Hi everyone! Please - I need your help. I am down to one mg of suboxone a day. I take a small square of sublingual tape under my tongue and I'm ok. I have been on suboxone for about 2 years - started at 8 mg and down to 1mg. I am having a hysterectomy on Tuesday (today is Friday) and I def want the pain meds to work. If I stop taking my 1 mg of suboxone on Sunday, will I be able to feel the pain meds (whatever it is - morphine or Percocet or whatever they give me) after the operation on Tuesday? PLEASE - I don't want to abuse the pain meds - but I just don't want any pain post -op. I am terrified that the suboxone will keep me from being able to feel the pain meds. Can anyone give me advice?? I will go back on the suboxone after I recover from the operation and eventually wean myself off as planned - but I need to know how to proceed with this unexpected bump - someone please help and thanks so much. Judy

Judy,

It is great to have you come and be with us. You will fine a great number of dear friends to listen when you are in need of ears. Please, just let us know how we can help you out. You will find out we are supportive and relaxing place.

Sorry to hear of the pain you are going through. There should be someone else coming through to help you. Hope you will have a successful surgery.

Please keep us up to date on your situation. Again welcome, looking forward to seeing you around. My thoughts and prayers are with you.

Welcome to NeuroTalk:

I cannot give you a clinical answer, because I am not a specialist about Suboxone.

But I can give you half-life information. Naloxone (which is in Suboxone, and is the euphoria blocker, has a very short half life:
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naloxone
1-1.5 hr.

The buprenorphine part is much longer... the pain reliever portion,
20-70 hr with an average of 37 hrs.

Make sure your doctors know of your last time you took a Suboxone and what dose you currently use. They will have to decide on the dosing to treat you.

If you having a laparoscopic hysterectomy there will be much less pain than with the older types. Recovery is much faster too.