SUBOXONE THERAPY
SUBOXONE THERAPY
What is Suboxone? Why is it used?
Suboxone is the trade name for a combination of the medications Buprenorphine and Naloxone. It is given by mouth to reduce cravings and prevent opiate withdrawal symptoms.
The use of Suboxone has been shown to be effective therapy for opioid addiction. Rates of relapse with abstinence-based therapies have been shown to be 3 times higher than those for patients on medication assisted recovery.
What To Expect During Treatment?
Your first visit will last approximately one hour. During this visit you will meet with an intake counselor and our Physician/Physician Extender. You will be given a prescription for Suboxone along with specific instructions, and education. You will be contacted by phone from medical staff the following day to assess your Suboxone tolerance and make necessary adjustments if needed.
After this, clinic visits are scheduled weekly. Once you are stabilized and doing well, follow up appointments are scheduled once monthly. At follow up visits you are seen by your counselor and/or physician, a urine drug screen is performed, and you receive a Suboxone prescription tailored to your needs.
What to expect long term?
Opioid addiction is a chronic condition, requiring long term management. Studies have demonstrated that patients stabilized with Suboxone and then transitioned to long term Suboxone maintenance therapy are more likely to remain relapse free than those receiving only short term Suboxone stabilization, or those not receiving medication at all. Studies show that Suboxone therapy can be safely used long term.
