Maximum Dose Of Suboxone/subutex & Chronic Pain (Page 25)

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

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Re: Dat2 (# 480)

I am going to start lowering my doze of subs next month. I don't want to become addicted to this as well. Just needed help to get off my pain meds. Good luck

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Re: RICK CHAVEZ MD MEDICAL DIRECTOR (# 22)

Hi. Are you located in Salem, OR by chance? I'm looking for a doctor that will prescribe Suboxone for chronic pain management.

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Re: heather (# 482)

No sorry I'm not from Salem. There's one in West Linn.

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Hi,

I would also like to know what the maximum amount of Suboxone is for severe chronic pain? I've suffered with pain for 9 nine yrs. Have been put on extended release morphine pills, percocet, Norco, etc..etc..the list goes on. I've researched Suboxone for pain and there's lots of research backing it up for the use of pain management. I found a clinic in Salem, Oregon but it's cash only and for me being on ssdi it's really spendy. My Insurance doesn't cover transport so I have to stay local and that's the only clinic that has the license to prescribe Suboxone for pain management. I go April 4th and I will ask that doctor what the max amount is for severe pain, but it also depends on the person. Everyone is different. Like me, I have a HIGH TOLERANCE for medications.

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Re: heather (# 482)

Suboxone is not indicated for pain management.

You should first visit your primary care provider to see if pain management is the answer. Sometimes, alternative forms of recovery are indicated, such as physical therapy, chiropractic care, or even acupuncture.

Once you have made an appointment with your primary doctor, make notes of where your pain is, what time it occurs, what were you doing when it started. What makes it feel better? These notes will help your doctor come up with a care plan, or even give you a referral to a pain management doctor.

On a side note, message boards and the internet are not great choices to look for doctors or find out about care. It's very easy to self-diagnose and diagnose the wrong thing. That's what doctors are for. Right now, you looking specifically for suboxone, and specifically for pain management, can be considered drug-seeking behavior. That is usually the first sign that you may need help in a different way.

Suboxone is indicated for opioid use disorder. It is usually prescribed while you are engaged with other modalities of recovery, such as 12-step, group or one-on-one therapy, AA/NA meetings, etc. Usually, more than one of these modalities at once is most helpful. If I were you, I would seek an assessment of whether or not I have an addiction. Then, I would follow the plan of care. If Suboxone is indicated, usually the addiction therapist or doctor can provide a referral.

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Re: Just me (# 476)


"What's your story?"

Here's my story... Well, I have been using pain medication for a very long time. On-and-off, I have used tramadol from 2008 till 2015. In 2015, I was injured in a snowboarding accident. I lost consciousness and don't even remember how I fell.

After recovering from the debilitating effects of my concussion, I began to experience severe pain in my back, hips, buttocks, the back of my thigh, and into my shins. I also had an episode of "foot drag", where I lost the ability to properly raise my feet during my strides and dragged my toes while I was walking.

When the foot drag happened, I knew there was something wrong. I saw my doctor and was referred to pain management. The doctor started me on hydrocodone 7.5's and I went on to break my first pain contract. I didn't know the gravity of doing so until I was refused the refill and went into withdrawal. Clearly, by this time, I was addicted to opiates.

It took me a few weeks to find a different pain doctor to take me on and start a new pain contract. At the same time, I was seeing a psychiatrist for major depression and anxiety. She started me on Klonopin ODT 1mg TID, while my pain doctor had me on OxyContin 20mg BID and Roxicodone 5mg TID PRN. The mix was very addictive. This fact, along with my undiagnosed addiction to opiates, is where things took a turn for the worse. Within a few months, I became an addict and misused the medications. I got a DUI. I totaled three cars in three states. I then attempted suicide by overdose to run away from the possibility of homelessness.

The suicide attempt landed me in the ICU for three days and then the psych ward for a few days. I voluntary went in and wanted out the next day because it felt like jail.

In lieu of the psych ward, I decided to go to residential therapy. I traveled to California and admitted myself to Cliffside Malibu. The treatment program was excellent. I learned a great deal about multimodal therapies of recovery and alternative pain management. I completed their residential treatment and immediately started their outpatient treatment, which also included room & board.

Once my insurance company decided it was time to go to a lower level of care, I was discharged from Cliffside Outpatient and transferred to BLVD for outpatient treatment, or OP as it's referred to in the industry. Their program included a scholarship to Westwind Recovery Residences, so again my room & board was covered by insurance. I commuted from Venice to Hollywood every weekday for a few weeks, then down to twice a week, then once a week. Instead of waiting for the free rides that BLVD offered back to Venice, I opted for the train from Hollywood to downtown LA, then on to Santa Monica where I took the bus to where I was living in Venice.

Today, I am a full-time student, back on pain management; my pain is managed with a 25mcg/hr fentanyl patch which is replaced every three days, plus 15mg oxycodone QID PRN breakthrough pain.

That's my story.....what's yours?

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Kalani (# 484) --

Hi, I'm going to a MD that has the license to prescribe it for pain management. She says that's a great medication for pain management and that it was created originally for that purpose.

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I'd love to know as much as possible about this as well. It should be interesting to note what different doctors around the country are doing, not just with the tighter regulations in effect but for overall health and pain management.

