What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is an oral medication. It comes in three forms designed to be easy to take:

• Sublingual tablets
• Sublingual film strips
• Buccal film strips

The sublingual tablets and film strips are placed underneath your tongue and the buccal film strips are placed between your gums and teeth. All three forms of the medication dissolve quickly in your mouth. The film strips are similar to Listerine breath mint strips. Suboxone contains a combination of both buprenorphine and naloxone. It is available in four strengths:

• 2 mg buprenorphine and 0.5 mg naloxone
• 4 mg buprenorphine and 1 mg naloxone
• 8 mg buprenorphine and 2 mg naloxone
• 12 mg buprenorphine and 3 mg naloxone

In implementing a successful medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program, the overarching objective is to methodically and safely taper the prescribed medication dosage over the course of treatment. The initiation of the treatment plan involves determining the starting dose, a decision contingent upon the extent of opioid dependence observed upon the individual’s commencement of the program. This initial dose is tailored to address the severity of the opioid use disorder and serves as a foundational element in the therapeutic process.

As the MAT program progresses, a systematic reduction in the prescribed dosage ensues. The gradual tapering is a deliberate and carefully managed process, ensuring that the individual’s physiological and psychological needs are met while minimizing potential withdrawal symptoms or adverse effects. The pace of dose reduction is personalized, taking into account the unique characteristics of each patient and their response to treatment.

The ultimate goal of this tapering process is to guide individuals toward a point where they can successfully transition to a medication-free state. This signifies achieving a state of sustained recovery and independence from pharmacological interventions. The decision to discontinue all medications is a collaborative one, made in consultation with the healthcare provider and based on an assessment of the individual’s progress, stability, and readiness for medication discontinuation.

It is important to note that the tapering process is not only about the reduction of medication but also involves comprehensive support, including counseling, behavioral therapies, and other psychosocial interventions. This holistic approach aims to address the multifaceted aspects of opioid dependence, facilitating a successful and sustained recovery journey.

As a medical professional overseeing such MAT programs, the emphasis lies not only on the pharmacological aspect but on the individualized and comprehensive care provided throughout the treatment continuum, with the ultimate objective of promoting long-term recovery and well-being.

Sources:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2018). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – A Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2021). Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/overview

When you take Suboxone just like your doctor tells you to, it can really help you when you’re trying to stop using opioids. Suboxone has two important parts – buprenorphine and naloxone – that work together to give you some good effects.

Buprenorphine helps you by connecting with the same parts in your brain that other opioids do, but it does it in a way that helps reduce your cravings and the tough feelings when you stop using. It’s like a friend that makes things a bit easier as you’re getting better.

Naloxone is like a protector. If someone tries to use Suboxone in a way that’s not safe, like injecting it, naloxone steps in to block the effects and make them feel uncomfortable. This helps make sure the medicine is used the right way.

Suboxone is not just a medicine; it’s part of a bigger plan to help you get better. Talking to someone about how you feel and learning new ways to cope is also important. Together with Suboxone, these things can help you take control of your life again and feel better without relying on opioids.

Sources:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2018). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – A Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2021). Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/overview

Suboxone can be really helpful, but like any medicine, it can also have some effects on your body. Not everyone feels these effects, and some people might not feel anything unusual at all. Here are some things that some people might feel when they take Suboxone:

1. Feeling Sick: Some people might feel a bit sick to their stomach or even throw up. This doesn’t happen to everyone, though.
2. Headache: You might get a headache, which is like a pain in your head. It’s another thing that can happen but doesn’t always.
3. Sleepy or Dizzy: Suboxone might make you feel tired or a bit dizzy, like when you spin around too much. It’s something to be aware of.
4. Problems Sleeping: Some people find it a bit hard to sleep when they take Suboxone. It’s like when you can’t fall asleep at night.
5. Pain in Your Belly: You might feel some pain or discomfort in your belly. This is another thing that can happen to some people.

It’s important to remember that not everyone will feel these things, and they are usually not too serious. If you ever feel something that bothers you or makes you uncomfortable, it’s really important to tell an adult, like your parent or the person who helps with your medicine.

Sources:

1. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2018). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – A Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
2. National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2021). Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/overview

Scientists and doctors have done a lot of research, and they found that Suboxone has many good effects for those who need it.

