Suboxone is a prescription drug that is frequently utilized in the treatment of addiction treatment for opioid use disorder (OUD). It aids people to stop taking opioids by controlling withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings.1 If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to opioids and is trying to find a solution you might be interested in learning about how Suboxone could help in recovery.
Read on to find out how to know more about Suboxone treatment to understand how it works and the advantages of taking Suboxone for addiction treatment as well as the possible side effects that could result from Suboxone treatment, and the best way to locate the nearest Suboxone treatment center close to you to get started on the process of rehabilitation from addiction to opioids.
Buprenorphine is is known as a partial agonist. This is an opioid medicine that produces only a small amount of opioid effect. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the full-on effects that other opioids do (such such as heroin, fentanyl hydrocodone, fentanyl, etc. ) that could make it easier to stop taking the opioid of your choice.1
High binding affinity it could also hinder others opioids from binding the opioid receptors, that can prevent misuse of other opioids.1,3
Being a partial agonist buprenorphine is also a partial agonist, and has an upper limit for its opioid effects, even when you increase doses. The risk of abuse and overdose is lower than with other opioids due to the fact that there is a limit to the amount your opioid receptors can be activated. This can reduce the chance of respiratory depression (dangerously slowed breathing) that can be a symptom or risk of opioid overdose.1,3
Naloxone is an inhibitor of opioid receptors medication which is used in conjunction with buprenorphine to create Suboxone as well as similar combination formulations. Although naloxone can be utilized by itself to counteract the harmful consequences of an opioid overdose, it is incorporated into this combo to help discourage intentional misuse of buprenorphine, should its dissolution be injected or taken by mouth, which would trigger the rapid onset of withdrawal in addicts to opioids individuals.1,3,4
While it's a powerful medication for the treatment of addiction to opioids Suboxone is typically used as part of a comprehensive treatment program that includes not just medication, but behavioral interventions that include mutual-help groups, mutual-help groups and when needed treatment for co-occurring mental health condition (like anxiety or depression).
Suboxone Uses and Safety
Suboxone is used to treat the condition known as opioid use disorder. It is the most common clinical diagnosis for addiction to opioids. Suboxone is increasingly becoming the norm for treating OUD. If you enter rehab for addiction treatment it is possible to receive medication for treatment for addiction as a crucial part of the program's strategy. The Suboxone medications for addiction treatment are part of the treatment plan that also includes treatment for behavioral and counseling to treat substance dependence disorders.
Suboxone is effective when it is recommended for treating OUD. In the past, Suboxone revised some of the information contained on the dosage and administering portion of the package of the pharmaceutical, including the inclusion of the recommendation that healthcare professionals also prescribe naloxone due to the potential of individuals with opioid use disorder to relapse, which puts them at risk of suffering from opioid overdose.5 Furthermore, for people dependent on short-acting opioids, the recommended dose was cut in half to no more that 8 mg/2.5 mg of Suboxone on day 1 in acute withdrawal.5
If used in the manner prescribed Suboxone has a low chance of overdose, due to its ceiling of opioid effects as discussed earlier.6 The misuse of Suboxone, such as injecting it, using the drug in greater quantities than recommended, taking it with drinks or taking any sedative or using it too quickly following the use of other opioids, can put you at higher chance of suffering adverse effects.1
If you take Suboxone too soon following using other opioids can elicit unpleasant withdrawal symptoms from opioids like shaking, sweating and shaking, as well as digestive discomfort, and anxiety. There are other possible side effects, but they are usually not common. can occur, such as the effects of overdose or respiratory depression, which could be more prevalent when there is misuse.7
Buprenorphine was first discovered in the 1970s as an alternative that was safer than other opioid pain medication. It was approved for use as a painkiller in 1985 when it was listed as classified as a Schedule V substance, which is a substance that has been used for a long time and have a less potential for misuse than substances listed in Schedules I-IV. The doctors recognized that buprenorphine might be a reliable and possibly more readily available alternative to methadone, which was the primary medication used to treat opioid addiction.4,7,8 Research conducted by pharmaceutical researchers eventually led to the decision to combine the two substances, naloxone and buprenorphine in a bid to reduce the danger of misuse of buprenorphine. Suboxone received FDA approval for treating addiction to opioids in October 2002.8,9
Benefits of Suboxone Use in Medications for Addiction Treatment
Buprenorphine is one of medicines that are essential to be maintained by the World Health Organization, and is an essential tool for helping people with opioid use disorder manage moderate to severe opioid withdrawal and cravings.8 Additional advantages of using Suboxone in addiction treatment include:9,11
More effective overdose protection.
