Impaired nurses treated with suboxone?

Liddle Noodnik · Dec 15, 2008

can a nurse work while recieving suboxone therapy? i live in tennessee and i currently take approximately 4mgs q-day. i am hoping to get some straight answers. buprenorphine has been a miracle for me. is there anyone out there willing to provide any information about this type of therapy and it's application in the nursing/medical field. how long will it be before this issue is publically regarded?
thanks randy

hi randy i had never heard of it before. can they while on methadone?

i am praying that your recovery goes smoothly and that you are able to return to work and health and happiness! recovery can actually be such a blessing after the worst of it is over.

god bless

janet8888 · Jan 19, 2009

Please e-mail me for response. I have all the answers. Did they test you? Can not work on this med and have to be off for 2 months before returning to work. Same as MDs. Also, TPAPN says that they have had lots of relapses (with regular narcs.) when pts get off this med. My guess is that the nurse gets on the med w/o knowing they can not work on it and then withdrawl way to quickly(highly addictive psy and physically) so they can work. The W/D may be worse than reg narc!? So, since they are out of sub.(MD is very stict on give # of pills) they take from work or there reg. supplier out of despiration from horrible W/D symptoms. This is my guess. TPAPN really needs to allow this drug due to the fact that it doesn't make you high or impaired after a few doses.

Laur318, BSN, RN · Jan 26, 2009

i wish i had the answers. i am so glad that you got yourself on sub. have you considered the naltrexone shots though? it saved my very close friend's life. it doesnt provide the "no need to get high" feeling, what i mean is, it doesnt contain opiate-mimic so you do not feel like you did drugs/pills. but what it does do, is cause immediate withdrawal from any narcotics while BLOCKING their effects. so if you were to use anything, not only would you NOT feel a high, but you would go into withdrawal... that thought alone keeps people from using. it prompts you to stop before you even start - why start using again if youre not going to feel high?? my very close GF went to rehab and rather than replace "one addiction with another" (suboxone) the doctors decided to give her the shots & let her live her life without any opiate feelings whatsoever. a true addict shouldn't have that feeling anyway. she gets the shots every 30 days - you need to COMMIT to getting them. i would seriously look into this. your job may depend on you getting off suboxone.

Randy4u45 · Feb 5, 2009

Thank you for responding. Sorry it has taken so long for me to get back to you. I was last told that suboxone tx by nurses was taken under consideration in " a case by case basis" what ever that means. If you can e-mail me any more info I would greatly appreciate it. I believe, as you do, that it should be allowed to be taken by impaired medical professionals. It does not have any adverse effects on judgement. Not using the medication definately has an adverse effect on judgement by the "impaired person". Again, any info would be appreciated. My e-mail address is

Thanks,

Randy:typing

javanurse2000, BSN, RN · Mar 24, 2009

Hi Randy- I know the site is strict about giving advice, but I'd be happy to share my experience, strength and hope: My story-I spoke with my MD about Naltrexone shots when I decided to go back into nursing after being in recovery for 2 years. He was, (after I gave him 20 pages of credible info), willing to prescribe the injection---when I went to get it filled I was shocked...over $700 per shot!!!! How can anyone afford this???? Turns out though, Naltrexone (which is the generic name) is available in 50mg once a day p.o. dosing and it's working for me...at least in the sense that working around the availability of narcotics is much less of a distraction...which happily frees me up to work my program:0) I certainly wish you well....keep us updated on how you're doing.

WI_home_RN · Apr 14, 2009

Thanks for bringing this topic up Randy. Good info has been shared here. I'd love to know more about the personal email/PM advice you've been given as well. Not specifics, but could you post any general info without revealing personal info?

Jules A, MSN · Apr 14, 2009

I hope it does help. I'm not a fan of it just based on the frequent flyer drug seeking pts we continue to get once they find out they can get it on our unit.