Here are some important things they discovered:

Less Opioid Use: Suboxone helps people use fewer opioids, which is a good thing. It’s like using a tool to help you stop relying on certain kinds of medicines.

Fewer Bad Feelings: People who take Suboxone feel better because it helps with the tough feelings that come with stopping opioid use. It’s like having a friend that makes things a bit easier.

Less Chance of Getting Sick: Suboxone can also lower the risk of getting sick with infectious diseases. This is important because using drugs can sometimes make people more likely to get sick.

Less Trouble with the Law: Suboxone can also help reduce problems with the law that might come with using drugs. It’s like a helper that makes sure you stay out of trouble.

These are all good things that Suboxone does for people who are trying to get better. It’s like a tool in a toolbox that helps fix a problem. Remember, though, it’s always important to use Suboxone just like your doctor tells you to.

Sources:

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2018). Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) – A Treatment for Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA). (2021). Medications to Treat Opioid Use Disorder. Retrieved from https://www.drugabuse.gov/publications/research-reports/medications-to-treat-opioid-addiction/overview

Like most medications, Suboxone does not come without some risks. It still causes some effects that are similar to other opiates. Low to moderate doses do cause mild euphoria and some respiratory depression. Effects of Suboxone are far weaker than the effects caused by opiates like prescription painkillers or heroin.

Mixing Suboxone with other drugs such as benzodiazepines or alcohol poses a significant risk. Possible side effects of mixing the medication with depressant drugs include respiratory distress, coma, and even death.

The naloxone in the medication limits the possibility of a true opiate-like high when taking it. It also aims to keep people from developing a Suboxone addiction. Limiting the ability to get high or become addicted doesn’t keep users from developing a tolerance, though. People using Suboxone develop a physical and psychological dependence on the medication over time.

Despite its use as a treatment for opioid dependence, Suboxone is still an opioid medication. This means it comes with risks similar to other opioids, including dependence and abuse. Abusing Suboxone can lead to behaviors similar to those you initially sought treatment for, including cravings for drugs and seeking out other substances.

Suboxone is one of the most common medications used in medication-assisted treatment today. There are also a few alternatives to Suboxone available. The three main types of medications used to treat opioid dependence include methadone, buprenorphine, and naloxone. The main opioid dependence medications include some combination of these active ingredients.

Suboxone isn’t the only kind of medication used to treat opiate addiction. The Food and Drug Administration approved the use of Suboxone for opiate treatment in 2002. Methadone is another opiate treatment medication that’s been in use for decades, long before Suboxone was introduced.

Similar to Suboxone, clinicians use methadone to reduce opioid cravings and help people during early recovery. However, there is a major difference between Suboxone and methadone. The buprenorphine used in Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist while methadone is a long-lasting, full opioid agonist.

There is a huge difference in the strength of the two medications. Partial opioid agonists do not produce the same effects as full opioid agonists do. Buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone, is only a partial opioid agonist. Methadone, on the other hand, is a full opioid agonist. It’s a much stronger medication than Suboxone and has a far greater potential for abuse.

Suboxone is also unique because it aims to limit the strength of its opioid effects. Methadone, on the other hand, is made from opioid. Suboxone’s combination of both buprenorphine and naloxone reduces the opioid-like effects. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist and naloxone is an opioid antagonist. The antagonist properties of naloxone weaken the opioid-like effects of buprenorphine. This function makes Suboxone slightly less habit-forming than methadone.

Because of the high risk of abuse, methadone is only available under the supervision of a physician through certified opioid treatment programs. Suboxone, on the other hand, is available at a variety of facilities and also as a take-home prescription. The medication’s widespread availability makes treatment accessible to more people.

Research shows that medication-assisted treatment using Suboxone is effective for reducing opioid dependence. The use of the medication also increases the likelihood that a patient remains in treatment instead of leaving early. Thankfully, its efficacy increases the longer a person stays in their treatment program.

At the same time, despite making the detox and early recovery period more manageable, Suboxone is not a cure for opiate addiction. It doesn’t address the underlying causes of substance use disorder. Instead, it provides enough relief to allow people the ability to focus their energy on treatment rather than only on staying clean.