Buprenorphine / naloxone and Pain: What Users Say

• joe...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 7, 2020

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I just recently quit Suboxone cold turkey from 24 mg. I was on Subs for over 6 years. I'm now in week three and I can still barely sleep. Still, my legs and back are in constant pain, and the only relief I get is to have hot baths. My advice is to quit whatever you're on instead of switching to a long-acting opiate. It takes so much longer to get off, and the withdrawals are pretty much the same but just prolonged. I can't wait to feel normal again!!! Worst experience ever, but I've been through so much the last few weeks I'll never touch an opiate again. Time to get on with life."

• Cha...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• May 19, 2020

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I recall the beginning, when I foolishly became addicted to pain relievers-and I mean ignorantly. Don't get me wrong-I loved the feeling, I just didn't know that they were physically addicting. After about 8 months of pain relievers, I heard about Suboxone. It was great! Now, speed ahead 13 years later, it sucks. I imagine that since I've been on this for so long, it's likely I'll stay on it for life. God forbid I lose my insurance! But what I really want to say-what makes this really bad, is that now I'm on a generic version and it is GARBAGE! Made by 'Alvogen', it is NOTHING like the name brand Suboxone. I'm in pain, I feel lousy, sluggish, and it is making my life hell. My next appointment is in two weeks and I'm going to complain. Only thing is-I've heard Suboxone is off the market now. If so, I guess I'm screwed either way... :("

• -x-...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• June 10, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone are opiate-based meds, a substitute for heroin and other opioids, and therefore addictive. Besides helping with withdrawal, it also made the cravings go away. Like this, you can put some distance between your addiction years and your new, clean life. Getting off Suboxone is also not easy, but nothing compared to heroin kicking. Doctors are supposed to help you lower your dosage. In the end, I took a quarter of a 2mg/0.5mg pill every day, until one day I felt like not taking it anymore. There is no wonder cure for opiate addiction (duh!), there will always be pain and discomfort, the only thing you can try is to minimize that! After 9 years of heroin and 3.9 years on Suboxone, I finally managed to get off. I definitely recommend it!"

• DGa...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• October 30, 2019

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone saved my life. I was an intravenous drug user and was highly addicted to opiates. Luckily, I decided to try Suboxone before it was too late. I was on it for 3 months the first time around with minimal withdrawals, but also I was less dependent on opiates at the time. After relapsing, I took it a second time. The second time, however, I was on it for 3 years and utilized a long-term taper plan. While I was on it, I did feel good at times and was able to refrain from using other opiates. It was much harder to kick after taking it for a longer amount of time! Withdrawals lasted about 2 months for me. Leg pains, diarrhea, and insomnia were the worst for me. In the end, Suboxone helped me get my life back!"

• Mar...
• January 29, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I started Suboxone on Monday at 1 pm after 26 hours of clean time. The first 24 hours was rough but nowhere near a cold turkey experience. I stayed with a friend for support. Maybe got 3 hours of sleep. The second 24 hours was marginally better. Stayed with a friend again. Near no sleep. The 3rd 24 hours was better still. I was still hurting but made it with little to no sleep at a friend's. Today, the 4th 24 hours I'm pretty much okay. A real miracle. I got some work done and socialized a bit even. It's 12:30 am now. Sleep isn't an option yet. So I hope that helps. By the way, I am on 2-8 mg tabs per day. Oh, drink LOTS of fluids. Good luck. You can do it!"

• Sam...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• January 15, 2013

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been clean now for 114 days. Before Suboxone, I had given up on everything. Myself, my kids, and my husband. When I first used Suboxone, I started with 4 mg. I had a horrible reaction to it. Everything was slow motion, I was vomiting, sweating, nodding in and out, aches and pains everywhere. The scariest part was the hard time breathing. It's like I forgot to breathe. My clinic doctor had never seen or heard of a reaction like that. I refused to give up, though, after 5-7 days, I had finally felt like me (before my addiction took over). I have had some side effects, but minor ones. I finally have my family back!"