Reduced risk of misuse.
Long-acting effects can allow for multiple-day dosing.
Potential Side Effects of Suboxone Use
As with any medication, Suboxone is associated with specific side effects even when used as prescribed. Death from respiratory depression is uncommon with Suboxone. However, it may be more likely when Suboxone is used in conjunction with other drugs that slow breathing, such as tranquilizers, benzodiazepines, sedatives, or alcohol.1,3,9,12
Common side effects of Suboxone include:1
Headache.
Insomnia.
Sweating.
The swelling in the legs and arms.
Nausea.
Vomiting.
Constipation.
Tongue numbness, mouth burning, and redness , if you are using the orally dissolveable film.
Less frequently experienced, but more severe side effects include:1
A low blood pressure when you stand up.
Liver function is impaired.
Changes in the metabolism of the adrenal gland.
Sleep-related breathing issues.
Allergies (if there is an allergy to any components).
Is Suboxone Addictive? Can People Misuse Suboxone?
Suboxone could cause physical dependence over the course of long-term usage because of the presence of buprenorphine. It is an opioid.13 But it isn't identical to addiction. However, the potential for it to develop even with prescription use is a sign that you might experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop abruptly using it.
You should not stop using Suboxone unless instructed to do so by your doctor. Your Suboxone usage will be carefully monitored by health care professionals throughout the course of treatment. Under the guidance of your physician, you will taper off Suboxone. This is gradual reduction of your dosage, when the time is right for you.1,13
Like any opioid, the buprenorphine component in Suboxone does carry an inherent danger of misuse. Although, since it's an opioid antagonist that is only partially active, it is incapable of eliciting the more profoundly high-intensity euphoric effects that are found in other, more popularly abused opioids such as heroin or oxycodone.1 Naloxone is specifically included in the formulation for combination purposes to additionally limit misuse potential in the event that attempts to achieve the sensation of euphoria through ways of using it may cause blocking the opioid receptor and leading to withdrawal.4
It is also important to be aware that Suboxone use for treating an addiction disorder that involves opioids is not merely substituting one addiction for another. Instead, Suboxone aids people to control their previously compulsive and harmful use of opioids, allowing individuals to return to an ordinary, healthy life.13
Cost and Insurance Coverage of Suboxone
Suboxone is generally covered by health insurance, however, the extent of coverage can depend on your health insurance plan, behavioral health benefits, the treatment provider you choose, and much more. As per the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 all health plans must apply the same rules to treatment of addictions and mental health issues as they do for physical and medical problems.4 However, it is important to verify your benefits with your insurance provider. You can check your insurance coverage and discover if your rehabilitation could be fully or partly covered using the form below.
Many rural communities across the United States lack adequate access to treatment for addiction and drugs for addiction treatment, including those for addiction to opioids. Under the Ryan Haight Act of 2008 controlled substances may be prescribed over the internet.14 The law states that the healthcare professional who prescribes the medication must have visited the patient for at least one medical evaluation.14
It is the SUPPORT Act, passed by Congress in 2018 however it requires the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to create a regulatory pathway that permits buprenorphine-related prescriptions using telemedicine in which the doctor meets with the patient via telephone or video consult however the DEA has yet to initiate this. Therefore, in the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators waived the requirement to meet in person under the Ryan Haight Act to expand the access of those who require opioid disorder treatment.14,15 This means that federal regulatory changes made during the COVID-19 epidemic could permit some addiction treatment practitioners, who make use of telemedicine to prescribe buprenorphine for their patients without the initial in-person evaluation.16
Can I Get Same-Day Suboxone Treatment?
A same-day detox program can be beneficial if you or a loved one is suffering from or at risk of suffering withdrawal symptoms related to opioids.
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