Maximum Dose Of Suboxone/subutex & Chronic Pain (Page 15)

What is the maximum dose of suboxone or subutex when you have severe pain?

REPLY

REPORT

Yeah some do but not all of them. I told them if I wanted to go down that I might as well wean off and go back where I came from instead of failing drug panels because I don't want to suffer because they wouldnt go up. They didn't want to lose me so they went up to 20mg. They said after that I'm screwed. Problem is I have no tolerance for opiates but I hate the methadone. If 20 were too much I would be nodding out like I did when I first started and had to go down to 4mg. That was a year ago seems they would consider how long I've been on it. Also I may have cancer. I never had a problem, we'll I had a problem getting my dr. To write anything without my biopsy as if it hasn't been my number one goal for the past 3 yrs. I'm tired of being degraded, disregarded and disrespected. I figured if I could get take homes I could split my dose and lower it, or atleast make sure it lasts 24hrs. But if I'm withdrawling I can't pass the drug panel. I was about to get a take home but I failed the 3rd drug panel and it is their fault. I told them I needed to go up but they refused. Wtf did they expect me to do. I'm tired of feeling pain and worried about being sick.. but i assume they will write it after a biospy because if I feel this bad now it will be worse with chemo.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

JANA: The highest prescribed dose of Buprenorphine is 32mgs. That is the ceiling. Not many people on that high of a dose, but that is the max effective dose. After that there is no therapeutic value and the risk of overdose increases.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

I am just saying it works for me james sorry it don't work for you ! if you are mixing suboxone and opiates that is why it don't work for you ! maybe you need to see a psyc dr as well !

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

JAMES: I'm sorry that buprenorphine doesn't work for you. Everyone is different though, and I know people who have done very well on it. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

James: I like you have chronic pain and was given pain killers and then my family felt I was out of control and convinced me to go "get help" and get on Suboxone. I was on it for 2 years and my pain was so bad that I told my Suboxone Doctor I needed to go back on pain meds for my chronic pain ( rheumatoid arthritis). I had my Suboxone Doctor speak with my pain med Doctor and I was good. Or try to see a pain led Doctor that also prescribed Suboxone and they will understand. I don't know who would have ever put you on Suboxone to treat chronic pain because it doesn't help! Hope you get the Meds you need. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

AWAKENED36: Oh man, you may have cancer? I sure hope not! Please keep us posted. You are in my thoughts. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

AMANDA: There are several people on this site, and even on this very THREAD, that say Buprenorphine (Subutex, Suboxone) works very well for their chronic pain. It would probably be better if you (and others on here) said something like "it doesn't work for ME"....I would hate to see someone refuse to even try Bupe as an option because of what you said, when in reality it may be the very thing that could work best for them. Just saying.... we are all different; what may work wonders for one may be useless for another. Thanks.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 4

That is such a mirror of my life it's uncanny, I'm either on the couch or at the dr. That is my life. I'm so glad that it has helped so many people but now that we are prescribed it we are now labeled as addicts, and red flagged at all pharmacy's and dr's and it's astonishing how much differently I am treated. Since being prescribed subooxone, not for addiction but for pain there is no going back to a pain med that works for me and now I truely feel my situation is hopeless. Because of pain my quality of life is nil, and life is a balance of quality and quantity. Without quality, quantity is a curse. I have one final surgury to undergo to elevate the pain and if it does not work then I am out of options. Such is life. Thank you all for your messages, it is a comfort to know I'm not alone in this battle.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 2

Hello all- I want ALL Suboxone users to know this- it is very dangerous long term! I have been on it for 6 years, and now I am taking 32 MG Daily. (The pharmacists were very confused as to why because the Suboxone prescribing info states that 24 MG daily is MAX) I have had my dose systematically increased and am hooked! BE CAREFUL!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

LONGTERM: My addiction specialist and my own research has always found that the max "ceiling" dose is 32 mgs for buprenorphine. As far as being completely "hooked"...when the doctor increased your dose, I'm sure he told you about the increase, right? Did you tell them that you were relapsing or having cravings? You have to watch these doctors nowadays.

