Posted by Elizabeth on October 29, 2001, at 18:58:27
In reply to Re: some suggestions, posted by JeffH on October 29, 2001, at 14:13:15
> I played Secretary of State and tried to call Dr. Bodkin to see if he or one of his colleagues would do a consult with my doctor. He was out, but I talked to a doctor who works closely with him. Amazing. Friendly man, could have been talking to a plumber about what kind of pipe to put in my bathroom.
Cool -- did you get his name, by any chance?
> This doctor told me the news that within the next six months, the FDA will approve buprenex (which is buprenorphine, right?) so it is readily available.
No, Buprenex has been FDA-approved for some years now -- but only for pain, and it's illegal to use it for treating opioid dependence except in a special clinic (just like methadone or LAAM). A new law needs to be passed in order for doctors to be able to prescribe buprenorphine to regular outpatients for maintenance treatment of addiction.
> The codeine I got as a result of some dental work -- I remember it taking away some of my apathy/adhedonia for a short time.
When I had my wisdom teeth out I got hydrocodone, and that's how I found out that opioids work for me. I'd had codeine before but that didn't do much (didn't help much with the pain, either!).
> I also remember having my wisdom teeth removed as a teenager. Though I wasn't given an opiate, the gas I was administered as an anesthetic was so beautiful that the dentist threatened to stop the procedure if I didn't calm down. I remember my rapid breathing - I was in total ecstacy.
I'm guessing that the anaesthetic you got was nitrous oxide. I got a very fast-acting intravenous general anaesthetic when I had my wisdom teeth out -- all I remember is starting to count backwards from 10, and then waking up to find it was all over.
> Ultram, how is that different than Tramadon?
Ultram is the US brand name of *tramadol*.
> These other opioids are worthy options because I'm finding out quickly how unfamiliar doctors are with buprenorphine.
Give them a copy of the article by Bodkin et al.
> I find myself almost totally unable to be even remotely passive now in finding a treatment, yet I am discovering being too aggressive is as bad as being too passive when dealing with doctors.
Yes...you have to walk a fine line to work with them well.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:82364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82616.html