Maximum Dose Of Suboxone/subutex & Chronic Pain (Top voted first)

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

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You are way off base saying suboxone does not workfor pain. The United States is way behind other countries in perscribing it for pain but without suboxone film I would not be able to get out of bed in the moring. (blown Disc) The great thing about this drug is it keeps you from wasting your time and vast amounts of money chasing oxy;s or loratabs because they don't work and you waste your money. Please know what you are talking about before posting. The gold old US needs to catch up with other more open minded countries. Suboxone it 100-percent better than traditional opiates.

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feelinbettergoinbroke is wrong, suboxone is used for the treatment of chronic pain. Although, I think the reason you are getting sick is because your doctor has you taking 2mg up to 6 times a day. That in itself is causing you to become sick. The buprenorphine is a very strong opiate which fills the opiate receptors in the brain and if it is not completely out when you go to take your next dose it can cause you to become sick. I am taking 8mg suboxone sub-lingual film twice a day for chronic pain. 6 mg is a very low dose and at that dosage would only be used for the treatment of opiate addiction. The dosing for chronic pain suffers is usually higher; somewhere around 12 to 24mg a day. There are also other forms of suboxone. You have subutex which is the same as suboxone but has no naloxone in it. You also have liquid suboxone administered as a shot for short term pain suffers. You have suboxone film strips which in my opinion are the best because there is no bad taste, dissolves much faster, works faster, and works better better. The tabs you put under your tongue produce a lot of saliva which dilute the medicine causing it not to work as well. The film strips hardly produce any extra saliva. There is also a transdermal suboxone patch that is administered once weekly for those suffering from chronic pain where the pain affects the individual all day. All doctors can prescribe suboxone if it is used for the management of pain but they must write "used for pain management" on the prescription. Only certain doctors can prescribe suboxone if it is used for opioid addiction. Just talk to your doctor about increasing the dose and shortening the number of times it's taken a day. This should fix you right up.

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I have been taking Subutex and Suboxone for 6 years and it does help with my back pains. I have a herniated disc and 2 bulging disc in my back from multiple motor cycle crashes. I was on strong pain killers for 10 years and through Subutex I got my life back. Yes they both help with pain but Subutex works best.

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Hello, I am the director of the P.A.I.N. INSTITUTE and I have treated more than 1500 patients over the last 10 yrs. You can find a great deal of info at my website, painandaddiction.com and on youtube "kcal channel 9 2 part program on suboxone." Also, I have written an explanation as to why this drug is so unique and could prevent major procedures and surgery in opiate dependent patients who are detoxed first. The following facts are true:
1. Subutex/Suboxone is a great pain killer in those individuals who have been dependent or addicted to opiates first. If you take buprenorphine and have not been on opiates, it is likely to make you ill.
2. 45000 people in pain die from opiate overdose every year. No one dies from buprenorphine. That's right no one dies unless you add Intravenous valium or the like. Motrin like drugs kill 150000 people every year from gi bleeds, liver damage, kidney damage, etc. Imagine, NO ONE DIES FROM USING SUBUTEX because it is virtually impossible to overdose and stop breathing, (plateau effect on respiratory depression)
3. If you use max 32 mg sublingual buprenorphine as directed, you WILL NOT GET HIGH. In fact everyone says they feel normal.
4. Naloxone is inert sublingual. Therefore, theoretically, the effect of SUBOXONE SHOULD BE THE SAME AS SUBUTEX, SINCE NALOXONE IS ONLY THERE TO PREVENT IV ABUSE OF THE DRUG. THAT BEING SAID, CLINICALLY, I HAVE NOTED SUBUTEX IS A SLIGHTLY BETTER MEDICINE IN HELPING THE OPIATE DEPENDENT PAIN PATIENT HAVE BETTER PAIN CONTROL.
5. In a study that I presented in BARCELONA AT THE WORLD INSTITUTE OF PAIN IN 2004, I studied 17 patients who were going to have spine surgery but were addicted to opiates. They were detoxed with buprenorphine first and incredibly 16 of 17 were able to cancel scheduled surgeries because the pain that was caused by the hyperalgesia due to opiates resolved. This amazing fact while even I had difficulty believing it, has been replicated multiple times. So I say to anyone contemplating surgery, spinal cord stim implant, etc, what have you got to lose, get off of your opiate with subutex. This must be done with buprenorphine, tapering by itself does not work because it has to do with the complex changes at the mu receptor.
6. Ortho surgeons do not want this to be true. think about all the cancelled surgeries!! Also, what a savings for our country and all the people who are prevented from becoming crippled from fusions and surgery.
7. Buprenorphine is a very unique drug, at low doses, less than 1 mg it is a full opioid agonist like morphine. but in doses greater than 4 to 6 mg it is an opioid antagonist and by filling in the opioid receptor it changes our perception of pain. truly unique.
8. Buprenorphine is misunderstood and addicts and many doctors like DR. DREW aren't really interested in the truth. In fact had DR. DREW given it to mike starr or some of his other patients during intervention they would be alive today. The fact is that the forces of the pharmaceutical industry, methadone clinics, society of addiction medicine, and drug rehab centers, do not acknowledge the truly important nature of this agent as has been discovered in europe and australia. unfortunately, its all about money. imagine how many billions of dollars are made with the revolving door at rehab clinics and the large number of people on methadone.
8. Add to this the number of surgical implants and procedures like spinal fusions and all the epidural injections etc. People are basically treated with unecessary procedures rather than a simpler more common sense approach.
9. I know most of you are wondering, who is this guy? Do I dare believe what he is saying? Actually, you are a fool if you don't. I am not saying that BUPRENORPHINE is the be all that ends all. but I am saying, why not try it, you've really got nothing to lose, and everything to gain. The cost is cheap compared to everything else.
9. Now other people will say, oh but you are just substituting another evil opiate, so why bother? Well the reason is, that it is not just an opiate because of its unique pharmacology. And if you can't get high, and won't ever escalate beyond the average dose of 1/2 tablet 4 times daily, and you can't overdose or die, and your quality of life is great, isn't that what medicine is supposed to do??? Surgery is not a fix. The complication rate is staggering, and most end up on pain medicines anyway in the end. 2 norco become 12 norco in 2 years. Buprenorphine never increases, in fact most decrease. I am a diabetic and have high blood pressure. I take medications every day. In a sense aren't I dependent on medications. I can tell you right now I will never be free of medication. I do know that my quality of life is good and I will live a long while. Buprenorphine should be viewed the same way.
10. I am all for less medicine. If you can do it, then do so. But if your are going to end up battling addiction, then you are only fooling yourself.
11. Read my website. Open your mind and understand that in the U.S, we have the best medicine that money can buy, the problem is that most consumers buy the worst medicine. Our system is broken and it is greedy and unfortunately the addiction societies are not helping.

