Suboxone Treatment

Suboxone for Opioid Addiction

Suboxone is the brand name for a medication that is a combination of two drugs: buprenorphine (Subutex) and naloxone (Narcan). Suboxone can reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms in those with opioid addiction.

Suboxone is used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). OUD is a real medical condition, just like diabetes or cancer, and is not anyone’s fault. More and more doctors are realizing that medication is a powerful tool for treating OUD, especially because abstinence-based programs (when you stop using opioids cold turkey) often don’t work. Just as antibiotics can help you recover from an infection, medication for OUD (MOUD) can help you recover from addiction.

Suboxone is a type of MOUD. Studies have shown that it is very effective. It also lowers the risk of hepatitis as well as death from opioid use disorder. Plus, people taking Suboxone are more likely to be sober, be employed, and have a good quality of life.

Opioid addiction

Opioids are drugs commonly used for moderate or severe pain. In addition to reducing pain, these drugs produce feelings of happiness and relaxation. Sometimes people using these drugs develop opioid addiction (opioid use disorder). This can occur as a result of abusing illicit opioids, like heroin. But it can also occur as a result of misusing prescribed opioids (e.g., codeine, morphine), such as when these drugs are taken for much longer than recommended or used for getting high.

When a person addicted to opioids stops taking these drugs, he or she often experiences very uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, like intense anxiety, agitation, muscle aches, sweating, runny nose, cramps, and diarrhea. Aside from withdrawal, opioid use disorder is also characterized by tolerance (requiring more of the drug to achieve the same high) and a number of drug-related behaviors (e.g., craving for opioids, drug-seeking behaviors). Opioid addiction can be life-threatening. Suboxone was approved by the US Food and Drug Administration in 2002 and is considered a first-line treatment for opioid addiction.

 

Suboxone: buprenorphine and naloxone

Three types of medications are used for the treatment of opioid addiction: Full opioid agonists, partial agonists, and antagonists. Full opioid agonists, like methadone, are drugs with actions quite similar to opioids of abuse (e.g., heroin). Therefore, full opioid agonists have considerable abuse liability. Partial agonists, like buprenorphine, produce only a partial response. This means buprenorphine still activates the opioid receptors, but it does not produce the same high that an opioid of abuse or methadone does. Last, antagonists, like the drug naloxone, block or reverse the effects of opioids. That is why naloxone can be used to reverse the dangerous effects of an opioid overdose. Suboxone, an effective medication for the treatment of opioid addiction, is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone.

How Does Suboxone Work?

The active component of Suboxone, buprenorphine, is a partial opioid agonist. Unlike a full opioid agonist (such as those listed above), it blocks and also partially activates the opioid receptor. When you take an opioid, it blocks signals called pain receptors in your brain. Your sense of pain is reduced. Your brain also releases chemicals called endorphins that make you feel pleasure. With Suboxone, side effects tend to be milder and the risk of overdose significantly reduced, compared to full agonists. It can block the effect of full opioids to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms and improve function. Some people are unable to stop using opioids. You may become addicted to the pleasure the drug causes even when there’s no longer a physical cause of pain. You need more and more opioids to get the same feeling. Your body can also come to depend on opioids. You go into physical withdrawal if you don’t take the opioid drug. Suboxone gets in the way of that process. Pain receptors aren’t switched off. Suboxone helps you reduce a craving for the pleasure rush of opioids. It also eases withdrawal symptoms that you have when you stop taking opioids.

Is Suboxone the Right Medication for You?

If you are struggling with opioid addiction, you might want to ask your doctor about Suboxone. This medication can significantly reduce your cravings and withdrawal symptoms, enabling you to break the cycle of addiction. Suboxone is a powerful therapy that can help you get your life back on track. If you’ve tried to quit opioid misuse before without medications and have gone back to using, then  Suboxone might be a good choice for you. 

Suboxone helps people struggling with opioids, such as these:

  • Pain pills (oxycodone, hydrocodone, tramadol), and other prescription painkillers.
  • Heroin
  • Fentanyl
  • Kratom

 Suboxone can help people who:

  • People who are unable to control their opioid use
  • People who are experiencing withdrawal symptoms when trying to stop using opioids
  • People who are struggling with cravings for opioids
  • People who are experiencing financial difficulties
  • People who are isolated from friends and family 

 

Advantages and Side effects of Suboxone

Suboxone has a number of advantages compared to other medications for opioid addiction, such as methadone. Suboxone has a low overdose risk, not to mention a low abuse potential. Despite these benefits, this medication has some potential side effects and risks. These include dizziness, pain (e.g., headache, back pain), mouth numbness, sweating, nausea, sleep difficulties, and constipation. Before taking this medication, women who are pregnant or breastfeeding and people with certain medical conditions (e.g., severe respiratory problems, head injury, liver disease) need to discuss the potential risks of taking this drug with their health providers. Therefore, it is important to discuss both its benefits and risks with your health provider. The goal is to make sure Suboxone is a safe and effective treatment for your condition, given your medical history.