Suboxone Maintenance Long-term

Hello. My question is related to the long-term use of Suboxone and why so many offices now charge cash for treatment. In my particular case, I was addicted to painkillers after long-term female-related issues requiring Suboxone to discontinue the painkillers. My original prescribing dr was wonderful, but retired after about 4 yrs of treating me. The next dr went into the military and closed his practice. At that point, I was taking approx. 16mg anddecided to wean down on my own. Over the past 2 yrs I' reduced my dose to 2mg, BUT now have run out of medication and the only dr in my area who will accept myinsurance cannot see me until 10/03. I also fail to see the harm in lifelong maintenance (at the very lowest tolerable dose) if it results in a normal life. I am 45 yrs old, intelligent, and want tocontinue on low-dose maintenance. It took three months to find a new dr and I've suffered a good bit ofhumiliation in attempting to find ongoing treatment. The clinic I visited last week "accept insurancefor all diseases other than addiction" and wanted $380 for a 7-day supply ofmedication. I live in Roanoke, Va. and have exhausted, I believe, every resource I can think of. I am on day 7 without medication....WHY do physicians suggest this drug is acceptable long-term and then make it nearly impossible to stay on long-term dosing. I'd lost everything before Suboxone. What should patients who have done well long-term do? With this medication, I never feel "altered" and regained a productive life....how is that a bad thing? Thanks inadvance for anyadvice/suggestions. P.S. My own family dr even refused totreat my withdrawal symptoms....?

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Many insurance companies won't cover it and whether or not they accept any insurance is entirely up to the whit and whim of the doctor's office, unless they accept federal funding.

I understand your dilemma and I am sorry that you have been suffering, but as to the long term use....well, there can be risks associated with it, just like there is with any medication and the goal of most people who undergo treatment for addiction with Suboxone is to get drug free.

That's why it's been such a miracle drug, because when the drug of choice for addiction treatment was Methadone, most people required a lifetime maintenance dose, so they were looking for an alternative that would give better results.

Learn more Suboxone details here.

If you are willing to take something for the rest of your life, Methadone is still available from many treatment clinics and it is much cheaper than Suboxone, so it something you could always look into.

Learn more Methadone details here.

Are there any other questions or comments?

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