There is a balance of risk with any medical intervention, including buprenorphine treatment, where there are societal issues that fall under the domain of law enforcement and social workers. I am frustrated by the desire of some physicians, particularly those associated with ASAM, to place more emphasis on the societal issues, than on the care of their personal, individual patients. I can hear those doctors now…. ‘we have a duty to protect society.’ In response, I would say doctors FIRST have a duty to their patients…. NOT to ‘their patients’ as a whole, but to each separate, individual, complicated human being. Period.
Making things worse, doctors have bought into the foolish media narrative about the dangers of buprenorphine. I recently heard a doctor say that ‘buprenorphine is the same as heroin, the way people are using it.’ How frustrating that the people who are supposed to be ‘experts’— the people who could serve a role in educating the idiot narrative about ‘getting high from buprenorphine’— know so much less about the medication than their own patients!
Doctors: How many people die from buprenorphine products?
http://www.rehabs.com/pro-talk-articles/the-buprenorphine-diversion-problem/)
Had to get that off my chest
Hi I’m desperate to speak in some manner with with a doctor that really knows what he’s talking about when it comes to pregnancy and subutex. I have been on Sub for 10 years and i took it during pregnancy with my two year old daughter with pretty bad side effects. My poor baby was in the NICU suffering from withdrawl and on Morphine for over a month. i am now 13 weeks pregnant and am scared to death to watch this nightmare occur again. The OB/GYNs know nothing about this drug and the doctors at my clinic that prescribe the meds to me told me last time i had nothing to worry about when it came to my baby. I was told they had many many babies born while their mothers were on this med with minimal problems and none that required hospitalization. I took 12 mg’s during that pg’s and have tapered down now to 8mg’s for this one. I figure the less exposure the better. Please if someone can point me in the right direction i would be forever greatful. I just want to ask a couple questions and get any advice possible.
It is unusual for babies to have severe withdrawal symptoms from buprenorphine. I’ve seen so many babies leave the hospital after 48 hours, with no problems, that I wonder if some places actually make it worse by starting babies on morphine! For specific questions, check out the forum, where you will find many people who have been there before, who are willing to help. I think you are doing the right thing by trying to reduce your dose; studies didn’t show a connection between dose and symptoms, but there must be an amount that is low enough to prevent withdrawal symptoms.
I’ll watch for you at suboxforum.com!
Thank you! Can I ask you one question please? With my last pregnancy my OB advised me to stop taking my sub at the first sign of labor. I had a previous C Section and they were worried about controlling my pain if I wasn’t successful in having a VBAC. I had taken my last dose about 8 or 9 pm on the 7th the morning of the 8th I went in for non stress testing and was sent to labor and delivery. They decided then to induce my labor I gave birth about 3 am on the 9th. I’m wondering if her withdrawal was already in full swing from the time she was born. I feel like I was given the wrong info and that I never should have stopped taking it. I could tell right away there was something wrong with her, she was rigid, breathing very fast, inconsolable crying, diarrhea, and lost so much weight which ended up being the deciding factor to put her in the NICU as she went from 7.7 to 5.2 in 2 days. I just wonder if I would’ve continued taking it and breastfed her if her symptoms would have been better. My dr. Said the meds are so long acting that he doesn’t think it would’ve made a difference. I just don’t understand then why this happened to her if it’s so atypical. I greatly appreciate you taking the time to respond. Happy new year!