Suboxone Treatment
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is prescribed to treat people who are dependent on opioid prescription medicines or street drugs. Suboxone should not be prescribed unless it’s used as part of a complete treatment program that also includes counseling and behavioral therapy.
Suboxone contains an opioid (buprenorphine) and an opioid-blocker naltrexone, and is used to detoxify people dependent on relatively short-acting opioids such as heroin or oxycodone to help people in early recovery to focus on converting to a more recovery friendly lifestyle.
Opioid Abuse Recovery
Beginning opioid recovery is often substantially more difficult without Suboxone because Suboxone enables one to focus on recovery while the absence of Suboxone helps one focus on only one thing, obtaining opioid immediately. Longer acting opioids such as methadone require detoxification with the buprenorphine-only detoxification regime.
Also, if necessary, your detoxification prescriber may dispense buprenorphine-only during the first few days of detoxification from a short-acting opioid. When transitioning from dependence on long‑acting opioids, like methadone, a buprenorphine‑only medication may be recommended
Opioid detoxification schedules and plans vary from person to person.
Your detoxification and rehabilitation provider will assess the specifics of your particular opioid dependence and will promptly generate a customized treatment plan tailored just for you.
There are three fundamental stages of Suboxone treatment that occur while you’re attending recovery-sensitive cognitive behavioral therapy and counseling:
- Induction
- Maintenance
- Taper
Induction
- Performed by a licensed prescriber
- At the beginning of first treatment or subsequent relapse
- Must be in a moderate state of withdrawal to begin opioid detox
- Medical staff reach the ideal dose for each person
Maintenance
- Your medical staff will transition to the maintenance phase of treatment when you:
- Have been dependent on long-acting opioids such as methadone
- No longer have withdrawal symptoms
- Have few to no side effects
- Lack uncontrollable cravings
- Continue in a structured comprehensive opioid dependence recovery program
Medical taper
- You and your treatment plan will determine when the best time is to begin to taper Suboxone out of the comprehensive recovery treatment plan.
- It is important that you work with your treatment team to pin-point when is the right time to lower your dose, vigilant to minimize withdrawal cravings.
- Throughout treatment, you’re welcome to discuss recovery concerns you have about relapse with your treatment team.
Suboxone side effects include:
- Respiratory slowing that has resulted in coma and death when people buy Suboxone from a street vendor and give opioid detox a go on their own
- Sleepiness
- Dizziness
- Coordination problems
- Suboxone abuse
- Suboxone dependence or addiction
- Liver problems associated with the following symptoms:
- Light yellow skin in caucasians
- Yellow previously white portions of the eyes
- Coca cola colored urine
- Light beige color stools
- Reduced appetite
- Stomach pain
- Nausea
Allergic reactions include:
- Rash
- Hives
- Swelling
- Face
- Wheezing
- Crashed blood pressure
- Loss of consciousness
Opioid withdrawal from previous opioid dependence and detox-related buprenorphine can include:
- Shaking
- Sweating
- Hot or cold sensations
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Goose flesh
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting
- Muscle aches
Frequently encountered side effects of Suboxone include:
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Opioid withdrawal syndrome (a sign that Suboxone was started prematurely)
- Headache
- Sweating
- Numb mouth
- Constipation
- Swollen tongue
- Painful tongue
- Feeling lightheaded drunk
- Attention deficit
- Heart oalpitations
- Insomnia
- Blurred vision
- Back pain
- Fainting
- Dizziness
- Sleepiness
Long‑term use of opioids including Suboxone has been linked to infertility in males and females. No worries regarding the noise surrounding Suboxone treatment.
Our medical staff dispenses the least amount of Suboxone during the least amount of days necessary to comfortably transition you into your new recovery lifestyle.
“Success is the sum of small efforts, repeated day in and day out”
– Robert Collier
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Royal Life Centers is one of the leading providers of addiction treatment in the nation. We strive to set ourselves apart from other treatment centers by providing not only the highest level of care, but also diverse programs and amenities. Our staff work around the clock to ensure the best possible chance of success in a safe and constructive environment. We pride ourselves on providing exemplary, quality addiction treatment and exceptional care.
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