Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat addiction to opioids and narcotic pain relievers. In addition to decreasing cravings and relieving some symptoms of withdrawal, Suboxone helps stabilize the brain so individuals can function well as they recover from opioids.
Although Suboxone is extremely effective, using the medication can be risky. Even though Suboxone was designed and is prescribed to prevent relapse and minimize adverse side effects related to opioid detoxification, people can become addicted to the medication.
Being addicted to Suboxone can cause confusion, hallucinations, low blood pressure, respiratory depression, seizure, or coma. The good news is behavioral therapy, individual and group counseling, and other recovery activities can help individuals overcome an addiction to Suboxone. And we offer suboxone addiction treatment right here at Meta.
Suboxone is the brand name of a medicine that contains buprenorphine, an opioid, and naloxone, a narcotic. Since Suboxone contains buprenorphine, which works like an opioid, the drug can be used to relieve pain. However, Suboxone’s intended purpose is to help treat addiction to opioids such as Vicodin, Percocet, OxyContin, fentanyl, and heroin. In fact, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) considers Suboxone to be an alternative to methadone, a medication that helps treat opioid use disorders. Methadone is also considered a Schedule II controlled substance. Schedule II substances have an approved medical use in the United States, but have strict limitations because the substances have a high likelihood of abuse and addiction.
Suboxone is labeled as a Schedule III drug. This means that Suboxone has also been FDA approved for medical use in the United States. Even though the likelihood of abuse for Schedule III substances like Suboxone is lower than Schedule I and II substances, the risk of psychological dependence is high and physical dependence is moderate.
Suboxone takes the form of an oral film that’s placed on the tongue or between the gums and cheek. As the film dissolves in the mouth, the medication starts to reduce cravings and ease symptoms of withdrawal such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, fever, and body aches.
Doctors prescribe 4 different strengths of Suboxone:
Even though the different strengths of Suboxone vary, research shows that all levels of Suboxone can effectively help reduce opioid misuse. Suboxone can also help individuals remain in treatment longer which can help increase their chances of long-term recovery.
After being approved by the FDA as a treatment for opioid addiction in 2002, Suboxone was sold under the name Subutex. Since becoming more popular, Suboxone has been released to the public under multiple brand names, including:
Even though Suboxone is legal, is a prescription medication, and is safer than methadone, the drug can still cause adverse effects and lead to dependence and addiction. Misusing Suboxone can be harmful to your health and negatively impact many aspects of your life if you use it outside of a doctor’s care.
Suboxone works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as other opioids. This interaction allows Suboxone to block the intoxicating effects of other opioids such as morphine, oxycodone, fentanyl, and heroin. From there, Suboxone starts to reduce symptoms of opioid withdrawal.
Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. This means that when individuals take Suboxone, buprenorphine produces similar, but weaker, opioid effects. This is what helps reduce some of the physical symptoms that occur when individuals stop taking opioids. But unlike other opioids, buprenorphine has a ceiling effect, meaning when a person takes a certain amount of buprenorphine, the effects level off. This ceiling effect helps reduce cravings which, in turn, helps prevent relapse.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks the intoxicating effects of other opioids. This means that even if individuals were to relapse and start using opioids again, they wouldn’t experience the desired effects. This helps decrease the chances of misuse.
Although Suboxone is extremely effective at reducing cravings, preventing relapse, and reducing the severity of symptoms of withdrawal, the medication is still a controlled substance.
A controlled substance is any illegal or prescription drug that’s regulated by the Controlled Substances Act (CSA) in the United States. Congress enacted the CSA to regulate certain medications that can lead to abuse and dependence. The act categorizes all federally regulated substances into 5 different “schedules” depending on their potential for danger.
Even though many controlled substances have accepted medical use, they have serious risks and can lead to a range of complications, including:
Like most controlled substances, Suboxone does have some side effects. Depending on how much of the substance individuals consume, the side effects can be mild or serious. The side effects individuals experience can also vary depending upon whether or not individuals consume Suboxone as prescribed.