Maybe you can try going down on your dose very, very slowly. I did that, then switched to tablet methadone, and am now slowly decreasing my dose of methadone. For bupe, I'm talking going down by 2 mgs, once every 4 to 6 weeks. And make sure that you are feeling completely adjusted before going down the next 2 mgs. Good luck.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Thank you. I've had a hard time the past going on 4 yrs getting a biospy between dr.s who think one way and medicaid share of cost delaying care. Long story short 1 node year later bigger harder and with 2 more. Year 2 Assymetrical neck muscle and 2 nodes side of neck. Year 3 node behind ear 3 and 1/2 now under arm and groin. Yet my dr not too worried because they aren't big. Indolent cancers don't get big til late stages. My daughter and grandmother had lymphoma. I can feel it. The pain.. and to have to feel degraded as to beg for pain meds and to be looked at like I just wanna feel high.. it hurts just as bad as the physical pain.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Suboxone works wonders for Chronic Pain!

I have been living with chronic back pain for over 10 years. I have two herniated discs in my lower back, and I also suffer from Rheumatoid Arthritis. At one point, my doctor had me on such powerful medications just trying to ease the pain that I had NO quality of life left. The last five years have felt like being in a coma. I can't tell you how full of joy my life is now. My kids have their mom back. My husband has his best friend and lover back and best of all I have myself back. It was the best decision I have ever made, next to my beautiful children and my amazing husband. I love my life again! :o)

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I've been apart of a pain management group especially formed for suboxone for pain. It works awesome for me, I have my life back. Then for others in the group is isn't working for them. So, its gotta be just a difference of individual chemical makeup. For instance, opioids knock some people over while it gives other people energy. Speed speeds some people up while someone with ADHD it mellows out. Suboxone I think is geared toward people who have built up a tolerance to opiates and got kicked off their med for one reason or another in relation to the tolerance issue (labeled a difficult patient/pill seeker bc or went all the way to illicit drugs) So sure it's for detoxing from opiates & opioids and can also be used long term for chronic pain. Anyone who's been through the ringer of addiction can certainly appreciate suboxone!!! And many of us def appreciate it for chronic pain and as well as curing the cravings.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Not true, it is becoming a very good way to alleviate chronic pain.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

I'll tell you what, I am an athlete and gym rat and the weights and athletics wore my discs out well before they were due and I have a grade 2 spondilolisthesis. I had a cervical fusion at 6/7 and injections in my L4 nerve root to stop my leg from burning. I started using Roxie last summer and it worked like magic for everything mood included, but now the honeymoon is over as I was abusing 12-15 30s when I had the means to and I had become a pill junkie on the way down the emotional and financial toilet. I have switched to subutex, and I addition to breaking the cycle of abuse, I feel much more pain relief than the oxycodone. I needed 24mg just to keep the withdrawals at bay during the first week, but I feel good now and with the help of this medicine I can get my pain and life back under control.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

Agree. 11 years on rx'd opiates, from morphine sulfate, fentanyl, dilaudid, oxycodone and finally oxycontin 60mgs (2x's/day)...MVA plates pins in ankle, pins in lower leg with other multiple fractures...went on suboxone for 6 years only because I could not find a physician to prescribe opiates... Just recently, last 2 months, l was referred to a pain clinic and placed back on a 25mcg fentanyl patch and 5mg oxycodone (2x's/day). Definite change in pain relief immediately. The years I was on suboxone had very minuscule pain relief...an opiate analgesic for chronic pain issues is needed, suboxone for chronic pain is a sales pitch. Also, privately run, state sanctioned pain 'management' clinics treat you as an addict and are extremely ridged with protocols...It is so unjust that persons with chronic pain issues have to submit to these judgmental physicians...thank the oversight from the DEA and FDA police....unbelievable b.s. Best to all who have to deal with this... Not right.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 1

JA MART: There are many, MANY people who do get pain relief from Suboxone. I am not one of them. But it does work for many people. Just because it doesn't work for YOU PERSONALLY, doesn't make it a "sales pitch".

