Medication Maintenance Programming for Opioid Addiction

There are a number of different types of opioids that people abuse today, including heroin, morphine, and other prescription painkillers. Due to the pleasurable sensations that the use of these drugs produce, there are many individuals who find themselves trapped in the detrimental cycle of opioid addiction. When appropriate interventions are not received, this cycle can continue, placing individuals at risk for any number of detriments to their health and overall wellbeing.

One of the most successful types of interventions known for treating opioid addiction is medication assisted treatment. This form of care includes the use of certain medications that were devised to help make the recovery process more manageable. Suboxone® is one such type of prescription medication. Comprised of naloxone and buprenorphine, Suboxone® is a partial opioid agonist that works on the same brain receptors that are triggered by the consumption of opioids. However, Suboxone® does not elicit the same effects that arise when opioid substances are abused.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, or opioid blocker. It works by counteracting the effects that opioids produce on the body. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that, when ingested, interacts with the brain’s opioid receptors, eliciting relief from cravings and minimizing the symptoms of withdrawal.

When individuals take Suboxone®, they are more likely to be successful in overcoming their opioid addictions because they do not have to confront the distressing effects that come with ceasing opioid use on their own.

There has been an extensive amount of research conducted on the safety and effectiveness of Suboxone® when used in medication assisted treatment programs.

In 2002, the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approved Suboxone® for use in the treatment of opioid dependency within certified addiction treatment programs. When individuals have developed an addiction to opioids, and they attempt to put an end to their use of the substances, they will typically experience an uncomfortable period of withdrawal. Withdrawal occurs as a person’s body attempts to regulate itself to the way that it functioned prior to the introduction of opioids. Due to the fact that the period of withdrawal can be so distressing, many people resort back to using the substance so as to alleviate the extreme discomfort. By taking Suboxone®, however, the effects of withdrawal are suppressed. In doing so, individuals can embark on the path to recovery with the clarity of mind necessary for truly defeating their addictions.

By making the decision to take part in a medication assisted treatment program, individuals are able to overcome their opioid addictions with the least amount of distress possible. Through the use of Suboxone®, patients can avoid the unpleasant symptoms of withdrawal and experience decreased cravings for continued opioid use.

Treatment in these types of programs is monitored on an ongoing basis by doctors, nurses, and counselors, all of whom work to make sure that patients are progressing properly as they advance through the recovery process. The medication that is prescribed will be determined based on each individual’s unique needs and recovery goals. If Suboxone® is determined to be the most beneficial treatment option for a person, he or she will be consistently monitored so that changes and adjustments can be made should such a need arise.

In medication assisted treatment programs, therapeutic interventions are offered to patients in addition to Suboxone®. Individual therapy sessions offer patients an opportunity to meet one-on-one with a counselor where they can process through their experiences in treatment, while also addressing any concerns that may arise. Group therapy sessions give patients the chance to meet with other individuals who are facing similar struggles with addiction. These sessions provide patients with the support and encouragement that they need in order to be successful in their recovery journeys.

As is true for the use of any medication, the consumption of Suboxone® can pose several potential negative side effects. Examples of such side effects may include:

• Nausea
• Runny nose
• Sweating
• Chills
• Weakness
• Headache
• Blurred vision
• Generalized pain
• Sleeplessness
• Low blood pressure
• Vomiting
• Constipation
• Diarrhea
• Coordination problems
• Fatigue
• Back pain
• Abdominal pain
• Attention disturbances
• Painful tongue
• Infections
• Dizziness
• Irregular heartbeat
• Numb mouth
• Fainting

If severe, adverse side effects arise once an individual has begun taking Suboxone® , it is imperative that his or her treatment provider be made aware.

It is important to keep in mind, however, that when taking Suboxone® as part of a medication assisted treatment program, such effects can be monitored on an ongoing basis, ensuring the safety of patients who are using this form of medication. In these types of programs, medical professionals and addiction treatment specialists are available to consistently monitor each patient’s consumption of this medication as he or she progresses in treatment. While any medication has the potential to elicit the development of certain negative side effects, with close monitoring, Suboxone® use is safe, and alterations to one’s dosage can be made if appropriate.

Through the use of Suboxone® and the additional therapeutic elements offered in medication assisted treatment, patients have the chance to truly overcome their addictions and rediscover a life that is no longer tainted by the compulsion to abuse heroin or prescription pain medications.