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Soboxone and Surgery

Discussion in 'Opiate Withdrawal Treatment' started by Nick W., Oct 28, 2014.

  1. Nick W.

    Nick W. Community Listener Community Listener

    Hey guys,
    My dad is currently on Suboxone, and has been for awhile now, he is managing well on it, but recently he found out that he has colon cancer. I wanted to post this information because I found it particularly interesting, and kind of sad.

    His doctors have informed him that he's going to need to go through Suboxone detox before he can have the surgery, that he really needs to get done. It seems that patients taking higher dose of buprenorphine, trade name Suboxone or Subutex, become tolerant to the effects of opioids, and due to the opioid antagonist qualities, require special consideration during surgical procedures or when treated for painful medical conditions.

    I felt like this is something that you all would appreciate being aware of ahead of time. I'm certainly not telling anyone not to take any medications, or giving medical advice, but you should be aware that at certain doses your doctors may require this of you before surgery takes place.
    Jen S. likes this.
  2. Jen S.

    Jen S. Guest

    Thanks for sharing this, Nick. I am so sorry to hear about your dad.
    This (opiate tolerance while on a long-term maintenance plan) is one of those things we just don't think about. But we should.
  3. Nick W.

    Nick W. Community Listener Community Listener

    Absolutely, and it's something that I had never thought of as well. When he told me, it made perfect sense, but I had never really thought about it in that light before.
  4. Determined2014

    Determined2014 Senior Contributor

    Thhanks alot for the information, this is pretty scary information that we have to know, thank you again.
    Nick W. likes this.
  5. Nick W.

    Nick W. Community Listener Community Listener

    It is very scary. Considering the nature of "emergency surgery" it could become a real issue.
  6. snlich

    snlich Member

    I hope you don't mind me asking, but how many milligrams is he on?

    I've tapered off twice, and both were terrible...HOWEVER. Once was off 6mg and it was hell. The second time was .05mg and it was much, much more manageable.

    The problem is, what is the plan POST surgery? Taking pain meds? Addict or not, no person should have to go through the pain of surgery with out something. That is definitely a catch 22.
  7. enice2377

    enice2377 Member

    Nick, I can completely relate to going through the pain of surgery and what your dad has to face is truly unfortunate. I
    have had ten shoulder operations which didn't turn out well. Now I am on methadone for chronic pain.

    I had asked my pain management specialist about suboxone early on due to the fact I didn't want the euphoric attributes of other time released opiates. My doctor pretty much told me the same thing about suboxone and put me on the methadone instead. I think if I didn't have number eleven coming up suboxone would of been a viable option.

    My prayers go out to your dad and family. God bless.
  8. Adrianna

    Adrianna Community Champion

    Sorry to hear that. He needs to go raw with his food to correct this. It is the only way. Otherwise this one takes you fairly easily. I know someone who just died of this a few years ago.
  9. Bee1

    Bee1 Member

    Hi there,
    First off, I'm so very sorry to hear about your dad. Surgery and Suboxone can be a very tricky concept. I work with Suboxone and we many times find our patients going in for surgery. In a case like this we work with the surgeon to come up with a plan. Since the bupenorphine stays in your system for 3 days, often times the person will not have to fully go through detox from the medication. The patient would simply take their last dose 3-4days before surgery, have surgery and accompany it with the proper pain medications while in the healing stage. Once the surgeon believes that they are healed, s/he will send them back to the prescribing doctor to continue on with their Suboxone treatment.

    This is only how I know of it, however, many doctors have their own ways of thinking. It's just a little bit to consider and possibly question. Hope some of this helped!
  10. Jack Wallace

    Jack Wallace Senior Contributor

    Pаtiеnts tаking mаintеnаnсе dоsеs оf buprеnоrphinе dо NОT rесеivе surgiсаl аnаlgеsiа frоm thе mеdiсаtiоn, аs thеy аrе соmplеtеly tоlеrаnt tо thе mu-оpiоid еffесts оf buprеnоrphinе аftеr thе first wееk оr sо оn thе mеdiсаtiоn.

    Disсоntinuаtiоn оf high dоsе buprеnоrphinе оr Subоxоnе trеаtmеnt rеsults in signifiсаnt оpiоid withdrаwаl symptоms within 24-48 hоurs.
  11. BBarnett22

    BBarnett22 Member

    Due to Buprenorphine being a very strong opioid most long term suboxone patients develop a tolerance to most other pain medications that hospitals tend to use alot (dilaudid, hydrocodone, oxycodone.) I have learned this the hard way when I had to have CPR done and basically all my ribs were broke due to the chest compressions. And there's really not a whole lot doctors can do for pain as there's only a few extremely strong medicines that will help with pain when you are suboxone/subutex dependent.