Suboxone Patients In West Virginia Suffering
August 31st marked the last day that suboxone tablets could legally be dispensed in West Virginia. West Virginia Governor Earl Ray Tomblin passed a bill that discontinued the suboxone tablets in the state of West Virginia. Despite doctor's warnings, Tomblin acted on the bill and signed it into effect. Only weeks later, suboxone patients in West Virginia are suffering.
Suboxone has been out since 2002 and it is a drug that helps addicts recover from prescription abuse. Suboxone was always dispensed as a tablet until a few years ago when sub-lingual film became available. This gave suboxone patients a choice as some patients preferred the tablets while other preferred the suboxone strips. However, on September 1st, Governor Earl Ray Tomblin took the tablets away from West Virginia patients and now West Virginia doctors are only allowed to dispense the suboxone film.
Just a few weeks into September, suboxone patients are struggling with the switch. Patients are suffering from bad stomach pains, detox, and even chest pain with the sub-lingual film. Many suboxone patients that were taking the tablets are complaining that the film's affects don't last long as the tablets did. Sadly, others have began using prescription drugs again for the first time in years.
I talked to a patient that has been in treatment since 2009. After 3 years sober, he began abusing Oxycontin again. This is what he stated. "It is not right. I haven't took any drugs for the last three years. I have tried the suboxone strips and they hurt my stomach. When I took the suboxone tablets, I didn't think about using drugs. With the strips, drugs are all I think about. I have two children and I have came along way. I am scared that I will be in the same position as I was three years ago. It is already beginning. I am so scared."
This man wasn't the only suboxone patient that is struggling since the change. Many patients are struggling and fear that they will return to their former behavior, one without care. Too many patients agree that the two drugs are different, yet, the company is sure that they are the same. Patients want Governor Tomblin to rethink this new law that was signed. One patient tells us why.
"Governor Tomblin signed this bill because he thought that it would decrease the abuse. That is a valid thought, but the strips are abused the same, possible more. The strips are being abused just as much as the tablets were, possibly more. You can't stop abuse all around. The strips will go around just like the tablets. I hate seeing it because they have completely changed their lives. Now, many of them are abusing pills and even harder drugs. They feel that nobody cares about them and due to this law, they're probably right."
I never heard of any issues of suboxone patients going back to drugs. Since the law was passed, it seems apparent that there is a big difference how the drug reacts to the brain. I fear that these patients will turn back to drug addiction and this will cause more issues for the state of West Virginia. This law wasn't thought through and these patients have came too far to throw caution to the wind. Since the strips are abused just as much, why take the tablets away. It may be possible that the strips are the real problem.
We urge you to leave comments and explain your reactions to the suboxone tablet and suboxone film. Have you tried both of them? Did you feel different? How are you doing now on the suboxone film? Are you having any stomach pains or other medical issues since changing to the suboxone film?
Governor Tomblin, we suggest that you reconsider this law. If patients are having side effects to the film, they no longer have a choice. If they can't take the film, what can they take? These patients have made a positive change and many are scared that they will return to their former life. Many have already due to the side effects from the suboxone film. They are being pushed away by the state of West Virginia. These patients have suffered enough. They are trying to make positive change in their life. Many of them have. Drug addiction is a disease. Would you take away drugs that a cancer patient needed?
Why did he do this......I started suboxone 3 yrs ago.......I'm able to work evey day.....never late for work......I'm the most dependable employee my boss has.....the film does last as long......side effects are harsher than the pill.......our governor should no the effects of drug dependance in logan.........we need to remind him we vote too......he's hurt the ones that will be........or not.....be voting for him......my dr. Died few months back...... all his patients left without a dr........and 6 month to a year waiting lists to find another........unless u have $600 to $1000 a month ......only one taking patients or supposed to be helpung ........this just gives all of us in WV another good reason to move ........and now I'm told they can only give 2 suboxone a day in our state.......wow...............can't win for losing with earl ray tomblin.......time for a big change
ReplyDeleteMy son is allergic to the sublingual film and it cause sores in his mouth and bleeding. It has to be an allergic reaction. The Governor certainly did not think this through at all!!!!
