Posted by Elizabeth on October 30, 2001, at 23:24:38
In reply to Re: Elizabet, Hattree, posted by JeffH on October 30, 2001, at 14:11:21
> Elizabeth, his name was Jonathan Cole.
Ahh! He's very well known and respected, and he's spoken at meetings of the depression and manic-depression support group that meets at McLean.
> Though I don't think he was directly involved in Bodkin's study, he seem thoroughly knowledgeable about buprenorphine.
He was listed as an author on the article that resulted from that study, although that could mean anything (or nothing).
> Frankly, initially I was a bit nervous about getting through so quickly that I may have misunderstood what he said about buprenex. Maybe it did have something to with this drug being available in the near future for outpatient treatment for addiction issues.
Well, the other thing about that is that right now it's only available in an injectable solution. A sublingual formulation (it has very poor bioavailability when taken orally) is being studied for treating opioid dependence, and doctors would definitely be much more at ease prescribing that. Sublingual buprenorphine is marketed as Subutex or Temgesic in other countries.
> A drug like buprenorphine is attractive because it loses its effectiveness as the dosage is upped, so addiction doesn't seem to a factor.
I don't think it becomes less effective, but there's a ceiling (a pretty low one) on how much more you can take and get more effect -- if you go past the ceiling dose, it won't work any better. (I don't know where the ceiling is.)
> In my case, it's sure worth a try, even if if doesn't work for me. I have nothing to lose.
I know the feeling. Best of luck to you.
-elizabeth
poster:Elizabeth
thread:82364
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20011025/msgs/82714.html