Suboxone Withdrawal
People use Suboxone in order to treat opioid addiction. The substance is obtained through a prescription from a qualified professional. It can do wonders when it comes to reducing the symptoms of abuse, as well as the symptoms of withdrawal, and what’s better is that it does not give the high feeling either.
However, Suboxone is also an opioid. Although not as risky as regular opioids that lead to addiction, Suboxone still carries a small risk. As such, some individuals end up becoming addicted. Afterward, when the person attempts to quit Suboxone, they experience withdrawal symptoms.
Withdrawal is worse when someone tries to quit cold turkey, which is why they should only quit when supervised by a professional. Luckily, our facility can help people deal with Suboxone withdrawal and successfully quit the substance. The withdrawal usually has several phases and being under supervision when experiencing it can help tremendously.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a medicine made using naloxone and buprenorphine. It is prescribed by doctors for people who are drug addicts, more specifically people who abuse opioids.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It can bind to the opioid receptors without having the same intense effects as opioids. Naloxone, on the other hand, is an opioid antagonist, and it can reverse the effects of opioids.
One can find Suboxone in tablet form or as a film. Both of them can dissolve inside the mouth and offer the desired effects.
Even though Suboxone can be extremely helpful for opioid addiction and withdrawal management, it can lead to addiction in some people. This is because not only will the opioid be replaced by Suboxone to be able to get rid of the addiction, but also because there is a weak opioid in Suboxone’s composition.
Therefore, quitting Suboxone may become a challenge
Suboxone Comes with Side Effects
Using Suboxone will lead to some uncomfortable side effects in some individuals. They may go from mild to severe depending on the case, and after a few days, they go away.
Side effects that may appear after consuming Suboxone include:
- Muscle pain
- Headache
- Sweating
- Insomnia
- Anxiety
- Irregular heart rate
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Depression
- Abdominal cramps
- Blurry vision
- Redness inside the mouth
- Burning tongue
- Fatigue and/or weakness
Consulting the physician that prescribed Suboxone is necessary if the effects do not go away or if they get worse instead. Also, there are more serious symptoms that occur in some individuals, in which case contacting the physician is crucial:
- Breathing problems
- Bad allergic reaction
- Damage to the liver
- Addiction
- Bad withdrawal symptoms
- Hormone issues
- Coma
Experiencing Suboxone Withdrawals
Since some people may end up becoming addicted to Suboxone, they can also go through withdrawal if they quit cold turkey. The withdrawal can be very painful for some people, depending on the severity of their addiction and how long they have been taking Suboxone.
Withdrawal happens because the body and mind became accustomed to receiving the medication in certain amounts. So, when the use suddenly stops, the individual may end up getting symptoms similar to those of opioid withdrawal. This is why a lot of times, in order to stop using Suboxone, one will have to taper off the consumption instead of quitting cold turkey.
Withdrawal may happen even if the person was using the substance under prescription or illegally. However, the risk of addiction and withdrawal is usually increased with illegal use. Going through detox in a rehabilitation center is usually how the issue can be treated.
Symptoms of Withdrawals
Withdrawal brings a package full of uncomfortable and painful symptoms that make people want to go back to using the substance for relief. Symptoms are especially severe when someone randomly stops using the medication after a period of consumption, or if they miss a dose.
Symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal include:
- Chills
- Goosebumps
- Restlessness
- Sweating
- Nausea and vomiting
- Runny nose
- Muscle aches and pain
- Stomach cramps or diarrhea
- Tremors or twitching
- Teary eyes
Anxiety
Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawal will not be as severe as opioid withdrawal, but it is still bad enough and nobody wants to go through it. Suboxone withdrawal will come in a few phases, and the longer you go without using the medication, the closer you are to sobriety.
As you start tapering off the doses, the symptoms will start to appear. Here is the timeline of Suboxone withdrawal:
- 24 Hours – 24 hours after the last dose, the withdrawal symptoms will start to appear. The withdrawal will start with fatigue, anxiety, and discomfort.
- 3 Days – After three days, the symptoms will worsen. Physical symptoms such as nausea, vomiting, body aches, fever, and diarrhea will be present. The symptoms will reach their peak.
- 7 Days – A week after the last dose, the symptoms will slowly start to go away. At the same time, some psychological symptoms may still be around.
- 2 Weeks – After the acute withdrawal phase, there may be symptoms such as depression, anxiety, and drug cravings. It is important to treat these issues with a therapist’s help to avoid relapse.
Reducing The Withdrawal Symptoms
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms can be reduced. This can be done by slowly tapering off the doses under a professional’s supervision. Doing this will decrease the likelihood of severe withdrawal.
The dosage should be reduced over weeks and months until the patient is able to stay off the drug.
How We Can Help
Real Deal can help you get back on your feet after dealing with a Suboxone addiction. Not only will we help you detox and recover, but we will also take care of your mental health in the process.
Our professionals will take care of you and ensure they do everything in their power to help you return to your normal life without being addicted to Suboxone anymore.
Are you addicted to Suboxone? Reach out for help so you do not experience withdrawal or end up overdosing. Our professionals will help you prevent withdrawal or assist you in managing the symptoms in the best way possible.