Suboxone is a combination medication that a doctor can utilize for treatments that contain naloxone and buprenorphine, it is used to treat opioid addiction. The use of medications to treat opioid use disorder, also known as MOUD, has been proven to reduce the risk of fatal overdose by around 50% and also reduce the risk of medically dangerous and traumatic nonfatal overdoses. If you are considering suboxone in Richmond VA to break free from the chains of opioid or other drug addiction, this article contains all the info you’ll need.

 

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone has been shown to reverse the negative side effects of opioids such as prescription painkillers and heroin and prevent the challenging withdrawal symptoms from opioid addiction. But what is this drug really?

Primarily, suboxone is a prescription drug used to treat patients with heroin addiction, addiction to other opioid medicine, or addiction to other opioids, such as fentanyl. We’ve already mentioned that its ingredients are naloxone and buprenorphine. Naloxone works to reverse the effects of opioids in the patient’s body while buprenorphine reduces the patient’s cravings by blocking their opiate receptors. When used together, these two ingredients exhibit significant results in preventing opioid addiction withdrawal symptoms.

Due to its tremendous success, Suboxone has overtaken Methadone as the gold standard in opioid addiction treatments. However, there have been valid concerns about the risk of addiction to Suboxone itself. That is why we recommend only taking suboxone under the supervision of a qualified doctor.

 

Uses of Suboxone and Its Safety

Suboxone is used in treating opioid addiction, known as opioid use disorder. If admitted to clinical care for opioid addiction, you are likely to receive medication-assisted treatment which would include Suboxone alongside behavioral therapy and counseling.

But even with all its benefits, we do not recommend self-medicating with Suboxone purchased off the street. You should get a Suboxone doctor to dial in the dose that allows you to stabilize and function. When taken as prescribed by a doctor, there should be little to no risk of overdose. It’s important to note that misusing Suboxone in any of the ways stated below can put you at the risk of experiencing negative side effects, or even death.

• Taking Suboxone too soon after taking other opioids
• Using it together with sedatives
• Taking it while drinking alcohol
• Taking larger doses than what is prescribed
• Injecting it

If you take Suboxone shortly after taking other opioids, you may experience precipitated withdrawals in the form of anxiety, stomach upset, and shaking and sweating. Continued Suboxone misuse can also cause respiratory difficulties and possible overdose.

 

Benefits of Suboxone in Medication-Assisted Therapy

Effectiveness: Suboxone was specifically formulated to combat opioid use disorder. That is why it has shown tremendous success compared to its alternatives. When taken as prescribed, Suboxone should not elicit euphoric effects and allows the patient to rebuild their life with structure.

Mild Side Effects: When compared to Methadone, Suboxone’s side effects are far less severe, with Methadone posing a greater risk to the health of the patient’s heart.

Accessibility: A certified doctor can prescribe Suboxone to you. Methadone must be administered at a specialized clinic, making it a little more challenging to access.

Also, several insurance plans can cover part or all of your Suboxone treatment, making it an affordable option for many Virginians.

 

Potential Side Effects of Suboxone

Although most of us dread reading that long list of side effects that comes with medication, it’s always best to be informed. These side effects may or may not follow the use of Suboxone;

• Constipation
• Nausea and vomiting
• Breathing problems while sleeping
• Swollen arms and legs
• Redness, burning sensation, or numbness in the mouth and tongue especially after using the dissolvable film
• Weakened liver function
• Low blood pressure, especially when standing up

Some physical conditions may also affect how Suboxone works in your body. Therefore, disclose any of the following issues to your doctor to ensure Suboxone is suitable for you;

• Drug addiction or alcoholism
• Seizures, brain tumors or head injury
• Thyroid, adrenal gland or gallbladder problems
• Sleep apnea and other breathing problems
• Tooth problems such as present or past cavities
• Urination problems such as enlarged prostate
• Kidney or liver disease
• Irregular curvature of the spine that causes difficulty breathing

 

How Should You Take Suboxone?

Say you’ve researched thoroughly about Suboxone, booked an appointment with a doctor, and picked up your prescription from the pharmacy… A crucial step many patients forget is how to actually take the prescription.

You should drink water before taking the Suboxone sublingual film. This will moisten your mouth and make it way easier for the film to dissolve in your mouth. If your prescription says to take one film at a time, place it inside your left or right cheek and hold it there until it dissolves completely. If your prescription says 2 films/strips at a time, place each one on opposite cheeks and hold until they dissolve.

Avoid chewing or swallowing the film while it’s dissolving to ensure it works as intended. If you are prescribed Suboxone sublingual tablets, place them under your tongue until they’ve dissolved completely. Lastly, talk to your doctor about how to stop using Suboxone. Sudden discontinuation can cause unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

Suboxone has been at the frontline in recent years with regard to addiction treatment. And while many cases exhibit positive results, we discourage self-medicating this substance. Save for all the info provided in this article, we recommend talking to a certified doctor about your interest in Suboxone and how suitable it is for your condition.