Understanding Its Benefits and Setbacks
This prescription medicine shows great effectiveness in helping patients recover from opioid addiction. It helps the person slowly shy away from using opioid substances until the completion of the treatment program.
Suboxone has two active components, which are, naloxone and buprenorphine. These components help individuals recover from opioid dependence. Despite the medicinal impact of this prescription drug, it shows high chances of being abused without proper supervision.
This medicinal drug is classified as controlled substance III because it poses the risk of being abused. Likewise, similar to other prescription drugs, Suboxone also has minor side effects that one can feel for the entire medication process.
Important Details for Safety Use of Suboxone
Suboxone has its respective benefits and downsides like any other prescription drugs. For the safety of all patients, here is some essential information one must know for the safety of this drug.
- Allow the effects of the opioids one has to wear out before medicating with Suboxone. This is needed to avoid any withdrawal symptoms.
- One must abide by the prescribed dosage and schedule for taking this medication drug.
- It is never recommended to directly switch from Suboxone to other prescription drugs containing buprenorphine for the contents can differ unless recommended by a medical practitioner or doctor.
- Never take benzodiazepines, antidepressants, tranquilizers, and sedatives when under medication with Suboxone as it can pose life-threatening side effects.
- Pregnant women must not take this prescription drug as it can induce opioid withdrawal symptoms for the baby after birth. This condition is medically called Neonatal Opioid Withdrawal Syndrome (NOWS) which is treatable.
- It is never advised to share this prescription medicine with others even if both share a similar medication process.
- Store Suboxone away from children’s reach and keep it in a cool and dry place.
- It is highly prohibited to sell this medicine on the streets when one is not licensed to do so.
- Intravenous administration of Suboxone is not advised because of the high risk for an overdose which can lead to serious side effects and withdrawal symptoms.
Treatment Process of Suboxone
The two active components of Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) play an essential role in its medicinal effect for the treatment of opioid addiction. Both buprenorphine and naloxone are opioid antagonists which decrease the euphoric effects of opioids.
These two active ingredients do its work by attaching itself on the opioid receptors in the brain. These opioid receptors are the sites where the opioid substances attach themselves and are solely responsible for feeling the euphoric effect.
As buprenorphine and naloxone attach to these receptor sites, they are blocking opioids from inducing the addictive “high” feeling. Unfortunately, the use of Suboxone must be closely monitored and controlled as it also induces a slight euphoria similar to opioids. This is the main reason why Suboxone is one of the prescription medicines typically abused by individuals.
Suboxone’s Withdrawal Effects
A sudden cessation from medicating with Suboxone can lead to withdrawal symptoms. The intensity of these withdrawal effects is higher when the patient has been medicating with this drug for a longer time at a higher dose.
Below are some of the typical withdrawal symptoms when one stops taking Suboxone. The patient can call the medical staff to avail assistance if the discomfort will no longer be tolerable.
Withdrawal Symptoms:
- Diarrhea
- Vomiting and nausea
- Uncontrolled sweating
- Stomach cramps
- Hallucinations
- Confusion
A dependence from this prescription medicine can still be treated as long as it is detected early. Drug dependence and addiction are two different things with the latter being more severe and requires a comprehensive treatment program.
If the patient has some pre-existing condition of anxiety or depression, it will be amplified with the withdrawal effect of Suboxone. Nonetheless, one can readily call help from a reputable and certified medical practitioner or doctor.
Adverse Effects of Suboxone
Before taking this medication drug, one needs to consult with a physician or doctor for the proper dosage and schedule of administering it. Likewise, the patient must disclose any pre-existing conditions or allergic reactions to any of the active components of Suboxone.
Minor Adverse Effects:
- Pain at the lower back
- Difficulty sleeping
- Constipation
- Slight chills
- Nausea and vomiting
- Slight pain when urinating
- Depressed breathing patterns
- Sinusitis
Major Adverse Effects:
- Unable to focus
- Severe lethargy
- Drowsiness
- Bleary vision
- Confusion
- Trouble breathing and cannot think well
- Inability to speak thoroughly
- Reflexes are slower than normal
When a person experiences any of these side effects, one can seek medical attention to prevent worsening and possible dependence from Suboxone. Nonetheless, with early intervention, these side effects won’t be life-threatening.
Indications of Suboxone
Not all types of prescription drugs used for treating drug dependence, addiction and alcoholism are compatible with all kinds of people. This is similar to Suboxone, where not all people can readily medicate with this drug to recover from opioid dependence or addiction.
If an individual has any of the following conditions below, then Suboxone will not be advised for medication.
- Women who are on breastfeeding or going towards breastfeeding
- Taking other medications already aside from Suboxone
- Brain injury
- Scoliosis
- Addison’s disease
- Respiratory problems
- Kidney problems
- Liver diseases
- Medical conditions with prostate gland and gallbladder
- Low levels of thyroid hormones
- Past issues with an alcohol use disorder
- Suffering from any mental conditions like dementia or hallucinations
Conclusion
Suboxone is indeed beneficial for helping patients recover from opioid dependence and addiction. However, one must have strict supervision and monitoring when medicating with this prescription drug to avoid any dependence.
The withdrawal and side effects of this medicine are normal like any other prescription drugs used to treat opioid addiction. The key to mitigating these side effects is consulting with a certified physician for any methods of alleviating discomfort and avoiding Suboxone dependence.
Never hesitate to consult or talk with your doctor or medical practitioner regarding rehab treatment programs offered in your vicinity. Keeping open and honest communication with your designated doctor or physician is one of the essential keys towards one’s long-term recovery.
