Who Is The Right Candidate For Suboxone?

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Suboxone

One of the possible health implications of chronic pain is opioid dependency. Opioids relieve chronic pain but also disrupt brain chemistry and contribute to opioid dependence. Therefore, you might have to use greater amounts of the drug to achieve the same results. At Lenox Medical Clinic, Dr. Sudha Challa and her staff recognize the addictive potential of opioids and provide suboxone therapy to offer lasting pain relief and reduce opioid dependency. Continue reading to discover if you are the right candidate for Suboxone treatment Chamblee.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a prescription drug used to treat opioid dependence or addiction in adults. Your physician will ask you to place this dissolvable mouth film beneath your cheek and gum or underneath your tongue. Suboxone consists of two active substances:

v Buprenorphine

Suboxone’s active element that treats opioid addiction is buprenorphine. This ingredient exerts similar euphoric effects as opioids, although to a lower extent. Buprenorphine suppresses withdrawal symptoms and lowers cravings for opioid dependence.

v Naloxone

Opioid antagonist Naloxone inhibits the effects of opioid medications. Suboxone contains naloxone to reduce the danger of abuse and misuse. The naloxone induces quick opioid withdrawal if Suboxone gets injected rather than taken sublingually as indicated.

Who Can Benefit From Suboxone?

Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication to treat opioid abuse and addiction. It is a component of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for substance misuse disorders, which blends medicine with counseling and behavioral therapy to effectively treat and avoid relapse.

Indicators that you or a loved one could be dependent on opioids include:

  • Uncontainable opioid cravings
  • Lack of control over opioid use
  • Opioid withdrawal symptoms when trying to discontinue use
  • Isolation from family and friends
  • Shift in sleeping patterns
  • Financial troubles
  • Improper hygiene

During your initial consultation at Lenox Medical Clinic, Dr. Challa will perform an extensive exam to establish if you are best suited for Suboxone. When establishing care regimens for chronic pain and opioid addiction, physicians consider your health history and care objectives.

If you have a thyroid ailment or renal disease, you might not be a good fit for Suboxone. Likewise, Suboxone is not recommended for nursing or pregnant women.

If you are not a good fit for Suboxone due to an inherent medical condition, your doctor will propose alternative treatments for your chronic pain and opioid addiction.

What To Anticipate During Suboxone Therapy?

If you can undergo Suboxone treatment, you must abstain from opioids for 12-24 hours. You could only receive the initial dose of Suboxone if you are in the early withdrawal stages. Taking Suboxone while still having opioids in your system induces severe withdrawal symptoms.

Your Suboxone therapy consists of three phases:

  • Induction: the first three days
  • Stabilization: determining the dose that effectively matches your needs
  • Maintenance: resisting cravings and preventing relapse

There is no defined duration for the maintenance phase of Suboxone treatment. Nonetheless, most patients have the greatest benefits when they remain in this phase for 12 to 18 months.

Suboxone is safe for continuous use. If necessary, you could continue taking the drug for the remainder of your life.

Nobody anticipates developing an addiction if they begin using opioids to treat their pain condition. Unfortunately, this concern is more common than you think, with the National Institute on Drug Abuse estimating that about 29% of patients prescribed opioids abuse the medication. If you have issues concerning your opioid usage and require assistance, contact Lenox Medical Clinic. Schedule an initial consultation with Dr. Challa through mobile or book online today.