How to Decide Whether You Need Suboxone Treatment
When it comes to opioid addiction treatment methods, you have a lot of options. The reality is that there isn’t a single, universal cause of all addiction and because of that, there isn’t a single, universal solution. Each person comes to their addiction individually and they need to find an individual solution to their somewhat unique problem.
One solution that has helped numerous people is medically assisted treatment (MAT). Although it may seem like MAT is simply the prescribing of a drug to counter the effects of withdrawal from another dug, it isn’t Proper MAT has three consistent components: the medication, therapy, and development of a support system. There isn’t a true option where people use methadone in a vacuum and magically get sober.
MAT
The most commonly known medication for treating opioid addiction is methadone. Although it is extremely effective when taken under the care of and according to the directions of a doctor, it does have a few drawbacks that have opened up a market for alternatives. Disadvantages include the risk of addiction, the danger of overdose, and the need to access the drug through methadone treatment clinics.
A growing number of people are turning to suboxone: a combination of the drugs buprenorphine and naloxone. It has the advantages of:
- Lowering the potential for misuse
- Diminishing the effects of physical dependency to opioids, such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings
- Increasing safety in cases of overdose
If you are interested in pursuing treatment with suboxone and are looking for more information, access to treatment, or connections to rehab facilities, you can find answers by calling SuboxoneDrugRehabs.com at 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) Call today!
Are You a Candidate?
According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, ideal candidates for opioid dependency treatment with suboxone:
- Have been objectively diagnosed with an opioid dependency
- Are willing to follow safety precautions for the treatment
- Have been cleared of any health conflicts with using suboxone
- Have reviewed other treatment options before agreeing to suboxone treatment
When determining whether or not a patient who is addicted to opiates will make a good candidate, doctors will complete an assessment that includes:
- Complete history
- Physical examination
- Mental status examination
- Relevant laboratory testing
- Formal psychiatric assessment (if indicated)
By reading this article and others on this site, you are beginning to learn about other treatment options and you can build on that foundation.
Treatment Phases
Suboxone treatment happens in three phases: induction, stabilization, and maintenance.
The induction phase consists of the medically monitored start-up that is performed in a doctor’s office. The initial dose is not given until a patient has been opioid free for 12 to 24 hours and the first symptoms of withdrawal are setting in. If a patient has opioids in their system or has not yet begun to feel withdrawal, the suboxone will bring it on immediately.
The stabilization phase begins after a period of time. The patient will have stopped using or greatly reduced their use. Their cravings will be absent. And, they will have few side effects (if any). During this phase, your dose may be adjusted. Suboxone works so well that you may, in fact, begin using it every other day instead of daily.
The maintenance phase is the last one and it happens when the patient is doing well on their current dose. It is possible that a patient will continue taking suboxone for a lengthy period of time as part of this phase. However, an alternative is to begin medically supervised withdrawal to eliminate all opioids (even partial ones) from the equation. To prevent possible relapse, further rehab might happen at this point.
If it feels like these stages and this medication could work for you, you owe it to yourself to consider using suboxone to work through your initial rehabilitation from opioid dependence or addiction. To get more information and to explore your options, contact SuboxoneDrugRehabs.com at 888-646-0865 (Who Answers?) . We can provide you with the information you need to make a fully informed decision. Don’t wait to get help.
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