what are the long term effects from using Suboxone?

I have been on suboxone for years & was recently diagnosed with interstitial cystitis(talk about pain from HELL- like pissing razor blades!) so I've been trying to counteract that by drinking tons of water to flush it through & yes, the constipation makes me wonder if I'm going to develop colon cancer. Talk about always trying to be near a bathroom. I have never had heroin but what else is there for chronic pain??!

It sounds like withdrawal. Sub is the worst in terms of long term effects (used as a maintenance drug). Extreme depression, restless leg, extreme fatigue, low interest, stomach issues, sinus issues the list goes on...these are the effects you'll feel while tapering and when you stop. Unfortunately these symptoms lasted about 6 months for me. The depression lasts longer. It seems like I've become resistant to antidepressants since subs. I advise anyone to get off of it as soon as possible. Go to meetings or some group therapy. You'll need other ppl to talk to. Good Luck and hope you're well

I took suboxone for three yrs and it eventually will cause some horrible side effects while taking it and worse effects when off of it, depending on how long you were on it. I've been off of it now for over a year and I am no way the same as I was before taking it. I too have anxiety that wasn't there before taking suboxone. Many aches and pains, which btw the doctors can not pin point or explain. I'm tired all the time and I still feel as if my personality is being damped down like when I was while on suboxone. When I started suboxone my vision was 20/20 and I believe as a result of the three yrs of taking it, I now have to wear glasses and where my teeth were strong and healthy, I have now lost three of them and another three have had root canals. This is while still brushing at least twice a day and flossing daily. IMO suboxone isn't getting well, it's a substitution of drugs and dealers. Suboxone is the new drug and the doctors have become the dealers. Not to mention it cost a fortune to be on. ...My advice, GET OFF OF IT NOW!

P.S. I'm not a doctor but I do have experience with this drug. If you do get off of it ...you MUST taper down before stopping. You can taper fairly quickly, meaning dropping by 2mgs per week until you reach 2mg's a day, then you need to tapers in .5mg, dropping down once a week until you reach .025mg per day before stopping. Take a lot of vitamin C thereafter as C will help remove it from the opiate receptors in your brain. You can also use kratom as it will stop the withdrawal in it's tracks but you only want to take it no longer than one month. I hope and pray every one of you can get off this drug with success! Life is not meant to be lived like this.

Don't take suboxen---your teeth will fall out or disintegrate. Seriously!

after being on Vicodin for two years suboxone was a lifesaver. Still is. I tapered down and went to 1/8 a film per day. Even with this small of an amount I had to get the scrip refilled and take pain mess just to help with withdrawals. I was on subs for about a year and was not abiding. After 4 days of withdrawal and still feeling horrible I had to go back on subs. Be very careful, for the half life is much stronger than pain meds. The sweaty no sleeping, loss of appetite, and plain hatred for life. Once back on it all went away. Once you can go to a very low amount....only take a super small amount when absolutely needed. Sub withdrawl is worse than vikes if u ask me. Once you go through withdrawals enough to make just that go away is like a high in its own. To anyone that is battling overcoming this addiction and living a normal lie I wish you the best. Take the smallest amount and only when u need it. Your body will tell you when it's necessary and when it's a small enough amount, and keep going smaller, you can overcome.

For me the suboxone dried my mouth out horribly. I called it "glue mouth" because that's what it felt like. I did not know then how much that contributed to tooth decay. I've always taken care of my teeth, they are cavity prone and I had a fortune in fillings, root canals and crowns. The stupid dentist I'd been seeing for years never mentioned dry mouth when my upper teeth started crumbling and literally falling apart. After I lost one in the front I very stupidly and naively decided to get dentures. This dentist pulled 9 teeth that did not need to be pulled and I entered denture hell. I do mean HELL! My mouth was so dry I couldn't stand the palate and I never could get used to eating with them. Finally after 4 years I got 6 implants - not the mini one's, the one's that fuse to your bone, to support an upper bridge. It cost a lot of money but I finally got my life back. I was on sub for 5 years with a dr whose opinion was that I couldn't go off of it. I quit over a year ago and I have not recovered mentally yet and may never. Please, please just use it for detox. It is a wonderful drug for that but not for long term use. I am now suffering from severe depression that seems to just get worse. Most days when I wake up I wish I had just died in the night. It is horrible.

Been on sub for a year and feel like my dr enjoys filling my script for a lot more than I need. This is sometimes good because his office can be incompetent when it come to dealing with my insurance and getting them authorizations. In which case I would have ran out and suffered badly. Have you weened off and if so how long did it take. I hate it and wanna quit so bad.

