Suboxone is a medicine that is often employed in addiction medications as a treatment of opioid dependence (OUD). It helps patients stop using opioids through managing withdrawal symptoms and decreasing cravings.1 If you or someone you know is struggling with addiction to opioids and is trying to discover a solution, you might be interested in learning about how Suboxone could help in recovery. Read on to find out all you can about Suboxone treatment as well as how it operates, the benefits of using Suboxone for addiction treatment and the potential adverse side effects of Suboxone treatment, and the best way to locate the nearest Suboxone treatment center near you to get started on the journey towards rehabilitation from addiction to opioids. Buprenorphine is what's known as a partial opioid agonist--an opioid medication that produces only a small amount of opioid effect. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the full-on effects similar to other opioids (such for fentanyl, heroin, oxycodone hydrocodone, fentanyl, etc. ), which will make it easier for you to stop using the opioid of your choice.1 With its high binding affinity it also blocks the other opioids in binding to and activating your opioid receptors, which may prevent you from using other opioids.1,3 Being a partial agonist buprenorphine also has an upper limit for its opioid effects, even with escalating doses. The risk of misuse and overdose is less than with other opioids because there's a restriction to how high your opioid receptors are activated. This reduces the risk in respiratory depression (dangerously slowed breathing), which can be a symptom or risk of an opioid overdose.1,3 Naloxone can be described as an opioid antagonist that is combined with buprenorphine within Suboxone or similar formulations. While naloxone may be used as a stand-alone remedy to stop the devastating effects of opioid overdose, it is incorporated into this mixture to help to prevent intentional misuse of buprenorphine, should the drug be dissolving and injected or taken by mouth, which would trigger the rapid withdrawal in addicted individuals.1,3,4 While it's a powerful medication for opioid addiction, Suboxone is frequently used as a part of a complete treatment plan that includes not only medications, but behavioral interventions as well as mutual-help groups, and, when needed treatment for co-occurring mental health condition (like depression or anxiety). Suboxone Uses and Safety Suboxone is used to treat addiction to opioids, which is the official diagnosis for opioid addiction. The use of medications is becoming the norm for controlling OUD. If you decide to enter rehab for addiction to opioids You may be prescribed medications for treatment of addiction as an integral part of your program strategy. The Suboxone medications to treat addiction are a part of the treatment plan that includes counselling and behavioral therapies for addiction dependence disorders. Suboxone can be effective when it is recommended for treating OUD. In the past, Suboxone revised some of details on the dosage and administering section of the package of the pharmaceutical, including the inclusion of the recommendation that healthcare professionals also prescribe naloxone, due to the possibility of patients suffering from opioid use disorder to be relapsed, which puts them at risk for opioid overdose.5 Furthermore, for patients dependent on short-acting opioids, the recommended dosage was cut by half, limiting it to not more than 8 mg/2 mg Suboxone on day 1 for acute opioid withdrawal.5 If used in the manner prescribed Suboxone has a low potential for overdose due to its ceiling of opioid effects, which we discussed earlier.6 The misuse of Suboxone, such as injecting it, using more than the recommended dosage, using it when drinking drinks or taking any sedative or using it too quickly after using other opioids--can place you at greater likelihood of experiencing negative effects.1 In the event of taking Suboxone in too short a time after taking other opioids could trigger discomforting withdrawal symptoms such as shaking, sweating and shaking, as well as digestive disturbance, and anxiety. There are other possible side effects, but they are usually not common. may happen, for instance, respiratory depression and overdose which are more likely in the case of misuse.7 Buprenorphine was first discovered in the 1970s as a safer alternative to some other opioid painkillers. It was approved for use as a painkiller back in 1985 when it was listed as an Schedule V substance, which is a substance that has an accepted use and a lesser risk of misuse than those listed in Schedules I-IV. It was discovered by the medical community that buprenorphine may be a reliable and more easily accessible alternative to methadone which was the main medication for treating opioid addiction.4,7,8 Research conducted by pharmaceutical researchers eventually led to the decision to include buprenorphine with naloxone as a way to reduce the danger of abuse of buprenorphine. Suboxone received FDA approval to treat addiction issues with opioids in October 