Is Suboxone the Answer to Methadone Addiction?

For several decades, methadone was seen as the “go to” substitute to help lessen the pain of opiate withdrawal. While this medication is effective in helping people break free of opiate addiction, an increasing number of people developed an addiction to methadone. A synthetic analgesic similar in chemical structure to morphine, methadone is a powerful medication that has high addiction potential. If not properly prescribed and monitored, people suffering from opiate addiction can have another difficult dependence issue to face—methadone addiction.

At Hawaii Island Recovery, many of our residents are recovering from opiate withdrawal including withdrawal from highly addictive and dangerous drugs such as heroin, morphine, hydrocodone, and oxycodone. Clients who are in our recovery programs recognize the danger of using methadone and swapping out one addiction for another. In fact, many of our residents report that the withdrawal associated with methadone addiction is often as difficult, or even more difficult, than withdrawal from the opiate they were addicted to in the first place.

While methadone is effective when used properly, the possibilities of methadone addiction are great enough that many treatment centers (including Hawaii Island Recovery) incorporate similar medications that are just as effective but have a lower instance of addiction. One of the most common medications that has experienced a surge in popularity is Suboxone.

Suboxone is a medication that can be considered a hybrid containing two powerful ingredients. The first is the opiate blocker naloxone while the other is the opiate buprenorphine. When administered, Suboxone blocks the ability for opioids to attach to the opioid receptors in the brain. When compared to methadone, the chances that users become addicted to the drug are far less. However, when someone stops using Suboxone, they can experience withdrawal symptoms that are similar to methadone addiction and can be felt within a matter of a few hours after the last time it was taken. If this drug is to be used as part of a comprehensive drug treatment plan, it must be done so under strict and careful medical supervision.

If you are going to start taking Suboxone to combat your opioid addiction, you need to seek solid advice from knowledgeable resources. These may include your physician, a counselor, or recovery specialist who’s trained in short- and long-term care of individuals coping with the painful symptoms of withdrawal. It’s important to work with addiction specialists when undertaking a treatment to reduce symptoms of opiate withdrawal. In many cases, the family doctor may not be up to speed on using Suboxone as a step-down drug.

The opiate withdrawal process might seem impossible but there is an escape from the claws of addiction. What do the stages of detox from opiates look like?

Over an extended period, the dosage of Suboxone is reduced to slowly alleviate painful withdrawal from methadone.

The use of Suboxone should be carefully monitored and based on a complete medical history and details of treatments used in the past.

Report all negative side effects of your counselor-physician. Common side effects may include dizziness, stomach pain, nausea, sleep disturbances, and even damage to the liver.

While the use of Suboxone to treat methadone addiction has increased, so has abuse of Suboxone. In fact, recovery from Suboxone addiction often requires highly specialized holistic therapies to address withdrawal. People with Suboxone addiction often employ the services of professionals in recovery, and rehabilitation centers with extensive experience in treating Suboxone addiction.

If you suspect that you’ve become addicted to the cure, Suboxone, talk to your recovery specialist immediately to start a step-down regimen to manage a Suboxone addiction.

Hawaii Island Recovery is experienced in Suboxone addiction, providing addiction recovery services in beautiful, peaceful, and supportive surroundings.