Posted by bottlecappie on June 29, 2008, at 0:39:19
In reply to Re: Opiates, oxycodone, posted by undopaminergic on June 27, 2008, at 17:36:33
I have been taking Suboxone for the past 8 months. Prior to that, I had suffered from treatment resistant double depression since my early teens (I'm mid-30's now). I also have chronic pain due to fibromyalgia, and I was addicted to oxy, morphine and dilaudid.
Suboxone is without a doubt the best antidepressant I've ever taken. Since I started sub, I've had the longest unbroken span of time without a depressive episode or decompensation.
I currently take 8mgs a day, in a split dose because I get the best analgesic effect that way. I've tapered down to this dose from 16mgs, and some days I get by on only 4mgs. The main difference I perceive between 4mgs and 8mgs is the amount of time my pain is controlled. It seems that even though buperenorphine binds to the opiate receptors for a really long time, the analgesic effect still wears off after 4-6 hours.
I disagree that there is no added benefit to the higher dose, just based on my personal experience. I definitely feel it when my afternoon dose kicks in, physically and mentally. It doesn't really get me high or anything, but it does make me feel better.
I really hope that more research on the antidepressant effects of buprenorphine will be done. My best friend suffered horribly from refractory depression and ptsd, and since she's been on suboxone she's like a new person. It's amazing, really.
poster:bottlecappie
thread:835899
URL: http://www.dr-bob.org/babble/20080626/msgs/837103.html