In the last post we discussed some of the misconceptions about tapering off opioids. Today we will discuss a couple basic principles, and then describe the approach I recommend for my patients tapering off buprenorphine. Presenting how to stop buprenorphine or Suboxone, Pt 2 Opioids act at receptors that normally Read more…
Many patients taking buprenorphine live in fear of a dark world around the corner where they will have to taper off the medication. They see horror stories on YouTube posted by people who, for some reason, abruptly stopped the medication and kept a video log of their experiences. My own Read more…
Readers will sometimes ask for my thoughts about buprenorphine. I’m always happy to respond, time permitting. I’ve described how my patients taper off buprenorphine in prior posts, but the interest out there warrants revisiting the topic. Most people who become dependent on opioids become very fearful of withdrawal. That fear Read more…
First Posted 12/15/2013 People know my bias—that buprenorphine is best-considered a chronic, perhaps life-long treatment for a chronic, life-long disease. That said, I am aware of how many people out there are convinced that they need to be ‘off everything,’ no matter the misery opioids have caused in their lives. Read more…
Originally Posted 10/27/2013 I usually have my wife/business partner review my posts and provide her opinion whether my arguments are sound. For the record, she tells me that this post is technical and boring. I disagree, but we aren’t planning to separate over the issue. A valid criticism, I think, Read more…
Below is an e-mail that I changed just enough to hide the person’s identity. Every week, I receive messages that describe similar situations. My husband has struggled GREATLY with substance abuse since in his 20’s; he is now in his mid-40’s. He is the kindest sweetest man and he is Read more…
I recently received a question about stopping Suboxone (buprenorphine)…. I deleted the message but I remember the bulk of it, and I have a copy of my response. I thought that someone else out there may find it useful, so here it is: The question: I have decided to go Read more…
I have been involved in Q and A with a person in another part of the country, and will share some of our exchange after removing the identifying info. This mother asks about her daughter: is she still using? BTW, I receive many e-mails from people and I just don’t Read more…
I ended the ‘85% off’ sale of the recordings listed to the right of the blog; they are also listed at the web page ‘Sober After Suboxone,’ along with some other useful recordings about opiate dependence. I have received good feedback about the recordings, and I think that the ‘how Read more…
I brought a note from the ‘comments’ section up here because it presents a topic that comes up over and over with opiate dependence and Suboxone. I am the expert on MedHelp.org’s addiction forum; I get questions and comments like this one quite frequently on that site– although I have Read more…
One thing I enjoy so much about the blog is that I receive comments from people around the world… hello to my new friend in Holland, and California, and New York… I have also mentioned before how the miserable disease of opiate dependence affects people from all jobs and socioeconomic Read more…
Yes, you heard it here fir…. fourth… it is hard to stop Suboxone. As anyone pausing at this website knows, it is hard to stop ANY opiate. There are many forces at work against you when you are tapering off opiates; physical withdrawal, mental withdrawal, cravings for opiates, and the Read more…