Buprenorphine For Treatment Resistant Depression
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Has anyone any experience taking this medication and has it helped for your Depression? I realize this is not yet considered to be an approved drug for Depression, though there have been studies that prove it to be helpful. (and there are current studies ongoing as we speak) I've tried everything else from A-Z. Everything short of ECT. I'm just not willing to try that yet, and I'd probably die from it due to my heart condition anyways. I'm desperate, & feel it's my last chance at any hope for getting my life back together.

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Re: 2sad2long (# 40)

Definitely helps my husband and I with depression and gives energy that I assume a normal person would have without depression. We are on suboxone for opioid addiction and have been sober with suboxone for 9 years. We always felt like it was great with depression. We don’t get high, just feel normal. I have tried so many antidepressants and they have so many side effects. I don’t know if we will ever get off of suboxone. Our life has flourished since taking suboxone. It also diminishes any alcohol cravings. That’s just the honest truth about what suboxone has done for us. We would probably be dead if not for suboxone and of course the desire to quit other drugs.

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I have, for as far back as I can remember, held the firm belief that "big pharma" have been barking up the wrong tree, so to speak, in their consistent and seemingly unwavering pursuit that depression is a lack of serotonin, norepinephrine, and/or dopamine. If you look at the past 25 +yrs, all pharmaceuticals, with the exception of only a couple, work on one of the aforementioned pathways in the brain. It is my belief, not just with my own experience with depression and anxiety, but from what I have heard from my fellow sufferers, that our endogenous opioid systems play a hugely significant role in the mood regulatory areas of our brains. And I'm not alone. I have done a lot of reading and research in this arena just for my own education, and although, I'm sure there are many physicians out there who would agree with me, unfortunately, we here in the United States are in one of the worst periods for anyone, doctor or patient, to use any "scheduled", aka, "controlled substance", off-label for such things as depression and anxiety, even when the powers at be are well aware of the fact that these drugs work better than any first line of use "antidepressant" by a long shot!!! Our wonderful government wants us to believe that all opioids are by their very nature, bad or harmful, when, if used properly have the ability to alleviate great suffering, both physically and psychologically. The bottom line, in my opinion, it's a travesty of justice, and at the very least, an absolute crying shame that those of us who deal with crippling anxiety and depression, are prohibited from living meaningful, productive lives, all because some bureaucratic pinheads in an office somewhere are paid with our tax dollars to decide what is best for the rest of us! My experience with buprenorphine as an antidepressant has really been no different from the day I took my first Vicodin when I had my wisdom teeth removed...almost instantaneous relief! Why these medications aren't being used more for off-label uses is unbelievable to me, but I guess that's just the world we live in today? Good luck!!!

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There will be all kinds of info on you becoming an addict etc. I feel by reading what you wrote, that you will understand what I am about to say. I have been on antidepressants and mood stabilizers for over 15 years. I've been hospitalized four times for over a month at a time. My late husband's father was a physician and he didn't want to talk to anyone in our small town about his depression due to his horrible childhood, so he did his own research. August, 2013, I stopped taking all medication. It happens where the medicine takes away everything, my tongue swells, and I feel nothing at all. So you might understand why we quit sometimes to feel something, even the pain. But then the emotional/physical pain of depression keeps right back and then feeling nothing and being nothing looks a lot better..and then it starts all over again. September, 2013, my husband died in a motorcycle accident. I wanted to see what his research was about. So I found it on my own. I have never been an opiate addict. I had a little pinch off of an 8 mg pill. It helped open a place in my mind that felt a light coming through. I didn't feel a high, just a fog disappeared and I felt hope that I barely even recognized. Since then, I can take a fourth of an 8 mg under my tongue and I swear it saved my life. It has been 4 years. I don't need more as some forums say. I'm not tying to feel "high", just not the horrible way I have felt for years before that. I wish a doctor would help me without having to say I'm an addict. I haven't been hospitalized since, even with the worst tragedy in my life. I've looked for studies, but all seem to be for only elderly depressed people. I truly believe this drug will save severely depressed people's lives. No one could tell me any different. Don't believe the stories from people just speculating. This is a real life story.

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Yes medicaid will pay for this, I just got mines today.

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I have chronic pain also ,I would like to know if Medicaid well pay for buprenorphine I'm also depressed please some one help

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Find a Ketamine clinic. This works wonders in treatment-resistant depression and chronic pain.

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There's been some interest in researching congenital endorphin deficiency, in fact, so you're definitely on to something! Many patients at addiction treatment clinics share some common non-situational traits that existed before any drug use-getting sick often and/or having seasonal and other allergies, severe social anxiety, very low pain tolerance, noticeable lack of pleasure from endorphin-producing activities such as running or intercourse-that lead some experts to believe that some people are simply born either with less ability to either produce or utilize endorphins, and that those people are highly prone to becoming "addicted" to opioids-not because they feel high, but because they feel normal. There's not much info out there on it, but it's pretty interesting.

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I've read several studies showing good potential for low-dose bupe in the treatment of TRD. It's being tested, but with the current climate around "bad" drugs in general (not that there's such thing as a bad drug) and opioids in particular, it doesn't seem likely to pan out :( I'm in treatment for opioid addiction and currently am on suboxone management, and while anecdotal cases aren't scientific evidence I can personally say that my moods haven't been this stable ever in my life-I've suffered from extreme anxiety and depression since childhood, with the depression progressing into bipolar disorder by the time I was 13; my mental disorders long predated any drug use, let alone addiction-and I feel functional, calm, and most of the time, even happy. It's a strange feeling lol... Good luck. I hope you can find some way to achieve a measure of peace in life.

