Buprenorphine and Depression: What Users Say (Page 2)

• Hop...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• December 30, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "God bless you all for sharing your stories and your strength in fighting each battle that is confronted by each of you individually. I am no different. However, I will tell you this: after seven months of my last injection, I am now in a terrible state of withdrawal, including depression, restless sleep, if at all, and all the other things that come with stopping oral strips. It is not a panacea. While it’s a tremendous way to avoid daily use, the Depo inside your body is much larger than you think, you will test positive for a year. You will experience withdrawal after around six months post-last shot. Hang in there. God bless and fight hard. But know, your body is still heavily influenced by the bup even though you are months 'without it'… one day it will become very evident, so stay strong!"

• Jun...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• April 10, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "So my journey to the Sublocade injection was a little different from most as I was coming off 100+ mills of methadone. It took me about 2 weeks of dropping 10 mills a day, but taking Suboxone patches and Suboxone films. It wasn't an easy journey, and I felt uneasy and a little depressed during the process. But I've had my first Sublocade injection of 300 mg, and I'm starting to feel really good again and am able to work more hours now. Definitely worth starting your transition to the monthly Sublocade injections. Just a pity it's not free for some countries like it is here in Australia."

• Lay...
• August 18, 2021

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Was started on Bulbuca 450 mcg 6 months ago, it was the film patch for inside the mouth. First of all, it started decaying my teeth, so Dr. converted me over to the patch for the skin. I started out on 10 mcg, and it did not touch my pain, and I started withdrawing badly. Went back in after 2 weeks, and I was moved up to 15 mcg, and same results. Up to 20 mcg, and holy moly, I started feeling like I had the flu, couldn't get comfortable, was on the toilet 15-20 times a day. Then, the 3rd day after the new patch was on, things subsided. But now on the 5th day, not much pain control and sweating, and back on the toilet, with body aches. It doesn't last the 7 days like it says and took 3 days once moved up to 20 mcg, it barely gave me minimum pain relief. I have severe nerve damage in the sacral from preexisting surgery. This is not anything like Belbuca film or close to it. I do not recommend this Butrans patch at all. I am back to suffering. It's for low pain maybe, but otherwise, it's junk. Be aware."

• boo...
• January 26, 2011

For Opioid Use Disorder "I was a miserable addict for 6 years. I tried white-knuckling it at least a dozen times. When I was introduced to buprenorphine, my problems were over. I stopped using and suffered withdrawals for about 12 hours, then was given my first dose. I was scared and depressed and already thinking about where I might find some dope. Then it was over. About an hour after my first dose of buprenorphine, I was laughing, eating, cleaning up my room. It was so easy. Thank you."

• MJ1...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• February 15, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "Getting the Sublocade shot has been the best decision I've ever made. Had a bad H addiction for about 6 years. This shot has been a lifesaver. Going on my 3rd shot and completely sober and couldn't feel any better. The shot has kept me from getting the usual depression that seems to come no matter what, the first few months of being sober. For the first time in a while, I look forward to life. No cravings, no withdrawal. I highly recommend Sublocade, my only regret is not getting on this sooner."

• Peg...
• November 17, 2019

For Opioid Use Disorder "Was given to me in a detox treatment center, tapered dose for 6 days. Felt very mild withdrawal symptoms during the first 4 days. I had a severe dependence on oxycodone, OxyContin, hydrocodone, and basically couldn’t function without at least 300 mg a day. If you feel that your life is being wasted worrying about not having enough meds to function, I highly recommend getting help at a facility that will do a medical detox! It saved my life. The withdrawal symptoms after the buprenorphine were chills, back pain, yawning, mental anxiety, and of course depression. But anyone who is currently living with opiate dependence/addiction knows this is common when you run out too soon. I rated this medication a 7 to an 8 only because I didn’t know about the withdrawal after taking it. I am grateful to say I haven’t needed any Oxy’s since."

