Suboxone (Buprenorphine) Detox

Suboxone (Buprenorphine) Detox


Suboxone is a prescription medication commonly used to treat opioid addiction. The drug is effective at reducing opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which then allows patients to overcome addiction comfortably while facing a lower risk for relapse. But because Suboxone is still an opioid, patients who abuse the medication or use it incorrectly can become addicted and suffer ongoing problems with opioid addiction despite receiving treatment.

Suboxone detox can help these individuals overcome dependency on Suboxone and other opioids, including morphine, heroin, and fentanyl. When conducted in a controlled medical environment, Suboxone detox can be safe, comfortable, and lower the risk for serious health complications associated with quitting Suboxone cold turkey.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, meaning it partially occupies the brain’s opioid receptors so users are unable to experience the full effects of opioids. Buprenorphine does not offer feelings of pain relief and euphoria, but it helps relieve opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms so patients can overcome dependency with little discomfort.

Naloxone is an opioid antagonist that blocks or reverses the effects of opioids. The drug prevents opioids from binding to receptors and triggering the release of dopamine along with feelings of euphoria. Those who have opioids in their system and use naloxone will experience immediate withdrawal symptoms as the drug naturally induces detox.

Despite being commonly used in heroin and opiate detox treatments, Suboxone carries a high risk for addiction, which can be overcome with Suboxone medical detox.

What to Expect During Suboxone Detox

Suboxone detox is often performed using the tapering method or medically supervised detox. Tapering is when a doctor gradually reduces the Suboxone dosage over time until the patient is no longer physically dependent on the medication. This allows patients to slowly come off Suboxone without experiencing severe opiate cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Medically supervised detox is when patients stop using Suboxone cold turkey but are monitored by medical staff around the clock to minimize the risk for health complications. In some cases, medications that carry no risk for addiction are prescribed to treat certain Suboxone withdrawal symptoms, such as nausea or insomnia.

Suboxone detox treatments are customized for each individual patient based on their tolerance level, current dosage of Suboxone, and history with opioid abuse. Suboxone detox may be combined with behavioral counseling, cognitive-behavioral therapy, and 12-step support group therapy. These treatments can help patients overcome addiction by addressing co-occurring disorders and negative behaviors that led to addiction in the first place.

Suboxone Withdrawal

Suboxone withdrawal usually begins within 48 hours of the last dose, and triggers symptoms similar to those caused by other opioids. Symptoms can range from mild to severe and last for up to a week. Suboxone cravings and withdrawal symptoms can be minimized with detox treatment at an inpatient detox facility.

Common Suboxone withdrawal symptoms include the following:

  • Sweating
  • Shaking
  • Chills
  • Headaches
  • Muscles aches
  • Fever
  • Nausea
  • Vomiting
  • Fatigue
  • Insomnia
  • Irritability
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Opioid cravings

Overcoming Suboxone Addiction

Suboxone addiction can be dangerous and risky to overcome on one’s own without proper addiction treatment at a detox center. When paired with natural therapies including massage, exercise therapy, and hydrotherapy, Suboxone detox helps patients develop new healthy daily routines that leave no room for drug use. Going through Suboxone detox is the first step recovering opioid addicts can take to achieve more fulfilling, addiction-free lives.

References / Sources

National Institute on Drug Abuse. (2012). Principles of Drug Addiction Treatment: A Research-Based Guide.
National Institute on Drug Abuse. Suboxone® (Buprenorphine/Naloxone) Taper: A Comparison of Two Schedules.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA). (2016). Buprenorphine.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2002). Subutex and Suboxone Approved to Treat Opiate Dependence.

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