Using SuboxoneUsing Suboxone for Addiction
Using Suboxone for Addiction
Using Suboxone :The main way doctors are using suboxone is for opioid addiction. Suboxone is the brand name for the combination of two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. It was approved for the treatment of opioid addiction in 2003. Doctors who prescribe buprenorphine for opioid addiction have to take a specialized course. They then apply for a DEA license for this specific medication.
Buprenorphine is also used in the treatment of short and long-term pain-management. Like other narcotics, buprenorphine is a narcotic. It does work well for moderate to severe pain. When prescribed for pain, a physician is not required to have a specialized DEA number. It is interesting that buprenorphine has also been used to treat pain in cats and dogs.
Narcotic medications have been used in the past “off-label” for the treatment of severe depression. It does not have FDA approval for this. (Physicians are allowed to prescribe medications without specific FDA approval for most medications). The same has been done with the use of buprenorphine. This is not considered normal practice for the treatment of depression at this time.
Using Suboxone : Patient View
Narcotic addiction has become a national epidemic. According to a government study, in 1999, an estimated 4 million Americans 12 years or older used oral sedatives, stimulants, antipsychotic agents, or opioids in ways not intended by prescribers.
Using Suboxone for detox in those dependent on narcotics is a safe and effective. Avoiding the withdrawals from methadone, Oxycodone, Vicodin, or any narcotic medication is very important. The symptoms of narcotic withdrawal (chills, cramps, goosebumps, runny nose, diarrhea, sleeplessness) usually lead to a quick relapse. The symptoms are veryvdifficult for patients to handle.
Suboxone can be used during pregnancy in addicts. In the past, methadone has been used during pregnancy. As time passes, we are becoming more comfortable with the used of buprenorphine during pregnancy. Many doctors believe use in pregnancy is no more dangerous than the use of methadone in pregnancy. The use off buprenorphine during pregancy remains off-label.
On the internet, you can find people using Subxone for alcoholism. Although this may be true, it can be very dangerous. It is not usually done. The combination of alcohol and Suboxone can potentially lead to death. There are usually other prescription treatments for alcoholism which have FDA approval such as Revia ®. In addition, treatment of alcoholism has effective no-medication treatments such as Alcoholics Anonymous and Rational Recovery.
Suboxone Medication Formulations
Suboxone (buprenorphine) is available as a sublingual tablet, sublingual film, and injection form. The primary form used is in 2 mg buprenorphine/0.5 mg naloxone and 8 mg buprenorphine/2 mg naloxone tablets. Buprenorphine is also available as alone without the naloxone and comes in 2mg and 8mg forms (Subutex®).
In summary, Suboxone ® is a narcotic medication used in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is also used for treatment of pain management. Using Suboxone (prescribing) requires special permission by the DEA for doctors to prescribe it to patients for opioid addiction. The use of this medication can be dangerous and requires close monitoring.
Links
Narcotic Lists on the web
http://www.ehow.com/list_5791760_list-narcotic-pain-medications.html
http://www.backpain-guide.com/Tables/3_NarcPain.html
http://www.webmd.com/pain-management/guide/narcotic-pain-medications
Pain control in cats and dogs
http://www.2ndchance.info/pain.htm
Buprenorphine Treatment of Refractory Depression
http://journals.lww.com/psychopharmacology/pages/articleviewer.aspx?year=1995&issue=02000&article=00008&type=abstract
Find a Doctor that is using Suboxone
Finding a doctor that prescribes Suboxone (buprenorphine) is not difficult. There are a number of physician locator services on the web. You should note that not all physicians are registered on theses sites. Some do this so they can limit their Suboxone treatment to selected patients. The first place to start is to ask you own physician if he or she prescribes buprenorphine. You can also find suboxone doctors near you in our buprenorphine directory.
