Long term Buprenorphine user

[McFunk]

Hello ~In 2005 after years of having been prescribed opiates for chronic pain and becoming physically dependent I was prepared to detox and stop. Experiencing the withdrawal symptoms from the long acting opiates was nightmarish. After a month withdrawal and being completely debilitated I was still sick and nowhere near ready to return to work or resume my daily family/ parental responsibilities. I found myself at a crossroads and made the decision to start taking Buprenorphine daily.
I have not relapsed over the last 17 years and never have cravings. That’s the good part.
I feel very vulnerable being on a medication that if for any reason I am unable to access, within a day I will be very sick and unable to function.
Finding the best dose has been challenging. I receive my medication from a compound pharmacist who is able to make small adjustments allowing me to easily titrate higher or lower. I have been hovering around 5 mg a day for the last several years.
There are a lot of days I don’t feel that great and wonder to what degree the buprenorphine is playing a role. I have read in posts from other long-term patients that the medication leaves people feeling draggy or foggy after a while. Has that been your experience? I would welcome hearing from others who have been taking the medication for years.

[rule62]

I've been on it since 2010 so yes, a long term patient too. My doses used to make me feel tired even after tapering down to 1mg. Finally figured it out last year. Instead of taking my dose in the morning like my doctor wants me to I take it around 3-5pm. It takes over an hour to take effect and even at that low dose it does make me a little tired but not too bad. Mostly it's from reading I think. Combine that with the Suboxone and I have to close my eyes for a few minutes every hour. But it did solve the problem of being tired during the day. Now I'm alert as I should be considering I drive for a living. And no, no withdrawal in between doses even at 1mg. If my pain is acting up then I take my prescribed dose of 2mg's and that works great.

Not sure anyone else will respond. Kind of slow here.

[McFunk]

Thank you for sharing your experience.Nice that you’ve been able to get by on 1 mg.
I experience nightmares if I take my second Buprenorphine dose after 2 pm. It’s a very odd side effect that I haven’t heard anyone else talk about.

[jonathanm1978]

I still check in from time to time... and I've been on Sub, in one form or another, since 2008. I don't really have any complaints.. if I keep myself up and busy, then I don't notice anything at all. If I sit still too long (like just watching TV/etc)..then sometimes I will dose off...

I don't have any long-term or lasting effects that are negative to speak about.

[Crazy_Cat_Lady]

I am long term as well. I hope our forum is still going. Great place.

[McFunk]

Thanks for the post. I am hoping other long term users will share their experience with the medication.

[Crazy_Cat_Lady]

Hi,
I have been on sub a majority of 10 years with approximately 3 or 4 year break here and there. I am hearing about people having dental issues, but luckily mine are still okay.
I do feel rather stuck with it because I really can't function without it. But, with my circumstances I don't see it as being a big problem. I basically keep my dose as it's supposed to be, and I am normally pretty good.
I hope to taper down from 12 mg, but for now I keep it there. Definitely foggy at times.
Best day to all.

[rule62]

CCL, I am surprised that you are still on such a high dose after all these years. Too much makes me sleepy so I tapered down to one 2mg film a day and it works great.

How did you manage to get off it for those 4 or 5 years? And how did you feel while off it? Someday I may need to taper off but not if I can help it. It does seem like it's being more and more accepted by society so we may not have a problem staying on it long term. Wouldn't it be terrible if a person couldn't get anymore when they were in their 80's or 90's? That would not be very good and I hope it never happens.

Thanks for coming back and posting. This place is like a ghost town.

[Crazy_Cat_Lady]

Hey Rule,
I definitely should taper down, and I admit I am probably dosed too high even for my needs.
I really do worry about the long term effects on my internal organs, but for now I feel basically okay. It's probably normal for me to be foggy, and I did just recently reduce from 16mg. I intend to get down to 8 before too much longer.
I quit for a few reasons. One reason was that my insurance wasn't paying for it, and prices at the pharmacy were near 25 and 30 each. I literally couldn't afford it. I did do a stint in a rehab and somehow I just lived without it a few years. Two years ago, insurance prices came down and I was able to afford it again.
Truthfully, I appreciate the medicine, but I worry about long term health effects and I hope to taper down more this year.

My life has been kinda ridiculous up until I started college 4 years ago. Drugs were really all that I knew. I'm much better and self improved, so I will hopefully continue reducing my dose.

That said, I appreciate the medicine tremendously and I will probably take it at least 3 years more.

Thanks for being here! So good to be back!