Detoxing off Suboxone . . . - Sober House (2009) Discussion

[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

I didn't realize suboxone was a tough one to detox off of. Thanks for your answer. I was just curious as to what others thought.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] ConStar8788 14 years ago

Heroine *IS* an opiate. Methadone is a synthetic opiate. Suboxone can be used as treatment for either, although it is most commonly used to treat Oxycontin/Oxycodone addicts. However, it can be used to treat heroin/methadone addicts.

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[–] hoboboxerjoe 14 years ago

As someone who uses methadone as a painkiller (more effective than slow-release morphines, that's for sure), you people shouldn't be stating the uses of these drugs in such a limiting light. Suboxone is hands-down the best detox med to use. IF you get on methadone you will be on it for quite some time.
Plus, methadone you can take other opiates with and get a wicked high, and OD like 5x easier, lol.

Heroin, morphine, and oxycontin withdraws can last up to a week, maybe more if you're unlucky. Then the next few weeks you gotta keep yourself distracted and reward yourself for getting clean, among a huge variety of other things.

Methadone, you are damn lucky if the physical withdraws stop in 2 weeks. It can last up to 6. Someone stole my meds about 2 months ago, I had to wait 10 days to get my methadone filled. It was the worst 10 days of my life. Withdraw pains far beyond anything I've felt with oxycontin and morphine.

But anyway, methadone is a fantastic pain reliever. It's taken away pain that oxycontin and morphine hasn't been able to do. Something about it getting deep into your nerve center. It's also extremely dangerous. You can take it to get high but you'll probably get uber-constipated and sick.

Anyone who's behavior is even questionable should never be released while still taking suboxone or methadone.

To any other people who are addicted to opiates, you have my deepest empathy.

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[–] rhinestone_sunglasses 14 years ago

i am not really sure if ill ever get off of suboxone because this is so normal for me now. I actually feel like I'm not on anything. I do have happiness in my life that doesn't come from dopeland. It's nice to get excited about a trip or buying something...so far from the world i used to live in. I knew the moment I took the pills that hoooked me for so long, that I was making a huge mistake.

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[–] ivony 14 years ago

Tracey,

You make a great point...yeah I'd think they'd have to be "sober" to be in a "sober house". I wonder, though, if perhaps he used during the brief period between shows. I mean, KerriAnn tested positive and obviously she had used in the couple of weeks prior to moving in to sober house.

Additionally, suboxone (like methadone and other opioid detox) requires a gradual tapering off of its use. It's more than possible he is still taking suboxone in a controlled environment...in which case he'd still have symptoms of withdrawl. They just wouldn't be nearly as bad as stopping cold turkey.

It makes me wonder, though, why they wouldn't be more strict with their guidelines regarding sober living.

Sleep, those little slices of death...Oh, how I loathe them! -Poe

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

Ivony - thanks so much for your post. I was just confused as to why he was still in detox-mode when they sent him to sober house lol. But I also didn't realize that suboxone had to be gradually tapered off from.

BTW - I love your signature! I peeked at your bio & horror is my favorite genre of movies, including most of the movies you've listed (Suspiria, Pan's Labyrinth, The Devil's Backbone, The Descent, etc.) But I also noticed you listed A Tale of 2 Sisters, one of my all-time favorites. I'm a huge asian horror movie fan (The Red Shoes, Cinderella, The Ghost, Cello, Princess Aurora, Audition - too many to list lol). I, too, am tired of remakes. I don't know if you don't mind subtitles, but I've watched some great foreign movies lately (not horror, but drama - true stories that are very powerful & sad) - Lilya 4-Ever and The Stoning of Soraya M. Let me know if you know of any good ones - horror or independents. (Sorry for the blabbering, but I get excited when I see other horror movie lovers lol)

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[–] comradebunny 14 years ago

You should visit the horror board here. Lots of people with the same movie tastes as you.

If the zombies are gonna eat us, we might as well be drunk.

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

You should visit the horror board here. Lots of people with the same movie tastes as you.

Thanks so much, comradebunny! I had no idea there was a horror movie board. I'm always looking for horror movies I've never seen or heard of.

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[–] comradebunny 14 years ago

No problem. It's always fun to have new people to discuss horror movies with. I personally love zombie movies. Maybe that's why I watch this show.

If the zombies are gonna eat us, we might as well be drunk.

