If you or a loved one has an opioid addiction, their rehab center or doctor might decide to prescribe a drug called Suboxone. Once this process is initiated, one opioid is being utilized to treat another opioid addiction. Unfortunately, Suboxone is a highly addictive opioid. It is important to realize the power Subxone holds and understand why quitting Suboxone is so difficult.
Myths About Suboxone
You may have heard a myth that there is no way to quit taking Suboxone, or another myth that withdrawal symptoms are so severe that you would never dare to stop taking it. If you have become addicted to Suboxone, you will be relieved to hear that there is a highly effective detox available for it.
It is a good idea to understand these two most popular and false myths about the drug while you are looking for the best treatment for quitting Suboxone.
Myths About Suboxone Dependence
The all-too-popular prescription drug Suboxone has been heavily utilized for the recovery of drug addiction. Many drug rehab centers look at it as the cure-all for addiction to other more powerful opiates. It is essential to understand that the drug contains Buprenorphine, which is a powerful opiate that binds to the brain’s receptor sites.
Sadly, this makes it a highly potent narcotic. Unfortunately, once you get hooked on it, you will have to undergo detox to have a serious chance of breaking free from Suboxone. The pain and discomfort you feel and the amount of time that you will have to detox will vary greatly both based on the rehab center and the kind of treatment that you select.
Myth: People Using Suboxone Medicinally Are Not Addicted to It
Studies will tell you that Suboxone can be overused, overdosed, and habitually abused. Some of them will also reveal that since it is a partial agonist for the brain’s primary opiate receptor, this will create a lower degree of euphoria than competing stronger opiates like Oxycodone and heroin. There are many cases where drug addicts will abuse Suboxone by obtaining it illegally to assist with their withdrawal symptoms from heroin. It is pivotal to understand that this is not a substitute addiction.
Drug Rehab Centers Utilize Suboxone for Detox
It is not a myth that medication-assisted therapy (MAT) is a powerful tool of detox center establishments. Studies demonstrate its ability to reduce the chances of fatal overdose by 50%. Suboxone works by blunting the intoxication of such potent addictive narcotics, such as:
- Morphine
- Oxycodone
- Heroin
Suboxone also stops potent drug cravings and helps a great number of addicts make a successful transition from the addicted life back to one of safety, normalcy, and freedom.
When you get addicted to it, though, you will experience negative consequences. In this withdrawal process from Suboxone, you can expect to suffer from acute physiological and physical symptoms. The best treatment centers will make it their goal to work you through these painful withdrawal effects as safely and comfortably as possible.
There are several symptoms for Suboxone withdrawal, but the most common ones are:
- Fatigue
- Cold and hot flashes
- Crawling skin feeling
- Craving for drugs
- Aching muscles
- Nausea and vomiting
- Sweating
- Loss of appetite
- Insomnia
Besides these physical symptoms, there are also psychological symptoms that include the following:
- Depression
- Moodiness
- Anxiety
- Irritability
- Re-occurring disorders reappearing
How Long Do Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms Last?
The physical symptoms of Suboxone will typically subside after one month, despite psychological symptoms enduring. Symptoms are the most severe in the first 72 hours of Suboxone withdrawal. During this step, the most physical symptoms are normally experienced.
In the first week of discontinuation of Suboxone, symptoms generally subside to insomnia, mood swings, and general aches in the body. After the second week of Suboxone withdrawal, depression is the most known symptom. After one month of withdrawal, users will most likely be experiencing intense depression and cravings. The most fragile time after stopping Suboxone use is after one month of withdrawal when there is a greater chance of relapse for users.
Can You Manage Drug Addiction Without Medication?
For the majority of individuals, Suboxone use is temporary. The use of the drug will be tapered away eventually to make room for complete sobriety. The process should be embarked on in a measured and slow approach allowing for plateaus to accommodate the individual’s stability and experience along the way.