ReplyDeleteAnonymous is wrong, the naloxone in the film nearly killed me, er and week stay to prove it, reason they try to prescribe the film is they say it's not able to be injected. Ha joke. Do a simple you tube check. See hundreds show ya just how easy they made it for them. I'm on subutext now, after 20 years of opiod pain management. And wish to god would have known about it then. Doesn't kill pain but bearable, and life has returned. Good luck to all.
ReplyDeleteOh don't you just love the sea righteous know it all addicts who think they are better than everyone else. And have all the answers. I love too how the coward was too afraid to even use any sort of name. And doubt she will ever return. However let me tell you anon. You are dead wrong!! And you are no better than any other sober junkie out there. You did the same bad stuff every addict has. So please co,e down off your plastic soapbox!!
ReplyDeleteI think its ridiculous for a governor of a state to set a law into place that #1 probably only knows what he's been told about this medication.. #2 Mr. Tombline have u yourself seen or experienced the effects of what the flim can do to certain patients..!? I have seen ppl walk into their pharmacies with blisters under their tongue and on the side of their mouth..i have also witnessed ppl double over in pain from the stomach cramps.. It should not be up to the government to decide what kind of help an addict should get!! The guy chose to be a governor of wva.. Do not dictate what u think is right or wrong when it comes to medicine for an addict!! You sir are wrong in many ways, and we hope this election this year does not go in ur favor.. Many ppl would like to see a boot to the ass as u leave office!! Please stick to what u know and quit dabbling in what a doctor should be doing for his patient!!
ReplyDeleteI can confirm from personal experience that the strips do not relieve symptoms as well as the pill did. I dont know why but it just is. As far as people snorting the pills... does the same thing as putting it under your tongue...the pills were sublingual anyways. You can disolve the strip in water and inject it too...but the naloxone will make that a not so pleasant experience. This law makes no sense. The strips cost 3 times what the pills did...maybe that has something to do with it?
ReplyDeleteI can confirm from personal experience that the strips do not relieve symptoms as well as the pill did. I dont know why but it just is. As far as people snorting the pills... does the same thing as putting it under your tongue...the pills were sublingual anyways. You can disolve the strip in water and inject it too...but the naloxone will make that a not so pleasant experience. This law makes no sense. The strips cost 3 times what the pills did...maybe that has something to do with it?
ReplyDeleteI know that strips do not last but a few hours tops. Then U need to take another one. That means you definitely need more than two a day. Two pills lasted all day. I need at least four of the strips to last that long. And they are not as strong. They keep saying they are but they aren't the ones sitting in withdrawal are they? No. We are. But we just addiscts so they don't give a shit about how we feel we only tell lies...right? I've been clean for six years. SIX YEARS!!! Now after six year of sobriety I've been using. Because I'm not allowed the pills that actually work. And I'm only allowed two strips that together only last for about 6-8 hours. So Tomblin...you tell me what I'm supposed to do. You don't care that people are suffering and turning back to drugs in your state because of your bill? Its my fault I'm an addict but it's your fault I lost my sobriety. So many people are just like me. Suffering.
ReplyDeleteyeAH
DeleteSome states have banned the film, but not the pills. The film is much easier to smuggle. The serial numbers on the film wrappers were allegedly meant to make it easier for diverted medication to be traced back to the patient it was prescribed for. It surely occurred to someone that the film could simply be removed from the wrapper and sold naked!
ReplyDeleteI don't KNOW that this has happened, but some people say the film can be dissolved into a piece of paper (Bible pages were the example cited), and then the innocuous looking paper can be ingested sublingually. I'd hate to have to eat a whole Bible page, but I guess if I were sick enough I'd eat the whole book – eagerly. Sure seems to me the whole film gimmick HAD to be related to the patent expiring on the pills.
The stupid film can be inconvenient at times. Ever try to open one of the stubborn ones whose slit wasn't punched cleanly while riding in the back seat of a car after dark? Or one that tore through the middle instead of down the edge, leaving you to fish around for the tiny wayward piece?
Anyway, we agree, the pills seemed more effective than the film. We were told to drink something first to improve absorption, and also that a fast dissolve was better than a slow dissolve. Yes, a good supply of saliva does help. But we think more gets absorbed with a slower dissolve.
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