• kic...
• January 20, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Been an addict for 5 years. Was so difficult to get off because of the pain of withdrawal and medical issues. Suboxone absolutely works for the pain I endure with having a herniated disc. I also suffer from kidney stone disease and migraines. Suboxone doesn't help with that, and nothing else will because Suboxone blocks it. I'm put in a difficult situation. I don't want to relapse, but the last time I had a stone and couldn't take any pain meds, the pain was so much I passed out. I sometimes feel I traded one addiction for another."

• Joh...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• August 4, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on the name brand Suboxone for 4 years, and all of a sudden, I was forced to be switched to the Alvogen brand of buprenorphine/naloxone, and these generic strips are nowhere near like the real strips. They are weaker, and they do not control the cravings or the pain like the real Suboxone does. I do not understand how the FDA allows companies to make a generic version of something and mess it up so badly when the real Suboxone has saved so many people. Our healthcare in the United States is garbage. When I was on the real Suboxone, I actually felt like I was getting my life back from being on 10 to 12 percs a day and shooting a couple shots of heroin a day. But now, my life has gone back to hell because I cannot get my real medication every day anymore. It should be illegal for a company to be able to sell something so cheaply made and manufactured."

• Tes...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• May 30, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Suboxone took my opiate addiction away. Has saved my life. I now am having knee replacement. In much pain. Suboxone helps somewhat. I would like pain management. Until surgery and recovery. I would then go back to Suboxone. Hard to get opiates from any doctor right now. It is a wonderful drug. People say it doesn't work. You have to want to be clean."

• Opi...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 29, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "1st day on Zubsolv. I have no history with Suboxone, and I can't compare the two. For the last year, I was averaging 20 days of the month on 150 mg of MD per day and 200 mg of Hydro or Oxy for the other 10 days of the month. My source of MD went to the clinic every two weeks, so I always would be out of MD with 4 or 5 days remaining before this person went back to the clinic. Sad but true, and I accept that I am an idiot. Anyways, 24 days ago I just jumped CT. It was as bad as all you have read about MD. I was desperate and called a clinic and got on Zubsolv. Within 30 minutes, all the anxiety, pain all over, lack of motivation, etc. was fading. 1 hour later, I am like a different person. Based on 1 day, I am a fan."

• coa...
• June 12, 2008

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone for three and a half months now. I did write on here when I first started this treatment from using Oxy's. I just want to tell everyone that I feel like a million dollars. I have my family, friends, and life back. I can function like a normal person again. I do have pain every day (that's why I was on Oxy's), but I go to the rheumatologist this month to straighten out my problem, actually, we just found out what is wrong with me: arthritis (spondylitis). This is the best treatment out there!"

• 24 ...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• February 26, 2020

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Zubsolv for nearly 2 years. In terms of recovery, this has been a great help, and I'm happy to say I have been clean since I got on. Occasionally, a crave comes, but that was expected. I take 5.4 mg 2x a day. My teeth are suffering. I have never had such sensitivity before, and it is causing me pain throughout the days. I am worried about what this is doing to my mouth, and I will be visiting the dentist shortly. Happy with this, and praying I don’t lose my teeth before 30."

• mac...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 25, 2018

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on opiates for 17 years after a truck rear-ended me from a dead stop. I went to this pain doctor who is to help me get off the pain pills, not to keep you on them. I started a few weeks ago, using Zubsolv 5.7-12.1.4. I did my research on this drug and found it to be stronger than the subs. I must say how easy it is and was for me to adjust to them. It is a very clean drug treatment. I take three a day, still a little pain I do have, but to me, this is a Godsend. For me, this is not about getting a buzz, like I see so many do with the subs. First month, I am keeping a logged paperback book for me to write down my problems if I have any."

