I was wondering about the patients who currently take Suboxone. I practice in an area where drug abuse is epidemic. I know methadone users are disqualified but was also wondering about Suboxone. I am uncomfortable with the thought of any of these substances being taken by drivers….but also don’t want to be prejudicial. I can’t find any information on this particular substance.
FMCSA does not specifically address Suboxone (
ive been taking suboxone for about ten years and havent been in a accident (knock on wood) or even broken a mirror in 23 years ! i think a big reason for drs not understanding suboxone and concidering someone unfit is because perhaps theres no drs that been on suboxone and then took up cdl driving !!! to say no to a driver that even has a drs note is and gotta be because the drs only care about themselves and to ok the med and theres an accident then automatically the drs assume they will be at fault! we absolutly can drive on suboxone MY dr tells me but he is not the deciding dr! if your taking suboxone and still taking other meds your not supposed to then there is a problem and maybe those people should not be aloud to drive on it?? but if your a clean pee”r then absolutley you should be ok to drive on it!! i will prove it and take the suboxone and have a driving contest with anyone not taking suboxone and see …
I Just recently drove 5 hours 1 way to be told all I needed was a doctor with a medical release for the medication. I have a doctor here at home who advocates for me, and had filled out a DOT certification for me. Once I get up there I have to use “one of their certified clinics.” The doctor was rude, said he couldn’t approve me because this medicine causes drowsiness. I didn’t even argue, I just asked what to do because I was in debt for a rental up here and everything was riding on me gaining this job. He was very rude and said I can put in a pending, that says you will come off the medicine in 45 days, or I can fail you. He also said if he knew me, as if; I was a regular patient then he would of passed me. Needless to say I get back, the guy who leads orientation is waiting for a medically disqualifying list to come
back from a higher up. Sure enough buprenorphine is on the do not hire list, and the guy kept saying these were the dot banned substances. Which isn’t true because I had a DOT certification in my pocket and the dr at the clinic said he would of approved me if I was a regular patient. So needless to say I didn’t get hired and I wasted all this time and money.
So if you are on Suboxone by a DR, they will not hire you, if you test positive for it?
For a Class A driver?
Where I am from be taking suboxone for about 7 years. Don’t to a 1/4 a day 2mg a day. Been driving semi going on 8 years never even had it show up in a drug screen for my jobs
Most company’s only do a 5 panel test that wouldn’t even know if you are takeing suboxone!!
I been 13 years in the medication and no accidents
My question to you would be are you being honest with your doctor about your suboxone prescription.. because I know you have a physical every two years…
I just got told by a Dr. At a clinic that he wouldn’t pass my physical because I was using suboxone, I had already passed the drug test but I told him after that I was almost wined off of suboxone and he said the only way he would let me pass was to get my Dr to fax him a note saying he wouldn’t give me anymore.. I’m a Welder.. how is this legal?
Ive been on Buprenorphine for over 2 years and it COMPLETELY changed my life for the best… As others have posted on here, once i became stable on the meds, there is ZERO grogginess or anything like that. You feel like yourself. I am unable to take a very good job because I cant pass the DOT physical due to my Buprenorphine prescription. Its sad that officials to be arent educated on the greatness of this life-saving drug. I dont drink, i dont use any drugs at all anymore, but yet im still percieved as an unsafe driver… Its rediculous. Please, please, please educate yourselves on how this drug affects a long term maintenance patient and reconsider your restrictions.
This is seriously upsetting. Ive been on this for 3 yrs. I forget to take it in morning most days until i start to feel stomach pains.. I love this drug changed my life for the better. But its nvr affected me where i cant drive. I wish there was a limited time u had to be on it to get cdl maybe after 1st yr to see side effects. Bc i have wife 2 kids and been building fence for 11yrs . iam trying to get my cdl amd this stupid medication is possibly standing in the way. I dont care to take it but cant afford 30 days off from withdrawls.
I just got denied my card a few days ago because of being on suboxone. I have Legg Perthes and became addicted to opiates after surgeries and pain when I was younger. Suboxone isn’t the answer for everyone but it probably saved my life. I could understand if I had just started taking it but I’ve been on it for over 3 years. I haven’t felt a high of any kind or even drowsiness from it in about 2 and a half years. I understand why certain drugs would disqualify you but suboxone is way different from most drugs. You can take 2mg or 10mg once you’ve been on it long enough and it will affect you the same, which is not at all really in my case. I just feel like certain things should be taken into consideration because I really needed this job and it could have really turned my life around and my family’s. Just my opinion though.
Do NOT tell anyone your taking it…no DOT or company urinalysis will test for or show suboxone
Failure to disclose medications is cause for disqualification of a commercial driver and possible other federal civil and criminal penalties.
When the driver signs the MCSA 5875 Exam form they are certifying:
I certify that the above information is accurate and complete. I understand that inaccurate, false or missing information may invalidate the examination
and my Medical Examiner’s Certificate, that submission of fraudulent or intentionally false information is a violation of 49 CFR 390.35, and that submission
of fraudulent or intentionally false information may subject me to civil or criminal penalties under 49 CFR 390.37 and 49 CFR 386 Appendices A and B.
Key word there being, “Intentionally”. They would have to prove that you intentionally left the script off and did not just happen to forget it. Your welcome.
Thing is. We have just as much right to earn a living as you do. If you want to make where we can’t get a job because of a medicine we know does not make us unsafe then you deserve to be lied to and screwed over any way possible. I’d like to see how your sorry ass would react if someone told you you couldn’t come back to work. You signed a oath to do no harm but you do plenty of harm when you turn good drivers down for bullshit. I hope you have to deal with something just as devastating soon
Did you pass your drug test?