[Climber47]

Hi there, I posted a couple times before but thought I'd share the outcome of my latest pdoc appt... after rattling off my list of meds I've tried and him declaring there weren't many options left, he suggested buprenorphine or suboxone.... it's technically an opiate, but it's like the methadone for opiate addicts, so it's supposedly not addictive and you don't really build a tolerance like most opiates. It works very quickly too, in hours! However you do have to titration up to the target dose, which my doc said was either 2 or 10 mg for his patients.

There's been a few studies on this but it's very new to be used for depression, the article of the study he gave me was from last month! I'd imagine not a lot of pdocs would try it, but mine is quite out-of-the-box and works most with trd patients so not unusual he'd be willing to try new things.

I've only been on it two days, and there's no overwhelming change yet, but I haven't been sad, either! I may just be having a few good days so too soon to tell, but so far so good!

[1978dd]

I believe there is a down side to Suboxone use; opiate pain meds are blocked. If you were in a medical emergency what would they use for pain control?

[jjlltt40]

It can be broken through, but only high doses of Morphine plus they are so high while you are on it they put you in ICU . It's so you are kept safe in ICU you are watched over constantly.

[Climber47]

Interesting point, I'll have to ask my doctor about that one!

[eyesclosed]

My personal experience with suboxone was awful. I just want you to know the truth it is very addicting. I need shoulder replacement surgery at the time I was 42. Immediately was given a script for TRIGGER? A year and a half later I noticed It really wasn't working for the pain I was up too 60mg a day. I also didn't have any energy until I took it I also was taking 40mg of Prozac and .50 alprazolam. My pcp sent me to Dr.suboxone. after 3 days of no oxy they gave suboxone in 5 min I felt good. The problem I had was a interaction with Prozac I had double vision walked like a drunken sailor.After 2 months I didn't want to live this way so he took me off it.The withdrawal is very long but not as intense. So be careful

[Climber47]

Interesting... I don't have an opiate addiction so maybe my experience is different, not sure... my pdoc said he's only had one patient get addicted; I don't get any kind of high or anything from it, and I definitely do from a couple Percocet! So I can't see abusing it, but perhaps that's a higher risk as the dose increases.

Meanwhile... it's working! Not overwhelmingly, but I'm just... normal. Hard to even remember what that is, but all I know if I have no inclination to cry anymore, that's all I could ask for!

[jjlltt40]

Oh I don't abuse either I was addicted too Hydrocodone 12 years it helped me get off of that, which at one time I was taking 20-25 pills a day, I'm in works of coming off of Suboxone I'm down from 12 mg too 6 . But it doesn't get me high or anything just gives you what you need when abruptly stop pain pills!

[jjlltt40]

Hey I'm curious how Suboxone is helping your resistant depression, I have read study's on it about using it for resistant depression, I have been on it for 5-6 years because of opiate addiction, but I'm working on coming off it I'm down from 12 mg too 6 mg so I'm working way off, already been working on mental health I currently take ADHD medication Zoloft , Klonopin as needed , Adderall for ADHD I have been pretty stable, so looking forward to getting off Suboxone.

[Climber47]

It's helping! I started at 0.5 mg for 2 days then went up to 1 mg for a week then went to 2 mg, where I am now. It started helping within hours of my first dose! Basically no side effects at first. Since I went to 2mg however, I've got some side effects that are pretty annoying, but I think they're going away. I started getting some anxiety, kind of in waves that would gradually fade... even worse though, I think I got some tardive dyskinesia or something... talked to pdoc on the phone and he agreed that's what it probably is; thank god it seems to be going away, though. The anxiety and TD are much better now but still there a little bit, if it doesn't fade more in a couple days, I'll just go back down to half a dose. Overall if I can get past the side effects, it works great! I'll ask my doc about trouble coming off of it, but honestly if this stuff works, I don't think I'll be coming off it anytime soon!

[*Laurie*]

Hi Climber47, Thanks so much for checking back in on your thread. I'm really glad to hear that the Suboxone is working for you. How exciting!!

[StrawberryAnnie]

I took naltrexone for several years; it is also an opiate blocker. I took it for self harm- it would block the "high" my brain would get from self harm. For me, it was pretty effective.

[Bridgeto]

Originally Posted by Climber47

Hi there, I posted a couple times before but thought I'd share the outcome of my latest pdoc appt... after rattling off my list of meds I've tried and him declaring there weren't many options left, he suggested buprenorphine or suboxone.... it's technically an opiate, but it's like the methadone for opiate addicts, so it's supposedly not addictive and you don't really build a tolerance like most opiates. It works very quickly too, in hours! However you do have to titration up to the target dose, which my doc said was either 2 or 10 mg for his patients.

There's been a few studies on this but it's very new to be used for depression, the article of the study he gave me was from last month! I'd imagine not a lot of pdocs would try it, but mine is quite out-of-the-box and works most with trd patients so not unusual he'd be willing to try new things.

I've only been on it two days, and there's no overwhelming change yet, but I haven't been sad, either! I may just be having a few good days so too soon to tell, but so far so good!

I have heard of this brand new treatment. Currently they are only treating people with ptsd. It is called a 'Stellate Ganglion Block' The doc gives you a little shot in your neck area. For ptsd patients it completely takes the ptsd symptoms away. They have to find the exact spot on your neck because each person is different. The MD is from Illinois and I heard eventually they are going to use this to stop people with depression. Google it and you'll see. I hope this really happens.