Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder User Reviews (Page 3)

• ehh...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 5, 2014

"I have struggled with opiate addiction for 6 years, for which I've taken Suboxone for 4 separate rounds of treatment. The longest clean times I have ever had throughout this time is when I was on Subutex or Suboxone (I have used both). I cannot say enough great things about this medicine, it has truly saved my life. I am off of it now, and I had NO issues weaning off... it must be done thoroughly, slowly, and patiently. The biggest mistake is people trying to stop at 2mg, which is still a high dose. One must go all the way down to an almost crumb/sliver of a piece of pill or strip. If following protocol in a program, you can successfully come off of it."

• Use...
• September 2, 2015

"After 20+ years of 'functional' opiate abuse, I finally got sick and tired of being sick and tired. At the advice of some NA friends, I found a kind and compassionate Suboxone doctor. Amazingly, I have not had a single relapse the whole time on Suboxone, and it's been nearly seven years. Not one! So now, with some time under my belt, I'm slowly tapering down, from 8mg/day to 4mg/day. I'm in no rush. Suboxone has saved my life, my marriage, and my family."

• atx...
• July 1, 2014

"I was addicted to all opiates for 17 years. The last 2 years I was spending about $4000 a month. Made $60,000 a year and couldn't even pay my bills. It got real bad! A friend of mine told me about Suboxone and the rest is history! It truly saved my life. For the first time in my life, I have money in a savings account. Suboxone works, as long as you want to quit."

• Goe...
• January 14, 2015

"I was addicted to opiates and have been on Suboxone for approx. 5 years. I started on 12 mg and have weaned down to 4 mg a day. My only issue with this is the length of time I have been taking it. The majority of doctors that prescribe Suboxone do not want you to wean off and ultimately quit. It works, however, I feel as though a person should not be on it for more than 3 years, and most doctors would rather keep you as a patient and on Suboxone for monetary reasons. My only advice to anyone looking to start on Suboxone would be to find a good doctor and make sure there is a somewhat short-term plan to wean off and quit."

• Lul...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 20, 2018

"I have been on Zubsolv for almost 5 years. I was just making a cup of tea, and an overwhelming sense of gratitude came over me. If it wasn't for this medication, I don't know where I would be. Or if I would even be alive."

• Mis...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 9, 2021

"I have been on Suboxone for about 4 years. This past four years has been the worst of my life. I wake up ridiculously ill every single morning. My symptoms include: extreme cold chills, diarrhea 3-5 times each morning, decrease in motivation. My doctor has never successfully weaned a patient off. I am a single mother, and I need my weaning off to be comfortable so that I can take care of my child and go to work. My doctor has just recently begun weaning me off. And it is not working for me at all. I just want to be clean and feel normal again. I can no longer take being so dependent on this. I just feel like I am feeding the monster..."

• Jay...
• January 25, 2019

"After using heroin for 15+ years. The problem I had with Suboxone was that it made me so sick. My doc switched me to Tex, and this went away. When I moved to the south, no one would write them. The doc said to hold it under my tongue until dissolved, then spit out the saliva. The problem is, subs taste like crap and take 20 min to completely dissolve. A new doc told me about Zubsolv, saying it dissolves much quicker. I decided to try it, and I’m happy I did! It dissolves in 5-10 min and tastes like mint. Cravings are near nonexistent, and I don’t have side effects aside from some nausea if I swallow some. I think most of the negative reviews are psychosomatic. People don’t like change, and this medicine is newer and less known. It’s not a cheap generic! It’s actually more expensive than Suboxone. The dosing also upsets people. The 5.7 is the equivalent of an 8 mg sub, and people just don’t believe that. Whatever, I’m a fan... and heroin free."

• Cos...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• April 18, 2013

"I spiraled out of control on pain pills about six years ago and it will be two years on this medication July 24, 2010. It is taking me a little longer to wean off because I did have a relapse due to financial problems. This medicine is the best thing that can be out there for addicts. I hid it from my husband, mother, everyone that came around me. They had a slight idea that something was wrong, but since I was so mean and hateful they were all afraid to say anything to me about it in fear of what I would do. The first week of being on the medicine, my husband said that he could see a complete reversal of me and my personality. He says that he finally got his baby back."

• Pun...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• June 22, 2020

"I’ve been on subs now for about 10 years. Was on high doses of opiates. I see everyone saying Alvogen doesn’t work for them, but I think they’re great. I prefer the name brand, and there’ve been twice now I couldn’t find them, so I had to settle. The Alvogen did great, however, the other brand I was forced to get was Dr. Reddy's, and it was absolutely awful. It was like I couldn’t get enough in me to stop with withdrawals. This month the pharmacies were out again, and I ended up with Mylan brand. Anyone have any experience with these?"