I'm curious too where one poster received the information that this medication was created for pain management, because it seems to have been common knowledge otherwise that it was originally created for something unrelated. There has also been a professional field "sub-specialty" (my terminology) of pain management medication (management). I'm very glad for this and think it's about darn time! There have been too many doctors and medical program directors for far too long getting away with misappropriating medications, using them for something when they should be going to patients in need, over-prescribing medications, not monitoring nor taking any responsibility whatsoever for their patients yet continuing to make money off all of their practises and illegal/unethical endeavours...all the while giving those in true need bad reputations by association, also leaving them without medication when said doctors are convicted of said illegal practices. Yes, I've known of people who've been left without doctors and insurances have not helped to replace their source for obvious need -- and all because the original doctor was convicted and sentenced to jail time for illegal practises of medications. It's not just one medication, but rather all of them that are under the magnifying glass these days. It's my guess that it's going to be around for a little while at least. The pendulum has swung in the opposite direction and there's a lot of muck to clean up. I just hope they do it without losing patients like myself who truly need something to have some quality of life. It would also feel really good to have more of the feeling of being alive as I once did...before the pain got to be too much.

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Re: heather (# 487)

it was created for that purpose in IV form. Meaning, used for patients that are admitted to a hospital, and have an IV in their arm, and the medication can be administered by a nurse.

The film is for those with an addiction that are trying to manage their cravings. Your pain doctor needs to read the journals and studies that show that this is not a good medication for pain management.

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Re: fireman625 (# 3)

I agree. *8mg/2mg (*buprenorphine/naloxone) films are the best option in suboxone treatment for either chronic pain or drug addiction and of course, both. I have been through the trials and errors and this dosage in the film has been consistently working over the course of several years (2Xdaily) whereas percocets in any dosage for a short period of time are going to create higher tolerance and even addiction inadvertently, thus leading to the eventual need for suboxone treatment so skip the hassle and agony and go with this option. BE WARNED that suboxone takes getting used to and takes up to an hour after taking to reach its full potential in relieving your pain.

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Re: heather (# 487)

I will be going to an MD that said the same thing to me. That it's a great medication for pain management! :)

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Re: heather (# 491)

I would try to talk to my Dr about the really bad withdrawal, without the kind of pain killing properties as say hydrocodone. The hydrocodone only takes about 5-7 days to get off of it and takes a while to build a habit. Suboxone isn't as good for pain, it's harder to quit than methadone, it's a life destroyer ment for serious addicts. I hope you find something that will work without having to go through 30 some days of sickness. The Dr will tell you how you'll be stepped down slowly so you won't go through much withdrawal. That Dr has never done it,or had a problem with opiates or he'd/she'd know better, even stepped down, you will have a long painful way back to normal life.

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4 doses of 8 mg is the legal limit in a 24hr period. Okay, it's not a good pain killer and the withdrawal takes as long as methadone,so I would rather the methadone for pain, but it's a beast to get off of, both are. Hydrocodone is a much better pain killer and isn't as addictive, despite what your Dr says. Suboxone habit takes 30 days of sickness, while hydrocodone only takes 5-7days. I would talk to my Dr about the very real reason Suboxone should be used,if@ all is for serious addicts. If you're not 1, don't take Suboxone or you more than likely will have a long time"friend. Hopefully this helps.

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Re: julzb21 (# 490)

I have been on Suboxone for years. Was on methadone for years. Drs don't want to prescribe real opiates and think Suboxone is a good choice-for them, not for the patient. Suboxone isn't a good pain killer and will make you feel high, like really high if you're not used to it. Hydrocodone is a much better pain killer and doesn't require 30 days of sickness to stop. For pain, opiates are the best choice, if it's not long term. If it's long term, I would much rather have a hydrocodone habit and my pain managed as opposed to a Suboxone habit where even after a long taper, you are still gonna be sick for weeks.

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Re: heather (# 491)

Respectfully, if you are going to your MD for this drug for pain management, then why are you here?

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Kalani (# 494) --

I don't use it for pain management, with all due respect, I don't think you have any idea what you getting yourself into.

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Re: heather (# 491)

I don't use it for pain management, with all due respect, I don't think you have any idea what you getting yourself into.
I was a opiate addict for many years, I take Suboxone for maintenance, not pain, I don't even feel the drug anymore. Good luck.

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Re: Kalani (# 489)

I don't use it for pain management, with all the other options out there, Suboxone for pain management is Crazy. Yeah I get it's not a true opiate, but I'd rather detox from methadone, and at least methadone is great for pain. Main point is that no matter how you go, your going to have a problem getting off when it's time, I've seen so many great people get hurt, put on some new opiates, now they're full blown addicts. Very sad, wouldn't wish it on my worse enemy.

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Re: RPhd Houston (# 6)

Look up the type of drug that Suboxone it or actually look up bupenorphrine it's classified as an opiate. It is an opiate all opiates have the ability to help with pain . Before declaring information you should actually do some research it's been used in Europe for over ,20 years for pain , methadone actually works for pain both these drugs are very strong and both can put you in withdraw if you use other opiates with them a common misconception is that since these drugs are now being used mainstream to combat addiction that that's the only use they have . Example , saying Adderall is only used to give fat people energy.. in my opinion and of course it just my opinion but I don't think doctors make a practice of lying to their patients about the reason for prescribing a drug. Oh just a FYI I to take Suboxone for chronic pain, I started being prescribed it for addiction reasons and transitioned over to using it as chronic pain maintenance. Always do research on substances that you put in your body thank you and God bless

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Re: James (# 499)

Sorry it's not an opiate, it's an antagonist. I suggest you do more research. lol. It's more addictive and doesn't have the same pain killing properties as true opiates.

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