Opioid addiction is a severe condition that causes people to continuously abuse opioid drugs despite facing serious consequences. One of the main risks of opioid use disorder is experiencing a life-threatening overdose. Because many of the opioid drugs being sold on the streets are laced with fentanyl, opioid addiction has become increasingly dangerous.
According to the National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA), there were 80,411 opioid overdose deaths in 2021.[1]
One of the most effective ways to treat opioid addiction, reduce the risk of relapse, and prevent overdoses is by using a comprehensive approach called medication-assisted treatment (MAT).
MAT involves the use of medications like Suboxone to soothe symptoms of withdrawal and prevent cravings in combination with traditional addiction treatment methods like individual therapy, group counseling, and aftercare planning.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is one of the main medications used during MAT for opioid addiction.
This medication is a combination of two substances: buprenorphine and naloxone.[2] Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it provides your opioid receptors with the satisfaction they need to alleviate withdrawal symptoms and prevent cravings. On the other hand, naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which prevents opioids from making you feel high. Naloxone is added to Suboxone to prevent abuse of the medication.
Suboxone is used in MAT programs to treat opioid withdrawal and prevent relapse. While taking Suboxone, you can focus on the important aspects of recovery, like individual and group therapy, without being affected by withdrawal symptoms or cravings.
How Do You Take Suboxone?
Suboxone is not meant to be taken right after you stop abusing opioid drugs. This is because the naloxone that Suboxone contains can cause your withdrawal symptoms to become worse if it’s taken too early (precipitated withdrawal). As a result, you must wait 12-48 hours after your last dose of opioids before starting Suboxone.
The initial dose of Suboxone you will receive is 2mg/0.5mg. Your doctor might increase your dose by 2 to 4 mg increments every 2 hours depending on your needs. During the first day of treatment, your dose should not exceed 8 mg.[3]
On the second day, you might be given up to 16 mg/4mg of Suboxone. After this, your dose will be adjusted based on your needs. Over time, your doctor might taper you off of Suboxone when you collaborate to decide that you are ready to come off of it.[3]
Typically, Suboxone is given as a sublingual film that dissolves under the tongue. It may be taken once or twice daily depending on your needs.
Where Can I Get a Prescription for Suboxone?
If you or a loved one suffers from an opioid use disorder, you might be wondering how you can get a prescription for Suboxone. There are several ways you can go about this, however, it is important to remember that you must use this medication in combination with a complete treatment program to fully recover from opioid addiction.
Three ways you can get a prescription for Suboxone in Tennessee are:
1. Talking to Your Doctor
If you have a doctor or primary care physician who is aware of your struggle with opioid addiction, you might want to discuss Suboxone with them. They can help you determine whether Suboxone treatment is right for you. They might be able to provide you with the treatment themselves or give you a referral to a medication-assisted treatment program that is right for you.
2. Going to a Suboxone Clinic Near You
There are Suboxone clinics that can prescribe Suboxone on an outpatient basis. In order to keep receiving your prescription, you are required to attend counseling sessions and pass drug screenings.
These clinics provide you with an initial assessment and a prescription on your first day of treatment. After that, you will regularly attend the clinic to receive counseling and your dose of Suboxone. Over time, the frequency at which you attend the clinic will decrease until you no longer require treatment.
3. Finding a Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) Center
Lastly, you can receive a prescription for Suboxone by enrolling in a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) center. MAT centers in Tennessee can prescribe Suboxone, help you detox safely, and facilitate comprehensive group and individual therapy sessions that help you address the root cause of your addiction.
MAT can provide you with the support and tools you need to achieve and maintain long-term sobriety from opioids. Most of these programs last anywhere from 30 to 90 days.
Find out if Suboxone Treatment is Right for You
If you or a loved one struggles with opioid addiction, Suboxone treatment might be right for you. It can be difficult to assess whether you require medication-assisted treatment on your own. Thankfully, programs like PAX Memphis Recovery Center can provide you with an in-depth assessment to determine what kind of opioid addiction treatment will benefit you the most.
To learn more about Suboxone or to find help for yourself or a loved one, please contact us today.
References:
- The National Institute of Drug Abuse (NIDA): Drug Overdose Death Rates, Retrieved June 2023 From https://nida.nih.gov/research-topics/trends-statistics/overdose-death-rates
- The National Library of Medicine: Suboxone: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions, Retrieved June 2023 From https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855417/
- Medscape: Buprenorphine/Naloxone RX, Retrieved June 2023 From https://reference.medscape.com/drug/Suboxone-zubsolv-buprenorphine-naloxone-343334