• Ano...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• November 12, 2022

Buprenorphine for Opiate Dependence - Maintenance "Took my first shot yesterday of Sublocade 300 mg. My past history used 13 months of opioids (Hydromorphone) up to 30 mg per day. One day decided to withdraw it completely, so started to reduce my dose weekly and completely shut off on September 1, 2022, and on the night of September 2, when I got extremely bad withdrawal symptoms. So, by myself, I started Suboxone 4 mg for 1 day, then 1 week with 8 mg, 2nd week with 4 mg, 3rd week with 2 mg, and the 4th week 1 mg per day, but in my last stage, I failed, and everything has changed drastically. Got severe anxiety and depression, went to the doctor, and the doctor gave me antidepressants, which I didn't take because I haven't had any history of anxiety and depression before. So, finally went to a rehab center, explained everything, and they started Suboxone again, this time with 8 mg/day for 13 days. After that, my anxiety and depression was so minimal. So my doctor suggested Sublocade 300, and I got it yesterday, and the first day was like hell, went to the emergency due to severe anxiety."

• Not...
• Taken for 6 months to 1 year
• January 17, 2023

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "I was started on 5 mcg Butrans for chronic low back pain due to severe degenerative disc disease, L5 S1 bone-on-bone discs, bilateral pars defects, and spondylolisthesis. I wish I’d said no to this drug when it was offered to me after countless painful visits to the hospital for my uncontrolled back pain. What doctors don’t tell you is that it interferes with your thyroid function, which causes a whole other set of problems. Not only will you get severely addicted to this medication and have a hard time getting off of it, you’ll have issues with: mood, sleep, depression, anxiety, appetite, weight issues, feeling cold all the time, and worst of all, building a low tolerance for pain. I will NOT do my back surgery unless I’m off this horrible patch. I was at 7.5 mcg for a while, but I’m down to 5 mcg now, still very potent. Buprenorphine is 20-100 times as strong as morphine. I am trying to find a way to get off this evil medication with little to no help from my pain management doctor."

• Kat...
• Taken for 1 to 6 months
• March 14, 2023

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "I am a 31-year-old female. I have struggled with opioid addiction (mainly Norco) and chronic pain for the past 5 years. I developed severe pain in my neck that got increasingly worse with no help from medication, physical therapy, or surgery. I was taking Norco, which would mask my pain for an hour at the most but left me with horrible withdrawals, severe insomnia, and depression. My physiatrist prescribed me buprenorphine, and it was very helpful. It helped my pain and got rid of opioid cravings. However, the buprenorphine sublingual tablet caused horrible constipation. I couldn't use the bathroom for 8 days and gained 10 pounds in that time. I did some research and found that the patch called Belbuca (buprenorphine buccal film) had fewer side effects. I find the patches to be a bit less helpful, but if you suffer from horrible constipation from buprenorphine, please use Belbuca."

• Dia...
• Taken for 2 to 5 years
• December 21, 2021

For Chronic Pain "In 2018, I used a 20 mg Buprenorphine patch instead of a 50 mg Fentanyl patch. Then I started taking 2 mg Buprenorphine tablets 2x a day. I did physical therapy, which did improve my hip and back pain, but did not totally alleviate my pain. It worked well on being able to focus and my cognitive abilities. However, in the summer of 2021, I started having bad stomach problems and depression that I felt was chemically induced. I started tapering off and got down to 1/4 a pill 2x a day. I transferred to the patch, but I experienced bad headaches, and it was not enough pain relief. I have tapered off other pain medicines much easier to get off them. I worry that I am going to be stuck taking this medicine forever. I am going to ask my doctor today if there is another alternative to using this medication. I remember that getting off of generic Percocet (oxycodone) was much easier when I went through some cancer pain. Be wary of long-term use of this medication."

• Nic...
• Taken for 5 to 10 years
• October 23, 2021

Buprenorphine for Opioid Use Disorder "Well, I agree with plenty of comments regarding how helpful it can be. Just feel it's ruining my insides, teeth, and bones after being on it so long-9 to 10 years-but then again, as others have said, I may stay on it for life because I'm not getting any younger, etc. Is it worth risking relapse?! I don't even smoke weed or cigarettes anymore. Have used on top about a handful of times, which isn't too bad in nigh on a decade because, luckily, I had helpful keyworkers. With the pandemic, I rarely see counselors, let alone GPs, so it'd take forever to get back on it. Was on 20 mg, now 12 + a weekly script, as I can't tolerate that daily supervised dose malarkey. Really makes me feel down/inadequate, etc. Did try the monthly injection recently to get off Buphenorphine, however, I had 0 energy, and the lethargy is overwhelming. Slowly does it when coming off this with plenty of relaxation."

• ell...
• Taken for less than 1 month
• October 11, 2015

Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain "Butrans causes depression, anxiety, dizziness, nausea. Do not get on this medication."