• Sam...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• August 7, 2019

"It's funny how people swear the Sandoz films are exactly the same thing as the regular strips, just in different packaging... smh. This is not true, as tons of people who have been on this medicine for 10 years or more are posting reviews telling you this. Do this... take one of each film, regular and generic (Sandoz), and put them in separate spoons of water and watch how fast the Sandoz film dissolves. Literally seconds vs the regular film will take minutes. Not to mention everyone will tell you they feel different taking them. They most definitely are NOT the same medicine. That is a fact. They might be made at the same place, but they are different, and it's obvious to the ones like me who have been on this garbage for 10 years or more."

• los...
• June 18, 2015

"I started using oxys after a car crash. After my doctor cut me off, I switched to heroin. My wife was ready to leave, and I could not believe that 5 years prior, I was happy and in perfect health. Now, I was shooting dope just to stay well. I went on methadone for 14 months, starting with 120mg per day, tapered down to 20mgs, and went through a week of hell. Then, I was put on an 8mg strip of Suboxone. It immediately helped, I felt great. After 4 months of Suboxone therapy, I asked my doctor to taper me off drugs completely. While Suboxone works, it's just another opiate if we are truthful. Long story short, a month after quitting Suboxone, I ended up in a psychiatric ward with suicidal thoughts and major depression. So, I'm back on Subs again. Truth is, I lost myself somewhere between my first oxy and Sub."

• Amd...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• February 26, 2014

"I am 39 years old and I was addicted to pain medication for almost 20 years. I have chronic back pain, and I was prescribed everything from 80 mg of OxyContin, 40 mg of Opana, 30 mg of Oxycodone, to 150 micrograms of Fentanyl. I would go to the hospital for IV Dilaudid. I was a mess. No matter how many pills I was prescribed, I never ever made them last, so I would spend tons of money buying them on the street. I finally had enough, and now I am taking 16 mg of Suboxone a day, and I feel great! Today I am 6 months sober."

• scu...
• January 19, 2009

"I know people keep saying how bad the Suboxone withdrawal is, but it really isn't that bad in comparison to the harder opioids. Over my years of experience with this, I have noticed that withdrawal symptoms are largely all in the head. I know people who have never had withdrawal symptoms simply by not thinking about it. I myself have been slowly tapering off of Suboxone for about 8 months. I try to take it later and later in the day. Push yourself to wait another hour. Take a smaller amount and stay busy! Boredom will make you relapse! Exercise, take vitamins, eat healthy. It is a good idea to start doing these things before attempting to stop the Suboxone."

• Fai...
• August 26, 2020

"I have recently just switched to the yellow pkg Suboxone strips. I have taken Suboxone for 3 years, and it has helped me not need opioids ever again! At first, I couldn’t stand the yellow pkg subs, but I was wrong! They are the best subs in our country! Give them a chance if you are someone who feels you are weak! They will only make you even better than you currently are. I even had written a bad review on the yellow sub strips! I was extremely wrong. Give them a chance, guys. Please? They must take some weeks of getting used to. Thanks."

• Jam...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• April 18, 2015

"I was medically addicted to oxycodone for several years. I had 5 c-sections to deliver my 5 wonderful children. I developed a hernia and was on oxycodone for several years. My doctor left, and I was a mess. I turned to buying on the street. Working 40 hrs a week, full-time college, training my daughter's majorette squad, and caring for my mother (seeing as she had 5 hip surgeries in her 70s). All of this and 5 kids ages 10, 5, 4, 1, and newborn. I lost everything. Trying to stay 'well' every day was my only goal. Then I found a Suboxone program. Life-changing!!! With a doctor, group, therapy, the Suboxone gave my mind time to slow down and reflect on my life. No withdrawals and a clear mind. It's amazing. You can be successful with Suboxone and therapy!"

• Mcf...
• March 3, 2019

"I took Suboxone for a period of 4 and 3-year periods. I found that at 8 mg I felt the most normal in my entire life. I'm 40. I didn't have the urge to catch any kind of buzz at all. Like a normal person who's never used drugs before. The problem I had and ultimately drove me to stop was the second-class treatment by doctors and pharmacists in accessing it. Constant piss testing and segregated room to take it at pharmacy. They freely prescribe the opiates to damn near anyone, but if you want the cure, you're treated like an outcast. I don't know what's worse, the addiction-related problems or this segregation treatment."

• Lua...
• October 17, 2019

"Told the doctor I didn't want to be on anything, I only wanted one Suboxone. I agreed to two 16 mg. After one year, he stated now it will take a year to detox me, and I called a detox, not satisfied with this answer and the length of the detox. He told me I'm looking at 2 months detox off 16 mg and told me to start dropping myself first because I will be sick a long time otherwise. I will admit this year has given me the chance to build my roots in a program, I'm just baffled that no one tells you this medication is meant for harm reduction. Basically, so opiates are blocked, cravings cease, and you're not sick, robbing, stealing, and spreading hepatitis C basically. So it's designed for long periods. The longer I've been on it, the worse the side effects. If you didn't know, this medicine also blocks your natural endorphins in your brain as well, from sex, working out, chocolate, etc. I'm upset, I'm not looking forward to this horrible withdrawal off 2 mg. Ignorance isn't bliss. Wish you all luck in whatever journey you choose."

