All You Need To Know About Suboxone Treatment

15 December 2021
 Categories: Health & Medical , Blog

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Do you struggle with opioid addiction and require a solution? Then you should consider enrolling in a suboxone treatment center. The facilities rely on suboxone, a medication used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for managing opioid use disorder (OUD). Suboxone can help people with OUD manage withdrawal symptoms while reducing cravings for opioids. This article provides critical insights into suboxone treatment. 

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication for treating opioid use disorder. The medication contains two drugs, namely buprenorphine, an opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Thus, suboxone acts as an induction agent in MAT to stabilize withdrawal symptoms during the detoxification process. Furthermore, the medication is ideal for maintenance treatment to improve the symptoms of opioid dependence. 

Suboxone Administration and Prescription 

The drug administration involves placing a dissolvable film under the tongue or in between the cheek and the gum. Besides the brand-name drug, suboxone is also available in a generic version which comes either as an oral film or oral tablet. Usually, the patient is advised not to chew or swallow the film and to avoid talking while the film is in the mouth. Such prohibitions help to control the medication absorption in the body. The doctor reduces the dosage with time to wean off suboxone medication altogether. 

Suboxone is a controlled substance available as a prescription drug. This classification means that although suboxone is effective for medical use, it can cause adverse physiological and psychological effects due to dependence or abuse. Thus, suboxone treatment centers usually prescribe the drug under the supervision of trained and certified physicians. A suboxone treatment center typically creates a personalized treatment plan where the drug complements other therapies. Thus, in addition to suboxone, treating addiction may involve counseling, support groups, inpatient and outpatient treatment. 

How Does Suboxone Work?

Suboxone works depending on the effects of the following composite drugs:

Buprenorphine: The partial opioid agonist drug produces mild opioid effects to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. However, as an opioid medication, buprenorphine does not create full effects like other opioids. As such, it is easier to stop using other opioids such as heroin, oxycodone, and fentanyl. Essentially, buprenorphine has a high binding affinity that blocks other opioids from binding to your opioid receptors and activating them, thereby deterring opioid misuse. Notably, the risk of overdose and abuse for buprenorphine is lower compared to other opioids since the drug has an upper limit to its opioid effects. 

Naloxone: The opioid receptor antagonist medication can be used on its own to reverse the severe effects of opioid overdose. However, it is combined in suboxone to discourage the intentional misuse of buprenorphine. 

Side Effects of Suboxone 

Suboxone is relatively a safe treatment for opioid use disorder under medical supervision. However, misuse of suboxone, including injecting it, higher dosage, and combining it with alcohol or other opioids, can lead to adverse effects. Such side effects include sweating, shaking, anxiety, stomach upset, and respiratory depression. 

Suboxone is an effective medication in standard care for managing opioid use disorder. Consult a suboxone treatment center to get a compressive treatment plan combining MAT, counseling, and behavioral therapy. 

For more information on a suboxone treatment center, contact a company like Houston Suboxone MD.