I take 3mg week now. Can I do 2 mg week, 1.5 mg week, 1mg week, .5 mg week, .25 mg week and then stop? What's kratom? Sorry but I feel like my dr would love to keep me on this forever and I hate it. Thx for the help

I am about to be where you're at, or possibly not since this was written a year ago. But my situation is Very similar as in I have been taking any where from 7 to 15 tens per day for almost 2 1/2 years and realize I have a problem that is so hard to resolve because of the euphoric feeling they give you, who doesn't want that?? I am also sick of spending almost All of my money to continue with this habit so... I am about to take part in a clinical study with the suboxone basically in a different format from what I gather, it's like a paid rehab, so I am praying that this is effective in getting me off of the pain killers, however in my research I am now getting a bit nervous that I'm just trading one addiction for another. I am curious to know how you are doing now, over a year later, and if you have any advice for someone like me that seems to be just a little behind you in the same life journey. If you find the time to reply I would be greatly appreciative, but if not I truly wish you, and i, the best we can make of these life learnings...

I like this

Been taking subs steady 8 mos now,in a suboxone clinic I'm taking two 8mgrs a day, was hooked on pills 5years before this,I must say taking sub's have kept me 100%clean NO CRAVINGS, feeling good about myself, I'm on some support meds clonidine being one of them,since I decided to take the clonidine I have cut down on the sub's I'm taking a half of 8mgr a day if I even take that the clonidine really do help not take so much sub's, I was taking over 2,1/2 before the clonidine talk to my Dr told him my body is needing more, I think my Dr thought I was BS him and was just wanting more not the case ,so he recommended me taking clonidine so I did I'm taking 4 0.1 mgrs a day and they really ate helping me with not taking the sub's I can go a day or two not needing a sub at all but after that my body will feel me needing a sub so I'll take one,but I'm trying to cut myself down or off before I let me Dr know the sub's have made me sick I believe, I haven't been well since I started this program no energy, always tired,just not wanting to do anything anymore not even go to the store, I'm just now starting to take vitamins hoping it will help with that, but also I have a friend whom I met in this program we became best friends and the sub's really have done a number on her ,with the constipation, she now has a colon disease that has already needed surgery and if these new pills she's on don't help she'll need surgery again these sub's really do it's job getting u off the drugs and stopping the cravings,but it does mess with ur colon and makes u constipated will send u to the e.r,so before u start the sub's please do ur research and know the facts not everyone will have this problem but I know she won't be the only one,he MD told her 100% her disease is from her suboxone use,she said before the sub's she's never ever had a problem with her bowel before ,now this is something she gots to live with this disease for the rest of her life! At times I tell her I was way healthier taking the pain pills then being on the sub's,and often ask myself if this is even worth it,as sick as I've been these past 7 mos good luck everyone, I wish u the best and please know long term use of suboxone will give u issues, from ur bowels to ur teeth to just not having any life in u,so please do ur research and know if ur willing to deal with all the side effects the Dr's DON'T tell u about ,u gota read up on these sited from real people having real problems from it,sub's isn't for everyone,and everyone will experience different issues from it,but constipation and bowel problems will prolly be everyone's #1problem good luck all DO UR HOMEWORK ON SUBOXONE FIRST!!!

I've been on suboxone since 2005 and I haven't touched any other drug since but am very concerned on getting of them someday cuz to be honest there is no long-term research on this drug it came out in 2003 and no one knows what happens if u take it for years on end and stop , but as far as side effects it has destroyed my teeth and if I don't have it the withdrawal s are worse than herion for me
.suboxone should be taking of the market because it's bad sh*t no matter how rehabs or doctors talk it up

Are you in a 12 step program? If not get in one asap. Also find an addiction specialist in your area who can wean you off properly. Without a good program and Dr it can be very difficult.

Any chance of some new type of med to help come off suboxone? I know it sounds silly, but, with such advancements in medicine, I see there are things like Mucuna or L-dopa and certain Parkinson medications that help people with certain dopamine sickness, meaning, an herbal remedy that really works on the receptors WITHOUT the dreaded withdrawal of MONTHS of trying to come off of subs.

I got addicted to pain meds going thru cancer.......went on suboxone 6 years ago and have tried many times to get off this medication for many reasons....health for 1.....money.....lack of energy.....stomach issues.....etc....could go on and on....I don't know what the answer is but I'd sure like to get off these damn things!!!