Because they’ve stopped making generic oxycontin, I will be switching to methadone for pain management. I’ve done quite a bit of research and learned it is an effective pain reliever. My concern is, will I experience oxy withdrawal? I understand it is rather painful and want to be prepared. My doctor assures me there will be no discomfort but I’m still afraid. I am uncomfortable about taking methadone at all but because of 4 back surgeries. the first being a botched job, I have debilitating back pain that requires relief. Will I experience withdrawal during this transition? I am aware of all the risks with taking this drug and treat my instructions with the utmost respect. Can anyone out there tell me what to expect during the switch?
Serious answers only please.
I want to thank everyone for their answers. You’ve been very helpful. It’s really something to feel support from people I don’t even know! Thanks very much.

I started taking suboxone in October after spending several years in pain managment where I was on methadone.I used methadone for about 2 years,but towards the end and increasing in dosage-100mg/day of the pain managment. I was unable to get and keep an erection.I told the doctor about this but he said it was meth or nothing.He gave me instructions to taper off the methadone-which I followed exactly.However,I was really going through bad w/d.So I called a subox.Dr and he put me on 16mg of suboxone/day-in October of 2007-way too high of a dose-shouldve been 4.I took this for 2 months.I have cut back to about 3 mg of suboxone on a good day, and 6 on a bad day.I want to get off suboxone all together.I’m scared to death I’ll need an opioid in an emergency, and it will block all treatment for me. Plus, I’m due to have neck surgery this fall and I’m not sure what to do for the pain afterwards.Plus I still have a lot of pain, and nothing eases it anymore.Suggestions to get off suboxone?
When I say good day and bad day, I mean how much subox to quiet the WDs I sometimes have after taking 3mgs several days in a row. I’m more addicted to suboxone than the methadone I was on. The doctor started me out way too high of a dose at 16mg per day- should have been 4-8 mg. I’m just scared of needing emergency pain relief and nothing being able to help. Plus if I have a major surgery, I will need help with pain as well. I tried quitting suboxne from 8 mg to 0 mg for 5 days, but I had terrible WDs. I tried to take a Vicodin ES, and I felt nothing. So suboxone stays in the system quite long- which is why I really want to get this crap out of me. I really should have tapered down with methadone, but the doctor was so arrogant that I hated dealing with him.He treated pain managment patients as thieves or something just trying to get narcotics.The pain doctor really got me screwed by suggesting the “safe methadone” pain managment approach. That stuff and suboxone are a pain!
Thank you both for the wonderful answers. There’s really no way for me to choose who has the better answer- I think you can both agree.
Based on the only pain Dr I’ve seen, and the only subox Dr I’ve seen, it appears by their atttitudes that I would have a very hard time going back for pain treatment with methadone. All pain doctors would want all of my medical records, and the prior methadone pain treatment then switching to suboxone would show up. I’m worried that because of this, I’d be blacklisted from most pain doctors. It’s amazing the arrogance these people have about treating people for pain- I guess it’s caused by a few people looking to get high- I’m not really sure-maybe its pressure from the medical community itself.
FYI, I am probably going to have discs in my neck fused together- which the Drs I’ve met with say there is about a 50% change of success that it will help the pain, but the con is that I will forever lose range of motion in my neck.

I am a 22 year old male, and I was wondering if any of you guys had some personal experience with Suboxone.. This does not include medical professionals that have never taken Suboxone, b/c of the simple fact that they have never experienced it, therefore don’t exactly know the true experience of detoxing. The doctors that I have seen all tell me that there is NO withdrawal symptoms when stopping Suboxone, and that is a DAMN LIE… Anyways, I started on 2mg(TID), and worked myself down to taking 2mg once or twice a day, is this too much to jump off of, or is it okay at that point?? I haven’t taken anything in about 24 hours, and all I am experiencing is being realy cold and a small lack of energy. Also, if there is anything that helps detox(besides other RX’s like Xanax and stuff..) that would be greatly appreciated. I also take Adderall XR 15mg(BID), and have heard that this can help with detoxing. Thanks for your time, and hopefully you will have some pointers for me!
If I were you, I would do the suboxone on the lowest amount for 2 weeks. The longer you take it, the worse the w/d’s will be. I took Sub for about 6 months, and I am struggling with these w/d’s. Of course they aren’t as bad as full antagonist opiates, but it’s still pretty shitty. There is a Sub detox strategy online somewhere, that tells you how to do the 14-21 day detox. But, you need to force yourself to start at the lowest dose possible, so your move-downs will end sooner. For example, if you start at 4mg, taper down .5mg every 3 days or so, and so on. This might help you decide on how much to take. 1mg Sub = 20mg full antagonist opiates(I know there will be people to disagree, but that is an avgerage, depending on what full antagonist you compare it to). I was probably as far out as you can be, without doing heroin(upto sucking the gel out of 100mcg fentanyl patches), and I started off at 2mg and was fine. Good luck!
I don’t know how to respond to answers b/c it doesn’t show “respond” anywhere. Above is the response to your question, Mike.

Been on methadone for 5 yrs now only on 30mgs. I cant stand the side effects anymore. The weight gain, the bad skin, the teethe rotting etc.. Wanna switch to subonxone cause it doesn’t have side effects and easier to detox off of. BUt, i am scared and need to know if i will be okay, is this the right decision or should i just detox off methadone (could take another 6 months or more )

I have been on methadone maint. for 4 years due to a hydrocodone addiction that was prescribed for spinal fusion operation that failed.I was in severe withdrawal one day from running out of Vicodin,and in total desperation I enrolled at the methadone clinic for a dose of 40 mg. to get me out of what was a hellish,sickness that was unbearable at the time.So fast forward 4 years later and I have gradually (and painfully)lowered my dose from 85mg. to 31mg.Even lowering 1mg a week is difficult.I seem to get sick before my dose is due.I tried Suboxone,that was weak and didn’t work.Rapid detox has been a idea to consider,but lately I hear horror stories about deaths and clinics being sued.Has there been any news about other treatments lately?Or can you share your treatment if any?