A New SuboxDoc in Town
claimtoken-5292e33e9a6f5 The name ‘SuboxDoc’ created an online identity, but I’ve always realized the moniker was a double-edged sword. Once when I testified for a young man linked to an overdose death, the DA undercut my testimony by asking ‘Is it true, doctor, that sites on the internet refer to you by the name SUBOXDOC??!!!’ (Insert dramatic music here). […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 24, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Drug Testing Legal Public policy Suboxone Subutex treatment buprenorphine certified regulations suboxone doctors suboxone drug testing Suboxone treatment suboxone treatment contract Source Type: blogs
Buprenorphine Diversion: Beyond a Superficial Understanding
In ‘Addiction Treatment with a Dark Side’, Deborah Sontag of the New York Times shared her observations of the clinical use of buprenorphine for treating opioid dependence, warts and all. Readers of the Talk Zone know my bias—that buprenorphine/Suboxone is one of the only effective treatments for opioid dependence, and many patients are best-served by […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 20, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Buprenorphine Public policy Research risks Suboxone addiction treatment with a dark side buprenorphine diversion dark side of suboxone new york times suboxone abuse suboxone overdose deaths Source Type: blogs
Killing the Suboxone Gift Horse with Naltrexone
I received an email update today with important news from the world of psychiatry and addiction. The email highlighted a study from the October issue of Jama Psychiatry, entitled ‘A Randomized, Double-blind Evaluation of Buprenorphine Taper Duration in Primary Prescription Opioid Abusers’. The study compared relapse rates in opioid addicts who were tapered off buprenorphine… (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 15, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: risks buprenorphine maintenance long term buprenorphine naltrexone opioid addiction treatment risks of suboxone suboxone diversion Suboxone treatment Source Type: blogs
Killing a Gift Horse with Naltrexone
I received an email update today with important news from the world of psychiatry and addiction. The email highlighted a study from the October issue of Jama Psychiatry, entitled ‘A Randomized, Double-blind Evaluation of Buprenorphine Taper Duration in Primary Prescription Opioid Abusers’. The study compared relapse rates in opioid addicts who were tapered off buprenorphine […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 15, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Public policy Research risks side effects Suboxone Subutex treatment buprenorphine maintenance long term buprenorphine naltrexone opioid addiction treatment risks of suboxone suboxone diversion Suboxon Source Type: blogs
Better Mousetraps
I’ve written about the need for competition in the market for opioid dependence treatment medications. Reckitt Benckiser had a monopoly with Suboxone, and then Suboxone film. Readers know that I’ve also questioned some of the methods that RB used to hold onto that monopoly, including spreading fear about the use of other formulations and asserting a moral […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 9, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Pharma Suboxone buprenorphine naloxone buprenorphine on formulary capitalism generic competition Reckitt-Benckiser zubsolv Source Type: blogs
Pregnant, CPS, Diverting Suboxone
I recently saw a new patient who described treating her own opioid dependence with diverted Suboxone. She sheepishly described reading everything she could find about buprenorphine and meticulously using half of her friend’s medication to avoid other opioids, without fail, for four years. She would likely be treating herself now, if she hadn’t become pregnant […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - November 5, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine pregnancy Suboxone treatment Child protective services diversion of suboxone pregnant on suboxone self treatment with suboxone Source Type: blogs
A New Way to Stop Suboxone?
I usually have my wife/business partner review my posts and provide her opinion whether my arguments are sound. For the record, she tells me that this post is technical and boring. I disagree, but we aren’t planning to separate over the issue. A valid criticism, I think, is that I’m doing a lot of guessing […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - October 27, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Pharma pharmacology receptor actions Research Suboxone tolerance addiction treatment Alkermes pipeline alks 33 ALKS 5461 buprenorphine withdrawal stopping suboxone Suboxone taper Source Type: blogs
Closing a Gateway
Today I heard that the FDA approved moving hydrocodone products (e.g. Vicodin, Norco, Lortab) to ‘schedule II’ status. The final decision has to go through the DEA, and they are expected to support the change. The change has been argued back and forth for years, with a push more recently from PROP, Physicians for Responsible Opioid […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - October 26, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Acute Pain Addiction Pharma pharmacology Public policy access to pain medication DEA schedule II hydrocodone to schedule II opioid diversion prescribing pain medication Vicodin addiction Source Type: blogs
Surgery Without Pain Control: Where is the Outrage?!
