Important question about Suboxone doctors

[rp2011]

So I went to my normal physician today, who I love by the way and discussed wanting to get off of opioid and possibly have some assistance doing that with the use of suboxone. He gave me a pain management referral and recommended outpatient addiction medicine. My problem is that the doctor that he referred to me to a doctor that has absolutely terrible reviews. My question is can I take this referral that I have and pick my own doctor, or must I go to the person that was mentioned in the referral. My other question is how backed up are these doctors normally? Can I get in to see one in a days notice, or am I going to be stuck withdrawing and fighting on me own for awhile?

Thank you DBG you have been so good to me.

 

[2earls]

Tell your physician that you would prefer to be referred to another doctor. I don't think you can go to a different one on your own. He may ask if you have a preference so be prepared. They should take you in right away if you explain the circumstances.

 

[Kalsima]

Seriously, if you have insurance they all cover your Meds which is expensive since now the put everyone on the strips which has naltrexone in them. A few I saw used subutex which was like $200 or at SAMs club $165.00. But that is gone as of this month. New rules, you have to see an outside counselor or go to group meetings, my doctor charges me a fortune, but I get out of going to these courses my last doctor made me go to three nights a week for 6 months. I said f that and switched doctors. I've seen four since I came back to Ohio and I haven't been out that long, I kept going to one that I liked, but when they changed the rules about these groups I quit seeing my favorite doctor and saw three more before I found the right one. No insurance I know covers the doctors cost, but they do pay for my film strips which are over $500.00. Now I see a guy, who spends a half hour with me giving me advice, no groups, no coming back to count your film strips whenever the last doctor wanted to do to make sure you weren't selling them or taking them right, and gives me a months worth, except first visit was 2 weeks worth, but now I just get 60 a month. I'm down to a quarter, sometimes a half, but I don't tell him, I always get my 60, you never know when you might need them! So no, you do not have to go to one he referred you to, but I would check with you're insurance company just in case! Good luck to you, it's a bitch kicking, I kicked  a 200 mg methadone and it was the longest two days of my life, I mean sick as hell. but if you can stay clean because you can't use for two days, or you will be really sick if you take with a habit, it changed my life for the better, now just a little more to go and I'm off! Whoop whoop! Good luck to you!

 

[rp2011]

Seriously, if you have insurance they all cover your Meds which is expensive since now the put everyone on the strips which has naltrexone in them. A few I saw used subutex which was like $200 or at SAMs club $165.00. But that is gone as of this month. New rules, you have to see an outside counselor or go to group meetings, my doctor charges me a fortune, but I get out of going to these courses my last doctor made me go to three nights a week for 6 months. I said f that and switched doctors. I've seen four since I came back to Ohio and I haven't been out that long, I kept going to one that I liked, but when they changed the rules about these groups I quit seeing my favorite doctor and saw three more before I found the right one. No insurance I know covers the doctors cost, but they do pay for my film strips which are over $500.00. Now I see a guy, who spends a half hour with me giving me advice, no groups, no coming back to count your film strips whenever the last doctor wanted to do to make sure you weren't selling them or taking them right, and gives me a months worth, except first visit was 2 weeks worth, but now I just get 60 a month. I'm down to a quarter, sometimes a half, but I don't tell him, I always get my 60, you never know when you might need them! So no, you do not have to go to one he referred you to, but I would check with you're insurance company just in case! Good luck to you, it's a bitch kicking, I kicked  a 200 mg methadone and it was the longest two days of my life, I mean sick as hell. but if you can stay clean because you can't use for two days, or you will be really sick if you take with a habit, it changed my life for the better, now just a little more to go and I'm off! Whoop whoop! Good luck to you!

The visit to the doctor isn't covered by insurance? That is very surprising to me. At least the films are. Is suboxone really just as hard as oxycodone to come off of? I appreciate your input.

 

[Kalsima]

i have a great policy with Humana and no doctor accepts it around me, so all doctor visits are about $150.00 to $180.00 but at least the strips are. And yes Suboxone is hard to come off of. You have to o it slowly, I'll be honest I started with three, and going from three to two I literally did overnight and did not notice, the I cut my strips to one and a half, every three days I'd take two, I kind of yo-you back and forth, then I just cut slivers off every week to come down. Now I'm starting to notice big time, I wake up sweating in the middle of the night, and half to take a quarter then I wait as long as I can and take a half. So I'm really about at 2 thirds. I swear I have a friend who told me it took him two years to get off the last two msg. And it scares me, I heard that from several people, that it's easy to come down until the last two msg. Hope this helps.

 

[Suzie]

My experience with subs is that the doctors who prescribe them don't know as much about them as we who take them and they prescribe a much higher dose than the person really needs.  Subs have a ceiling effect so taking more is a waste and that's why people can taper down to 2 mg. without feeling it because they didn't really need more in the first place.  They are very strong, so strong that they can cancel out h eroin withdrawals but because you don't get high it's easy to forget how strong they are.  If using them to get off o- piates they key is to not stay on too long... a few months is enough and then taper off by 25% every 2 weeks.  I was on them for years so it was a lot harder for me but knowing what I know now I would have tapered off after 2-3 months.  Even 2 mg.'s is a lot and too high a dose to jump from or you will be in withdrawals and unlike opia tes subs have a crazy long half life so if you jump too soon you could be in w/d's for weeks even months before it is out of your system.  Now if you take an opiate while the subs are in your system most likely you won't feel much of anything but.... if you have opiate in your system when you first take a sub it will send you into precipitated withdrawals which are so bad it sends people to the ER.  That is why your doctor wants you to be in withdrawals when you first take it.

