Suboxone Treatment
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As the opioid epidemic is getting worse, the use of medications like Suboxone is also becoming more widespread. There is an alarming rate of opioid addiction and overdoses, with the latter being deadly in a lot of cases. Thousands have died of an opioid overdose in the U.S., according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse.
Suboxone comes as a miracle treatment that helps people stay away from opioids and work hard in order to quit their addiction. The medication can be obtained from a qualified doctor or a rehabilitation center. Suboxone is one of the most praised medications for treating opioid addiction and withdrawals.
While the treatment itself can be very effective, there is also a dark side to it, respectively the fact that it may cause addiction in some people. This too would require treatment and supervision to make sure it doesn’t escalate.
Explaining Suboxone
Suboxone is a prescription medication for opioid addiction treatment. In 2002, it was approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and it’s been helping addicts ever since. The medication contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid, one that reduced the cravings for opioids by blocking opioid receptors. Then, there is naloxone, which is an opioid antagonist. It works by preventing the effects of opioids. What’s great about the combination of naloxone and buprenorphine is the fact that by working together, the two compounds can manage withdrawal and help achieve sobriety.
What makes Suboxone so special is the fact that it pretty much attaches to the same receptors that heroin does. At the same time, it does not result in the same high feeling that the two mentioned substances produce.
Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance – therefore, only certificated doctors can prescribe it.
Suboxone Uses
There are two forms of suboxone out there: tablets and oral films. It is an oral medication. You can either go for the sublingual film strips or tablets, or the buccal film strips.
While the sublingual film strips and tablets are placed underneath the tongue, the buccal film is placed between the teeth and gums. By doing this, the medication will start to dissolve in the mouth, and after a while, the effects can be experienced.
There are four strengths that Suboxone can be found in, respectively:
- 8 mg buprenorphine with 2 mg naloxone
- 4 mg buprenorphine with 1 mg naloxone
- 12 mg buprenorphine with 3 mg naloxone
- 2 mg buprenorphine with 0.5 mg naloxone
The medication is meant to be tapered off slowly during the treatment – this way, the person can avoid withdrawal symptoms and escape the opioid cravings.
Opioid Use Treatment
Suboxone treatment is very effective for people who are dealing with an opioid use disorder. It will reduce someone’s cravings, as well as the withdrawal symptoms. This way, it can be successful in not only helping a person quit the addiction, but also in decreasing the risk of relapse.
Furthermore, Suboxone can help reduce someone’s anxiety and stress and offer them feelings of relaxation and calmness in return. Individuals suffering from opioid addiction can slowly escape it with the help of Suboxone without having to start an inpatient treatment.
How long someone will need to take Suboxone will depend on their particular situation and the treatment the doctor prescribed. Each person’s treatment will differ based on what happens at the suboxone clinic.
Side Effects of Suboxone Use
Mild or serious side effects may appear once someone starts using Suboxone as a form of treatment. Although not every single individual that uses Suboxone will deal with this situation, it’s worth noting. Some effects are more common and do not need medical attention, whereas others are more serious and may require medical help.
Common side effects caused by Suboxone include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Depression
- Anxiety
- Opioid withdrawal
- Difficulties sleeping
- Weakness
- Sweating
- Back pain
- Fatigue
- Redness in the mouth
- Burning tongue
Then, serious side effects that may occur include:
- Hormone issues
- Breathing difficulties
- Addiction or abuse
- Liver damage
- Bad allergic reactions
- Bad withdrawal symptoms
- Coma
Treatment For Suboxone Addictions
Even though Suboxone was made to help someone quit their opioid addiction, it can lead to addiction as well. Basically, once someone stops using opioids and starts taking Suboxone, they switch from one substance to another, relying on Suboxone to reduce their cravings. Seeing that Suboxone is very effective, people might want to take it permanently.
An addiction may form whether the user got the drug on prescription or is using it illegally, but the latter category is at increased risk. Luckily, it can be treated.
Suboxone doses should be slowly tapered off under supervision to reach a point when it’s no longer necessary. In the case of Suboxone abuse, an individual may have to go to a rehabilitation center where they will undergo a detoxification process. Therapy may help with the problem as well, especially if the person has certain mental health issues that led to the addiction.
Suboxone Vs. Methodone
Treatment Precautions
Alcohol should not be consumed at the same time someone is taking a Suboxone treatment, as it may result in bad side effects and even death. Also, people should refrain from operating machinery or driving until they are aware of the Suboxone effects on their bodies.
Although it has been shown that Suboxone is safe during pregnancy, pregnant or breastfeeding women should consult their healthcare provider before they take Suboxone.
How Real Deal Can Help
Real Deal has the solution for your addiction. Here, we work hard to aid someone in quitting opioid addiction but can also treat Suboxone addiction.
Our facility offers inpatient and outpatient treatments, as well as therapy. Moreover, our sober living homes were made to ensure long-lasting effects of the treatment – so, this will increase the chances of success.
Suboxone can be a very useful ally against opioid addiction, but in some cases, it may be addictive too. It is important to know what to do in case you become addicted to the substance. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help if you think you are developing a Suboxone addiction.