Some of the most common side effects individuals experience when taking Suboxone include:
Even though most of these side effects aren’t life-threatening, they are uncomfortable. The good news is many of these side effects dissipate after a few days or a couple of weeks.
Serious side effects of Suboxone aren’t common, but they can occur. If they do, call your doctor right away. Some of the more serious side effects of Suboxone include:
Suboxone can also cause a severe allergic reaction such as anaphylaxis. The symptoms of an allergic reaction to Suboxone can vary from person to person, but generally include:
When individuals experience any combination of these symptoms they should call their doctor or local poison control center right away. If the symptoms are severe, individuals should go to the nearest emergency room or call 911.
Even though Suboxone is a prescription medication, long-term use of the substance can lead to dependence and drug-craving behavior. This can happen because Suboxone contains active ingredients that produce effects similar to opioids.
When consumed excessively, Suboxone can produce a mild high. The brain, which prioritizes repeating pleasurable experiences, becomes accustomed to the presence of Suboxone. This desire to continually experience Suboxone’s mild effects triggers cravings. The more these cravings are satisfied by the drug, the more individuals become dependent on Suboxone.
When individuals develop a dependence on Suboxone or any other substance, they need the drug in order to function. When they don’t consume Suboxone, the brain starts to function abnormally, which includes physical symptoms of withdrawal. Even though dependence isn’t the same as full-blown addiction, dependence can — and often does — lead to addiction. Here’s how.
Because Suboxone helps treat opioid addiction, many people have trouble classifying the drug as an addictive substance. But Suboxone is a habit-forming drug that can in fact lead to abuse, dependence, and sadly, addiction.
Since Suboxone is a prescription medication, recognizing an addiction to the substance can be difficult. The good news is that there are some signs and symptoms that individuals tend to display when they are misusing, abusing, or addicted to Suboxone.
Five of the most common signs of Suboxone abuse to watch out for include:
Doctors prescribe medications like Suboxone to match an individual’s specific medical needs. When individuals change this dosage, especially without consulting their doctor, they can experience more intense effects. These effects can be extremely addictive to someone in the process of overcoming opioid addiction. Running out of a prescription early is a common indication that an individual may be using a larger amount of Suboxone than the doctor prescribed. Doing this can increase an individual’s risk of abuse and dependence and can lead to addiction if the pattern of behavior doesn’t change.
Individuals abusing or addicted to Suboxone tend to crave larger amounts of the substance than they can get with one prescription. This often compels some people to visit multiple doctors to increase their supply of Suboxone. This practice, also known as “doctor-shopping,” is one of the most common signs of substance abuse and addiction.
Individuals abusing Suboxone tend to act differently. The changes in behavior can vary from person to person, but they generally include:
Some of the most visible and recognizable signs of Suboxone addiction are physical symptoms that occur when individuals take extremely large amounts of the drug. When individuals abuse Suboxone, they may exhibit:
Individuals addicted to Suboxone also tend to act erratically. This can take the form of reckless behavior, sudden disappearances, or random outbursts. Other changes can include:
These changes can be as severe as physical symptoms. They can also make maintaining relationships challenging. Severed relationships, especially in conjunction with other symptoms, can also be a sign of Suboxone addiction.
Prolonged Suboxone misuse and abuse can lead to a number of long-term negative effects. Some of the most common long-term effects associated with Suboxone addiction include:
Other long-term effects of Suboxone misuse and addiction can include:
The good news is professional addiction treatment programs can help individuals overcome an addiction to Suboxone.
Even though Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat opioid addiction, the drug can lead to dependence and addiction. Addiction treatment programs can help individuals regain their independence and get back on track to long-term recovery. Don’t let an addiction to Suboxone make you think recovery isn’t possible. It is. Let us help you reach and maintain that goal. Contact Meta today to learn more and talk to one of our recovery experts.