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

I personally love zombie movies. Maybe that's why I watch this show.

lol comradebunny - Thanks again! I found the board & added it to my favorites. I'm a horror movie junkie lol.

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[–] Nosferatuuuu 14 years ago

I didn't realize there was a horror board on here. I LOVE the horror genre (both books and movies) and I'm glad to know that there is a board for that on here.

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[–] ivony 14 years ago

Tracey,

Unfortunately I somehow missed this reply, I'm sorry for that! I love meeting people who share my horror movie interests and can see beyond the likes of the various (gag me) remakes coming out today. I absolutely LOVE A Tale of 2 Sisters and most Asian horror. The Red Shoes was phenomenal, imo Audition was fantastic as well. I must admit I haven't seen The Ghost yet, but I've got to keep an eye out for it then! I have no problems with Subtitles and often times prefer them...foreign films have something new or different to offer that seems to be lacking in many US movies of late. Plus, I love the subtleties of color and lighting used in most Asian horror...those directors seriously know how to set a mood!

Oh, wanted to mention too (back to the original discussion a sec)...Methadone can also take months to detox from. So even though you haven't used in, say, 3 months you *can* still experience "dope sickness" from Methadone withdrawl. The stuff is AWFUL.

I hope you get this! Thanks for your pleasant reply...would love to chat horror movies with you!

Sleep, those little slices of death...Oh, how I loathe them! -Poe

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Righteous_Bitch 14 years ago

He was sober/clean when he graduated. He relapsed a few days after graduation.

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

Its really hard when your trying to get off drugs and you take a step like getting on suboxen and then people say your still not off drugs or clean.

mike - if it helps any, imo you're clean, and it sounds like you're doing great. If suboxone is helping you maintain your sobriety, then more power to you! You need to do what you think is best to maintain your sobriety; and if that means having to take suboxone to help you, then that's what you need to do. Don't let what others say get to you. They haven't walked in your shoes.

Keep doing what you're doing cause it sounds like you're doing pretty darn good!

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[–] 14 years ago

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

lol mike - well, thank you. I'm just being honest. I don't think people give others who are working so hard on their sobriety enough credit. It just really irritates me at times knowing that some are pretty uncompassionate towards others. And I stand behind what I said. If one has to take suboxone to keep them from abusing the drug of their choice, then more power to them. I'm glad they found something that helps with their cravings. I just think you deserve some credit for working so hard on your sobriety because God knows it's not easy. So keep doing what you're doing!

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[–] miss_mac06 14 years ago

I started taking suboxen about 6 months ago, I was eating painkillers like candy. If someone thinks the "high" you get off suboxen is anything like what you feel on the other stuff, they're crazy. So IMO you're clean, and kudos to you. The amount of opiate really only helps with the pain and nausea for me anyway. It's nothing like it was before.

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[–] rhinestone_sunglasses 14 years ago

to mike indy 317

absolutely...sometimes i feel guilty about being on suboxone myself...but I think of how i was living and i know that i am doing 100 percent better and have recently started lowering and lowering my doses because i'm starting to turn back to a normal person again!

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

He was sober/clean when he graduated. He relapsed a few days after graduation.

Oh, okay! I'd forgotten about that. That could explain why he was in such a crappy mood and detoxing lol.

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[–] achope246 14 years ago

I didn't think he should be allowed in the Sober House. He obviously needs to still be in rehab.

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

I didn't think he should be allowed in the Sober House. He obviously needs to still be in rehab.

achope - I completely agree with you. In real life, he probably wouldn't be allowed to stay in a sober living facility while acting like he was acting.

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[–] Grimm-Grimm 14 years ago

I know Suboxone well. It's much easier to get off of then Heroin. Night and day difference. Suboxone is a great drug to get off Heroin because your not puking your guts out violently dope sick feeling like your dying. Unlike Heroin. I know personally.

As you already know this "Sober House" is a joke. You can't go into a normal sober house still detoxing and on any opiates. When you go to a Sober House, you come straight from the rehab facility and chances are usually that you been in rehab for weeks in which you signed up for a place to go to the Sober House. The people on the show did not go straight to a Sober House. It said on the show that they all had a week in between. What the truth is I don't know. I'd guess longer.

The Sober House they are in is nothing like a real sober house. You can't go to a club/bar while at a sober house. You can't abuse people verbally or physically and you definitely can't come in carrying drugs and on drugs like some of them did in both seasons.