• Ren...
• June 19, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "After 2 1/2 years on the Suboxone brand name, 8 mg, 2 strips, I was switched over to the Dr. Reddy's generic version. I take 2 - 8 mg strips a day. I noticed a big difference right away. I did not feel the typical mild euphoric feeling I got with the brand name, but instead experienced a feeling of general discomfort and a crushing sleepiness. I started getting headaches and almost felt as if I was going through mild withdrawal as my body attempted to adjust to the new drug. My insurance will not pay for the brand name anymore, and I don't have an extra $600 each month to spend on the meds I want. I tried Subsolve for a short while, but I did not like that either. My doctor wants me to go off strips now and go on pills completely. For the first time since I've been in opioid addiction treatment, I'm thinking of just trying to get off Suboxone because now it's just junk and a waste of money. The insurance companies don't seem to care. It's sad as this drug has worked so effectively for me."

• Und...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• April 29, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone on and off for 13 years. I started out with the Suboxone tablets. Then had to swap doctors. Anyway, I found a new doctor and have been taking the Suboxone Film 12 mg/3 mg twice a day for at least 5 years. I finally got my life back with Suboxone and therapy. I went to get my prescription filled on 4/27/19. To my surprise, they gave me the generic films made by Sandoz. I was hesitant but thought I would give it a try. I took my first one of the generic on 4/28/19. I woke up on 4/29/19 and felt horrible. I was going through withdrawals. I was nauseous, had hot flashes, chills, leg pain, and was very weak. My sobriety is so important to me. It took time to earn back the trust I had lost with all my family and friends. So, when I woke up in withdrawal this morning, I was beyond upset. It felt like I had taken a placebo when, in fact, it was just the Sandoz generic buprenorphine and naloxone. This Sandoz generic needs to be taken off the market. Everyone's sobriety is at risk with this low-quality generic."

• Bil...
• July 11, 2016

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This drug was a monster for me. I took it to get off opiate pain medication through the VA. My legs and feet swelled to enormous proportions, and the pain was terrific. The VA uses veterans as guinea pigs. Stay away."

• Far...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• February 9, 2017

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I have been using oxy for over a year and a half daily for the last 3 months. I knew I needed help to get off of these drugs, and so I went to seek help from a doctor. He prescribed me Zubsolv... and after 15 hours of being in withdrawal, I took my first dose and went hard into precipitated withdrawal. The doctor was sure that enough time had passed using the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS method), but maybe I have a slow metabolism?!? It was terrible for the first 24 hours. However, I am now finishing up my second day on the medication, taking two pills a day, and my withdrawal symptoms are gone. I still feel very achy in my joints and just have been lying in bed, but this medication has really given me hope that I can stay strong and off of using. Give it a chance!"

• Oli...
• September 6, 2019

"Suboxone is a fantastic drug for my back pain, but the Dr. Reddy's version is horrible. I didn't realize the pharmacy gave me a generic because my insurance pays for regular Suboxone, and to make it worse, the pharmacy didn't tell me, so I did not know what was wrong with me. I felt terrible, my body was in so much pain, and I couldn't even think straight. I thought I was going crazy! Panic attacks, the whole nine yards. I happened upon this page. I went and looked at my box, and there it was, Dr. Reddy's garbage! I will never let that happen to me again!"

• Jes...
• Taken for 10 years or more
• June 21, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have taken Suboxone for years. I was an IV morphine and oxy user. I got to the point of suicide until I discovered Suboxone, it changed my life. I started out using 4 a day, which was way too many, so I went down to two and then one a day. Then the generics came out, and every month a different pill. I went back up to one and a half a day, but it seems that there is less and less active medicine. I used them for years, and if I got held over by my doctor for a week or two, I could always cut down to a half and get by, but not anymore. I take my full dose, and by the end of the day, if I make it through the day, I am sick and hurting. Sometimes they don't work at all, and I feel sick halfway through the day. I am sick and tired of being sick and tired, it is good to see that it's not just me."

