March 28, 2024

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The Healthy Lovers

Effective use of Suboxone to Help Manage Withdrawal Symptoms After Opioid Addiction

Suboxone Withdrawal: Symptoms, Timeline, and Treatment

Until the introduction of Suboxone in Jacksonville, opioid addicts suffered from an increased intolerance to other addiction-treatment drugs. No one is immune to drug addiction and its consequences since that puff, sniff, or injection can make you become a slave to the substance once in a while. Every fan of the internet, tabloids, and magazines has come across famous people whose dependence on opiates led to their demise or confinement in rehab.

How does Suboxone treatment work?

Your doctor might recommend the prescription medication to counteract your opioid addiction, whether illegally or prescription-based. The medication contains naloxone and buprenorphine, which work distinctly to hinder potential withdrawal symptoms linked to opioid addiction. While buprenorphine blocks your opioid receptors, reducing your urges, naloxone reverses your opioid effects. Unlike other addiction replacement medications, you need to go to a specialized treatment facility to get a prescription; you can easily get a Suboxone prescription from your doctor’s office. Though the drug will help you manage your withdrawal symptoms, your doctor might recommend a customized treatment program. The healthcare professional may also include counseling and therapy in your treatment to help you cope with stress and pain.

How does your doctor administer Suboxone?

Only your doctor can prescribe the medications for you. He will require you to follow the prescription requirements and his directions in every dose. The medication comes in oral film or oral tablet. When using the oral film, your doctor will ask you to place it under your tongue to deliver the correct levels of the ingredients to your body. As the film dissolves, your doctor may ask you not to:

·         Swallow or chew it as it may prohibit the drug from functioning effectively

·         Talk with the film under your tongue. Talking might affect how your body absorbs the medication

As a depressant, Suboxone might slow you down, making you experience:

·         Calmness

·         Overall well-being

·         Pain relief

·         Relaxation

·         Minimal stress levels

However, before you start taking the medication, ensure you do not react to the ingredients; naloxone or buprenorphine. To ascertain if the medication is right for you, your doctor may need to know if you have or have ever had the following health concerns:

·         Liver or kidney infection

·         Breathing complications like sleep apnea

·         Enlarged prostate

·         Spinal cord abnormality that affects your breathing

·         Issues with your thyroid, adrenal gland, or gallbladder

Additionally, your healthcare provider may discourage you from mixing Suboxone with other medications because of the adverse side effects you might suffer afterward. Prescription medications your physician may prevent you from using with the depressant include:

·         Cholesterol-lowering drugs

·         Oral contraceptives

·         HIV-treatment drugs

·         Seizure medications

·         Blood pressure drugs

Suboxone overdose may be fatal. Therefore, take the medication following your doctor’s prescription. Additionally, you should not take alcohol when using the medication. Though the medication may help manage your withdrawal symptoms, your doctor might withdraw it gradually from your treatment plan once you complete your treatment until your dependence on the drug is no longer there. Contact your Satyen Madkaiker, MD, FAPA, to discuss a customized treatment plan to get you clean.