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

Thanks for your great post, monnie. I figured that was the case, but I wasn't sure. I should know better than to even think that in real life this would not be happening in a sober-living facility lol. I do think meds like suboxone are great in helping someone detox from heroin (or opiates? can it be used for detoxing from prescription opiates?), but I was just curious as to why dr. drew kept saying mike was "detoxing" from suboxone. I would've just figured he would have been gradually tapered from it in rehab. But, as we can see, the tv version is much different than the real life version lol.

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[–] rhinestone_sunglasses 14 years ago

suboxone is a good drug...i was a real mess only five months ago and now i'm down to one and a half suboxone a day. it really has changed my life. i don't see why they wouldn't let someone as Hard Core as mike take suboxone just to keep him from whining and belly-aching all day. Why not?

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

rhinestone - I completely agree with you. If there is a medication that can help in keeping one from abusing drugs, then take it! Yes, I've read that suboxone could be "habit-forming." Well, good God, I'd rather see someone stay clean & sober on 3 or 4 (or how many is a safe dose) of a possible "habit-forming" yet safe medication (even if it's for the rest of their life) than to see them go back to abusing a dangerous substance. I'm glad to hear that you're doing much better! And I say that even if you have to continue taking suboxone for the rest of your life, more power to you! IMO there's nothing wrong with that.

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[–] Nosferatuuuu 14 years ago

I agree with you 100%.

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[–] hvn777 14 years ago

You are completely correct. In the real world rehab for mike would have been 60 or 90 days.

But in Dr. Drew's world rehab is 21 days and a paycheck for $28,000.00.

The opening scene of rehab or sober house shows the Hollywood sign... this is the first clue that these shows are less about helping addicts than exploiting them for entertainment.

In the real world people pay about $28,000 for a typical stay at rehab, but here people are getting paid that amount... perhaps their motivation for treatment is payment and how they appear on the small screen rather than the actual "treatment" ...if you can call it that.

The shows do shed light on the struggles of addicts and that is the real value of it. Do they actually help these people? ...well, no, at least probably not as well as a real rehab or sober house would.

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[–] eml3 14 years ago

I'm confused - I thought Drew kept saying that Mike was detoxing off of methadone. If anyone is a canidate for some sort of maintenance therapy, Mike probably is - but I haven't heard anything on the show about maintenance, only about detox - and I thought he was detoxing off of methadone. Did I miss something?

The opiates used in replacement therapies (methadone, suboxone)have a much longer half life than heroin or oxys. That's their advantage. People can stabilize on one dosage a day - then they won't experience the rapid high or the rapid with drawal. The down side of the longer half life is the prolonged withdrawal. Mike's a mess, but I'm not sure keeping him in detox for 30 - 90 days is the answer - though perhaps a week or two in house would have done him some good before coming to sober house... I was very surprised he came home clean after the day out with his sister. Still a little suspicious, and wondering if he somehow beat the test on that one...

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

eml3 - I might be wrong on this, but I was thinking Mike was using methadone before going on Celebrity Rehab (?), but Drew started giving him suboxone towards the end of Rehab cause he was still suffering from withdrawals. (Like I said, I'm not 100% sure on this so someone correct me if I'm wrong.)

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[–] eml3 14 years ago

I thought Drew made commentary during one of the episodes where Mike was acting out about him still withdrawing from Meth, and how that can take as long as 30 - 90 days. I tried to find it, but they took down the older episodes and I couldn't find it in the clips.... so, who knows? maybe I was hearing things...

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

eml3 - You're not hearing things lol. I'm also pretty sure that Drew made a comment about him detoxing from methadone. But sometime ago, he started giving Mike the suboxone (I guess to help withdraw from the methadone) - I just can't remember when. And it's possible that he is still withdrawing from methadone. From what I've read it takes a long time to get over the withdrawals. I can't remember if Drew started talking about Mike taking the suboxone during Celebrity Rehab or Sober House.

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[–] rhinestone_sunglasses 14 years ago

whatever was happening with his suboxone it should have been consistent. it sounded like he was only getting some when he whined for it.

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[–] Tracey73 14 years ago

whatever was happening with his suboxone it should have been consistent. it sounded like he was only getting some when he whined for it.

rhinestone - I never thought of that, but that's a great point. It's either that or he was not properly weaned off it . . .

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