Posted by pseudoname on January 2, 2006, at 12:40:58
In reply to Buprenorphine for anxiety and depression, posted by reefer on January 1, 2006, at 16:50:33
> As some of you might remember i earlier posted about me using Subutex
Hi, reefer. Yes, I read your post about self-prescribing bupe. *I* am now taking Subutex for depression because of what I read on Babble! Mostly Elizabeth S.'s posts.
> Very mild withdrawal
I'm glad to hear that.
> I would have to lie that i'm addicted to opioid drugs
Yeah, at a drug-abuse clinic, you'd probably have to lie to get bupe. At some, you'd have to test positive for opioids. If you want buprenorphine for depression, I would say do NOT go to any doctor who is listed by SAMHSA as having the special bupe license to treat addicts. I think it would be harder to get it for off-label purposes there.
> Subutex can only be prescribed for the indication of opioid substitution therapy by doctors licensed to do so
Buprenorphine can only be prescribed (in USA) by doctors with special SAMHSA waivers WHEN GIVEN TO *ADDICTS*.
But if the bupe is used only to treat pain or depression or anxiety, ANY doctor with a Schedule III license (basically, any doctor) can prescribe it. And any medicine including opioids can be prescribed off-label.
A lot of docs don't understand those laws. Mine didn't at first. If yours doesn't, show her the regulations and have her call a top-notch pharmacy to ask about it. That should clear things up.
Also, you could try getting the pain-med Buprenex, which is a liquid form of bupe (intranasal, sublingual or injected) that anyone can prescribe. It's never used to treat addicts.
You may want to try a pain clinic that has a pdoc on staff and that is not listed by SAMHSA. They might have experience with bupe off-label.
I assume you've used lots of drugs recreationally (given your nickname & black-market contacts). That may make pdocs reluctant to give you controlled substances. They don't want to get sued later for addicting someone to Subutex — they probably have no insurance for off-label prescriptions. And they don't want to enable someone's diversionary re-sales, for which the *docs* could get in serious trouble. So you should be willing to settle for Suboxone (less abusable, supposedly).
But especially since you've already had benefit of it and know you can tolerate it, I think you should be honest about your situation and history. If 8 mg lasted you 14 days, you were at a pretty low dose. I take up to 4mg a day; other non-addicts take even more for depression.
It may take some looking for a willing pdoc. If you're very honest and clear about •what you want and •how you know it benefits you and •how you already know you don't get dependent on it, lots of pdoc may be willing help you out. Also, print out the research & bring it in.
Subutex is the only "antidepressant" that's ever really worked for me. I've been on it 7 weeks.
poster:pseudoname
thread:594031
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20051231/msgs/594349.html