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

Wow! A rowdy bunch of misinformed people here. Our country is woefully behind in pain management treatments and so many people suffer with chronic pain. Buprenorphine IS a very promising treatment for chronic pain, not acute pain. LIke low level lazer light therapy,it has just been approved by the FDA here but other countries have been using it for many years.There are generics out now that make it affordable and you don't build a tolerance or blow out your receptors. It is considered an off label use, for pain still but doctors need to educate themselves on it. Some states require special training and licensing to prescribe, I've been told, I'm not sure about that though. After 20 years of suffering and having crappy side effects to all the mainstream meds, or quickly building tolerance to Opoids as well as possible hyperalgia from the Opoids, I started low dose buprenorphine and so far have no side effects, and am functioning so much better, with energy. the pharmaceutical companies are making a killing off of using it with nalaxone for addiction,it's priced so insane. But it works. Yes, you need to know what meds can be mixed for pain emergencies, and it can create hellish withdrawals,if you don't taper off properly.More so for addicts than opoid naive folks. It is used differently for addicts than pain patients and people are getting the doses and side effects confused, so do your research and have a knowledgable Doctor. Everyone is different and it may not be the magic bullet you seek but it's worth a try for chronic pain AND/or opoid addiction. Both are HELL and you may just get a new lease on life with this drug.Also, it takes time and patience to ride out some side effects, adjust the dosage right for you and let your body acclimate. So dont give up too soon, I was in so much pain with too low of dose, I nearly lost my mind until I was able to double the dose. I know the initial withdrawals precipitating are no picnic, when you get off Opoids and on the suboxen. There is a window of time you may be miserable. And more is not always better,sometimes it needs to be lowered for better benefits. For all the people commenting that it is NOT a pain med,STFU! also, it is not just a placebo affect.Speak for your own experience but don't apply it to everyone else. I encourage chronic pain patients to explore the option. It is far less dangerous than other narcotics.Worth a hearty try. Best wishes to everyone in their healing journey.May you find relief from pain and suffering.Stay positive.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 3

Call the company that make the strips I was able to get them for a year free. After that I couldn't afford them so I was but on Bunorphine which cost me only $68.00 a month. I don't know where you live but if you have a Costco or Sam's club make sure you go to one of there pharmacies you will find any of the other Pharmacy Cain or private to cost between $200 and up. Hope this was helpful, good like!!!

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

LULU: You are so right. If it works for you, great. If it doesn't, move on to something else. I am glad Bupe works for you. So many people on here thinking if it doesn't work for THEM, it can't work for ANYONE. That is such a closed-minded view. I am curious what dose of Suboxone you are on for pain relief. I was only on it for addiction, and was on a pretty high dose. Am now on tablet Methadone, which seems to work better for me. As you said, everyone is different.

REPLY

Was this helpful? 0

I was on 80mg of oxycontin 3 times a day and it was no longer helping after taking it for many, many, many years. I swit...

3 REPLIES

Im in an addiction treatment program and I'm taking two 8/2 mg strips a day. I've been a slave to opiates for ap...

33 REPLIES

I have been prescribed Suboxone for 6+ years after choosing to come off traditional opioid pain medications for chronic ...

I am trying to find a doctor in Salem, Oregon who will do a pain contract for pain management for multiple sclerosis, fi...

1 REPLY

I broke my leg 2 years ago and now have a heel spur, arthritis on the top of my foot and a pinched nerve aka CRPS (Chron...

4 REPLIES

I was put on suboxone almost a year ago because a new pain doctor told me if I didn't switch to it then he couldn...

1 REPLY

Was taking 6-8 Lortab's a day with Fetanyl patch every 72 hours. Doctors need to know if my spine pain is still pres...

5 REPLIES

Butrans with suboxone to methadone for chronic pain, from pain management doctor. I feel terrible, no energy, anxiety, p...

10 REPLIES

I just had a titanium rod put in my leg with 3 screws to hold it in place. Needless to say it's been a very painful ...

3 REPLIES

Anyone know a practicing knowledgable subutex doctor for chronic pain management. I have to live with pain chronic. I tr...

2 REPLIES