• Ree...
• March 3, 2020

For Opioid Use Disorder "Subutex. What can I say? I was on methadone when my clinic decided to switch everyone to Subutex. I was told so many wonderful things. My doctor couldn’t say enough good things about it. The first lie I was told was, “It’s a schedule 3, I can call it in for you.” ...A year later, not one call in. Even after tooth extraction. I was prescribed this for pain, and surprise!!! I’m still in pain. Lie 2. Oh, it’s so much cheaper than methadone!! Lie 3. $275 for one month cash payment, not including the ridiculous doctor fees each month (low-income veteran here)....I had surgery, and would you believe my surgeon had never heard of it? So when I was pumped full of hard opioids, it was a nightmare. So, I’m done with it. I’m on day 3 zero subs, and I feel decent. I gained 50 pounds on this drug and now not as hungry. I lost interest in everything, becoming a shell of my true self. Enough is enough. Just dump it if you REALLY want to be free!"

• you...
• April 14, 2009

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "This medication has saved my life. I have mental clarity for the first time in years, and all of the 'aches and pains' have gone away. Occasional user of Percocet and Vicodin as a teenager, not addicted until prescribed by a physician. I have irritable bowel syndrome, and it seemed to cure my problems, along with keeping me high (and broke). I would recommend this medication to anyone who is tired of chasing that high. It works, but you have to be ready to give up the high. The first few days were horrible for me, but it definitely gets better!"

• Sky...
• June 18, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "I have been on Suboxone for 8 years, started on the generic recently and I felt very off (different). It may depend on how sensitive to medications you are, I am very sensitive, so I noticed a decrease in energy, shakiness, tiredness, headaches, and body pain. I don't agree with the statement that generic is stronger, it depends on the person, how long you have been on it, how much you absorb, and drug sensitivity. Everyone is different. Personally, the generic is not effective for me, my body is used to the brand name and, contrary to what you may think, they are not the same formula. It all depends on what your body needs and accepts."

• Mag...
• Taken for 1 to 2 years
• October 10, 2021

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "Bupe is fine for when you first get sober, but it does nothing but hurt you the longer you use it. It made me feel so much more pain and aches and did not help my cravings. I have less pain and cravings now off it. It was extremely hard to get off. It's not as intense as heroin withdrawal, but it lasts weeks, if not a month. I had to be within 20 feet of a toilet for 2 months after I stopped and almost had diarrhea in my pants multiple times. Plus, you need to be in full withdrawal in order to start it, which is horrible and scares a lot of people away from it. You cannot get emergency pain meds if you're on bupe, it will not work. The government needs to wake up and make methadone widely available to everyone. It works better, and it's proven to help with pain also. If you are in a place where you can get methadone, do that instead. I have been off all opioids for almost 5 years and am thankful for bupe, but it's practically useless and shouldn't be used except for occasional acute pain."

• Ama...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• March 1, 2023

For Opioid Use Disorder "I had stage 4 cancer, and it’s been a long ride with treatment and pain. I was told this would make my life better and to give it a chance. Ten days later, I’m throwing up, my pain is miserable, and my head hasn’t stopped hurting. I was told this was a wonder drug. No one told me how bad it could be, and apparently, this labels you as a drug addict if you were to need pain meds for something in the future. Does anyone else have serious chronic pain that was put on this and was successful in going another route?"

• Bre...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• December 16, 2021

Buprenorphine / naloxone for Opioid Use Disorder "I started Suboxone after being on tramadol for 4-5 years. The only way I was able to continue working, it worked better for me than hydrocodone. I went to the clinic on the advice of a friend after he gave me one and I broke it into fourths. So I finally went to get my own and I continue my half a pill a day now for four months. When I went last month, I had 12 pills, so I thought I had enough to last until December 14, which was my next appointment. I ran out around Thursday, I believe, because I was stressed as I heard the word cancer a week ago. Long story short, my foot got cramps while driving, and by the time I was called to talk to the medication doctor, my entire body was spasming. I was begging them to call EMS, they told me I had to. Then EMS scraped down, and both got in driving up front. I screamed in agony and they did nothing, like I was a junkie and no better for me. I've never felt such pain, I called on God. Somehow I got to the doctor, and they eased and they did nothing, waiting to draw blood. Then fear of moving it started again."