Buprenorphine(Suboxone/Subutex) and liver problems

Wow you are way off base. Their is a difference between substance dependance and addiction. The lady you are reffering too is considered chemically dependant. Their is no difference between her and Jane Doe being chemically dependant on seroquel in order to treat schizophrenzia. Next, you describing her as getting "high" is incorrect. The proper terminology, at least clinically is Euphoria. Euphoria is considered a side effect, and that ALWAYS disspated after 3-5 days regardless. Finally, it's the mu receptor, not -u receptor. These are filled by endomorphins a class of beta-endorphins not related to the enkiphlins and other receptor cites that receive a endorphinergic response to either heroin or methadone. Hence, you have made severall incorrect statements in a clinical sense. However, what really worrries me as the effect your statements could have in a life or death situation to someone who is actually clinically addicted to an opiod. Please use caution in the future when presenting half/truths, ie. referring to the mu receptor as a pleasure pathway (correct) than using terms such as addiction and euphoria in (incorrect) assertions. I am speaking on a spirtually level on behalf of the Ashtar commend, and the Archangel Michael's legions of light. And so it is.........

Response:

Wow you are way off base. Their is a difference between substance dependance and addiction. The lady you are reffering too is considered chemically dependant. Their is no difference between her and Jane Doe being chemically dependant on seroquel in order to treat schizophrenzia. Next, you describing her as getting "high" is incorrect. The proper terminology, at least clinically is Euphoria. Euphoria is considered a side effect, and that ALWAYS disspated after 3-5 days regardless. Finally, it's the mu receptor, not -u receptor. These are filled by endomorphins a class of beta-endorphins not related to the enkiphlins and other receptor cites that receive a endorphinergic response to either heroin or methadone. Hence, you have made severall incorrect statements in a clinical sense. However, what really worrries me as the effect your statements could have in a life or death situation to someone who is actually clinically addicted to an opiod. Please use caution in the future when presenting half/truths, ie. referring to the mu receptor as a pleasure pathway (correct) than using terms such as addiction and euphoria in (incorrect) assertions. I am speaking on a spirtually level on behalf of the Ashtar commend, and the Archangel Michael's legions of light. And so it is.........

I've been on suboxone for about three years now :-( and my doctor hasn't giving me not one blood test. Recently, I've been experiencing a lot of stomach pain and lost a lot of weight.

I am scared that I may have damaged one of my organs (liver). Any feedback?

One thing I don't agree with is that you blame your doctor for prescribing too much and to long, after all he was not forcing you to take the hyrdrocodone, you could have said no. Just think of the pain you would have been in if he did not prescribe them which probably means you would have chosen some other physician to help you with your pain issues anyway... :)

I have been on 16 mg of suboxone a day my doctor sent me out for liver tests. normal liver numbers are between 10 and 40 mine came back at 210. i believe the enzyme they count is ATL or something. anyway i would get headaches from the subs so i would take tylanol and that with subs will most definatly give you high liver enzymes. i didnt know i had a problem no side affects at all i am glad he ordered blood work

So what happens now? Are you reducing your dose then getting more liver test?

I was a opiate addict for 7 years. In those 7 years i did ALOT of damage to my liver and often was walking around with bright yellow eyes. I tested negative for hepc though. about 2 years ago I was told about suboxone and started having them perscribed from a doc. 90 a month....1 3x a day......My liver is actually now getting better. no more yellow eyes and i feel great.
Another thing is...my cousin has been on drugs for 20 some years....he doesnt feel high unless he shoots up whatever it is he has. well with all the shooting up came hep c. he started a treatment for the hep and has to go weekly to it. his 1st time in he failed a drug test and they kicked him out of the program. when he finally got back in to see the doc at the treatment center they prescribed him 8mg suboxones. the doc told him this is the only "drug" they allow to be used by people doing treatment. They said the affects it has on your liver is very minute and drinking 2 beers a day is twice as bad.
Now i have been narcotic free for 2 yrs and he has a year under his belt.
If you dont take subs dont judge. Its not a drug to get u high its a drug to maintain your life and do so w/out killing yourself

I have been on suboxone for probably two years n take about 24mg a day. They have worked great and I never have cravings to use. I have blood tests done regular and my liver has been good. I do get headaches a few times a week. I do experience constipation regularly. I have lighter colored stools and darker urine. I have tested neg for hep c. I was wondering if anybody else has experienced this. I do drink less fluids on the program and sometimes go up to four days without bowel stools. Is this regular? I experience no euphoria despite the dose, but my friends not dependent on oppiates experience a high similar to heroin from a 2mg dose or less.