Once Suboxone becomes the object of discussion and the medication use no longer serves a positive purpose, it becomes essential to pave a new route for recovery that does not include opioid medication use of any kind. This act will require the guidance of substance abuse professionals who can present the following:
- Awareness of issues contributing to the client’s current situation
- Long-term support
- Education and experience in substance abuse treatment
- A comprehensive and individualized treatment plan to meet the specific client’s needs
By engaging in the following three routes, medication might not be necessary:
- Associating withdrawal symptoms
- Therapeutic intervention
- Medical care aimed to address detox
General Treatment for Quitting Suboxone
When you are ready to get started with treatment for stopping Suboxone, you will usually go into a rehab center for seven to 10 days of detox. Thanks to the most cutting-edge medicinal procedures and techniques administered in hospital facilities, you can realize your goal of attaining a complete detox of Suboxone. Once you have finished this treatment, you face the prospect of a full recovery over the longer term.
Relapse is still possible without ongoing counseling support and treatment of the underlying issues that led to the addiction. The risk of overdosing on Suboxone is real; however, it is unlikely that the dangers of slower breathing will be experienced like with morphine, heroin, or oxycodone. If you do achieve an overdose level of the Suboxone, this is usually because you are mixing a dangerous cocktail of powerful drugs with sedatives like Benzodiazepines. These medications have a slowing effect on breathing.
Further Treatment Following Detox for Suboxone
After you have finished detoxing Suboxone from your system, it is most effective to move forward by entering into a rehab facility. Detox alone is not enough to help you stay clean from the drug. Without the proper counseling and support, it is much easier to give in to temptation.
Entering into a rehabilitation program is the best way to equip yourself with the skills and knowledge it takes to stand strong in sobriety for the rest of your life. While you may think that most rehabs typically only deal with addictions to alcohol or common drugs, many do offer programs for Suboxone.
What to Expect After Detox
In rehab, you can expect to find a wonderful support system. You will acquire this support system through various counseling sessions, including both group and individual counseling sessions. In group counseling, you will gain the support of your fellow recovering addicts who understand and share in your struggles. In individual counseling, you will gain great wisdom from an expert in the field of addiction who is compassionate about helping you succeed in sobriety. Beyond that, most rehabs offer many recreational activities to keep you busy when you’re not in a counseling session.
Once you have completed a rehab program, which typically lasts anywhere between 30 and 90 days, you should continue to seek support. As you transition back into everyday life, it can be easy to become overwhelmed by stress. Due to this fact, it might be ideal to continue with some form of an extended program, such as a sober living facility or halfway house.
In this type of program, you can return to normal daily activities like work or school and return to your sober living home at the end of the day. This is a good way to stay in close contact with your support system. You can continue to attend regular counseling sessions as you transition back into your daily routine, making the process much easier.
Therapeutic Recovery and Support
The main principle to maintaining sobriety for the long-term road is recovery. Without therapy, it will be almost impossible to remain abstinent for any length of time. The following factors are evaluated when determining the proper course for an individual’s recovery and the therapeutic choices that should be incorporated into their individualized treatment plan.
- The experience leading up to addiction and the experience during addiction
- The goals for the future
The following course of action is normally included in a Suboxone treatment plan.
Evaluation and Assessment
To create an effective treatment plan, there must be a full understanding of all the issues that play a role in the person’s addiction. During this step, the following are normally identified early on to ensure that issues are addressed during the treatment process:
- Co-occurring mental health disorders
- Underlying medical conditions
- Behavioral disorders
- Trauma
Unique Treatment Plan
Once the results are attained from the evaluation and assessment, the following are created within the unique treatment plan for quitting Suboxone.
- The length of time in treatment
- The person’s goals for recovery
- Available resources
The remaining steps as previously mentioned will be addressed:
- Personal therapy
- Individualized case management
- Group therapy sessions
- 12-step meetings; peer support
- Alternative therapies
- Holistic therapies
- Long-term support and aftercare
There Is a Stigma to Being Addicted To Suboxone
Perhaps the greatest hindrance to quitting your dependence on (and abuse of) Suboxone is that you are afraid of the drug addict stigma that you will suffer for admitting that you have a problem. The good news is that perceptions have changed.
Instead, experts are beginning to come up with a more real-world and compassionate approach to addiction. People are treating it more as a complicated disease that has to be properly addressed with modern medical treatment and care. This is why it is so important to eliminate these misconceptions and deal with the myths on addiction to Suboxone.
Get Help at Coastal Detox Today
Admitting that you have a problem is the first (and often the hardest) step. If you are ready to get assistance with quitting Suboxone, we can help you. Call us today. Our highly trained and compassionate counselors are standing by to help you in your moment of need.
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