Nonsense from American Addiction Centers about Suboxone

There is plenty of nonsense on the internet, but nonsense is most-annoying when it comes from ‘experts’. I’m referring to nonsense from American Addiction Centers about Suboxone. If you go to their heavily-advertised site there is no mention of the scandals involving ‘sober treatment programs’ that filled the Florida news Read more…

A hazard for kids?

Brandeis and CDC Made Wrong Calculations on Buprenorphine PDMP Data

I’ll share an interesting story about the data used for the prescription drug database in Wisconsin and other states.  I’ve been holding back on writing about this issue in hopes that the reason for the story would be corrected, and I would have no story to tell.  But that hasn’t Read more…

Where’s the Buprenorphine asked Mr. Obvious? Thanks, CDC!

I’ve been frustrated by the people behind the Wisconsin PDMP, or Prescription Drug Monitoring Program, for their mistakes related to buprenorphine. Whoever came up with the numbers made a rookie error when calculating the equivalent morphine dose of patients taking buprenorphine products. The error is easy to notice by anyone Read more…

Benzos and Buprenorphine

The safety of buprenorphine when not combined with a benzodiazepine has been twisted to suggest buprenorphine is uniquely dangerous when combined with benzodiazepines, which is not true. I’ve heard more and more from insurers, regulators, and well-meaning agencies about the dangers of combining buprenorphine and benzodiazepines.   Some insurers protest paying Read more…

A Sad and Crazy Argument Against Suboxone

It has been awhile since I posted a give and take with a misguided reader. I’ve taken that interval as good news that education is winning over misinformation. But then I read this: a sad and crazy argument against Suboxone. I didn’t fix her typos, as I think they provide Read more…

Standard of Care for Newborn Buprenorphine Abstinence

First Posted 2/1/2014The topic of newborn abstinence syndrome from buprenorphine provokes strong emotions.  Expectant mothers anticipate harsh attitudes from doctors and nurses.  They worry that their use of buprenorphine will cause their babies to suffer from withdrawal.  They hear about the experiences of women reported to CPS after delivery, or Read more…

Suboxone, Zubsolv, Bioavailability and Norbuprenorphine

Over the past few months, I’ve read a few posts at the forum that are worth sharing.  I’ve been torn whether to share them with the general buprenorphine community, or only with doctors who prescribe the medication.  I’ve decided that since the ideas came from a layperson community, I’m not Read more…

The Ibogaine Cure

First Posted 7/28/2013 Ibogaine, a drug long-rumored to treat opioid withdrawal, has become a hot topic for those taking buprenorphine.  Ibogaine is a complex molecule that comes from a group of plants that are known, in West Central Africa, as Iboga.  In native African culture the drug is used to induce Read more…

Am I Addicted to Suboxone?

First Published 7/23/2013 I hear from the anti-buprenorphine people now and then, less than I used to.  I also hear from fans of this blog’s early days, when I routinely lost my temper in response to those people.  Their general line was that things on heroin weren’t all that bad, but Read more…

The Pain Clinic: Your Money’s Worth?

Originally Posted 7/18/2013 Like most of you, I’m not thrilled with modern healthcare.  I miss how things were twenty years ago, when I had a sense of ‘having a doctor’ who actually knew me, who had my best interests in mind.  I remember my father, a defense attorney in a Read more…

Suboxone Makes Me Fat and Boring and Stupid

Originally posted 3/6/2013 A late post tonight, since my new exercise program has pushed my blogging back by an hour or so each night.  My suspicions about exercise were correct, by the way; it is much easier to suggest exercise to other people than it is to actually exercise.  I’ve Read more…

Does Suboxone Cause SIDS?

Originally posted 1/13/2013 In a recent Google search about Suboxone and pregnancy, one of the top links included the frightening statement that Suboxone and buprenorphine have been linked to SIDS or sudden infant death syndrome, commonly called ‘crib death.’ The statement was from a health forum where a woman wrote about Read more…