works because it's the most viable option when compared with methadone and cold turkey. Wish me luck.

[musicman48]

Originally Posted by wilddriversb

Having finally realized the negative effects an opiate addiction can have on one's life and finances, I decided to make an appointment with a qualified Suboxone doctor in my area. I read all the literature about what to expect from the website and decided I was ready to accept the fact I needed help. Using the physician finder, I got the phone number I needed. I called and was told no appts. were available until April. Which was not good news. But the receptionist assured me if there was an opening sooner, she would call me. Yesterday, after only a week, I got the call. My appt. was for 11:30 today. I arrived early and filled out my paper work, gave them my insurance, etc. After waiting 35 minutes for the doc to show up, he finally did. I was taken immediately into his office. There was some idle chit-chat and then he asked about my usage. I told him what I use and what I read about Suboxone. This is where I expected to be drug tested, interviewed, given a dose, evauluated, and all that. Nope. He told me how to take it, wrote me a script for 4mg QID (1/2 8mg tablet 4X per day)and sent me on my way. It took ten minutes in his office. I went in at 12:06 and was in my car to the pharmacy at 12:25. Does anyone else find this odd? He's not going to drug test me and my next appt. isn't for a month and a half. I guess he's right when he says "It's all up to you." I expected more. Comments? Thoughts?

Based on my experience, I would say to consider yourself lucky.Most Drs make you come back every week.Sometimes 2 times a week for the first few weeks..This allows the Dr to make more $. However, you probably don't need 16 mg a day.You also really don't need to dose 4 times a day.These Drs just don't know how to dose properly.At least you are saving money by avoiding all of those return visits." or if you were paying yourself it would save you money" Good luck to you!

[Missfortune]

Yeah you probably dont need that much at all.I started taking it the way the doctor told me and i was so incredibly sick for about a week and i called the Dr. and they took FOREVER to call me back so i posted on here and these guys really helped me get on a right dosage.When the doctor did call back he told me to INCREASE how much i was taking.(I didnt tell him i was taking a smaller amount,just to see what he would say.)I dont think some of these doctors know what the heck they are doing nowdays.It seems to be all about the money.

Ive been taking 3mg, twice everyday and that has been working wonders.Here recently though somedays ive been taking the whole 8 mg because of my darn teeth.(Found out i actually chipped a tooth on the top and that was causing the hurting.Im pretty sure it was caused by sub because i grind my teeth without realizing it.and also bite down hard when im trying to get the sub to dissolve.)Im trying not to but nothing else is helping.

I know what youre saying about the money.Im actually a self pay patient.Im nowhere near wealthy and its a struggle to make these visits.Sometimes me and my hubby will share the script since we are both over prescribed.lol.
Im willing to pay the price to be happy again though and its alot cheaper than all the hydrocodones i was having to buy.

Good luck! I promise when you get the dose right, you will feel great!

[Robert_325]

Originally Posted by wilddriversb

Having finally realized the negative effects an opiate addiction can have on one's life and finances, I decided to make an appointment with a qualified Suboxone doctor in my area. I read all the literature about what to expect from the website and decided I was ready to accept the fact I needed help. Using the physician finder, I got the phone number I needed. I called and was told no appts. were available until April. Which was not good news. But the receptionist assured me if there was an opening sooner, she would call me. Yesterday, after only a week, I got the call. My appt. was for 11:30 today. I arrived early and filled out my paper work, gave them my insurance, etc. After waiting 35 minutes for the doc to show up, he finally did. I was taken immediately into his office. There was some idle chit-chat and then he asked about my usage. I told him what I use and what I read about Suboxone. This is where I expected to be drug tested, interviewed, given a dose, evauluated, and all that. Nope. He told me how to take it, wrote me a script for 4mg QID (1/2 8mg tablet 4X per day)and sent me on my way. It took ten minutes in his office. I went in at 12:06 and was in my car to the pharmacy at 12:25. Does anyone else find this odd? He's not going to drug test me and my next appt. isn't for a month and a half. I guess he's right when he says "It's all up to you." I expected more. Comments? Thoughts?

I strongly suggest you check out the following link and use the subs according to the suggestions. If you have any questions after reading feel free to post. This system has proven to work with about everyone who follows the suggestions to the letter. God bless.

http://www.drugs.com/forum/featured-...apy-50887.html

[MaisieC]

Hi,

This sounds totally consistent with my experience too. I never got a drug test from my sub doctor. It's pretty cut and dried for most of these guys. They're not offering out-patient rehab; they're just focused on the suboxone therapy. They really do leave it up to you to follow instructions. It's really a good idea at this time to get to some NA meetings for some emotional support and some help learning how to live without drugs. The physical side is just part of it.

I also agree with others that 16 mgs is a high dose. The link Robert posted is really useful.

Take care, and please let us know how you're doing!

[batss]

Take as little as possible. Trust me, If you're not careful with that stuff, you'll be much worse off. It's real easy to get addicted to sub, and as soon as you stop withdrawing from your DOC, then you need to taper off immidiatly. I cut heavy heroin and cocain usage on only a a few MGs a day. Less than two pills a day, I've only been on it for 7 days, and I've already gotten through the worst of the heroin WDs and I've cut my suboxene down to just 1mg a day.

Subutex has a long half life, meaning if you take too much, it's just going to add up more inside you. Your brain will eventually be overflown with opiates, and the withdrawals that come from cutting that are WAY worse, and last way longer.

Take the bare minimum you need ONLY when you need it is my best advice for this drug. If you really want to be clean, keep it as short as possible. Dealing with a few ********ty days in bed is allot better than weeks of having to prolong the inevitable.

But after all this ********. I think I learned that the only best cure is just sticking through the withdrawals. There is no other cure, and everything else is just either another addiction, or just putting the inevitable off till later. It will be what you need to get out of bed, to make it through your day, and to sleep. It will just another addiction but probably worse. Don't even be tempted to up your dosage. It has a ceiling effect, and it won't really get you high. Pretty much if you feel great, you're taking too much. Detoxing is never easy.

It's painful, but its much better, safer, and more efficient in the long run to just detox/taper off the sub, than getting on maintenance.

- Batsy's girlfriend <3

[Robert_325]

You can feel great on the subs and still be off in a few weeks. You don't have to suffer through bad w/d using suboxone and you won't get addicted using it the way we suggest here. Have you read any of the threads of people using subs successfully here? Not everyone needs to be off subs in one week. You do it how you like but everyone doesn't need to do this like you are telling people. God bless.