First posted 11/11/2012 In my last post, I wrote about the work-up of a patient who experiences symptoms similar to opioid withdrawal that start about an hour after each dose of Suboxone. We decided that the symptoms were signs of withdrawal—i.e. reduced activity of mu-opioid pathways—and that the symptoms were triggered by taking a daily … [Read more…]
I owe it to readers to make it clear that I do not endorse any product sold for the expressed purpose of reducing opioid withdrawal. I have PPC ads on the site, but I have no control over the ads that run in them. I am not saying that the products that often appear in … [Read more…]
While I’m on the subject of rip-offs, I’ll mention an extreme form of ‘detox capitalism’; a process called rapid opioid withdrawal, rapid detox, or ‘the Waismann Method.’ The name of the process supposedly comes from a certain ‘Dr. Waismann’ who helped Israeli soldiers get off opioids after they were treated for various injuries. It sounds … [Read more…]
I often receive e-mails asking for advice on tapering Suboxone, or asking how long Suboxone withdrawal should last. People who read my blog know my approach to stopping Suboxone; I see it as an exercise in futility even in the rare cases where the person is successful, because of a relapse rate that verges on … [Read more…]
I have written about this topic multiple times, but perhaps a summary is appropriate. More and more evidence and clinical experience suggest that buprenorphine is best considered a long-term ‘remission agent’ for opioid dependence. Such a conclusion would have been obvious years ago if not for the hesitancy to do what has been suggested by … [Read more…]
I am often told by opiate addicts that they would kill themselves rather than go through withdrawal again. I assume that the comments are exaggerations to make a point. But a recent nightmare helped me realize that the comments are not hyperbole– but rather are serious attempts by addicts to describe just how horrible their experiences were. I remember … [Read more…]