(08-27-2018, 12:18 AM)andybones Wrote: The company making the suboxone films are making a lot of $$. My other scripts I have copay of $4 and insurance pays like $20-80. With the films I have a copay of $35 and insurance is paying around $500. If you need the films like me when say Zubsolv doesn't work as well, is a newer, good alternative to suboxone. A pill, minty and dissolves like 50% faster. The patent on the films, however is 2023 IIRC. If you have no insurance, or if the one you have doesn't cover suboxone it's about $4 a strip. So for me $4x 60. And this is with coupons, etc. It could be much higher than $4. So $200-$300 to see the Dr. and then $200-$500 to purchase, each month is insanity.
Buprenorphine truly is an interesting medication. It works incredibly for its intended purpose, but I don't believe it should be used much more than 2-5 weeks. Addicts don't need to stay on it once they kicked it, they need to go to meetings, etc do whatever works for each person. Right now it's created an opportunity to continue to find their addiction, by hustling the medicine that's supposed to keep them "clean ". However, the same could be said about zans and so forth.
4 years ago subs were gold and basically unattainable unless lucky, and it was very expensive. Today it's everywhere. It's amazing how life changes, you never know what tomorrow may bring.
I agree addicts should not stay t on substitution meds too long. However I find the 2-5 weeks too short. I think up to 6 months is reasonable for a person to adjust both physically and mentaly. The faster you can stop completely the better off course. But not at the risk of relapsing.
It all dependends on the dose imo. You should never get a buzz from subuxone. And it should be taken daily under supervision.
I do agree meetings, psychologists, therapy in general is the real important thing.
And the aid of benzos should stay restricted to the first couple of days. The dependancy on benzos is a lot harder to kick. I have seen this firsthand. Opiates are a terrible drug. But benzos are imo even worse. The most addictive product in the world (tobbaco is up there but benzos are way more destructive).
But it shows a lot comes down to what doctors prescribe. In America there is an opioid epidemic in my country its more of a benzo and zolpidem epidemic. Because doctors over prescribed these products.