Suboxone

What are opioids?

Opioid medications act on opioid receptors in your brain by blocking pain signals and creating a state of euphoria, or “high.” The illegal drug heroin is also an opioid. 

Some examples of opioid medications include:

• Morphine 
• Codeine
• Fentanyl
• Oxycodone (OxyContin®, Percocet®)
• Oxymorphone (Opana®)
• Hydrocodone (Vicodin®) 

Opioid medications offer effective pain relief; however, these medications are highly addictive and can lead to substance abuse and dependency.

What are the signs of opioid addiction?

Signs and symptoms of opioid use disorder include:

• Inability to control how much or how often you use opioids
• Needing an increasing amount of the drug to achieve the same effect
• Spending a lot of time and money obtaining the drug
• Engaging in risky behavior while using the drug
• Failure to meet family obligations or work responsibilities

When you stop using opioids, it can cause withdrawal symptoms, such as:

• Nausea or vomiting
• Body aches
• Fever
• Diarrhea
• Irritability
• Depression 
• Anxiety
• Sleep disturbances

Withdrawal symptoms may lead to dangerous complications without medical supervision. Addiction medications, such as Suboxone®, can lessen the severity of withdrawal symptoms when prescribed by a qualified health care provider.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication that contains two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. 

Buprenorphine is molecularly similar to opioids and has a similar effect on opioid receptors. However, buprenorphine doesn’t make you feel high. It can help end your physical dependence on opioids by preventing withdrawal symptoms as your body detoxifies the drugs from your system.

Naloxone blocks opioid receptors, so you can’t get high from standard opioids. This helps prevent relapse during your recovery. 

Once you’ve fully detoxed from opioid dependency, you gradually wean off of Suboxone and continue along the road to addiction recovery.

Is Suboxone right for me?

When you choose to seek treatment for opioid use disorder, your caring provider at Northshore Family Practice begins by performing a comprehensive evaluation to help determine the best methods to end your dependence on opioids. 

If your expert determines that Suboxone is the right medication for your needs, they incorporate its use into a personalized treatment plan. Your plan also includes ongoing recovery support, and integrative, holistic medical care, as well as recommendations for counseling and other mental health services.

To learn more about Suboxone therapy for opioid addiction, schedule a confidential consultation at Northshore Family Practice. Call today or book online.