Drug and substance addiction often brings compulsive and uncontrollable drug craving behavior that can cause harmful and long-lasting consequences. For opioid addicts, overcoming addiction isn’t an easy walk. Unless you seek medication-assisted treatment (MAT), fighting an opioid addiction won’t be possible. During MAT, one of the preferred medications doctors will use is Suboxone.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a drug used to reduce the severity of withdrawal symptoms and reduce opioid dependency among patients. Suboxone does contain two active drug compounds, which are naloxone and buprenorphine. All these compounds form a perfect chemical combination that effectively reduces opioid cravings. The administration of this drug can reduce the chances of fatal overdoses by about 50%.
How Suboxone Works in Addiction Treatment
Suboxone has two drug compounds namely, buprenorphine and naloxone. This combination works by first binding with the brain receptors of the patient. The binding is often aided by buprenorphine as a partial agonist. Once the receptors are bound, the naloxone will then block receptors from sending craving and withdrawal signals to the brain. This effectively helps in addiction treatment. If opioids such as heroin or narcotic painkillers are used, they won’t bring the ‘high’ effect to the user. Note that the buprenorphine does come in low dosage to prevent the risk of dependency and other side effects.
How Is Suboxone Used?
Usually, Suboxone comes in a film or tablet form, and it is placed under the tongue. Because of its quick action, it will get dissolved within 10 minutes or less. As a caution, never drink or eat anything before the drug is completely dissolved. Before you take this medication, you must be under the supervision of a qualified doctor. Note the drug itself can be addictive. Plus, it can cause other negative side effects. Therefore, you should avoid using the drug without a special prescription.
Upon visiting your doctor, they will assess your situation and know the best mode of treatment. The doctor will take into account the status of the patient, withdrawal status, and the type of addiction or abuse. Also, the doctor will investigate if you are under substitution treatment, such as the use of methadone, among others. On many occasions, your doctor will start administering Suboxone in small doses, say 8 mg of buprenorphine and 2 mg of naloxone twice a day. This is, however, subject to change as per the assessment mentioned before.
Benefits Of Suboxone in Addiction Treatment
Unlike other opioid addiction treatments, Suboxone is newer in the international market. Here are the benefits of using the drug:
Lower Risk of Abuse
One of the primary reasons the suboxone drug was developed was to reduce opioid dependency. Since it contains naloxone, it is very difficult to abuse the drug when taken as directed. Also, naloxone prevents users from diluting it into the water to inject, unlike other substitutes.
Private Use
Because of the low risks of abuse, Suboxone can be prescribed to be used at office or home set up. Opiate users find this option much more convenient as they can easily get a monthly supply instead of daily visits to a treatment facility.
High Success Rate
Suboxone significantly reduces opioid craving and withdrawal symptoms. As partial agonists, users don’t experience the same euphoria. However, it still blocks the brain receptors leading to effective treatment. Opiate users find it easy to stick to such treatment programs leading to a high success rate.
Common Side Effects
After taking Suboxone, you may experience a few side effects, which may include:
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Nausea
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- Diarrhea
- Constipation and
- Numbness
Note that the side effects will vary from one person to the other. If the side effects are severe or last longer, contact your doctor. If you are ready to start the journey to fight your opioid addiction, we are here to help you. Our able team is well conversant with Suboxone and will formulate a personalized treatment plan for an effective outcome. Call us today at 833-820-2922 to get in touch.