Suboxone is a medication used to help treat narcotic (opiate) addiction. It can be very effective for those with certain addiction issues, but as with anything, you need to be informed about its uses and potential risks. If you’re wanting to know more about this type of treatment, here are four key facts you should know.
1. What is Suboxone Made of?
Suboxone is a medication made up of buprenorphine, an opioid medication, and naloxone, a drug that reverses effects of some narcotics.
2. How is Suboxone Used
Suboxone is prescribed for individuals who wish to undergo a medication-assisted form of drug treatment. Quitting drug use suddenly and quickly tends to have a fairly low success rate which is why longer treatment programs or, for some, medication can assist an individual in recovery.
3. How Does Suboxone Work?
Suboxone suppresses withdrawal symptoms and cravings for opioid (or narcotic) drugs. One benefit of suboxone is that it doesn’t create feelings of euphoria within the user, lowering the risk of abuse.
4. What are the Risks Associated With Suboxone
There are some risks associated with suboxone as well as critiques of its use. First of all, similar to cases with methadone, some professionals don’t agree with the use of another drug to treat a drug addiction. Furthermore, there are some potential negative side effects of its use including dependence, lightheadedness, headaches, constipation, insomnia and nausea. Put simply, it’s important to talk to a mental health professional about options for recovery when deciding what path to take to recovery.
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