Suboxone Withdrawal, Side Effects, Treatment and More

Are you or a loved one struggling with opioid addiction and don’t know where to turn for help?
Do you want to find Suboxone treatment for yourself or a family member for opioid withdrawal management and support?
If so, you’ve come to the right place. Welcome to Rehab South Florida, Florida’s top-rated Suboxone treatment facility. We understand addiction is a challenging battle to overcome, especially alone.
Fortunately, help is available for you, so your journey to recovery doesn’t need to be a solo effort or in vain.
If you’re searching for Suboxone doctors near me accepting new patients, you don’t have to go far. While using Suboxone for opioid withdrawal treatment, rehab can help you avoid long-term dependency.
Suboxone – The Game-Changing Medication you SHOULD Learn About
Suboxone has been referred to as a “blockbuster” medicine by many experts within the medicine and addiction treatment field, including Dr Vikram Tarugu, an expert in addiction medicine. Its clinically-advanced formula aids in the reduction of discomfort associated with opioid withdrawal. However, Suboxone does have a less-brighter side; it has a high potential for abuse. For many, this leads to Suboxone addiction.
Professional, supervised medical detox is the first step to recovering from addiction. Suboxone addiction treatment programs, such as the one at Rehab South Florida, give those struggling with a Suboxone-dependency the best chances of full-on recovery. Those seeking a reputable facility for Suboxone treatment should also ensure their considered facility also provides therapy and post-treatment support (aftercare).
Suboxone and what you NEED TO KNOW
Suboxone is a well-known drug, often spotlighted for its reputation of turning the clock back on opioid-based addictions. In 2013, there were more Suboxone units sold than Viagra and Adderall combined.
Suboxone has often been called a “Blockbuster” medication. It was named as such by the New York Times who backed the drug as the “safest methadone-alternative amidst the worst public-health crisis in decades.”
Unfortunately, Suboxone isn’t the cure-all solution as the general populace once believed. As with most medications that fight addiction, Suboxone has a high potential for abuse. It can become addicting and in many cases lead to either long-term dependency.
This makes it a double-edged sword for those struggling with a heroin/opioid addiction. Addiction to Suboxone has become somewhat problematic throughout the country. It’s essential for those struggling with addiction to have access to appropriate information regarding treatment so they can find the help they need.
The founder of Rehab South Florida (Dr. Vikram Tarugu), stated: “Suboxone has caused a new epidemic to emerge that requires a newly-designed course of treatment to address it.”
If you’re challenged with an addiction to heroin, considering an outpatient rehab program that makes use of Suboxone would be a good starting point. It’s important to one’s health that they understand the associated risks with Suboxone use before considering it as a long or even short-term option. The risk of a dependency surfacing from Suboxone is imminent, and users should learn of the recovery programs available to them so help can be received.
What is Suboxone and how does it work?
Suboxone is comprised of two unique drugs; naloxone (which is pure opioid antagonist) and buprenorphine (a partial-formulated agonist) .
As a partial opioid agonist, the buprenorphine’s job is to deliver small opioid doses to the user over time. This paves the way for the struggling addict to wean off the pre-existing dependency. Concurrently, it also alleviates opioid withdrawal symptoms that would otherwise manifest and cause extreme discomfort.

The buprenorphine, as explained by RSF’s Dr. Vikram Tarugu, quickly activates the brain’s receptors. Street-level heroin is known as a full-on opioid agonist. So, when someone uses heroin, their receptors are all simultaneously triggered. This results in an array of effects and can easily lead to addiction.
As buprenorphine is a partial agonist, its intrinsic activity is rather low. Since it triggers opioid receptors ONLY partially in the brain, compared to heroin, the highs are shallow and nothing like using a full affinity agonist. This makes buprenorphine a solid first step in the long-term treatment of heroin and/or opioid-induced addictions.
The other-half of Suboxone is naloxone; a pure antagonist.
While an agonist (buprenorphine) excites opioid receptors, the antagonist shuts down the receptors. This blocks the agonist from ever reaching the receptors. This also helps to reverse the effects that the opioid agonists (heroin, opioids) have already had on the user/abuser. The naloxone intercepts the signals sent from the receptors and diverts them to the central nervous system.
Suboxone and its Effects

