All drugs are powerful. Even substances employed for beneficial purposes must be used strictly as directed and could exercise significant impacts upon a user’s body. One such preparation is known as suboxone.
Suboxone Overview
In actuality, this drug is a combination of two substances, buprenorprine and naloxene.
Buprenorprine is an opioid chemical containing narcotic properties. Naloxene inhibits certain influences created by narcotic drugs like euphoric sensations and pain-alleviation.
Typical Usages
Usually, suboxone is prescribed to help wean those addicted to opioid substances off said drugs gradually. There are a host of similar drugs that have been used for this purpose. Arguably, the most common is methadone.
Abrupt cessation of narcotic drugs could prove dangerous and, above all, unsuccessful in helping quitters maintain sobriety. Using low dosages of fellow narcotic products has proven fruitful in helping addicts end their dependency on said substances without experiencing serious or potentially life-limiting withdrawal manifestations.
Associated Risks
On the surface, this seems like an ideal method of helping dependents deliberately rid their bodies of highly addictive narcotic preparations. However, medical professionals caution that suboxone comes with its own set of side effects, which could be significant.
Known as an opioid antagonist, suboxone quells the brain and body’s physical reliance on narcotic drugs like heroin. However, if dosage is not carefully monitored, such administration could exercise the counterproductive impact of precipitating withdrawal symptoms.
Ergo, those undergoing suboxone treatment stand at an increased risk of experiencing a host of manifestations impacting numerous bodily systems including:
Digestive Tract
Digestive withdrawal occurrences include nausea, vomiting, appetite loss, constipation, and diarrhea.
The Neurological System
Recipients might encounter neurological events, such as numbness to the extremities, mouth, and tongue, dizziness, and balance problems.
Miscellaneous Issues
In addition to the preceding concerns, suboxone use might elicit occurrences, like headaches, heartbeat irregularities, body aches, vision disturbances, insomnia, perspiration, and fatigue.
Respiratory Depression
One of the most serious side effects potentially induced by suboxone ingestion is respiratory depression. As this malady progresses, stricken subjects experience significant difficulties breathing. Oftentimes, their breathing becomes excessively shallow or slow. Respiratory depression is a medical emergency requiring immediate professional intervention.
Mental And Behavioral Impacts
Mental health researchers have concluded that suboxone usage may also result in long-term problems, such as depression, anxiety, and cognitive disturbances like diminished focus capacity and memory loss.
Weaning Off Suboxone
Scientists maintain that the narcotic properties in suboxone can precipitate physical dependence on the substance. When combined with the drug’s withdrawal-inducing capabilities, suboxone ingestion and cessation can be a tricky balance and should always be supervised by a licensed and highly trained healthcare provider.
Furthermore, most medical professionals maintain that one should never abruptly stop using prescribed suboxone treatments or attempt to tailor their own withdrawal plan. In fact, many doctors and addiction specialists opine that suboxone users are often best served undergoing such efforts inside a medical clinic or the detox facility of a drug treatment center.
Typically, there is no one surefire, clear-cut outline for weaning an individual off suboxone. Treatment overseers will often tailor specialized plans after considering several factors including the intended patient’s:
- Age
- Weight
- General health
- Physical condition
- Level of dependency
- Amount of drug used
- Addiction duration
- Drug of choice
That said, the orchestrating healthcare provider’s usual aim is to gradually reduce the recipient’s prescribed suboxone daily intake by as much as 25 percent or four milligrams.
How Long Does Suboxone Withdrawal Last?
Medical and addiction industry professionals opine that the answer to this inquiry varies from case to case. The preceding factors play an appreciable role in how quickly one will shake their need for the drug.
Those in otherwise good health and physical condition could withstand daily dosage reductions. In others, such alterations are safer every two or three days. Occasionally, the entire process can be completed in a week. However, in persons with discernible health considerations or any other complications, the effort could take a month or longer.
However, research studies have found that longer treatment initiatives seem to produce more tangible and lasting results.
Final Considerations
Opioid dependency is a serious, potentially life-altering problem necessitating aggressive treatment. For some, suboxone treatment is a viable option. That said, safe and successful completion of such efforts must be overseen by medical professionals and experienced addiction specialists.
Reaching Out To Us
If you or a close association is struggling with an narcotic dependency or any other addiction, please contact us. Our Columbus-based facility has helped countless Ohioans, mid-westerners, and those from across the United States overcome chemical addictions and return to fruitful, joyous lives. Give us a call today at 833-497-3812.