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That's not actually what a depressant does. Depressant is used here in reference to effects on the central nervous system, not on mood and emotion.

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I agree with statements that Subutex/Suboxone are helpful for depression, as I am living proof. I struggled with opiate addiction for many years not only for chronic pain but honestly, to "numb" myself from severe depression. The last 2 years I've been on 8mg. Subutex and I've found that while I still have my bad days like anyone else, I am not depressed as I once was. I no longer feel like I want to crawl in a hole and never come out, no suicidal tendencies or thoughts, and for me personally, all thanks to Subutex. I feel it saved my life, not only from depression but from my addiction as well. I feel happier, the sky seems bluer and the grass is greener, I can enjoy my children more, getting out of bed don't feel like a task, housework gets done unlike before, I just couldn't bare it. This is just a personal account, it may not help everyone with depression, but I tried every depression med on the market, nothing helped even when I wasn't on opiates from a-z... Ik that antidepressants don't work if you're taking opiates with them, therefore I stopped because I really wanted out of that darkness especially as a mother of 3 little ones. Yet, nothing else worked... Subutex has been the ONLY thing that has helped ease my depression symptoms. I only wish psychiatrist knew and could prescribe it. My doc here in FL, just told me they are about to do away with Subs completely & this scares me. He said doctors were going to start using this once a month shot called "Vivitrol". This worries me, subutex saved my life and many others. If anyone is getting the once a month Vivitrol inj., can you tell me what it's like & how it has helped you if at all?? Thank you and God bless everyone in recovery and those of you trying. It's an uphill battle, but can be defeated. ;-)

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Most doctors will only prescribe suboxone which is similar to subutex. Like any other med, it can be different from 1 person to the next. I take suboxone for opiate addiction and still have bouts of severe depression. it does help many people with depression but if you try it , do so on a short term basis. The higher the dose you take and the longer you take it, the harder it is to taper off from w/o serious long term problems. TRUST ME ! Many people claim long term use depletes your calcium and ruins your teeth (have to get dentures). I dont know if suboxone is responsible but I now need dentures. The biggest problem with long term use is being able to taper off from it w/o it being a nightmare when you STOP completely. If you do have problems they are long term . it HAS saved many lives and many have found relief from depression. I sincerely hope it helps if nothing else does but do your research from people who take it , NOT just from suboxone/subutex websites and try it as short term as possible like 4-6 weeks at the very longest. If it doesnt help your depression by then, it wont help it. its main purpose is relief from withdrawals from opiates.For Short Term USE . it is about as controversial as methadone now for long term use but its big $$$$ and many doctors WILL prescribe it long term and assure you that you have nothing to worry about. THEY don't have anything to worry about. They dont have to suffer, you do. The doctors who prescribe it are well compensated for the scrips they write.

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It's not a depressant they way you are intimating.
It is a central nervous system depressant.
It acts on the Central nervous system in similarities to alcohol affects.

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Hi Daniel , I know how you feel . It's been the same for me , I've had enough , I'm at the end and feel like this is my last hope , if I can convince my doc to prescribe it for me .

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Hi, I m new this site. I tried lots of AD (prozec, lexapro, cypramil, pristique, zoloft) for last 2 years. Nothing helped me. I would like to try TRD for my depression. I heard lot of positive comments about Buprenorphine (suboxone). Anyone who used it pls help me with more details. I don't like to live any more in the dark with depression. Cheers

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Can you please tell on what dose you are?

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Jim are you still oke on buprenorphine?
What dose are you one?

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Dear Daniel, can you tell me please how your buprenorphine worked out?
I realize it is some years ago but i am facing the same question.

Thank you very much

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how many ect did you have? Do you try suboxone?

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In reference to Buprenorphine for depression, I've been on Buprenorphine, formally Subutex, for approx. 6 years for chronic pain. I have a heart condition and depression as well. Your physician will start you on a VERY low dosage, at first. I imagine when prescribed for depression, the dosage would remain quite low. The only issue you may want to consider is it's extremely difficult to discontinue. The larger the dosage and the Legnth of time determines the severity. You can not abruptly stop no matter how low the dosage or you will suffer severe withdrawl symtoms. Of course your doctor will taper you off, safely and comfortably. Some people have great difficulty discontinuing it, that they must go inpatient. Depending on your insurance, this could be in a regular hospital setting or the psych dept. of a hospital. (I don't know your situation, however psych dept's are normal 50% patient's withdrawing from substance or substance abuse; whether Rx drugs, street drugs,or alcohol) Another thing to consider is the price. Medicaid will not pay for it and there are a lot of private insurance groups that refuse to cover it; however they cover OxyContin and Fentynal which are far more addictive, dangerous, and expensive. (Ive been baffled by that for YEARS as a former pt prescribed such narcotics) I use discount cards to pay for Bup. You can save up to 75%. (Even w/ the discount, it cost me $200.-240. each month!) Research the medication as much as possible, read message boards online, ask your doctor for literature, and ask him/her questions. Anything is better than depression. We only go around once and a poor quality of life due to suffering from any illness is not worth it.

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I have major depression problems that with the help of lexapro, trazadone ( sleep as well) and mostly my faith in God I am doing 95% better. I actually get up in the morning , and most days get out of the house. My grown children have seen me go through this for years and have noticed a major difference in me. Although I'm sure the meds do help, it was turning to God that has been my life saver, try it, you'll be amazed at how much better you feel.. There are no" magic pills" out there but you can do this!!!!

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