Suboxone Addiction & Opioid Treatment | Suboxone In Ohio

Suboxone is a medication that can manage opioid withdrawal symptoms. It is approved to give to appropriate patients who enter opioid addiction treatment programs.

Patients who are withdrawing from oxycodone, fentanyl, hydrocodone, and other common opiates may be prescribed Suboxone in place of their current opioid drug.

Suboxone is a brand-name medication with buprenorphine and naloxone as its main ingredients. 

It may have similar properties as other opioid drugs with a lower potential for drug abuse. In Ohio, Suboxone is an approved medication to treat drug addiction along with methadone and naltrexone.

Suboxone Ingredients & Dosage

Suboxone contains a 4:1 ratio of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial agonist that binds to the same opioid receptors as other opioid drugs. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of opioids, and is also used to treat opioid overdose. 

Suboxone has both opioid agonist and antagonist properties, and is available as a sublingual film and sublingual tablets. 

It can be prescribed in doses of 2 mg buprenorphine and 0.5 mg naloxone, or in 8 mg/2 mg buprenorphine/naloxone doses. Proper use of either Suboxone formulation involves placing a dose under the tongue until it dissolves.

Prescribing Suboxone For Opioid Addiction Treatment

Suboxone can be prescribed as a form of medication-assisted treatment (MAT). MAT is a treatment plan that uses approved medication to reduce the side effects of opioid dependence and withdrawal, such as cravings.

Common opioid maintenance treatment practices may prescribe an 8 to 24 milligram dose of buprenorphine/naloxone daily. To start Suboxone treatment, patients may begin at a lower starting dose of Suboxone after they have not taken opioids for at least 12 hours.

Treatment providers may combine Suboxone with other forms of opioid addiction treatment. Behavioral therapy, social support, wellness exercises, and mental health services can be more effective in treating opioid use disorder compared to Suboxone alone.

Side Effects Of Suboxone Use

Suboxone may cause both serious and common side effects, such as:

• sedation
• drowsiness
• constipation
• runny nose
• muscle aches
• blurred vision
• low blood pressure
• insomnia
• sweating
• respiratory depression
• liver problems
• yellowing of the skin or eyes

Patients who take Suboxone but have not completely withdrawn from opioids may experience severe opioid withdrawal syndrome. Treatment providers may only prescribe Suboxone in patients who have completed opioid withdrawal to avoid serious adverse effects.

Patients who are taking antidepressants or benzodiazepines, or who have medical conditions such as adrenal impairment, may be at a higher risk for serious side effects.

Abuse Potential Of Suboxone

Buprenorphine is a Schedule III controlled substance with a moderate potential for substance abuse. While buprenorphine may have a lower abuse potential than opioid drugs such as oxycodone and fentanyl, Suboxone can still be abused for its sedative effects.

Treatment and healthcare providers who prescribe Suboxone may assign schedules to patients taking the drug. These patients may also be supervised to discourage Suboxone abuse. 

Patients who suffer from opioid use disorder may have a history of opioid abuse, and thus may be at a higher risk to abuse Suboxone if unsupervised.

To learn if the opioid addiction treatment programs at Ohio Recovery Center are right for you, please contact us today.

FAQs

How Long Does Suboxone Stay In Your System?

How long Suboxone stays in your system depends on a variety of factors including age, weight, liver health, and frequency of use. Generally, the drug stays in your system anywhere from 5-8 days but can be detected on drug tests for up to two weeks.

Learn more about How Long Suboxone Stays In Your System

Does Suboxone Get You High?

Suboxone (naloxone/buprenorphine) may get a person high if they abuse the medication. However, buprenorphine limits the ability of a high due to the “ceiling effect.”

Learn more about Getting High On Suboxone

What Happens If You Snort Suboxone?

When you snort Suboxone, it’s sent directly to the bloodstream and into the brain. In those who are new to taking opioids, this can create a minor high. 

Learn more about Snorting Suboxone

Can You Smoke Suboxone?

Suboxone (the combination of buprenorphine and naloxone) can be smoked by removing the gel from the sublingual film or crushing the tablet. This is a form of drug abuse where a person inhales vapors of the drug and experiences mild euphoria.

Learn more about Smoking Suboxone

Is There An Injectable Form Of Suboxone?

No, Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is specifically formulated not to be effective when injected. However, other medications that also use Suboxone’s active ingredient, buprenorphine, are sometimes administered by injection in healthcare settings.

Learn more about Injecting Suboxone

Can You Plug Suboxone?

No, you cannot plug Suboxone legally. Suboxone is only approved for sublingual use as part of an opioid use disorder treatment program. Plugging Suboxone is a form of drug abuse with an increased risk of serious side effects.

Learn more about Plugging Suboxone

How Much Does Suboxone Cost On The Street?

On the street, Suboxone typically costs between $5 and $20 per tablet or film. The exact price depends on factors like dosage and location.

Learn more about Suboxone Street Value

How Does Suboxone Affect Sex Drive?

Those who take Suboxone or abuse the drug may suffer from a number of sexual problems including erectile dysfunction, a low libido, and premature ejaculation. Suboxone use may affect the sex drive in both men and women.

Learn more about The Sexual Side Effects Of Suboxone