Has anyone ever heard of this? It's my Dr. doing this, not me alone. i have been on 12 mg suboxone/day for over 4 yrs. My Dr. is retiring at the end of the year and asked me what i thought about weaning off. I told him the only fear i have is my back pain, which is how I was first introduced to opiates. (I was not a heroin addict, I was dependant on oxys for a couple of yrs before getting on suboxone) My Dr. said it is possible w some patients to get back on opiates after suboxone. So he dropped my subs to 8 mg and gave me 25 mg/h fentanyl transdermal. So I am on both at same time. Doesn't. one cancel the other out? Anyone ever heard of this?
I can see why your doc is retiring he's losing his capacities. That is by far the worst thing you can do. Ffs you're trying to get away from opiates not hooked again. Find another clinic and fast!
Yes, this can be done...though Fentanyl is a bit too euphoric to really get you in the right direction. he is probably talking about putting you on a low dose F patch. The reason that this can work is because of the different half lifes, and the mode of action. Sub w/ds are LONG and TEDIOUS, despite street lore that "its easier than other maintenance therapies. Switching to low doeses of time released patches can switch you back to a shorter w/d time when actually quitting. A better MOA, IMO, is to go with decrease on SUbs, a brief period using time ER HydroMorphone (very short half life and low bioavailabilty when used orally). and then use clonidine, gabapentin, and Immonium AD to relieve symptoms after the brief hydrocodone.
It's not a matter of can it be done of course it can although from what I've read subs work on a certain brain wave and they disrupt your bodies ability to feel the opiates. Thats not saying that the opiates arent getting in you just cant feel it because of the subs. I really dont see how your dr. felt this would be of benefit to you. Accept for introducing opiates back into a recovering op addict. I really hope you get to a better clinic. If you've injured your back and it still bothers you than there is no shame in legitimate pain mgt.
melkm: My father has been dealing with massive pain for almost a decade now. Hes been prescribed everything... but finally he was prescribed methadone (for pain) and it's the best thing thats happened to him. He can finally function and go on walks with me, etc. Since you are already used to maintenance therapy and have ongoing pain, you might want to consider this as an option. i know methadone is looked down on by many people...but my dad says its the best pain killer. It will also be less hard on your liver. AND, NO, about folks saying that this is going in the wrong direction..... Hes not an addict, he is dependent on meds. A Fentanyl patch may turn out to be a godsend, but very expensive for pain management....methadone is cvery cheap, and it works. Wish you the best
(newbie here) Ive smoked fent many many times now until I am nodding off every other second. Im one of them people who can do any thing for years and stop the next day like nothing every happened. Just the way I am I guess. But it sounds to me like this is a bad combo and they are going to waste each other and unknowingly give you an addiction to something you cant get any benefit from. Send em paches here boy
Not really sure what smoking fentanyl has to do with anything unless you're making subliminal suggestions to a recovering addict. there. erm...
Ok...weaning off a drug that's used to wean you off opiates with a drug that's one of the most powerful opiods known to man. I don't get it.