I have received MANY messages over the years from patients on buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) who required surgery, but whose doctors refused to provide post-op analgesia. Those of you not on Suboxone– can you imagine having surgery, and being told that ‘it is too much hassle to give you any medicine for pain relief’? Below is a […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - October 21, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Acute Pain Buprenorphine Legal Suboxone surgery treatment no pain relief after surgery on Suboxone suboxone and pain control surgery on buprenorphine Source Type: blogs
The Court Asks ‘How Long’?
A person in my practice was stable on Suboxone/buprenorphine for several years, until he developed a painful injury. During the time the injury was treated, the person experienced significant pain. I worked with his surgeon to provide adequate pain relief, which for patients on buprenorphine or Suboxone consists of a high dose of an opioid […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - October 13, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Acute Pain Buprenorphine Education Legal pharmacology receptor actions Research risks side effects Suboxone surgery buprenorphine maintenance how long to take buprenorphine long term suboxone suboxone and court suboxone infor Source Type: blogs
Sucker’s Bet
I attended the US Psychiatric and Mental Health Congress meeting last week and actually attended the meetings (the event was held in Las Vegas), but I was disappointed by the absence of lectures about addiction. There are other mental health groups geared more toward addiction, but one would think that psychiatry would maintain a strong presence […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - October 7, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Benzos Costs pharmacology receptor actions risks side effects Suboxone tolerance treatment detox clinic heal opiate receptors how long does withdrawal last ice caps rapid detox Suboxone withdrawal Source Type: blogs
Snyder Drugs, Ishpeming, MI: Lousy Pharmacy of the Month
Because of this blog, I frequently receive emails from people describing outrageous behavior by pharmacists. I don’ intend to argue that pharmacists as a group are any more annoying than doctors, nurses, or plumbers for that matter. Every specialty has practitioners who do their best to provide safe and effective services…. and practitioners who are always out […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - September 25, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Costs Public policy Suboxone treatment buprenorphine treatment cost of Suboxone shortage of buprenorphine certified doctors snyder drugs suboxone price gouging Source Type: blogs
Suboxone Scam Artists
I’ve mentioned the problems with heroin use and buprenorphine/Suboxone diversion in Wisconsin and the UP of Michigan. There are rumors circulating about a doctor prescribing Suboxone in that area—an area where street Suboxone is easier to find than a buprenorphine-certified physician. I’ve called a few pharmacists, but haven’t fully verified the story. But the people […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - September 17, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction buprenorphine induction only DATA-waived physicians motel doctors patient cap suboxone scam the U.P zubsolv approved Source Type: blogs
Not On the Affordable Care Act FAQ
I’ve written the first two parts of a three-part column about unintended consequences. Part one described why discounts demanded from insurers for front-line services (e.g. office visits) create challenges for independent primary care practices that don’t have other sources of revenue, particularly revenue from procedures. Part two explained why physicians employed by health systems are […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - September 16, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Methadone Public policy Suboxone addiction treatment affordable care act Medicaid medicaid coverage of buprenorphine obamacare Source Type: blogs
Not On the FAQ
I’ve written the first two parts of a three-part column about unintended consequences. Part one described why discounts demanded from insurers for front-line services (e.g. office visits) create challenges for independent primary care practices that don’t have other sources of revenue, particularly revenue from procedures. Part two explained why physicians employed by health systems are […] (Source: Suboxone Talk Zone)
Source: Suboxone Talk Zone - September 16, 2013 Category: Addiction Authors: J T Junig Tags: Addiction Buprenorphine Methadone Public policy Suboxone addiction treatment affordable care act Medicaid medicaid coverage of buprenorphine obamacare Source Type: blogs
