At Recreate Life Counseling, a healthcare provider, we have helped many people who are struggling with opioid addiction, opioid dependence, and drug use to achieve and live a clean lifestyle. Our team has seen first-hand the many painful challenges that patients go through as they work to become clean, and we know how to fully support them on their journey. Two of the reasons why many opioid addicts struggle to get clean are the significant withdrawal symptoms and the overwhelming cravings.
While the path to clean living is not easy, there are addiction treatments available that can help you achieve your goal. We offer Suboxone treatment in Boynton Beach to our patients who are challenged by opioid addiction, opioid use disorder, and substance use. In the following section, we will provide you with everything you need to know about Suboxone treatment. Our goal is to help you decide if this is the right treatment option for you.
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WHAT YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT SUBOXONE TREATMENT
Suboxone is a treatment option that is available only through a prescription drug, and it is specifically used to treat a person’s dependence on opioid drugs and drug abuse. These drugs include heroin and pain medications or painkillers like fentanyl, hydrocodone, oxycodone, and others. The medication-assisted treatment is administered orally through a pill or through small strips that will dissolve under your tongue or on the inside of your cheek. While this is a medical treatment for opioid addiction or drug use, you do not necessarily need to be in a rehab clinic to take advantage of its excellent benefits.
The prescription is comprised of two separate drugs. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone is an opioid receptor antagonist. These drugs work together in your body as a system depressant. They slow down vital systems to deliver essential benefits. These benefits include relaxation, pain relief, a positive sense of well-being, and a lower stress level.
Suboxone directly counters the unpleasant adverse effects that may otherwise overwhelm you when you try to break your addiction on your own. Commonly, withdrawal symptoms may include abdominal pain and stomach upset, as well as anxiety, hyperactivity, sensitivity to light, and more. These symptoms can be severe and very uncomfortable.
HOW SUBOXONE WORKS IN YOUR BODY
Before you start Suboxone treatment in Boynton Beach, you understandably want to know how it will work in your body. This is a Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved treatment that has been proven to be safe and effective. One of the two drugs in Suboxone is buprenorphine, which produces weak effects of opioid intake. By doing so, it can satisfy cravings and minimize withdrawal symptoms. As a result, it makes it easier for you to step down from your addiction. At the same time, buprenorphine blocks your opioid receptors. This means that your risk of overdosing or misusing this drug is reduced.
Naloxone is the other drug in Suboxone. In emergency room and hospital settings, naloxone is administered independently to treat opioid overdoses. When it is used in conjunction with buprenorphine in Suboxone treatment, it reduces the risk of intentionally misusing buprenorphine.
You should be aware that Suboxone can have dangerous interactions with other medications. You should avoid using Suboxone with HIV treatment drugs, niacin, acetaminophen, verapamil, oral contraceptives, and medications that lower cholesterol.
DOES SUBOXONE TREATMENT BOYNTON BEACH WORK?
Some people may wonder if Suboxone is actually an effective treatment. After all, buprenorphine produces weak effects of opioid use. They believe that they would simply be switching out one opioid addiction for another one. In reality, Suboxone has the ability to reduce the chance of overdosing on opioids and misusing them. More than that, because the effects are weaker, Suboxone can help you to grow accustomed to a lesser dose of opioids. When your doctor works with you to gradually reduce your intake of Suboxone, you can reduce your dose and addiction further. The result is a gradual step-down that has reduced side effects and cravings. In fact, this medication has long-acting impacts, so it can even be used for alternate-day dosing. You should be aware that an addiction to opioids is not the same as a dependence on the treatment.
How effective is Suboxone treatment in Boynton Beach? According to the National Institute of Health, one in-depth study shows that 49% of patients who received Suboxone treatment for at least 12 weeks were able to reduce their abuse of prescription painkillers. When Suboxone was stopped, the success rate shrunk to 8.6%.
As is the case with most prescription medications, there are some side effects that you should be aware of before you start Suboxone treatment. Many people will experience headaches, insomnia, constipation, and stomach upset. Some will also notice sweating and swelling in the legs and arms. If you use the dissolving oral strips, you could notice numbness, redness, or a burning sensation in your mouth. Uncommon but possible side effects include an allergic reaction, breathing issues while sleeping, low blood pressure when standing, liver function issues, and adrenal changes. While very uncommon, slow breathing may result in death if you use Suboxone with alcohol, sedatives, benzodiazepines, or tranquilizers.
HOW TO GET SUBOXONE TREATMENT
Some medical treatments for drug addictions, such as methadone, must be administered in a clinical setting and with direct oversight from a medical team. This is not the case with Suboxone. In fact, your general practitioner, an ER doctor, or even a nurse practitioner can write you a prescription for this treatment. Keep in mind that the doctor may first ask you to take a urine drug test for confirmation that you are abusing opioids. You generally can fill a Suboxone prescription at most pharmacies.
While it is not necessary to participate in a drug treatment program to take advantage of Suboxone’s benefits, it is recommended. There are a few good reasons for this recommendation. Consider that Suboxone eases withdrawal symptoms and cravings. However, there are often underlying reasons for an addiction that cannot be addressed with Suboxone. For example, there may be lifestyle triggers that cause you to seek the sensations that come from abusing opioid medications. Perhaps there is an underlying mental health disorder that also needs to be treated. Through a treatment program, you can participate in group and individual therapy sessions, learn how to identify and manage your triggers and receive treatment for underlying mental health and medical conditions.
Keep in mind that some drug treatment programs are in-patient, which means that participation in the program removes you from triggers. You will not be in the same social situations or stressful work situations that may be contributing to your addiction. You will also not have easy access to the drugs that you are abusing. These combined benefits can help you achieve the clean lifestyle you want. More than that, the program will give you the tools and resources that you need to maintain that lifestyle long after treatment ends. Because of this, you may find that you can more successfully live the drug-free life that you want and improve your health in the process when you complete a drug treatment program.
EXPLORE YOUR TREATMENT OPTIONS
With both in-patient and outpatient treatment options available for opioid addiction, you understandably want to find the option that is best suited for you. There are many factors to consider as you get familiar with the options. For example, how much of the cost will your insurance cover? How long is the recommended treatment plan for you? Who will be on your care team? At Recreate Life Counseling, we offer a full range of treatment programs to meet various needs. Our team wants to help you or your family members break free from your addiction, and we will happily assist you with the selection of a program that is right for you.