One of the primary insights that I want addicts to gain from reading this blog is the similarity between their own thoughts, feelings, and pattern of use and the thoughts and patterns of use of other opiate addicts. We are all dealing with the same beast, we have all felt the same desperation, and we … [Read more…]
A comment on my old blog referred to a discussion about the withdrawal from Xanax, or Alprazolam, a short half-life benzodiazepine: Clonazepam (Klonopin) actually is not the drug of choice used in benzo withdrawal, rather it is diazepam (Valium). Clonazepam It is not a very long-acting drug, with a half-life of only 18-50 hours; diazepam’s … [Read more…]
Thanks BC for this post and discussion point: I often wonder what’s up with the people who say that Suboxone w/d is the Worst! Thing! Ever! Maybe they never really went through w/d’s before, so they don’t have much to compare it to? It seems that some people carp on how long it takes to … [Read more…]
What follows is an edited message from a reader in Sweden, and my response. The original message can be found as a comment to my ‘methadone revisited’ post. I removed a bit of the writer’s sarcasm and corrected a couple typos; as always nothing was added. Comment: Yes, methadone is a ‘pure’ agonist, but to … [Read more…]
From a person new to suboxone: This is my, well, second day off opiates seeing it is 12:05am where I am. I had a 11 year on and off love affair with opiates. It got worse in the last 6-12 months or so. That feeling of euphoria really gets you and when you don’t have … [Read more…]
Some questions about the induction process and my answers: If I try to just take the oxycodone for a period of time prior to meeting with you would that eliminate some of the problems and complications associated with the transition from methadone to suboxone? If I took only oxycodone for 4 days or 6 days … [Read more…]
By now almost every opiate addict has heard of Suboxone, a medication for opiate dependence that has been around for about ten years. I admit to mixed feelings about Suboxone based on what I have seen and heard while treating well over 100 patients over the past two years. I also acknowledge that my opinions … [Read more…]