Overview on Suboxone
Suboxone is a combination medication made up of buprenorphine and naloxone that is used during opioid addiction treatment. Buprenorphine is an opioid and poses some risks when taking it, while naloxone is a medication that helps to curve the cravings that happen due to addiction.
Suboxone is considered a schedule III-controlled substance which indicates that the drug has a medical use, but also comes with dangers for potential addiction and substance abuse. As a result of this risk, the only doctors that can prescribe this medication are those that hold a certification to do so from the Department of Health and Human Services.
At Inland Detox we help our clients to detox from prescription drugs such as heroin or opioids. Part of our procedures includes the stabilization of our clients, assisting with withdrawal symptoms, and providing counseling to address the reasons behind the client’s addiction problem. It is our goal for each of our clients to know what to expect when they meet with a medical provider or staff member at our center.
Side Effects of Suboxone
Like many other medications, suboxone can cause side effects to occur in some people that take it. Most subside within a few days of taking the medication and are not life-threatening. The most known side effects are:
- Sweating
- Nausea
- Muscle pain
- Anxiety
- Insomnia
- Depression
- Headaches
- Fatigue
- Fever
Uses for Suboxone
Typically, suboxone is used to treat patients who suffer from opioid use disorder, and it works by helping to reduce opioid withdrawal symptoms that occur upon quitting. Often, you continue to take the medication after detox is complete to control cravings and withdrawal symptoms during assisted treatment and recovery for your addiction.
It works by reversing the side effects that occur when you are going through withdrawals from short-acting opioids such as prescription painkillers and heroin. Although it helps to reduce the withdrawals and cravings that result from addiction, it is still important to be admitted to a more comprehensive treatment center to cope with your addiction.
When Suboxone is used properly, you will not experience any withdrawals, or cravings and will feel “normal” despite going through detox from drug addiction. Under the guidance of your physician or doctor, you will move on to the maintenance phase of treatment after you are done with the withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor can begin to reduce your dosage and taper you off the medication until it is no longer needed.
Understanding Buprenorphine and Naloxone
The combination of buprenorphine and naloxone creates the medication suboxone. Together, they work to reduce the withdrawals and cravings that occur with opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is an opioid that is extremely potent and stronger than morphine. Because it’s a partial opioid antagonist and prevents other opioids from binding to other receptors in the brain, it doesn’t affect the brain in a significant way. This allows you to be able to slowly wean yourself off the opioid and reduce the occurrence of severe withdrawals.
Naloxone is a medication that works by reversing the effects of an opioid overdose, decreasing the symptoms of withdrawal and overdose. It is an opioid antagonist, which reverses and blocks the effects that opioids cause on a person’s central nervous system. Naloxone works by preventing people from overdosing on opioids and minimizing your risk of relapse by reducing the euphoric, addictive symptoms that you usually experience with opioids.
What is Suboxone Overdose?
Since Suboxone is an opioid-based drug, one of the most serious side effects can be for you to overdose. If it is left untreated, an overdose of suboxone can be life-threatening, as it is considered substance abuse. A person who is most likely to overdose from suboxone will take too much of the medication or will combine it with other drugs that lead to an overdose.
Symptoms of Suboxone Overdose
The most reported symptoms of overdose are:
- Nausea and vomiting
- Anxiety
- Blurred vision
- Chills
- Slurred speech
- Stomach Pain
- Confusion
- Constricted pupils
- Sweating
- Dizziness
- Fatigue
- Headaches
- Loss of consciousness
- Loss of coordination
In rare or severe situations, a suboxone overdose can cause extreme symptoms such as respiratory depression, which is when your breathing is restricted or stopped. Respiratory depression can cause coma, brain damage, or death.
Suboxone Addiction
Suboxone is an opioid medication that can be potentially addictive, but the likelihood is much lower than the risk of becoming addicted to other opioids. It is less likely to cause you to experience cravings because it is not as intensely sedative as other drugs. The opioid ingredient, buprenorphine can cause moderate withdrawal symptoms such as muscle pain, nausea, and headaches.
Usually, your doctor will gradually reduce the amount of suboxone from your system to get you off the medication while you are going through your addiction treatment and recovery. In addition to this, buprenorphine has what is called a “ceiling effect” and it eventually levels out its potency, despite the increase in the dose you are taking.
Treatment and Recovery from Suboxone at Inland Detox
At Inland Detox we take drug addiction treatment and rehab very seriously for our clients, ensuring that they receive round-the-clock care from our compassionate, educated staff. We guide our clients through the difficult phases of withdrawal and detox by providing them with a comfortable, soothing environment, allowing them to successfully recover and move on to the next phase of treatment.
Because of the intense withdrawals that occur during opioid detoxification, we do not recommend quitting “cold turkey.” It not only can be unsuccessful, but it can be risky and dangerous as well. Although it is not common for these withdrawals to be life-threatening, it can still be quite uncomfortable for the person going through it.
Our luxurious environment is filled with well-trained clinicians and counselors who specialize in addiction treatment. It is our goal for our clients to detox comfortably and safely, allowing them to become clean and sober from drugs or alcohol.
When to Call for Help
If you or someone you know needs help overcoming prescription drugs or heroin addiction, please call Inland Detox at 888-739-8296. Our admission coordinators can work with you on developing a plan for the best mode of treatment along with determining your insurance eligibility.
Our approach to each client is unique. We offer not only a premier environment for our clients to feel comfortable in, but we also focus tremendously on multiple levels of care and aftercare planning.