Chronic pain is a problem for millions of people and can last for weeks and months. More often than they should, doctors prescribe opioids to dull the pain rather than address the cause. These strong painkillers are effective, but they can lead to addiction. Many rehab centers now use Suboxone to treat this disease, however, what is Suboxone?
What Is Suboxone?
As a brand name prescription, Suboxone is an opioid medication that treats people with opioid addiction. It contains buprenorphine and naloxone, which are ingredients that help people get through withdrawal.
Rather than use methadone, many rehab centers use Suboxone because it’s less potent and habit-forming. In addition, this drug is more accessible than methadone. A family physician can prescribe it when necessary. However, people have to go to a rehab center to get methadone.
Alongside using a Suboxone detox program to treat prescription painkiller addiction, facilities also use it to treat heroin addiction. Also, the drug is an effective maintenance therapy that reduces cravings and prevents lingering withdrawal symptoms.
How Does It Work?
Aside from what is Suboxone, many people wonder how it works. The combination of its ingredients is the reason why it’s so effective.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. Because of that, it blocks opiate receptors in the brain to reduce cravings. Naloxone is a drug that reverses the effects that opioids have on the body.
Together, these drugs maintain a consistent supply of a weak opioid while limiting the effects. As a result, the brain thinks that it gets the opioids that it needs to function normally. This effect prevents withdrawal symptoms and even reverses opioid-induced symptoms, including unconsciousness, trouble breathing, and drowsiness.
What to Do Before Taking Suboxone
When people talk to a healthcare provider or rehab center about taking Suboxone, they need to be honest. They must disclose any other medications or drugs that they use. Also, it’s important for them to disclose any other health issues, substance abuse history, and bodily injuries. Being open and honest will help them avoid unwanted or unexpected side effects.
Suboxone Alone Isn’t Enough
Although Suboxone can manage withdrawal symptoms and cravings during detox, it doesn’t cure addiction. People need comprehensive care to address why they abuse opioids. In many cases, they develop addiction while taking prescription opioids for an ailment. Other times, they use heroin as a recreational drug.
In any case, traditional and holistic therapy can help them manage addiction. As part of that, people learn natural ways to deal with stress and pain.
Get Medication-Assisted Help for Your Addiction
When you want help to overcome opioid addiction, come to Pillars Recovery. Our addiction treatment center offers medication-assisted care to young adults. Some of the programs and services that we use include:
- Chronic pain treatment center
- Drug detox center
- Residential treatment
- Partial hospitalization program
- Transitional living
- Dual diagnosis treatment
Don’t wait to get opioid addiction treatment. Learn more about Suboxone when you visit us. Call 866-796-7457 for more information about our services.
