Suboxone and Opiate Addiction

Hi,
I went to a rehab last year for 65 days to get off of Ultram, Ultracet, and benzos. Over the previous years, I had become very dependent on these prescribed meds, as well as Vicodin, Norco, Ambien, Percocets--plain ole opiate addiction. So I got off of those, but then was discharged on Phenobarbital. So then I sent to see a doctor who had a "program" that he and his associates taylored: (I stayed in one of houses his son used for a Bachelor's pad), they had caregivers for my comedown, he 'stabilized' my medication. This doctor kept me three months, got me off the Phenobarbital, and put me on Suboxone, which the treatment center started me on, but I had taken myself off, he put me on Librium as well. It worked well for me, the Phenobarbital has been out of my sytem since Feb., but I don't remember a lot--that's scary.
So I was on 6mg of Suboxone and over 10 pills a day of Librium (at first), over the last few months, and for about 3-4 months now, I am down to 25mg of Librium, and 2mg of Suboxone--to me--that is nothing compared to what I was on, but it's another benzo. (for you alcoholic 12-steppers, like switching from scotch to brandy) I exhausted most of the others and almost died abusing Xanax and Vicodin and Norco together, given to me for endometriosis and fibroids, before I had my 3rd surgery.
Anyway---my question is, has anyone had experience with Suboxone? I have done so much research and been VERY proactive, and I read that taking benzos and Suboxone together have caused deaths. I also found out that a pt. of this doctor committed suicide/died (why and how I don't know) So, I'm back at "home" for now, no longer see that doctor. I don't feel right and I am supposed to start school in a month....I see a doc who prescribes the Suboxone and the Librium, and am seeing a new psychologist for the second time next week. I am wondering if this all has been a phase--I sufferred years and years of depression, suicidal thoughts, and severe anxiety, and since being "home" I seem to not be having so many panic attacks, and the depression is hard to fight, because i want so much to be with others, but I isolate and i isolate good. People aske me why aren't you married, you're so pretty, and you have such a good heart, but in my post in the new member forum, I haven't accomplished much, but I also have this HUGE fear of life, it's weird--I can go to a different area, fly on aplane to rehab, but can't get a life in my hometown--after livign up north for a year---I am starting from scratch now where I left off. How can I?
I'm a Heinz57 mental mess I feel. Tired if being tired and stresed. I started off with the Suboxone issue and ended about all I can say right now, tired and overwhelmed.

Hi again! I don't have too much time right this second, and will respond more when I can. Just wanted to say I'm glad you dropped by our little substance abuse forum and shared! Others will be along soon to write you back

Hi Need,

I was on the max. dose of Suboxone for over 2 yrs. and did take them with a benzodiazepene (Klonopin). I took Suboxone for chronic pain rather than addiction with caused nausea and then ultimately vomiting. I also took a pretty high dose of Klonopin (2mg 4x/day) without an issue with the Suboxone. The reason that the manufacturer does not want Suboxone and Benzos mixed is due to the possibility of respiratory depression which may lead to death. I am not sure but Suboxone used with Benzos has to be taken so that one does not abuse the Benzos. This is where people get into trouble from what I was able to gleen.

If you feel uncomfortable with the risk, by all means, do not take benzos with Suboxone, or the other alternative. Another issue, never, ever take and opiate (Ultram is OK) with Suboxone. The pain specialist (if that what he can be called) put me on Suboxone when I quit taking Methadone after only 3 days. There is still too much Methdone in your body after only 3 days. It made me so sick. I was like the flu from hell. I even had to ask my husband to stay with me to take care of me the first day.

It is certainly your life and I feel that you have to make choices with what makes you comfortable. Please feel free to contact me by PM or email, if you would like. I am happy to assist in any way I can.

By the way, congratulations to you for having gone off all of the medication. I have an am on a few different controlled substances but have never been addicted to any of them. I believe I should consider myself fortunate.

