I am hoping someone out there can answer my questions. I have been hearing a lot about Suboxone and Buprenex. Actually I have read a lot about these meds on this boeard. Do docs have the ability to prescirbe them ( I have read that these drugs are not always avaliable in pharmacys) and does it work for opiate, Ultram and butalbiatl withdrawl? What are the side effects. I would like to know more so if anyone has any idea please let me know.

Next, I want to begin seeing a Psychiatrist ( SP?), but my insurance says that they have no listings for addictionologists ( sp?) They only have phychiatrists listed that say they handle substance abuse. The last two psychiatrists I went to were horrible. Not understanding and somewhat begrading to me. I need to find someone that understands this is a disease. I want to find a good Psy. and ask them to help me with my addiciton and possiblity prescribe meof this new drug. I was wondering if anyone knew how to find an addictionologist. I have looked in the yellow pages and my through my insurance comapny, and had no luck. If anyone has ANY advice I would greatly appreciate you letting me know. I really think an addicitonologist would be my best bet. I am not so sure the psychiatrists understand what an addict goes through, even if he/she has a substance abuse background. I have found that these docs have MANY others problems they treat, and just do not truly understand addiction. I just need to know where to start in my search for help. Thanks so much for reading this LONG post!
Jill

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Jill

Well you are in luck, I have all the information that you need. I have been on Suboxone for 10 days now and I feel wonderful! This is what I did, and this what you should do. First go to www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov (http://www.buprenorphine.samhsa.gov) and click on physician locator. It will ask you what state you live in and what city you live in. Then it will give you a list of all the doctors in your area that are licensed to prescribe Suboxone. I think all these doctors are addictionologists because the doctor I went too was one. Then you go to the website, www.suboxone.com (http://www.suboxone.com) and print out all the information there including the 877 number it lists. You give this information to your doctor, because although he has probably heard about Suboxone he probably has not prescribed it to anybody yet because it just go approved by the govenement in October of 2002. Tell him to prescribe Suboxone not Subutex, Subutex is not being manufactured yet! The only difference is the Suboxone has Naloxone in it and it helps with cravings and you won't be able to "cheat" because you won't be able to feel the Euphoria. You will have problems finding a pharmacy that has it. I don't think you will find any that actually carry it, they will have to order it, I have found the smaller, "mom and pop" type pharmacys are more likely to order it for you. ON the Suboxone website there is an 877 your pharmacy can call and they will give them the information on where they can order it. I did all of this and I don't think I have ever been as happy in my life! It has been 10 days clean for me and I haven't gone for than 8 hours without a vicoden for 4 years! Oh yeah, the prescription is pretty expensive 30, 2mg pills cost $106, and I don't know if your insurance will cover it, because I don't have insurance and I have to pay for it myself, but it is a hell of a lot cheaper than the pills! I have had very few side effects! The first day I started taking it, I felt a little bad, but just a little sweating and chills, and just a few! I wallpapered my whole kitchen and dining room the weekend I started the pills! I have really bad constipation, but stool softener helps with that! Oh yeah and for some reason it has 'aggrevated' my carpel tunnel syndrome. I don't know why, but when I was on Methadone it did the same thing, however not nearly as bad as the methadone. This drug doesn't make you 'high' like methadone can. I can't tell you what it is like to come off of it because I have only been on it 10 days but I am starting to wean myself off and yesterday I only took 3 2mg instead of 4. You do have to wean yourself down, but according to the information with the pills it isn't like Methadone where you are sick for months or even sick at all. I went through methadone withdrawal and that's what got me hooked on the pills in the first place! REally, I can't say enough nice things about this Suboxone. I think eventually it will put the methadone clinics out of business. I am not depressed, I don't have mood swings like I used too, I have HOPE for the first time in 4 years! I have been taking 5 HTP for depresseion and B12 for energy, not that most people would probably need it but I have problems with depression anyway and when I was abusing the Vicoden that prescribed anti-depressants didn't even help! I am telling you Suboxone will change your life, it has changed mine! If you need anymore information, please let me know!

Stacey,
THANK YOU SOOOOOOOOOO MUCH and Goc bless you for taking your time to give me this information. It means so much that someone would take the time to let me know this information. I will check it out ASAP. You are a very kind person and thank you again. People like you are few and far between. http://www.healthboards.com/ubb/smile.gif I am so happy you are doing well. You hang in there and I am checking this out now. Thanks,
Jill