Just like someone with high blood pressure needs medication to control their condition, those recovering from opiate addiction may also need Suboxone. This medication can help reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It can also prevent people from abusing opioids by blocking the effects of full agonists. However, some myths surrounding this treatment option need to be addressed.
Myth #1: Suboxone should only be taken for a short period.
Just like a person who has diabetes would not stop taking insulin, many people who are diagnosed with addiction need to take medication to manage their condition long-term. Suboxone, which is only a partial opioid receptor agonist, reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms so that you can focus on other aspects of recovery. However, like any medication, Suboxone can be abused. It is why it’s important to take it only under a doctor’s supervision. Combining it with other drugs that suppress breathing (such as benzodiazepines like Ativan or Valium) or alcohol can cause life-threatening side effects such as coma and death.
Overall, Suboxone is a safe and effective medication to treat addiction. It is one component of a comprehensive addiction treatment program, including therapy, support groups, and drug counseling programs. However, it’s still a myth that Suboxone should only be taken briefly. In reality, it’s best to taper off of this medication gradually under the supervision of an online suboxone doctor after several months or a year or longer as part of your long-term recovery plan.
Myth #2: You aren’t recovering if you’re on Suboxone.
Like other opioids, Suboxone interacts with the opiate receptors in your brain and produces a mild “high.” However, it has a built-in ceiling effect that limits how much of an impact it can have on the opioid receptors, making it hard to overdose. Suboxone also contains naloxone, which blocks the full euphoric effects if dissolved and injected, reducing the risk of abuse. Suboxone is a medication used in a medically supervised treatment program for addiction. It’s part of a comprehensive treatment plan, which includes addiction counseling and behavioral therapy. Despite the stigma, it’s important to remember that recovery from opiate addiction requires more than just abstinence from drugs.
Medications like Suboxone can be an essential tool for those recovering from addiction to opioids. It lessens cravings and withdrawal symptoms and may serve as the foundation for sustained recovery. The best way to treat opiate addiction is through behavioral and mental health therapies. But judging people who use Suboxone for their addiction can be harmful. Just as someone with diabetes shouldn’t be made to stop taking their insulin, a person struggling with opiate addiction should be allowed to continue using their prescription for the duration of their recovery.
Myth #3: Suboxone is widely abused.
Opioid addiction can be effectively treated with Suboxone. It firmly attaches to the same opiate receptors in the brain as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone. It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. However, Suboxone does not produce the same feelings of euphoria that other opiates do. It makes it less likely to be abused. Suboxone’s combination of buprenorphine and naloxone also helps lower the overdose risk. Suboxone has a built-in “ceiling effect” and is just a partial agonist, making it very difficult to overdose. In addition, the naloxone component blocks other opioids from binding to receptors in the brain, further decreasing the likelihood of overdose. When people do overdose on Suboxone, it is because they are mixing it with sedatives like benzodiazepines that slow down breathing. The most important thing to remember about Suboxone is that it is not a cure-all and should be used with addiction therapy. Addressing negative thinking patterns and learning that drugs don’t solve problems can help to prevent relapses and improve the chances of long-term recovery.
Myth #4: Suboxone substitutes one drug with another.
Taking Suboxone doesn’t “simply substitute one drug with another.” It’s part of a comprehensive treatment plan for addiction to opioids, and it has been shown to reduce cravings, withdrawal symptoms, and other barriers to recovery. It is a safe and effective treatment and should be used with counseling and therapy for the best results. As with any medication, Suboxone can be abused. However, the risk of abuse is much lower than for other opiate drugs because Suboxone is only a partial agonist and doesn’t cause the same sense of euphoria. It’s much more difficult to overdose on Suboxone than other opiate drugs because it has a built-in “ceiling effect” that limits how much the medication can bind to the opiate receptors.
In addition, Suboxone can be taken in either tablet or sublingual film form, making it easier to regulate the dosage. A person on Suboxone should also never quit using it without first talking to their doctor. It’s similar to treating high blood pressure: stopping your drug could lead to dangerously low blood pressure.
Myth #5: Suboxone should only be taken for a long period.
Suboxone can be used for a long period but only as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan. As part of this, it helps minimize withdrawal symptoms and manage cravings. It also restores more normal brain chemistry, allowing you to rebuild healthy behaviors. The sublingual film that dissolves in the mouth or a tablet form of this drug can be taken orally. It can be combined with other treatments, such as behavioral therapy or group support groups. It is very difficult to overdose on Suboxone because it is only a partial opioid receptor agonist and has a built-in ceiling effect. When people overdose on this medication, they mix it with sedatives such as benzodiazepines or other medicines that slow breathing. Just because someone is on medication does not mean it is “swapping one drug for another.” Many people with chronic diseases continue taking their medicine even after fully recovering.