Love and Light,
Peacemaker
Sherri

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Peacemaker said:
Hi Need, I was on the max. dose of Suboxone for over 2 yrs. and did take them with a benzodiazepene (Klonopin). I took Suboxone for chronic pain rather than addiction with caused nausea and then ultimately vomiting. I also took a pretty high dose of Klonopin (2mg 4x/day) without an issue with the Suboxone. The reason that the manufacturer does not want Suboxone and Benzos mixed is due to the possibility of respiratory depression which may lead to death. I am not sure but Suboxone used with Benzos has to be taken so that one does not abuse the Benzos. This is where people get into trouble from what I was able to gleen.

If you feel uncomfortable with the risk, by all means, do not take benzos with Suboxone, or the other alternative. Another issue, never, ever take and opiate (Ultram is OK) with Suboxone. The pain specialist (if that what he can be called) put me on Suboxone when I quit taking Methadone after only 3 days. There is still too much Methdone in your body after only 3 days. It made me so sick. I was like the flu from hell. I even had to ask my husband to stay with me to take care of me the first day.

It is certainly your life and I feel that you have to make choices with what makes you comfortable. Please feel free to contact me by PM or email, if you would like. I am happy to assist in any way I can.

By the way, congratulations to you for having gone off all of the medication. I have an am on a few different controlled substances but have never been addicted to any of them. I believe I should consider myself fortunate.

Love and Light,
Peacemaker
Sherri

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Thank you so very much!! Wow-the maximum dose of Suboxone is quite high--32mg/day isn't it? You and only you are a breath of fresh air! I have tried to do online searching for articles of people who had actually been on or who have been on this medication with a benzo. Thanks so much. I was able to go from 6mg Suboxone and 10-12 25mg capsules Librium a day (this doctor had me on a way high dose--surprised I didn't die! I was tapering off the Phenobarbital the rehab left me on though) to currently, 2mg Suboxone and 1- 25mg capsule Librium a day. Not bad. I recall hearing that we had to get any other opiate like Vicodin or in your case, meth, out of our system before any treatment with Suboxone can begin. The Suboxone has really saved me with my narcotic addiction, and it helps any pain I have from the endometriosis and fibroids. My sibling takes about 10mg Klonoin a day - but is not on Suboxone. I am at the point in my life where I'm so sad because I look back and what I did from ages 24 until now, in and out of school, no real career, go in and out of psych wards for a few years off and on, the psych ward phase is over with thank god, and have been trying SO hard to finish only a BA in Psychology, I don't date, never been married because I cannot find a safe man. I've never had children and I'm very sad at the fact that I'm 37 and I basically have no life.
Granted, I spent the last year up north in a rehab, and under a doctor's care, going to 12 step meetings, but I don't belong in sober living homes, and I have become very irritable in the last few months, I had opportunity after opportunity to move far away enough from a VERY negative situation here with family, stay up north and find a roommate or an apartment, but decided to "give up" and come home to mom's---this isn't healthy-and I don't know how I am going to finish school, to get a real career and a real life. I am getting overwhelmed and cannot for the life of me figure out why I have no social life. I'm kind of a loner---wasn't always like this though--and I'm wondering if it's masked depression.
Anyway - got off topic a little, but the main things is, I've been addicted since I was about 28, and now believe I have 'licked' the problem, I came back to a stresful, sad environment, and have cut the meds in half, compared to when I was ruinning and gunning all around up north because I didn't fit anywhere up north, and my panic attacks were at an all time high, so I popped 4-5 Librium with Seroquel, with all sorts of meds, (at this time, I was off the Suboxone) so now I only take 2mg Suboxone and 25mg Libtium, but I may need to increase the Suboxone again to 4mg.
Did you wean off after the 2 year period? If so, how? A taper?
I am in the MOST negative, unsupportive environment and I am getting scared, I don't now how much longer I can live here. I cannot go into detail online. I don't deserve to live around such angry, mean people, my own family. It is severe.

Thanks too rainbowzz, I know you're busy--thank you for acknowledging my posts