There has been a lot of debate concerning the use of opioids to treat opioid addiction. Heroin, codeine, and morphine are some of the most popular opiates that are either made from opium or synthetically created. Heroin is illegal and responsible for many overdose and addiction deaths all over the world. Morphine and codeine, on the other hand, are used as pain-relievers; not for just any ordinary pain, but the extreme pain from mostly surgeries and accidents. Since they leave the users feeling ‘high,’ some individuals go on to obtain the drugs illegally, though they are not in any pain.
Narcotics, of the opiate kind, lead their users to addiction fairly easily. Whether you are on heroin or taking the pain-killing opiates for the good feeling, you may think that you would never get addicted. Every addict thinks that they can control their drug intake and that they can stop when they want or when it gets too much. That is always before an overdose nearly claims their life or they run out of their fix and result in risky behavior due to withdrawal.
Prescription drugs like Methadone and Suboxone are used to help patients going through opiate withdrawal. Opiate addiction is so strong that going off the drug suddenly and alone puts the person’s life at risk. When you notice you are addicted to a street drug like heroin or the medical morphine or Vicodin, do not hesitate to seek medical attention immediately. Opioids attach themselves to your nerve cells, affecting and changing your emotions, reducing your feeling of pain, and even slow your breathing.
Illegally purchasing these drugs is already wrong, taking them for extended periods is even worse. Once your brain and body need these drugs to function, going back to health is extremely difficult, which is why Methadone and Suboxone treatment have low doses of opioids – to get you off stronger opioids safely. This is the only reason Methadone and Suboxone are approved, but drugs like these do not come without their risks.
Does Suboxone Have Side Effects?
On the positive side, when recovering from an opiate addiction, Suboxone slows you down rather than excite you, as your former addiction did. Of the two major ingredients in Suboxone, one gives you smaller and safer low doses of opioids, while the other reduces the opiate effects in your system. You may feel relaxed, calm, and euphoric – it even relieves pain.
However, increasing the dose suddenly can give you nausea. You may also feel very sleepy and confused and encounter some respiratory and digestive problems – also insomnia. Even when adhering to the prescribed dose as instructed, Suboxone use for long periods can lead to addiction to Suboxone itself. While a Suboxone clinic may try to advise and regulate your dosage, addiction cases are common, especially for people who were highly addicted to another opiate before. Other people add Suboxone as a drug to abuse, not knowing the risks that come with it, and others obtain it to curb their heroin withdrawal before they get their next fix. Unless you adhere to the prescribed dose for recovery, you only run the risk of falling into another addiction cycle.
Suboxone Tolerance And Dependence
Like we previously stated, drugs containing opioids can and do lead to dependence. Dependence is what determines whether you will fall into addiction or seek help before getting to that point. If you go for 48 or more hours without Suboxone and start experiencing withdrawal symptoms, this points to dependence.
Your mind and body get used to your Suboxone doses, and soon you develop a tolerance to the drug. You will feel like the usual doses do not produce the same effects they did at the beginning – which is what leads to withdrawal, with you still needing some opioids to feel better or take the edge off. Some withdrawal symptoms are as mild as flu symptoms.
Not all withdrawal symptoms from Suboxone are drastic. Some people are lucky enough to make a gradual recovery without going for long periods of Suboxone treatment. It does not mean they do not experience withdrawal symptoms; it means the withdrawal is not as rough as in major cases and may take a couple of weeks to abate. You will require a lot of hard work, dedication, and strength to beat opioid and Suboxone addiction, and withdrawal is considered one of the toughest parts of the journey back to health.
Suboxone Tolerance And Addiction Treatment
If you feel like your dependency is getting a little out of hand, a Suboxone clinic would be the place to visit – assuming your doctor has not already directed you to one after deeming it paramount. Here, the medical phases vary depending on your situation; from detox or Suboxone rehab and therapy to recovery and continued counseling after getting your life back.
Rehabilitation
Suboxone rehab and any other closed off medical watch for addiction patients is not a favorite. Detoxification can be very challenging and may take weeks and months since it involves weaning you off Suboxone. Your body will crave more of the drug than ever before but provided you are under medical care, your doctor keeps your safety as a priority.
Therapy
Depending on how well your detoxification goes, therapy proceeds with you as an inpatient or as an outpatient. You will talk to therapists and psychiatrists who may help you understand how and why you got into Suboxone addiction and what you can do to live your new life without the drug. Therapy works by helping you understand if you could be having an underlying mental condition or by pinpointing the issues that led to the start of drug use.
Recovery
Once your doctor determines your treatment has come to an end, you are free to get back into society without Suboxone addiction, and this can be new and scary for many people. For this, post-treatment and counseling are put in place to help you avoid getting back to drug abuse and learning how to cope with yourself and with others.
Final Thoughts
Ending Suboxone and any other opiate addiction is tough. It is even dangerous to attempt the process on your own. Do not give up just yet. Seek medical assistance to find the best and safest treatment option for you.
