If you’re currently fighting opioid addiction and need a more reliable method of treatment, there may be some options you haven’t explored. One of these is the doctor-prescribed medication buprenorphine, commonly known by the brand name Suboxone®. Combined with other treatments, Suboxone® could help ease your burden and lead you toward a life free from addiction.
What Is Suboxone®?
Suboxone® is a medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The main ingredients are naloxone and buprenorphine, which act to reduce the symptoms of misuse and prevent your urge to take the drug.
You can only take Suboxone® if you have a prescription provided to you by a physician or medical provider certified to prescribe it, and it has benefits that can play a big part in your recovery over a long-term period. At AppleGate Recovery, we offer multiple treatment plans, such as group and individual counseling, life skills training and ongoing clinical assessment, which you can use alongside Suboxone® to increase your chances of achieving long-term recovery.
How Suboxone® Can Help You
Suboxone® is effective in treating addiction to both prescription and illicit opioids including pain medication, heroin or even fentanyl. Your doctor and counselor can help you come up with a treatment plan that works best for your needs. Because this medication is so effective in stopping unpleasant and painful withdrawal symptoms, it can make the process of stopping your drug use much easier and cause less of a mental and physical strain on your body than other forms of treatment.
The reason Suboxone® and other similar medications work so well is that after you administer them, they latch onto and activate your brain’s opioid receptors. This eases your cravings and symptoms of withdrawal without giving you the same high you get from opioids. Suboxone® will help you get back to feeling more like yourself while you work on conquering this disease.
In addition, Suboxone® treatment tends to have a calming and relaxing effect, often reducing physical pain and decreasing levels of stress. Suboxone® for addiction treatment is most often administered via a film placed under your tongue to allow it to dissolve in your mouth.
Suboxone® Treatment Side Effects
Like any medication, Suboxone® comes with its share of warnings and side effects. If you use this drug as part of your treatment plan, you shouldn’t stop using it abruptly without seeking the direction of your doctor. It’s important to slowly wean off the drug instead to avoid experiencing withdrawal symptoms like shaking, vomiting, diarrhea and other opioid use adverse effects.
Suboxone® also has a risk of leading to dependence if not taken as prescribed, so communicate closely with your doctor as you use it and be sure you understand all directions from your provider. The drug may also cause various other side effects like dizziness, sleepiness, issues with the liver and a decrease in blood pressure.
Are You Ready to Make Suboxone® Part of Your Recovery?
We know how hard it is to beat addiction — but with the right balance of a medication like Suboxone® and support, you can come out on the other side stronger and go back to living your life on your terms. Let us help you take control of this chronic disease. Call AppleGate Recovery now to learn more about our treatment plans.