 

[Kalsima]

SuZie is right on with everything she said, I agree that putting people on 16 mg a day , two film strips is too much. I had no problem dropping from two to one in one day. Also, I have heard from so many people how hard it is to get off the last 2 msg, that they stay on it for months to seven years! I just cut my strips down a little more every day, I'm about 1 mg, but I get sick and take a little sliver a patch and it goes away. My doctor told me that Suboxone is a drug to help you get off opiates, to stay on as little as possible. Just to help you detox from the opiates. Staying on Suboxone for years should be illegal he said. It is not meant for that, it is just a means to come of the opiates without the horrible withdrawals and gives you time to feel clean and make reasonable decisions about you're sobriety and work on whatever you need to do to stay clean. Wish you the best, but I agree with SuZie don't stay on long, it will be just another drug to get addictive to, and it's very difficult to get off of the longer you are on it. I wish you the best! Good luck!

 

[JK1976]

I was on methadone treatment maybe 7 or 8 years ago 160mg a day.  It was for a heroin addiction.  After 3 years of methadone i felt like i was chained to the clinic and would never be able to get away.  I then did sboxone for a few years at 24mg a day.  Had to do classes for 6 months but after a few months doc said he would see me i couldnt afford it all without insurance at that time.  I think he prescribed me subutex which is cheaper.  I went down to two pills from 3 easily.  Then to one pill after a 1.5 years then like half of one so 4mg a day after about two years total on subutex i just quit would go days without it untill i felt bad id take like a qaurter and just weened off it all in 2012 or early 2013 i quit just never got it refilled.  Took about 3 weeks and felt normal again.  I still crave opiates but im carefull with what i will take and how long ill do them.  Heroin and methadone daily are very hard to stop hydros and some oxy roxi not as difficult to me.  Any suboxone can be a life saver and really 8mg to 16mg is all thats needed a day.  Some insurance like mine now you dont have to have a refferal call and check with them.

 

[KAL]

You can actually look up local doctors who have the ability to prescribe suboxone, just google local suboxone doctors with your area code. You should call up as many as possible in your area as some will make you come in and be monitored all day. Some will recommend attending an IOP (Intsnsive Outpatient Program) while on a daily suboxone regiment. Then some will just prescribe suboxone so it's up to you to what kind of treatment you decide on. Also try to come in after not using opiates for atleast 48 hours cause if your not in withdrawal and take suboxone it will throw you into the worst withdrawal you've had in your life for about 12 hours. Most doctors do drug screens to see if you have opiates in your system among other stuff. Some will refuse to prescribe if your taking any benzos also btw. Some take insurance and some make you pay cash which can be from $80-500 the first visit so it's best to do your homework on local suboxone doctors before just seeing anyone. 

 

[Kalsima]

@mandraxxOh my god i was just remembering when I switched from methadone to subuxone. I was on 200 mg a day also from a severe heroin addiction. They suggest you get down to at least 30 mg I was only down to 60 mg. I was so sick I was acting crazy taking Xannie bars by the handful and was threatening suicide because I was so sick.,my husband was so worried about me he called the police and I was so out of it I was screaming at them to leave and believe me I hate cops especially after doing 9 months but they were so nice they just wanted me to promise i wouldn't kill myself or them! I'm down to less than 1 8 mg strip and I have relapsed on heroin a few times but after those couple times the allure has worn off because I got so sick from going back to Suboxone too early. I just go once a month still get my 60 a month still no classes but no Benzos so I have become a pro at giving fake observed urines! It sucks because when I lived in California I went to a one stop shop he gave me my Xanax subutex and medical marijuana license for 99 plants. Now if i have marijuana because I'm in Ohio weed is considered a bad Urine. So it definately is a state by state basis!

 

[scottsi69]

Well I am def biased when it comes to subs and PM docs. I live in Fla and ever since the big crack down on the pain clinics there were still many drs to be found who still did PM but now also got their special license to write for subs. My big issue with this is that it's just going from one addictive med to another on which these drs can cash in. Most still accept only cash payments and get u hooked on pk's  and when u had enough they get you hooked on subs. I'm not saying that subs aren't amazing when it comes to saying ppl from wd 's but must admit that it is very shady that you have a dr willing to prescribe pain meds that they know you'll eventually get addicted to but then turn around and put u on meds to get you off the very meds they got you hooked on in the first place. Nothing but a big cash cow for these drs who have to show the state that not only are they legit pm  docs but that they are also "good docs" by helping those addicted, many by their own doing. It's just like a merry go round, patients just need to know when to get off or the ride will never end.

 

[EDSZebra]

I would do your research and just be honest about why you are afraid of seeing a doc with bad reviews, but then provide your doc with the names of docs you would like.  I have done this before.  

I chose to leave pain meds about 5 years back because I truly wanted to know what was real pain.  I went to interview 3 docs first and told them I was in legit PM.  I was not being asked to leave, never failed screens, etc and that I was doing this with the blessing of my pm.  I would NOT be made to do meetings, show up more than once a month, etc.. I finally found a Psychiatrist that agreed with me and I was given script once a month and he did offer helpful counseling at my request.  Ends up my pain was way way out and I could barely get out of bed.  I waited one year before. It was suicide or pain meds.  You have every right to see who you want.  Docs start treating us like criminals and it is  a perverse discrimination and you have to have fortitude to be a pm patient.  Best wishes to you, really!!