Suboxone Addiction
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What To Know about Suboxone Addiction
Suboxone is a useful medication that helps treat people who are addicted to opioids. It is made up of two main ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone.
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Suboxone is a useful medication that helps treat people who are addicted to opioids. It is made up of two main ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. However, because buprenorphine is also an opioid, we can say that Suboxone has its own risks.
Despite its medical uses, Suboxone can become dangerous if abused. People who take large doses or take the drug too often may suffer from serious adverse effects. Patients who are prescribed with Suboxone are advised to use it responsibly in order to avoid these unpleasant effects.
Even though Suboxone is designed to help patients struggling with addiction, this medication still has an addictive potential.
Suboxone Overview
Suboxone is the brand name for the prescription medication that is a combination of naloxone and the opioid buprenorphine.
It is manufactured in the form of dissolvable films and tablets, and is typically prescribed to treat those who are struggling with opioid addiction. Suboxone works by reducing a person’s cravings for addictive opioids. This makes them less likely to take Fentanyl, oxycodone, codeine, heroin, and other opioids recreationally.
Buprenorphine is an opioid that is known to be more potent than morphine. But because it is a partial opioid agonist, it can block other opioids from binding to the central nervous system’s opioid receptors. It can prevent other opioids from affecting the brain. This helps patients minimize opioid withdrawal while they keep their opioid intake under control.
The difference between buprenorphine and other opioids is that it is unlikely to cause intense sedation and euphoria—which is the reason people abuse opioids. Buprenorphine will “trick” the brain into feeling satisfied without actually giving the user the typical high.
On the other hand, naloxone is a medication that is designed to reverse the symptoms of opioid overdose. It is an opioid antagonist, meaning it prevents opioids from affecting a person’s nervous system. Naloxone is there to prevent users from overdosing on the buprenorphine.
Both of Suboxone’s ingredients prevent the euphoric effects of other opioids. In a rehab setting, Suboxone may be prescribed to manage the effects of withdrawal while the patient undergoes detox from opioids.
They may be given Suboxone throughout their rehab stay as they progress through detox and therapy. While it is not considered a cure for opioid addiction, it is still a vital part of the recovery process.
Under the Controlled Substances Act, Suboxone is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. This means it has a legitimate medical purpose, but it also has a moderate risk for addiction. Because of its classification, only doctors with a certification from the Department of Health and Human Services may prescribe it.
Suboxone Side Effects and Risks
Despite its medical uses, Suboxone still carries a number of side effects that users need to be aware of. Suboxone’s most common side effects include fatigue, fever, anxiety, depression, headaches, insomnia, muscle pain, sweating, and nausea.
Most of Suboxone’s side effects are not life-threatening. They typically subside within several days. However, it also poses a risk for more serious side effects, particularly when taken in large doses or with other substances like alcohol or benzodiazepines.
Suboxone can cause liver damage and induce a coma if taken excessively. In some cases, users experience throat swelling and breathing difficulties due to an allergic reaction to the medication. In some cases, Suboxone can even cause an overdose.
Suboxone Overdose
Because Suboxone itself is opioid-based, overdose remains one of its most dangerous risks. Left untreated, Suboxone overdose can be fatal. Symptoms to look out for include blurred vision, chills, dizziness, fatigue, confusion, constricted pupils, headaches, nausea, vomiting, slurred speech, stomach pain, sweating, loss of coordination, and loss of consciousness.
The risk of Suboxone overdose increases if the user takes it in combination with other drugs. In severe cases, Suboxone overdose can slow or stop a person’s breathing. Respiratory depression can lead to brain damage, coma, or death.
Suboxone Addiction
The risk of developing an addiction to Suboxone is smaller compared to other opioids, but the drug is still potentially addictive. The drug is less likely to cause cravings because it does not produce the same euphoric effects as other opioids.
However, buprenorphine may still provoke some moderate withdrawal symptoms like muscle pains, headaches, and nausea. In order to prevent withdrawal, doctors will gradually reduce their patients’ Suboxone intake as they progress through addiction treatment.
Another thing that makes buprenorphine unique compared to other opioids is its “ceiling effect”. This means at a certain point, larger doses of buprenorphine will not amplify its potency.
Suboxone addiction is possible, but unlikely. Some drug traffickers have started selling illegal Suboxone. But people who buy it illegally tend to use it to control their opioid withdrawal even without a doctor’s prescription. This is potentially dangerous because without proper medical attention, the person can just suffer from overdose because of their misuse of Suboxone. True recovery requires a long term solution.
If someone in the family is struggling with drug or alcohol addiction, it is important to seek help. A combination of medical detox and behavioral therapy can go a long way in the fight against substance abuse. But because every individual is affected by addiction differently, a comprehensive program tailored to their specific needs is necessary. Look for a nearby addiction treatment facility today and find out how drug treatment programs work.
Rehab is Your Best Chance
Treatment is an addicted individualʼs best option if they want to recover. Beating an addiction not only requires eliminating the physical dependence, but also addressing the behavioral factors that prevent them from wanting to get better. Simply quitting may not change the psychological aspect of addiction. Some people quit for a while, and then take drugs or alcohol again, only to overdose because they did not detox properly. Recovery involves changing the way the patient feels, thinks, and behaves.
