Suboxone is a combination medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone. It is used to treat opioid withdrawal and dependence and is available by prescription only. Patients may begin taking Suboxone 12-24 hours after they stop taking opioids to help alleviate withdrawal symptoms.[1] Some patients may continue taking Suboxone throughout treatment and in recovery to help them maintain abstinence.

Suboxone is intended to be used with counseling and behavioral therapy. This approach has been clinically proven to boost treatment outcomes, reduce the risk for relapse, and provide a more comprehensive treatment approach than traditional methods. However, there are many additional benefits of receiving opioid addiction treatment with Suboxone.

5 Benefits of Using Suboxone to Treat Opioid Addiction

Suboxone is used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT), a comprehensive addiction treatment approach that combines FDA-approved medications, individualized therapy, and counseling to provide a “whole patient” approach to recovery. While there are many benefits of using this approach, Suboxone, in particular, can be extremely helpful to recovering opioid users.

Here are the top 5 benefits of using Suboxone to recover from opioid addiction.

1. Reduced Withdrawal Symptoms

Patients who are addicted to opioids may begin taking Suboxone during detox. Suboxone can be administered after 12-24 hours of abstinence from opioids. Shortly after taking the medication, patients experience immense relief from the flu-like withdrawal symptoms that have been causing them discomfort.

Buprenorphine, one of the active ingredients in Suboxone, is a partial opioid agonist that binds to and activates opioid receptors in the brain. In doing so, the brain and body feel as though there are opioids in the system, and symptoms of withdrawal subside.[1]

By reducing the intensity of opioid withdrawal symptoms, Suboxone can make the detox process easier and far less dreadful for the individual. Simply knowing that Suboxone is offered at a detox center may encourage those struggling to get help.

2. Reduced Need for Inpatient Detox Services

As a result of reduced withdrawal symptoms, Suboxone can also reduce the need for inpatient detox services.[2] Patients who are not experiencing moderate to severe withdrawal may not need around-the-clock medical care. Instead, they can benefit more from diving right into their therapy and support groups. Suboxone helps patients waste no time with detox so they can begin working towards sobriety faster than they would if they were detoxing cold turkey.

3. Fewer and Less Intense Drug Cravings

Suboxone does more than just alleviate symptoms of opioid withdrawal–it also helps stave off opioid cravings. A craving is an intense urge or desire to use opioids. Cravings can begin during detox and may persist during the early weeks and months of recovery. These cravings can distract individuals from therapy and even lead to a relapse.

Fortunately, one benefit of Suboxone is that its opioid-like effects help reduce the frequency and intensity of drug cravings.[3] This allows patients to focus all of their attention on their therapy and personal healing journey.

4. Safer and Less Addictive Than Methadone

Before Suboxone was approved by the FDA, the primary medication used to treat opioid addiction was methadone. Methadone is still used today, however, many addiction treatment centers prefer using Suboxone, instead. This is primarily because Suboxone is thought to be less addictive with a lower risk of abuse than methadone. But what exactly makes Suboxone less addictive?

Well, methadone can be abused, and when users take a high dose of it, they may feel high like they do when they take other opioids.[4] Suboxone, however, contains naloxone, a full opioid agonist. Naloxone is used to prevent opioid overdose because it detaches opioids from opioid receptors in the brain. By adding naloxone to Suboxone, it helps prevent abuse of the drug.[1] People who try to abuse Suboxone will not get high because naloxone helps create a ceiling effect. This ceiling effect means no more side effects are produced after a certain dose is taken.

5. Improved Treatment Retention and Outcomes

Multiple studies have demonstrated buprenorphine’s ability to improve treatment retention rates and treatment outcomes in patients who were prescribed the medication. People who participate in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) are less likely to leave rehab early, more likely to complete their treatment program, and less likely to relapse after rehab. Suboxone can also reduce the rate of drug-related crime and illicit opioid use.[2,5]

While it is certainly possible to get sober without Suboxone, the medication is widely known to improve patients’ experiences in recovery.

Begin Opioid Addiction Treatment With Suboxone Today

Despite the many benefits of Suboxone, the medication is not right for everyone. It’s important to speak with a licensed medical provider before starting or stopping any medication.

If you or a loved one are struggling with opioid addiction and think Suboxone treatment may be right for you, our team can assess your needs and help you choose the right rehab center for you. Call us now to speak with a dedicated addictions specialist.

References:

1. https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/education-docs/mat-program-overview_2-12-2019239e2b9472bc604ca5b7ff000030b21a.pdf?sfvrsn=93224bc2_0
2. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment
3. https://www.frontiersin.org/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2019.00592/full
4. https://www.karger.com/Article/Abstract/496112
5. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5855417/