What You Need to Know about Suboxone Abuse

Over the two decades, there have been a number of medications created to reduce the symptoms associated with opioid withdrawal. One medication that has garnered considerable attention is Suboxone. While the medication is very effective in helping opioid addicts better tolerate physical and psychological withdrawals, Suboxone has the potential of being abused.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication to treat addiction to opiates.

Suboxone is a medication approved by the FDA to treat addiction to opiates such as heroin or morphine, or prescription pain meds like hydrocodone or oxycodone. It is used sublingually (by dissolving under the tongue). Suboxone is actually a combination of two medications: buprenorphine and naloxone.

The primary ingredient, buprenorphine, attaches to the same receptors in the brain as other opioid substances. Buprenorphine is known as a partial opioid agonist, and it delivers a smaller amount of an opioid to patients who are addicted to stronger types of opioid drugs. It provides a way for the client to be gradually weaned off their pre-existing addiction, thus reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms for people who are kicking the opioid habit.

Naloxone is known as an opioid antagonist. Antagonists blocks any kind of substance that excites opioid receptors in the brain. As a result, it reverses the effect of opioid agonists that are already in the patient’s system. However, this action of shutting off opioid receptors and can trigger withdrawal symptoms that can be uncomfortable and unpleasant to deal with. When this occurs, people can start using Suboxone in abusive ways.

Is Suboxone Abuse Possible?

Like any opioid-based medication, Suboxone does pose some risk for abuse and addiction. In many cases, people may use Suboxone to get relief from opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, people could abuse Suboxone if they use the drug without medical supervision or have strayed from their individual recovery programs. In the absence of a quality treatment program, people who take Suboxone without medical support can become dependent on it as their primary treatment option.

Like most medications, Suboxone users can experience a variety of side effects. The most common side effects of Suboxone can include anxiety, depression, fever, headaches, muscle pain and nausea. Suboxone can produce more serious side effects if users use other substances such as alcohol or benzodiazepines. Additionally, high doses of Suboxone can also cause liver damage.

What are the problems associated with Suboxone? Is Suboxone addictive?

Most experts agree that Suboxone holds great promise for the treatment of opiate addiction. However, it isn’t without risk and may cause unpleasant side effects such as dizziness, headaches, confusion, stomach pain, nausea, sleep problems, and liver damage.

Although the medication is intended for the treatment of addiction, some people purchase the drug illegally or use it against doctor’s orders in an attempt to get high. Tolerance can develop quickly and users discover they need to ramp up the dose to get the same effects. In some cases, even people who use the drug properly find that getting off Suboxone isn’t easy. Instead of getting well, Suboxone can present the same problems as any other drug addiction – or worse.

Part of the difficulty is that Suboxone sticks tight to the brain’s opiate receptors, which means it takes longer to kick the habit. For most patients, a slow, gradual tapering is the best way to stop using Suboxone. Withdrawal symptoms are much like that of any other opiates and may include tremors, anxiety, fever, vomiting, nausea, diarrhea, runny nose, muscle pain, and insomnia.

Adding to the problem is the fact that many physicians aren’t knowledgeable about prescribing Suboxone. Although medical providers must be certified to prescribe the drug, certification requires the only completion of a short, online class. Although most physicians are conscientious when it comes to prescribing drugs, some are eager to prescribe the drug to cash-paying clients who are desperate for a solution for their drug habit. Physicians should never prescribe Suboxone without knowing a patient’s complete drug history and should ensure the drug is used to complement addiction treatment or rehab.

Dangerous interactions

combinations of high doses can result in severe respiratory distress. Be sure to tell your physician about all your medications, advises the Mississippi Division of Medicaid. Never take Suboxone if you are pregnant.

Living with a Suboxone Addict: How to Help

Suboxone is approved only for the treatment of addiction and should be used only in conjunction with an effective treatment program that includes addiction counseling and regular drug monitoring.

The drug should only be used sublingually. If your friend or loved one is taking doses larger than prescribed, chewing the pills, crushing the pills and snorting the powder or mixing the powder with water and injecting the solution, it’s obvious that the person is abusing the drug and needs help as soon as possible.

Recovery from a Suboxone addiction generally requires medically supervised detox in a skilled treatment or rehab center as the drug is gradually tapered, along with skilled counseling and group therapy. Most treatment centers include family therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment program.

Getting Help

Suboxone is approved only for the treatment of addiction and should be used only in conjunction with an effective treatment program that includes addiction counseling and regular drug monitoring.

The drug should only be used sublingually (under the tongue). If you or a loved one is taking doses larger than prescribed, chewing the pills, crushing the pills and snorting the powder or mixing the powder with water and injecting the solution, it’s obvious that the person is abusing the drug and needs help as soon as possible.

Recovery from a Suboxone addiction generally requires medically supervised detox in a skilled treatment or rehab center as the drug is gradually tapered, along with skilled counseling and group therapy. Most treatment centers include family therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment program.

HAWAII ISLAND RECOVERY

At Hawaii Island Recovery, we can help you recover from an addiction to Suboxone or other opiate drugs in a peaceful, nurturing environment. We are ready to help!