Switching From Suboxone To Methadone (Top voted first)

I've been on the highest dose of suboxone for about a year now and i don't feel like it's helping at all anymore. I wake up miserable everyday with horrible cravings and i wish i hadn't woken up at all. I want to switch to methadone for pain which is what my family Dr. treats me for. I think my Dr will write for it for pain management. But since i just picked up my suboxone for the month would it be able to be filled and also would the methadone be covered by my welfare insurance? I know he can write for suboxone even though i never asked him to do it since i go somewhere else. I live in Philadelphia i don't know if that makes a difference. Anyway any help would be greatly appreciated.

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So tomorrow, due to new state regulations and financial status, I have to switch from suboxone to methadone! Can anyone out there tell me if I need to wait any longer than my dose of suboxone today(24mg) to be able to start on a dose of methadone tomorrow... I don't need any of the "methadone is worse..no wait suboxone is worse"... I simply need an answer from someone who has switched from suboxone to methadone and how the wait if any was...and how the methadone effected you the next day, etc.. I alsoknow switching ththe other way around and aboit precipitated withdrawals...but that's not my case! Thanks!

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Hi, its not working for you anymore because you have the ceiling effect. It means in order to feel better, you have to reduce your dose. Then you will notice the difference in how you feel.
Also methadone is an extremely hard drug to detox off. People have been known to feel w/d's for 3-6 months. Subutex/suboxone is not as intense but can last up to 3 months for your energy to come back.
But do what you feel will make you better and more content with yourself.
Everybody is different, you may find methadone works for you. Anyway good luck with whatever you choose to do !!

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I am a 40 year opiate addict and spent 20 years on methadone maintenance. I felt tremendous the entire 20 years on the program. I had energy, I felt healthy, my anxiety went away, I stopped using street drugs and I raised 6 children while being a single mother.

I switched to suboxone last year. I havent felt right since. I can't sleep, I have extreme anxiety, and it doesnt last the entire 24 hours and I need to cut it. I am switching back to methadone and I cant wait.

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Methadone and suboxone can't be taken together.. it's deadly My older sister had a bad experience w that. but as far as your insurance I'm from Alabama and its not the same medication so your insurance would cover your medication.. Good luck In your switching over...

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Please keep posting on your switch from Sub to Methadone. I would like to do the same thing but I'm having a difficult time finding the info I need to make that decision. I was on Methadone for several yrs and was very successful at weaning myself off slowly. After a relapse 2 yrs ago I went on Suboxone, worst mistake of my life. The detox stories from extended use are terrifying- makes Methadone detox look like a walk in the park. I want to go back onto Methadone and then wean myself off again, I just don't know how and I don't trust the doctors (too much conflict of interest). Very curious to know what dose or how much withdrawl from Subs one must have to make the switch safely.

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I hate to break it to u but ive been on sub for 3 yrs and it had been a nightmare with headaches and chest pain. Numbness in face arms etc... went to a lot of doctors trying to get info. finally a doc told me that subxone was hard to get off of because not only does it remain in your body longer than other drugs, it has that blocker which does effect the brain. in fact most people will have side effects many years later so methadone is way safer than suboxone. anything that has a blocker dealing with the brain better run the other way

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@Moxie143,

TwoFaced is correct when saying that Methadone and Suboxone can't be taken together. With that being said, you should ask your doctor to help you ween off of the Suboxone so that the majority of it is out of system before trying out the Methadone.

If I can offer any more advice, it would be to try and take a more natural approach to becoming pain free. For example, it has been proven that exercise is one of the best ways to battle pain. Basically, if you stop moving, your body will slowly shut down and deteriorate; making it much more difficult to deal with the stressors of daily life. It makes sense doesn't it? Web MD quotes: "Exercise improves your pain threshold,†says Trent Nessler, PT, DPT, MPT, a vice president with Champion Sports Medicine in Birmingham, Ala. “With chronic pain, your pain threshold drops -- in other words, it takes less pain to make you feel more uncomfortable. With cardiovascular, strengthening, and flexibility exercise, you can improve that pain threshold.â€

Essentials oils can also be used for pain, here's a link to a page that gives info about different oils for pain relief: experience-essential-oils.com/essential-oils-for-pain.html

I really hope this advice helps!

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Thanks for the replies. I'm not trying to take them at the same time. (I'm not that insane) I want to get off the suboxone and switch to methadone. I think if i tell my family dr. that it's for pain (which he knows i have) then he will write me a script for methadone. I think it would work better because the suboxone is no longer controlling my cravings. Methadone has helped me in the past. I know it sounds crazy but methadone withdrawal was 10 times easier for me.

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Just read your other comment about methadone. You sound like you knoe what your doing so best of luck : )

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IM TRYING TO DO SAME EXACT THING CAN ANYONE OFFER REAL ANSWERS? HOW LONG DO SUBS TAKE TO GET OUTTA UR SYSTEM IF I GET DOSED W METHADONE THURS WHEN SHOULD I STOP W MY SUBS

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It works the opposite. If on sub's you can take any opiate\opioid. But while on an opioid if you take sub's you will go into bad WD. I've been on both, each three years. Its a waste while on either cuz they block the effects.

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SUBS ONLY BLOCK SOME OF UR BRAINS RECEPTORS METHADONE BLOCKS ALL OF THEM JS

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It will not throw you into withdrawals but u may have to take a high dose to feel it. Js if u were switching from methadone to suboxone u would be sick as hell

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Why not just detox from Suboxone by using short acting opiotes for 2-3 months? Then jump off those after a taper down, and just be sick for 5 days after you are totally switched over.

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I made the switch from sub to methadone. It's been good. had some w/drawl. I think my dose of methadone was a lower equivalent? than the sub. But I'm feeling (semi) normal and the sweats, chills, etc. have been manageable. Am hoping this will be a stepdown thing for me. The sub's were godawful and impossible to get off of cold turkey

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Hi. My name is Chris. I want off suboxone. Can I detox from it with methadone use for a short period of time?

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I took 8 mgs of suboxone yesterday and 8 mgs of suboxone this morning. Would it be dangerous to take 105 mgs of methadone?

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How long after taking suboxone can u take methadone? I've been taking methadone daily (250mg) for years and today I was out of methadone so I took suboxone. Am I in for a s***storm?

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Re: TwoFaced (# 1)


You're right and wrong. Quickly is best n how its supposed to work. I've been on subs for 10 years n for the answer above please dont switch. I'm not sure what ur searching for. A strong medicine or something that works to get u off all meds. Methadone is stronger n longer lasting. But suboxone is better in many ways. It's a blocker too. Over time you'll get better. I'd stick with what ur doing. Maybe taper soon too if possible. Cause u don't want to go backwards.

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Re: Kcorporon (# 19)

Total S**T storm if the suboxone has naloxone in it..Precipitated W/D oh i feel for you

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