How do painkillers work?

How long does it take for painkillers to work after stopping suboxone I have a chronic painful disease and I am stopping the suboxone cold turkey tonight I have been on it for about a year and a half?

• Answer:

  Because of the nature of Buprenorphine, it is not a good idea to take it with other opiate pain medicine, because it blocks as well as stimulates different opiate receptors and can reduce their effects. Suboxone, one brand of Buprenorphine, is formulated with Naloxone (Narcan). It is a very powerful opiate "blocker" BUT in this case is only added to the formulation to prevent IV use of the drug, as the Naloxone is destroyed by stomach acids. Keeping all this in mind as soon as the opiate receptors are sufficiently clear of the Suboxone, other narcotic pain meds can be used to control your pain. How fast this happens depends on your Suboxone dosage as well how long you were on it, but after 48 hours you should start seeing an improvement in the effectiveness of your pain medication. This of course depends on what drug you are now prescribed, and if you were taking the Suboxone for pain control or opiate dependency maintenance. I didnt take my dose last night so its been way over 24 hours since my last dose do you think theres any way the pain medication if I take a higher dose will work? I am just in agony? Thankyou.