Virginia Regulatory Town Hall
Agency
Department of Health Professions
 
Board
Board of Medicine
 
chapter
Regulations Governing Prescribing of Opioids and Buprenorphine [18 VAC 85 ‑ 21]
Action Initial regulations
Stage Emergency/NOIRA
Comment Period Ended on 5/3/2017
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4/4/17  6:41 pm
Commenter: Carrie R

Naloxone can be harmful to some!
 

I am highly allergic to naloxone and while I agree in emergency forms it's a miracle medication, to some it could also be deadly. When on SUBOXONE I had a lot of "illnesses" passing out, legs going numb, hives, throat feeling as if it was swelling along with MAJOR weight loss I was being tested for cancers and thyroid issues as I had these severe lumps in the back of my neck due to the naloxone also being only 98 lbs and when starting out in late 2013 I was 175. I was switched and my life, depression and health suddenly changed drastically for the better! 16 months on buprenorphine I am completely back to normal with NO strange symptoms, until the switch back tommro which I will be back to losing extreme amounts of weight in which I plan to document daily. I got pregnant when I made the switch however also HAD to stay on (I was tapering off because of how sick I was on suboxone, at 1 mg) i agree that laws DO need to be in place but the allergy tests cannot be faked if one is truly allergic as many others and myself are. Many people I know may relapse because of this people that have lived normal lives on MAT doing the program right up until this was in place. If you're allergic to peanuts, you cannot have them. It's the same thing with this. I know some do abuse this life saving medication but I can promise it's a lot less than the ones actually doing right by it! Please reconsider the allergy test exception because there IS people who cannot take it but want to do right in life. I am tapering again now off the MAT program but wanted to at least taper comfortably and safely without hospitalizations and health issues as I am a mom to 2 small children! 

CommentID: 58276