• dai...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• June 15, 2014

"I was a heroin addict for about 5 years and have used methadone and Suboxone maintenance. I have been on Suboxone for five months and like methadone, it is working well to keep me off heroin. But I do want to comment on side effects of both medications that are not mentioned often enough. As far as methadone went, my boyfriend and I had no sex drive. And on Suboxone, I have a great sex drive, but have a very difficult time climaxing. My boyfriend is also experiencing sexual side effects from Suboxone. He has no sex drive and has a difficult time getting an erection and even harder time climaxing. I think these are side effects people need to be aware of while deciding on a method of treatment."

• Dup...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• August 7, 2019

"I was put on Suboxone so I could get off prescription oxycodone. I was told it would be an easier, gentler way to detox, with no withdrawal effects. The doctor said it would take a couple of months, then six months, then he said most people take 2 to 3 years to taper off this medication. The withdrawal from decreasing my dosage 2 milligrams from 16 milligrams was worse than the full-blown opioid withdrawal I got when I tried cold turkey off the oxycodone. I went to see an addictions counselor, and he said I made a big mistake going on this medication and that less than one percent of people ever get off it. I was lied to by the prescribing doctor who has many patients on it for 10 years plus. I wish I had known."

• Nog...
• May 16, 2016

"I have been on Subs for 7 years and have been very successful with my family and career! Two weeks ago I decided I don't want to depend on anything but myself, well I thought... I have been taking just a quarter strip for one year now and if I skip a day, I can barely function. I called my doctor and he told me there's no withdrawal... Bullshit! It's been two weeks, I haven't taken it, and I still can't sleep at night, my back feels like it's on fire, and I just got done puking my guts out! This has been the hardest thing I have EVER had to overcome! If you're serious about getting clean, DO NOT take this for a long period of time! Yes, it helps with the cravings but not your addiction!"

• Big...
• May 31, 2013

"I had 19 procedures on my lower back and four procedures on my neck. I was taking very high doses of OxyContin and Oxycodone for ten years. I wanted to quit taking pain medicines, but they got a hold of me. Now I'm on Suboxone 16 mg a day, and I'm very pleased with the results so far. I'm also taking Suboxone for pain management. I have more pain than I care to have, but I take Motrin for breakthrough pain. When you decide to take control of your life again, then get on the Suboxone, you will not regret it. No withdrawal, no urges, and no worries! Good luck and remember you can now have your life back."

• Tj7...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• April 27, 2020

"To everyone who was forcibly made to take generic Suboxone, depending on what insurance you have, there is or could be what's called a tier reduction. If you have that, your doctor can write that you can't take generics because (insert your symptoms here) and submit it. They (insurance) will review it, and if you get approved, you will be able to get name brand again. I warn you, you will have to jump through many hoops, for example, I had to take two other generics first to prove I couldn't be on anything else but name brand, but it's worth it as the alternative for me would have been back to using because all the generics I tried were not doing anything but making me sick and wanting to use (after six years of not). Again, it depends on your insurance company, but I hope this gives you some kind of hope and knowledge that you might not be stuck with generic forever."

• Swe...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• March 25, 2015

"I had been on painkillers for 17 years. The last 5 of which were Percocet, morphine, Roxanol, OxyContin, oxycodone, fentanyl patches, you name it, they had me on it. After a three-year battle from a botched gastric bypass surgery, I was medically addicted to opiates terribly. I got to where I was prescribed 180 Percocet 10mg a month for all my pain and was still buying 100 a month on the street. I got so sick and tired of being sick and tired, I reached out for help. After several attempts trying to find a pain clinic to put me on it for my debilitating pain, I finally went into a treatment facility. Not only did Suboxone get rid of craving for pills, IT TOOK CARE OF MY PAIN better than any other pain medicine I'd ever had. I have my life back."

• Ste...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• October 15, 2019

"I was on Suboxone for over 12 years. No one is in a hurry to get you off of them unless you're the one pushing the issue. Just like opiates, I got tired of paying cash visits to line the pockets of the legalized drug dealers. November will be one year Suboxone-free. Withdrawal the first couple of weeks is tough, but it comes and goes. At 11 months, I’m about 95% back to where I should be. Ensure you are in a drug-free environment, and with the commitment to stopping, you can do it. Clonidine from my family doctor helped me quit without weaning and jumping off 2 mg. 4-6 Clonidine a day and something for sleep, and you can certainly do it!! Guaranteed."

• THE...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• November 24, 2014

"Take my 2, 8mg Suboxone when I wake up. It keeps me from any signs of withdrawal and also keeps my mind off of wanting to use. Best thing I could have ever come across, probably would have been dead. I feel like a million bucks, no more chasing, stealing, or feeling like garbage. Thanks to this miracle."