Hi there everybody. Best of Luck and well done that you are All heading in the right
I was a Heroin addict for years and have found Buprenorphine(The active ingredient in both Subutex and Suboxone, also Temgesics, though much lower concentrations. I hope I can add the benefit of my 8 years or so on and off of Subutex and Suboxone. Firstly, I will say that it`s fundamentally true that everybody has different biochemistry, E.g. A percentage of people can`t metabolise Codeine. So, Listen to your body and talk to as many others as possible, be aware that some doctors actually DO bother to keep up to date with current research but most don`t. Also be aware that your body will try and tell you that you NEED some substance when sometimes you just want it. Mind over Matter? Willpower is a strange concept :?
Anyhow, I recently had a liver function test and also found that one of my enzymes wasn`t functioning properly. The Good Doctor explained that this was causing my red blood cells to be larger than normal(!??) and prescribed me Folic acid to rectify this and B-Vitamins to Help stabilise my mood as I`m Bi-Polar and have an appetite that has has a mind of it`s own. (I`m not one of those people who can Force myself to eat.) Basically, the long and short is that I`m fairly sure that the Buprenorphine or possibly naltrexone(Some people are hyper-sensitive to Oral Natrexone) has caused this Liver dysfunction, as I have always also had good Liver Function when clean from Opiates, even if drinking more than is recommended. Since taking the Folic Acid and B-Vits, I feel myself again, physicaly, and my mood has improved. Alternatively, it could be artificial sweeteners as I developed a taste for a couple of brands of Cheapish Cider(No, not White Frightening :!: ).
Whichever way, It has done the trick, so buy some OTC FA and BV`s or ask your doctor. As for the guy who is injecting Subutex, I have to say that I did for yaers, sometimes taking as much as 64mg IV per day, usually 16-32mgs in 8mg hits. I didn`t like ever having to inject anything, so no needle fixation previous to Subutex, or after, excepting Subutex. Personally I find IV Bup and Sublingual Bup to be very different, but have no Pharmacological basis for this. To anybody who is injecting Subutex, There is a relatively safe way to do so at The liquid in the needle should look CLEAR or almost so.
Regarding w/drawals from Sub`s, I`ve done it a few times now and my experience is that it`s not as severe physically as Heroin etc., but it lasts about two weeks, and I don`t start feeling better until 7-10 days after stopping, as opposed to 3/4 days with Heroin. So, it takes some serious endurance and careful planning. I recommend Diazepam and then Zopiclone for the first 3-4 days, or every 2-3 days alternate, as you do NOT want a life threatening Benzo withdrawal
:!:
I do however know some people who have tapered or just stopped Sub`s and only been ill for 3-5 dayz, so...Everybody`s different.
Anyhow, No one said it would be Eeeaaasssssssy!! Best of luck to you All, Thanks for the posts, have just got back online after about a year and is good to not feel like I`m the only Freak out here.
Love, Slack and Light,
Mr Bear


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well i would have to say most of you are probly booters comes with the territory so i would say its probably hepatitis C witch will cause high liver enzyes so get a hep c test

I too experience stomach problems. I do have Hep C, but Doc tells me it is ok for me. I do not agree. Suboxone works so well for cravings, works on my aches and pains, helps with depression. It does not help with fatigue, anxiety, or the guts.

Not sure what I'm going to do from here.

I have been on Suboxone for almost 3 years. I started out at a dose of 18 mg per day. I have now weaned myself down to a dose of 2mg. To those that say this is a miracle drug.. I disagree. Suboxone is just as potent as any opiate based narcotic. The withdrawal from Suboxone can be just as bad as coming off other opiates. The problem is that the half life of Suboxone is much longer than typical opiates. The withdrawal symptoms can last up to 6 months in some people. If I would have been informed of this in the beginning when I started taking it.. I would have refused. Suboxone is only a way for the physicians and drug manufacturers to keep you addicted to a drug that they can make money off of. The cost of Suboxone is absolutely ridiculous and the drug manufacturers know that their "customers" are forced into continued use because of the severe and long-lasting withdrawal symptoms that come when they decide to stop taking it. My advice to anyone that is contemplating starting Suboxone treatment is to realize that you are just being led to believe your being helped when in reality your just trading one addiction for another. As for the people that say it has no side effects.. I beg to differ... Since taking Suboxone, I have experienced periods of severe headaches, nausea, and dizzy spells. I have also had several physicians inform me of the long term effects it could have on my liver.. as with any drug.. your liver has the job of filtering out any unwanted substances... Suboxone is not a natural substance.

I have had "issues" with Subutex also. After a difficult pregnancy with a Downs baby I was dependant on high levels of opiates. I sought out treatment from a MD, was put on 16 mg of Subutex. Now 2 years later I am down to 2 mg daily, and started having real issues about 9 months ago, ranging from weight loss, nausea, vomiting, hair loss, severe chills, joint pain, heart skipping, stomach pain, & depression. I have been to my "doctor" multiple times complaining, not once has he suggested labs or even taken my complaints seriously. Basically I feel he takes my money and hands me a prescription, kind of like a "drug dealer". I am very concerned of the side effects of this drug and what will come out later, down the road, concerning the use of this med. Thank you all for posting the liver issue, as I had NO IDEA! I have now gone to homeopathic treatment to get off this med for good. It is going to be painful I'm sure, but have gotten myself down to 1 mg q day, still have withdrawl, but am going to get completely off this med before its too late. I say listen to your body and what its telling you! (Now to the peson who is shooting this med....why?? Obviously you have no concern of truely being drug free....go get some herion and get on with it. At least herion is safer to shoot..dumbass!)

ive bein on suboxone for a year now only sniffing it cause putting it under my toung dosent seem to work for me. ive bein haveing the same thing going on with my heart ill just being stitting there and my hart will just start going a hundred miles a second i went to the doctor and told him about it but i didnt say anything about the suboxone he gave me a heart monitor do you think i should tell him that ive bein buying suboxone on the street and sniffing?i also am realy tired all the time when im not on suboxone i was just wondering if it could have to do with liver problems

I just want to add one important thing, you most certainly DO get bad withdrawal from subutex and suboxone. I have been on this medication for 3 years due to the fact that I am too scared of the withdrawal of coming off of it. I tried to quit a year ago and the sickness was HORRIBLE! It might not have been as bad as heroine withdrawl but what made it worse is that nothing I took would make me well unless I took suboxone. It was so bad I had relapsed on oxycontin, fentanol, and even heroine but nothing helped. Please do not be fooled about how serious the withdrawal from this medication really is. I guess those of you who have been lied to by doctors about this will be terribly surprised once you get sick of being on it and try to stop taking it. My doctor told me that withdrawal from suboxone was very insignificant, he was wrong. Weening is the only way to do it and it is also hell, it takes a very long time (depending on how long you've been on it) to ween from suboxone.