Suboxone Treatment
Hazelwood Family Medicine
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved various drugs to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), a chronic brain condition marked by an overwhelming drive to continue using opioids in spite of adverse personal, professional, and societal effects. Suboxone is one of these drugs. Suboxone combines naloxone, an opioid antagonist, and buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist. This allows the patient to get off their choice of opioid without severe withdrawals that can often be very painful.
Anyone interested in Suboxone maintenance therapy (SMT) for opioid use disorder may have numerous questions about the course of treatment. These most likely include who is qualified to prescribe the drugs. Or where to find physicians to help. Sometimes the fear of the unknown is a reason for us not to discuss it with our doctors. However, it is important that if you feel you have an opioid issue, you discuss it with your doctor.
We are here to help. We offer medication assistance for those that have graduated from a treatment course and are looking for ways to continue with their medication prescriptions.
While Suboxone is a great way for those to get off opioids, it is not recommended to do so on your own. You should always seek out professionals that can assist you with getting on such a treatment plan. But, once you have become clean and sober, the maintenance of that plan may include a suboxone prescription, and that’s where Hazelwood Family Medicine can help.
What is Opioid Use Disorder?
The use of opioids, even though it causes harm to oneself or others, is referred to as opioid use disorder. Mild to severe variations are possible. Your disease may be more severe the more symptoms you exhibit. However, if you are addicted, you will most likely display moderate to severe use, many times not being able to restrain from using opioids for any length of time.
Any sort of opioid consumption can lead to the development of an addiction. Hydrocodone, oxycodone, fentanyl, and morphine are examples of prescription opioid drugs. An example of an illicit opioid is heroin. All of these have the same effect on the person that has become addicted. They start to take over your life.
You might experience intense opioid cravings if you have this disease. To achieve the desired effect, you might need increasing amounts of the opioid. Tolerance is what we call this. Opioids may also cause your body to adapt. We refer to this as physical reliance. When you quit taking opioids, you could have unpleasant side effects or withdrawals, which is what keeps you addicted for years after you are done with the highs in the drug.
However, there is hope. Many new-age treatments have emerged because of the opioid crisis, one of those being the Suboxone prescription. This medication takes over where the opioids left off, tricking your body into thinking it’s getting the opioid without the high feeling. This allows patients to come off opioids, of all types, without experiencing the physical implications of withdrawal.
Who Can Prescribe Suboxone?
Suboxone has a low risk for abuse and dependency because it is listed as a Schedule III restricted substance. Only certified professionals who have undergone specialized training and certification from the U.S. federal government are permitted to provide Suboxone medicine for opioid use disorder. This is a very beneficial treatment for many patients, but it is important that you understand it needs to be prescribed by a doctor with the proper training. As with any drug treatment, it is important that the physician’s office you choose understands the complexities of addiction as well as how Suboxone works.
What is the Process When Starting Suboxone Treatment?
Suboxone therapy begins like that of a methadone clinic. The clinic staff will conduct a preliminary evaluation to ensure a person’s medical status and eligibility for treatment. They will also conduct a urinalysis to ensure the person is not taking any medications that could negatively impact Suboxone. Once the medical staff has all the testing results back, they can formulate a plan that will work best for that patient. Every patient is different, which means that every plan is different. Each patient will have a customized treatment plan according to their specific needs.
To reduce the likelihood of abrupt opioid withdrawal syndrome, treatment professionals typically give Suboxone as soon as acute opioid withdrawal symptoms appear. During the induction phase, the appropriate Suboxone dosage is determined for each patient. Once the patient is in the clear, they will need to continue their Suboxone treatment for a period of time. This period of time is determined by several factors. However, that’s where Hazelwood Family Medicine can help. We work with patients who have undergone a treatment plan and are on the road to recovery. Our professionals help monitor your recovery and prescribe the Subonxe when needed. Furthermore, when it’s time to get off Suboxone, we can also help with that.
It’s crucial to remember that Suboxone is just one element of an all-encompassing treatment plan. To promote a more prolonged recovery, we recommend other forms of treatment, such as counseling, behavioral treatments, and aftercare support.
Conclusion
For those struggling with a physical dependence on opioids like heroin and prescription medications, Suboxone may be the best course of treatment. This treatment has been around for quite some time, and we have seen amazing results. However, it is important that you not only get a prescription for Suboxone for treatment but address all aspects of your drug addiction. Many people have underlying issues that will cause problems in recovery if not addressed properly. That’s why it is so important that you start off with an addiction clinic to get clean before starting with our Suboxone treatments that are offered at Hazelwood Family Medicine.
Suboxone treatment helps to speed up recovery by lowering cravings and withdrawal symptoms related to stopping opiate use. When combined with other treatment plans, such as proper counseling, it has been found that it is very effective.
Even after you have detoxed from opioids, you will need to continue Suboxone therapy. This is when it is a good time to switch to seeing Hazelwood Family Medicine, as we are proud to offer our patients Suboxone treatments to allow them to lead a clean and drug-free life. If you should have questions, contact us today!