Because Naloxone renders the opioid receptors ineffective, withdrawals symptoms can (and usually are) quick to initiate.
Those currently using an opioid can expect feelings of agitation, unusual mood swings, irritability, nausea, vomiting, muscle cramping, diarrhea, and also insomnia (which is very common) .
Also, chronic opioid users struggling with a full-on opioid dependency (such as HEROIN) are at an increased risk of development of respiratory depression and seizures (possibly-fatal conditions).
The array of possible-emerging conditions and medical emergencies are the reasons why you shouldn’t detox alone. Self-help detox kits are usually ineffective. Recovery kits taken at home don’t usually provide the symptom relief a recovering addict may need. Additionally, self-help kits can lead to fatal outcomes as a medical emergency can occur and medical supervision isn’t available at home. This is why it’s best to undergo detox in a professional outpatient (or inpatient) setting at a patient-centric center such as Rehab South Florida.
Naloxone, by itself, carries many risks. This is why it’s not administered solely by itself but in combination with buprenorphine. This makes it easier for struggling opioid dependents (even those with a chronic addiction) to wean off from the stronger opioids. The result of these two together gives us Suboxone.
There was a recent study involving 154 participants on the long-term use of Suboxone. The Journal of the American Medical Association discovered that Suboxone treatment “greatly enhanced” recovery outcomes for individuals struggling with addiction to opioids. The study’s principal investigator highlighted a “considerable reduction” in the use of not only opioids but other drugs/narcotics as well. Suboxone also helped study participants to have a better treatment retention rate in treatment programs.
Using Opioids such as Suboxone to Cure an Opioid Addiction?

Giving someone addicted to a particular substance a similar drug to treat addiction always carries an inherent risk.
Opiate addiction is such a powerful and strong dependence that the best option is to bring them down incrementally.
Patient cravings are best addressed through the use of Suboxone so cravings can be diminished to the point where the addict has the courage, strength, resources, and tools needed to deal with the emotional and physical aspects of withdrawing.
As shared by Dr. Tarugu of “Rehab South Florida”: the sudden cessation of opioid-use isn’t practical nor safe in one’s approach to recovery. Of the individuals that choose the “cold turkey” approach, less than 25-percent are able to maintain abstinence for an entire year following the last opioid intake.
While counseling, emotional support, and therapy are all critical components to addiction recovery, sometimes, medication-assisted treatment is needed for a smoother journey and improved recovery outcome.
Suboxone – Signs and Symptoms of Abuse
While fatal overdoses are the worse consequences of Suboxone abuse, a number of other physical and psychological effects can signal one’s misuse of the drug.
Understanding and being able to recognize these signs are crucial to helping yourself or someone you care about with ending abuse and seeking help.
There are many signs of Suboxone abuse, including:
• Nausea
• Muscle aches
• Unusual mood swings
• Fever
• Insomnia
• Headaches
According to the Physician-Patient Alliance for Health & Safety, severe scenarios of Suboxone abuse increase the chances of respiratory depression occurring. Based on studies, it’s also understood that high doses of buprenorphine have been associated with those that have died from lack of oxygen. While Suboxone is a much safer alternative to using Methadone, abuse of Suboxone can result in the shutdown of the user’s respiratory system.
For these reasons, those challenged with Suboxone abuse need to seek treatment in a rehab setting so proper medical supervision can be had. Withdrawals and unexpected medical emergencies can be fatal if not properly treated.
Suboxone addiction has become more problematic; especially since doctors that prescribe Suboxone are prescribing it more now than ever before. Methadone requires those wanting symptom relief to visit a clinic daily while Suboxone can be taken in an outpatient setting so day-to-day responsibilities can be continued.
Most individuals struggling with Suboxone dependency are not addicted due to initially using Suboxone to detox from opiates. They’re incentivized to use Suboxone based on promises of milder withdrawal symptoms during detox. This is a vicious cycle for some as they start with heroin, started to use methadone, and then began to take Suboxone.
As challenging as stopping use can be, it can be an easier journey. Battling addiction can be controlled rather swiftly when seeking helping from a Suboxone detox center. It’s vitally important to your health and recovery outcome to undergo medically-monitored detox at a center offering around-the-clock supervision.
Get the help you need with effective Suboxone treatment at Florida’s leading treatment center; Rehab South Florida.
References:
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[3] The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://www.naabt.org/education/technical_explanation_ buprenorphine.cfm
[4] Rzasa Lynn, R., & Galinkin, J. L. (2018, January). Naloxone dosage for opioid reversal: current evidence and clinical implications. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5753997/
[5] Opiate and opioid withdrawal: MedlinePlus Medical Encyclopedia. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://medlineplus.gov/ency/article/000949.htm
[6] Jones, M. R., Viswanath, O., Peck, J., Kaye, A. D., Gill, J. S., & Simopoulos, T. T. (2018, June). A Brief History of the Opioid Epidemic and Strategies for Pain Medicine. Retrieved from https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5993682/
[7] How is Suboxone Abused? Signs and Symptoms of Addiction and Abuse. (n.d.). Retrieved from https://sbtreatment.com/suboxone/
[8] Wong, M. (2018, July 7). Retrieved from http://www.ppahs.org/tag/buprenorphine/