Navigation:
- As stated by the National Institute On Drug Abuse
- Suboxone Mechanism Of Action
- Side-effects
- Unlikely side effects of Suboxone are
Most people ask, how long does Suboxone block the effects of an opioid? Quite frankly, it differs in many ways. Suboxone is a drug that physicians prescribe to patients, who are undergoing opioid detoxification. The drug affects the patient depending on his level of addiction, the state of well-being, and the quantity of opioid consumed.
To understand its role in the detoxification process, the post will talk about what Suboxone is, what it contains, what effects does it bring, and why patients must take it.
As stated by the National Institute On Drug Abuse:
- Suboxone is not a replacement for opioid or heroin.
- In general, it stabilizes the patient undergoing opioid abuse.
- Its effects are to stop the patient in developing opioid cravings. To be able to stop opioid use and prevent the serious withdrawal symptoms the patient may experience, the physician must prescribe it as a maintenance medication.
- Suboxone blocks the ecstatic feeling when the patient abuses opioid again.
- It blocks the “high” effects of heroin, restraining patients from feeling what is expected post drug use.
Suboxone Mechanism Of Action
To better understand how Suboxone works for opioid dependents, it is necessary to know first what half-life means. Half-life, in medicine, is the amount of time it takes for a drug’s effects to withdraw from the body.
As stated by Reckitt Benckiser, a Suboxone producer, the drug has a total half-life of 24 to 42 hours. It defines how much time it takes the Buprenorphine, a brand name, to withdraw from the body. On the other hand, Naloxone another suboxone, takes 2 to 12 hours. Overall, it takes 48 to 84 hours to remove the chemicals in the body.
To achieve the complete blocking of opiates goal, it will require an estimated 24 hours after the patient’s last Suboxone intake to fully experience the effects. It will then gradually block the opioids for another 64 hours. This timeline, of course, would depend on the Suboxone dosage the patient took and the amount of time since it was last taken.
Side-effects
Like all drugs, Suboxone can also develop adverse reactions. The rampancy and seriousness of the effects, however, are dependent on the patient’s state of well-being. Also, it is important to remember that the larger the dosage, the higher the possibility to experience the side effects. Some of the known side effects are:
- Dizziness lightheadedness
- Feeling of extreme warmth or flushed
- Profuse sweating
- Headache
- Fever
- Cough
- Painful urination
- Back or side pain
Unlikely side effects of Suboxone are:
- Bloating or swelling
- Rapid weight gain or loss
- Tingling of the hands or feet
The suboxone side-effects are often not severe enough; hence, no patient is advised to cease taking it. In fact, most of the patient’s feedback states that the after-effects do not take longer to subside.
The length by which Suboxone block opioids depend on many factors. Generally, however, it goes an average of two days in blocking opiates. Also, it is recommended to consult a medical professional before taking Suboxone. This will make sure that the patient’s recovery is safe. Visit a Maryland rehab for more information.