2002.8,9 Benefits of Suboxone Use in Medications for Addiction Treatment Buprenorphine is on the list of medicines that are essential to be maintained by the World Health Organization, and is a crucial tool for aiding those suffering from opioid-related disorder manage moderate to severe opioid withdrawal and cravings.8 Additional benefits of the use of Suboxone in addiction treatment include:9,11 Overdose prevention has been increased. Risk of misuse is reduced. Long-acting effects can allow for multiple-day dosing. Potential Side Effects of Suboxone Use Like all medications Suboxone can cause certain side effects even when it is taken as recommended. A respiratory depression death is extremely rare in Suboxone. However, it could be more likely if Suboxone is used in conjunction with other drugs that make breathing difficult, such as tranquilizers, benzodiazepines or alcohol.1,3,9,12 Relatively common Suboxone side effects are: 1. Headache. Insomnia. Sweating. Inflammation in legs and arms. Nausea. Vomiting. Constipation. The tongue may become numb, or the mouth may feel numb, redness and burning if you're using the orally dissolved film. Less frequent, but potentially more serious possible side effects are:1 Low blood pressure when you stand up. Liver function is impaired. Changes in adrenal function. Sleep-related breathing problems. Allergies (if you are allergic to any or all of its ingredients). Is Suboxone Addictive? Can People Misuse Suboxone? Suboxone could cause physical dependence after long-term use due to the addition of buprenorphine, which is an opioid.13 However, dependence is not an addiction. However, the potential for it to develop even with prescription use means that you could experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop abruptly using it. It is not recommended to stop taking Suboxone unless you are directed to do so by your doctor. Your Suboxone treatment is closely monitored by health care professionals throughout the course of treatment. In the direction of your physician and your doctor, you'll begin to taper off Suboxone. This is slowly reducing the dose as the right time comes for you.1,13 As with all opioids the buprenorphine ingredient in Suboxone does carry an inherent risk of misuse. But, since it is a partial opioid agonist the drug is incapable of producing the more severe positive effects of the other, more frequently abused opioids, such as heroin and oxycodone.1 Naloxone is specifically included in the formulation of the combination to further limit the possibility of misuse since attempts to create the sensation of euphoria through ways of using it may be a cause of the blockade of opioid receptors and subsequently withdrawal.4 It is crucial to understand that using Suboxone to treat the symptoms of opioid dependence is not simply substituting one addiction for another. In fact, Suboxone can help people manage their previous compulsive and harmful use of opioids, allowing them to lead an ordinary, healthy life.13 Cost and Insurance Coverage of Suboxone Suboxone is generally covered by health insurance plans, however the amount of coverage may vary depending on your specific health insurance plan, behavioral health benefits, treatment providers, and more. According to the Mental Health Parity and Addiction Equity Act of 2008 the majority of health insurance plans are required to apply the same rules to treatment of addictions and mental health disorders , as they do for physical and medical problems.4 However, it is advised to confirm your coverage with your insurance carrier. You can check your insurance benefits and find out if your rehabilitation could be fully or partly covered using the application below. Many rural communities across the United States lack adequate access to treatment for substance abuse and treatments for addiction which includes those for the opioid dependence disorder. In the Ryan Haight Act of 2008 controlled substances can be prescribed via the internet.14 According to this act, the healthcare professional prescribing the prescription must have examined the patient at least one in-person medical evaluation.14 The SUPPORT Act, passed by Congress in 2018 however calls for to the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to set up a regulatory process for people to receive buprenorphine prescriptions via telemedicine, where the provider meets with the patient via telephone or video consult, but the DEA has not yet done this. In the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic, regulators waived the requirement to meet in person under the Ryan Haight Act to expand the availability of buprenorphine to people who require opioid disorder treatment.14,15 Therefore, the federal regulatory changes made during the COVID-19 pandemiccould allow certain addiction treatment professionals, who use telemedicine, to prescribe buprenorphine without an initial in-person evaluation.16 Can I Get Same-Day Suboxone Treatment? Same-day admission into a detox program might be beneficial for you or a family member is experiencing or at risk of experiencing opioid withdrawal symptoms.