Suboxone Treatment Programs

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is comprised of two separate medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid, has opiate affects that are significantly reduced compared to that of full opioid agonists, such as vicodin or heroin. Naloxone, which is not absorbed by the digestive track when Suboxone is taken orally, is added to Suboxone in order to prevent the misuse of the medication by injection drug users and those who are looking to replace their illegal addiction with a legal one.

During Suboxone treatment, Suboxone is placed below the tongue, and dissolves in a period of 5 to 10 minutes. A patient is instructed not to swallow their saliva during this period so that the buprenorphine can be absorbed quickly into the bloodstream. Once it enters the bloodstream, the buprenorphine then attaches to the body's empty opioid receptors, which are located in the patient's brain, and suppresses withdrawal symptoms, which in turn reduce cravings. While the buprenorphine is attached to the opioid receptors, patients are unable to feel the rush and euphoria that is often associated with other opioids such as heroin or Oxycontin.

What is Suboxone Treatment?

Often referred to as an "office based" treatment, Suboxone is an opioid approved for the treatment of opioid dependence, dispensed by a physician and taken in the office or at home just like any other medication. During Suboxone treatment, patients are evaluated and treated on regularly scheduled office visits rather than in a hospital setting. The patient is completely responsible for filling their Suboxone prescription themselves at any local pharmacy and taking the medication accordingly.

Suboxone treatment is very different from the standard "cold turkey" detox method used in most clinics. "Cold turkey" detox is when a patient is made to immediately discontinue the use of all opiates, thus causing the body to go into full opiate withdrawal. Because the opiate withdrawal can be so intense for the patient both mentally and physically, it is necessary that this method of detox is only performed under the safe supervision of trained personnel in the confines of an inpatient detox facility. Suboxone treatment on the other hand, is an outpatient treatment that adheres to a slower detox process. It a long-term maintenance therapy meant to wean a patient off of their addictive opioid, rather than stopping the use so abruptly.

What is Suboxone Addiction?

Suboxone treatment that ends in addiction is rare, but not impossible. Addiction to Suboxone, for the most part, usually happens accidently, when a patient derives from the directions given to him or her by their physician. Like any other medication, when used for a long period of time the body can become used to the amount of drugs it is ingesting and may build up a tolerance that requires the user to take more of the drug in order to feel its desired affects. In these cases, it is up to the physician or doctor administering the medication to assess the situation and determine the proper dosage needed for a safe and effective detox.

Unfortunately, in some cases a patient will try to handle this issue on their own and take an amount of their medication that is counteractive to the detox treatment. This can easily lead to addiction and withdrawal. An easy way to know if you or someone you know is addicted to Suboxone, is to stop taking it. If withdrawal symptoms such as anxiety, diarrhea, fever, vomiting, or nausea set in, it is extremely likely a physical and /or psychological dependence to this opioid has developed and Suboxone addiction treatment at an inpatient drug and alcohol rehabilitation center is needed.