RICK CHAVEZ, M.D.
BOARD CERTIFIED, AMERICAN BOARDS OF ADDICTION MEDICINE, PAIN MEDICINE, AND FAMILY MEDICINE. FORMER ASSISTANT CLINICAL PROFESSOR OF FAMILY MEDICINE, UCLA GEFFEN SCHOOL OF MEDICINE.

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I am now taking only 2mg twice a day. I was taking 8 to 10mg,s for 3 years but now all I take is 2mg in the morning to ease up the stiffness and then between 6pm and 8pm I take another 2mg,s for the back pain. Regardless of what other people say it does help with the pain. My last run with Oxycodone I was taking 6 30mg Roxicodones a day. When I used Dilaudid for the pain I was taking 5 of the 8mg a day. All that had me messed up. Thank GOD I now have most of my life back.

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I have had chronic pain due to work related accident since 1996. I have been taking high doses of oxycontin and Loratab since my accident. I have had several surgeries spinal fusions. At the time of my injuries since it was work related it was a constant battle with workers comp. delaying any treatment and causing my condition to only become worse since I still did heavy lifting and repetitive work while taking narcotic pain meds.The Dr. that performed my surgeries was not a neurosurgeon but a Dr. workers comp. had sent me to insisting on surgery being my only way of ever getting better and returning to work.At that time I had no idea of the consequences as I had never been to a Dr. except to have my children and maybe an occasional illness. My only concern was returning to work since I have always been very independent and had worked since the age of 15. Eventually at the age of 43 I was told I had no choice but to stop working and sign up for disabilility. I fought for a year with the Dr's because I was afraid of not working I was a mother with children still in school and my husband and I both working just made ends meet. My husband went to Dr. with on one occassion and was told by my Dr. I refused to stop working. At that time I signed up for disability and was approved within 2 weeks. I have been on extreamly high doses of oxycontin,loratab,flexerell and on and on. I heard about suboxone and mentioned it to my Pain Dr. he would'nt even discuss it with me. W/comp. wants me to go with pain pump I am starting treatment but still wonder if suboxene would be worth fighting for so I can get off high doses pain med's. I only want to have somewhat of a normal life as I am now a grandmother and getting close to 60 years old. If anyone out there has any idea of what I am going thru please let me know ?

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Thank you. I take mine for pain along with lyrica (i now take gabapentin which is cheper) for nerve pain from my spinal cord injury. And I, like you, got my life back. They are really cracking down here in Houston on going to more than one doctor a month and before Suboxone I was having to go to 4-6. The pain was excruciating before suboxone and gabapentin.

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8 8mg per day is the most they will prescribe. Or at least that's what my doctor told me. I'm on 3 8mg a day. Wish he wouldn't put the naloxone in it!

