What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a combination of the drugs Buprenorphine and Naloxone. Belonging to a class of drugs called opioid agonist-antagonists, Suboxone offered a completely different experience for people seeking treatment.
While Buprenorphine is an opioid, it is different because it only attaches only to part of the opioid receptor. This limits its euphoric effects but still functions to stop withdrawals and cravings. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids. Taken in conjunction with buprenorphine decreases the risk of misuse.
Why Is Suboxone Better Than Other Treatments?
Until recently, methadone was one of the only available treatments doctors had for patients suffering from opioid dependency. Methadone is a synthetic opioid developed in World War II by German scientists to treat pain. While methadone was the only option available, it was hardly a perfect solution. It has been associated with some troubling side effects. Methadone is highly addictive and has withdrawal symptoms similar to heroin. Many even say these withdrawals are worse and last longer. Methadone can also be fatal if misused.
In fact, when abused, methadone is responsible for more than double the overdose deaths of any other opioid. Due to its intrinsic street value and the dangers associated with abuse, methadone is dispensed daily only at specially licensed clinics. This dramatically limits the travel and schedule of individuals receiving treatment
Even at high doses, Suboxone treatment usually is well-tolerated. Most patients report feeling normal again when receiving Suboxone treatment. Withdrawals from Suboxone are less severe than with other opiates. Suboxone has a long enough half-life to allow doctors to taper doses down to every other day, eventually allowing patients to come off the medication completely.
Thirty-day prescriptions and once-a-week, therapy sessions help those receiving Suboxone treatment to maintain work and travel schedules. This also helps addicts escape the stigma associated with drug treatment.
Suboxone is covered by most insurances. Coupon programs and newly released generics also help lower the cost. For individuals who want a painless transition to suboxone from methadone, the FDA recently released the drug Lucemyra to help with the transition.
What Is a Suboxone Doctor?
Even though Suboxone is less controlled than methadone due to its low risk of abuse, it still has to be prescribed by a specially certified physician. The initial process of receiving Suboxone treatment is similar to a methadone clinic. A urinalysis is required to make sure the patient is not taking substances that would negatively interact with Suboxone. The doctor prescribes Suboxone after completing a medical analysis.
Suboxone is a Schedule 3 controlled substance under the Controlled Substance Act of 2000. This is a class below methadone. This means Suboxone is less controlled than methadone and is often prescribed in 30-day increments.
Patients are required to get counseling and random urine screenings throughout their treatment. However, if a patient demonstrates they are compliant with the treatment, they are often only required to come in once a month for testing and counseling.
Finding the Right Suboxone Doctor Near You
If you google Suboxone doctors near me, there are more than likely going to be a number of options to choose from. While finding the closest or most convenient Suboxone doctor is important, it is far more crucial to find a treatment center that offers complete rehabilitation.
People who are opioid-dependent need healing in almost every aspect of their lives, including their bodies, minds, behaviors, finances, and relationships. It can be challenging to know what to look for when seeking treatment options. With a bit of research, you can find a lot about what a facility has to offer.
If you search online for a Suboxone doctor near you, also check to see how people online rate them. While it can sometimes be subjective, the comment section is often a good introduction to what you can expect from the program.
Research what accreditations or licensing the facility has. You should also inquire about the credentials of the clinical staff. Some programs make claims that they are unable to live up to. If a program lists a success rate, they should have published, peer-reviewed research to back it up.
While these programs can solve some immediate problems facing addicts, they often fail to achieve true rehabilitation. Finances are a major factor when determining whether a treatment facility is a good option for you. What kind of insurance does the Suboxone doctor or treatment center take? Many treatment programs offer only short-term, inpatient detox programs. Inpatient services attempt to detox an opioid-dependent person in 72 hours or less.
