Suboxone is frequently used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD). It aids in people’s attempts to quit taking opioids by controlling withdrawal symptoms and lowering urges. If you or someone you know is dealing with such an addiction, visit our Suboxone Clinic in White Marsh. Continue reading to learn more about suboxone’s uses, benefits, and side effects.
What Is Suboxone?
This medication helps in addressing opioid addictions. It has a dual purpose. Firstly, it can be used as a maintenance medication to aid in the recovery from OUD. Secondly, it can help stabilize a person going through withdrawals during detox. It is made up of buprenorphine and naloxone. It can be placed under your tongue or in your cheek. In 2018, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) authorized a generic oral formulation of buprenorphine with naloxone.
Uses and Safety
The standard of treatment for treating OUD is moving more and more toward medication. If you go to rehab for drug addiction, part of your plan may include receiving drugs for addiction treatment. Strategies like cognitive therapy are also a part of the program. This drug is safe when used just for treatment purposes. A few changes have been made in the dosage, and doctors are asked to administer naloxone due to the possibility that people with opioid use disorders could relapse and overdose. Also, the amount of suboxone was halved for opioid-dependent people. If you misuse this drug by taking higher doses than recommended, injecting it, or taking alcohol with it, then you’ll be facing certain negative effects. Suboxone can cause painful withdrawal symptoms such as shivering, gastrointestinal distress, sweating, and anxiety when taken too soon after other drugs. Poisoning and respiratory failure are two additional possible—but generally uncommon—side effects that may be more frequent with usage.
Benefits And Side Effects
The World Health Organization maintains a list of important medications, and buprenorphine is one of them. It is a vital resource for helping patients with drug use disorders manage mild to extreme opioid withdrawal and desires. Suboxone has other advantages for treating drug addiction, such as:
- Enhanced overdose protection
- Reduced danger of misuse
- Long-lasting results might make alternate-day dosage possible
Just like any other prescription drug, it does have some side effects, even if you follow all the guidelines. Death from respiratory failure is rare but can happen when used with other drugs like alcohol, sedatives, and benzodiazepines. A few of the more frequent negative effects of suboxone are:
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headaches
- Sweating
- Swelling of legs and arms
- Insomnia
The following side effects are less frequent but more serious:
- Drops in blood pressure
- Poor liver performance
- Adrenal modifications
- breathing difficulties while sleeping
- Allergic responses
Drug addiction treatment can be found at our Suboxone clinic in White Marsh. Our doctors help you change your life for the better. If you feel like you’re experiencing opioid abuse, then call us to get immediate assistance.
