If you, or a family member, struggle with opioid addiction, you may need to learn about Suboxone treatment and how it can help with recovery. Suboxone, an opioid prescription drug for treating opioid dependence, helps to stabilize individuals during their withdrawal from opioid use and promote recovery from opioid use disorder.
Suboxone combines two drugs, buprenorphine and naloxone, and is administered orally as a dissolvable film placed on the cheek or under the tongue. The FDA approved generic medications for application under the tongue in 2018.
How Suboxone Works
The two active ingredients in Suboxone, buprenorphine and naloxone, combine to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine produces weak opioid effects, which help users to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without needing the full impact of other opioids. It blocks your opioid receptors, helping to lower the desire for other opioids.
Naloxone is administered as an antagonist medication and works to prevent intentional misuse of buprenorphine. While it can reverse the deadly effects of opioid overdose, it’s injected or inhaled nasally to initiate rapid withdrawal in opioid-dependent individuals.
Starting Suboxone treatment
Your doctor can prescribe Suboxone if you’re dependent on short-acting opioids, such as prescription painkillers and heroin. Start using the drug at withdrawal, where symptoms are potentially dangerous and quite uncomfortable. A medical practitioner will supervise the transition from the withdrawal phase to the maintenance phase and will begin to reduce your dosage until you no longer need medication.
Managing side effects
Like any other drug, Suboxone may cause specific side effects, such as headaches, low energy levels, sweating, stomach pains and flu-like symptoms. If you experience any of these side effects, be sure to:
- Contact your doctor immediately: The doctor will help tackle the side effects using appropriate interventions.
- Not stop taking the drug as it can lead to adverse effects
- Follow your doctor’s prescription: Use the correct dosage at all times.
Suboxone Treatment Near Me
Suboxone effectively treats opioid addiction because of its two active components, buprenorphine and naloxone, which combine to reduce the craving for opioids and help reduce withdrawal symptoms. Ensure you follow the doctor’s prescription to limit side effects. If you are interested in learning more about Suboxone treatment and the potential for an outpatient detox, call us today. Our team can help you understand your options.
