F.A.Q.
What is Suboxone?
Used to help people reduce or quit their use of short-acting opioids such as heroin, morphine, and codeine, as well as semi-synthetic opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone.
Buprenorphine block the effect of opioids, suppress and reduce your cravings, and prevent withdrawal symptoms during detox. Buprenorphine is available in sublingual tablets, films and injections.
The great advantage of Suboxone/ Subutex treatment is that it’s approved to treat opioid dependencies without going to a structured in-patient clinic. Instead, your Addiction and Psychiatric Care provider prescribes and dispenses the medication, allowing you to detox and recover from your opioid dependency in the doctor’s office and at home.
What is medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Suboxone?
MAT is a comprehensive treatment plan that has a high rate of success in treating opioid dependencies. When you participate in MAT, your medical detox with Suboxone is combined with counseling, behavioral therapies, and participation in social support programs. You can safely take the medications used in MAT for months, years, or longer if needed.
What happens during Suboxone treatment?
Suboxone treatment goes through three phases:
Induction phase
Your treatment begins in the office, where you take the first dose of Suboxone while you’re in the early stage of withdrawal. In most cases, your provider administers the medicine after you stay off opioids for 12-24 hours.
After your initial dose in the office, you take one dose daily at home. During the first week, your provider adjusts your dose if you have any cravings or withdrawal symptoms.
Your provider only prescribes enough Suboxone to last until your next appointment. It’s essential to keep your appointments so they can monitor your progress and be sure you’re on the right dose.
Stabilization phase
This phase begins after you stop using opioids or significantly reduce the amount you take and you no longer have cravings. You keep taking Suboxone, but your provider adjusts your dose and you may be able to take the medicine every other day.
During the stabilization phase, you still have frequent appointments at Addiction and Psychiatric Care, and you start counseling.
Maintenance phase
You start the maintenance phase after you’re doing well on a steady dose of Suboxone. Then you stay on the same dose as long as needed to be sure your withdrawal symptoms and cravings are gone.
The length of time you stay in this phase depends on your progress. However, once your provider determines you’re stable, they can slowly taper down your Suboxone and you can go on to another recovery program.
Any time you start to feel cravings, your Addiction and Psychiatric Care provider can restart Suboxone or another medication.
If you have an opioid dependency and want to be considered for Suboxone treatment, call Addiction and Psychiatric Care, or book an appointment online today.