Suboxone Facts That Everone Should Know

Facts about Suboxone:

Suboxone is a sublingual tablet containing combination medications buprenorphine and naloxone. It is a wonder drug that helps opioid and opiate addicts through withdrawal symptoms and helps eliminate cravings. Doctors often prescribe Suboxone during drug addiction rehabilitation program.

What is buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is an opioid drug, but unlike other opioid medication it produces less euphoric effect and therefore much easier to discontinue after use. It is a partial agonist, which means it attaches to the same receptors as opioids thereby blocking its activity. When used in low doses, buprenorphine causes sufficient agonist effect to help opioid addicted individuals to overcome addicted without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Buprenorphine is considered a best treatment option by health professionals for individual addicted to opioids due to its high safety profile.

What is naloxone?

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which blocks the effects of opioids. Opioid antagonists, like agonists bind to the brain receptors, but instead of activating them they block them from being activated. When Suboxone is injected, the naloxone blocks the effects of buprenorphine and causes withdrawal symptoms in opioid addicted individuals. But, when taken sublingually, naloxone does not affect the actions of buprenorphine. Even though considered safe for opioid addicted individuals in prescribed doses, it can cause the patient to go into full withdrawal when not used in correct doses.

Suboxone usual dose:

Most individuals start with an usual dose of 8 to 24 milligrams. This initial dose is monitored by physicians for a period of 24 hours to make sure the patient does not overdose and vice versa. Patient monitoring is also essential for ensure that the patient still not feel any withdrawal symptoms. For some people, Suboxone do not cause any effect and for this reason, it loses its credibility quickly.

After two months of routine usage, the patient becomes confident about the dosage and learns to self-medicate without experiencing any withdrawal symptoms.

How to use Suboxone:

Suboxone is a sublingual tablet available in 3 different strengths of 8 milligrams, 4 milligrams, and 2 milligrams. It is recommended that the tablet should be used as such sublingually, without crushing or chewing.

Before using Suboxone:

Suboxone should be taken as directed by the physician. Any over dose of Suboxone can cause even death, especially when injected instead of taking it sublingually.

Like any other opioids, buprenorphine and naloxone can also cause drug dependence. This means, when Suboxone is stopped abruptly, it may cause withdrawal symptoms. Due to the dependence already created on other drugs, withdrawal symptoms may also occur at the start of the treatment with Suboxone. Any discomfort caused by Suboxone should be consulted with the physician, who may gradually reduce the dose to prevent or minimize any withdrawal symptoms.

Patients taking Suboxone should drive or work on machinery with caution. Naloxone and buprenorphine may cause side effects such as dizziness, drowsiness, or impaired thinking. All hazardous activities should be avoided completely, when the patient experience any of these side effects.

In case of any emergency situation, the family members should be in a position to tell that the patient is dependent on opioids and taking Suboxone treatment.

The use of certain medications when taking Suboxone should be avoided. It may dangerously increase the effects of certain medications like antidepressants, sedatives, muscle relaxants, anxiety medications, other pain killers, antihistamines, and alcohol. The use of alcohol should be completely avoided, as it may dangerously increase dizziness and drowsiness caused by the medication.

It is important to tell the health care provider about all the prescription and non-prescription medications including herbal preparations before taking Suboxone. Also, while taking Suboxone, it is advisable not to take any medication without consulting their physician first.

Suboxone addiction recovery :

With the use of Suboxone, addiction recovery form opiates has become completely painless for many individuals. By placing a sublingual tablet simply below the tongue, the withdrawal symptoms subside very quickly and within hours it becomes non-existent. All opiate withdrawal symptoms would be gone after a few days of Suboxone use. With Suboxone use, the physical dependence for opiates is completely removed. But, however it does not remove psychological dependence. The patient still needs to work on his/her psychological dependence. Treating psychological dependence is easy while taking Suboxone, because the physical need for opiates is no longer a factor.