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I just started using the subutex film after developing an allergy to the patches. I have been on one form or another of suboxone for over a year for my chronic back pain. Prior to finding suboxone, I was at the end of my rope after six years of blinding back pain . I only take 1 mg per day. I had gone through several nerve ablations about 30 cortisone injections, accupuncture, massage, physical therapy, etc. I also use a TENS unit. Prior to injuring my back I was very fit and competing in rowing. I had to endure many doctors telling me that my problem was weak core strength, a psychological problem, or phantom pain syndrome. I do not have much patience with people who do not have chronic pain giving me advice on how to manage it. Subutex is a lifesaver and can be used to treat pain effectively with the proper monitoring program. If you are in chronic pain, don't let anyone tell you that the drug is only used to treat opiate addiction.

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I cant understand why you don't use your Suboxone card.. It will pay for a months worth of medicine. Walmart has the best price per strip. Also, contact Reckitt Benckiser pharmaceuticals, Inc. They might offer` a patient assistance program. Glad your feeling better

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I am in the same boat as you I've had spinal fusion and applied for disability! Reach out to a suboxone Dr. I'm on it and it helps me! Its worth a try!

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I talked to my psychologist about Suboxone for my pain. She agreed, and put me in touch with a Suboxone Dr. I have also found out that its a mood inhibitor. I never felt better, except for the back pain has gotten worse over the year. My question is, what is the highest does that can be given per day. I take 1- 8mg morning and 1- 8mg at night.
I was told that was the ceiling does 16 mg per day. But I have heard other wise

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I spent five years seeimg pain management doctors who gave me all the heavy opiates which did nothing for my severe back pain. I ended up losing my job, wife, etc and was unable to basically leave my house.

Two years ago I found a new pain mgmt doctor who told me about suboxone. I went through three horrible days of detox and then started on suboxone.

I went from wanting to end my life to being able to go back to work and looking to the future for the first time in five years. Wish I could have found this years ago and I would still be married.

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Thank you....i hate ppl who say its not good for chronic pain...i take it over oxy and any others cause of how well it works compared to the older opiates...i think the ones who say it doesnt work for pain are the low dose detox users...and thats just because its a narc with no euphoria or high....im just glad ppl like you know what tgere talking about....cause mis information can really hurt ppl...

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Subutex is known as Tamgesic in every other country except the US. It has been used in every other country for mod-severe pain for almost a quarter of a century. It's analgesic effect works better in very low (1mg or less) dosages. Sub or Tamgesic is a very strange drug. The less you use the better the pain relief. Most American doctors are behind the curve on that one.

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that's awesome! Amazing that more people don't respond to this information as. America has plenty of police, plenty of Prisons, plenty of punishment in general. Look around for treatment and help... What a joke. War on drugs.. Unreal. So many people entrenched into the business of fighting drugs that they lobby to continue to keep them illegal. They're fighting for their jobs. The government is so stupid. With all the money they spend you'd think that drug treatment would be free. That would really save them money. More importantly, that would save people!they are not really about helping us. It's all about control. And money.sorry for the of subject rant.

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You DON'T MIX any other drugs with Suboxone! You must not be prescribed this medicine because you wouldn't be asking this kind of question. So NO, no other drug will work if you snort subs!!

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you have know clue about subs...it is a powerful narcotic that in small doses is great for detox. When takin in high doses of 24mg or higher it is great for pain releif without the high of other opiates...do some real research and stop going on what you think you know. The ppl who say it does'nt work for pain really mean i camt get off on it....if its not good for pain then why do other countries use it in er's like we use hydro morphine....ppl like you are the ones who cause the need to control these meds....now of we could only control the dumb info you pass on we'd be good...

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The less spit, the less you swallow of the medication, the more you get into your bloodstream? You. <~~~~~ should think about it....

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Mary, don't demean someone because they have had a difficult time in their life, and utilized suboxone to get treatment. Referring to people as junkies is uncalled for, I'm an addict. A junkie to me is someone trading erotic favors in a dirty alley etc for dope, or robbing their grandma. I, like many others, was functional, hardworking mother of two, lovely home etc and people would have never guessed. Don't demean others to try and cover your own insecurity. What James is trying to say, less eloquently, is that you use it for pain but you are addicted to it. Suboxone is addictive, that's a fact. It's the reason if you were to ever stop using it for pain management you would have to be weaned off.

Not sure why everyone is so hateful to each other on here, but y'all should chill out and remember this is a forum to help other's looking to improve their lives. Not sure what the mutual hatred against James is neither, if you slow down and stop personalizing every comment of his, all he is doing is sharing his opinions and personal experience. It's called "net-etiquette" , for those who don't get it, it means stop jumping to crazy conclusions about these comments, its usually nothing personal, since we can't see facial expression or body language, its proven we take comments online in a "tone" of mood that we are in. So chill people, clarify before you go making ppl feel like crap, read what your typing before posting, and stop the name calling! You just make everyone on here look infantile and ignorant, if I was looking for help and advice, after reading the degradation on here, I'd find another forum.

Stop being mean and angry guys, life's to short to waste my energy yell typing at people I don't know in my computer ...

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