Stopping opioid use isn’t always as simple as deciding to quit. For people with opioid use disorder (OUD), the brain and body are dependent on opioids, leading to intensive cravings and uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
But, OUD is a treatable medical condition. Medication-assisted treatment, including prescriptions like Suboxone®, can make recovery more manageable by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms while giving you an opportunity to focus on long-term recovery.
At Orthopedic & Wellness in Frederick, Waldorf, and Germantown, Maryland, Dr. Ojedapo Ojeyemi offers Suboxone treatment for people who are ready to take steps toward breaking the cycle of opioid use.
OUD is a chronic condition that can make it hard to control opioid use, even when you want to stop. It can affect your health, relationships, work, and daily life.
Opioids are a class of drugs that act on specific receptors in the brain. They can relieve pain and produce feelings of relaxation and euphoria.
With repeated use, however, the brain can adapt and become dependent on the drug. You may develop strong cravings and need to use more to achieve the same effects. If you suddenly reduce or stop taking opioids, you experience withdrawal symptoms like:
These symptoms can make stopping on your own extremely difficult. Treatment under the guidance of a professional can help you manage them safely and comfortably.
Suboxone is a prescription medication used to treat OUD. It contains two active ingredients.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It acts on the same receptors in the brain as the opioids, but its effects are limited.
By activating these receptors in a controlled way, buprenorphine reduces withdrawal symptoms and opioid cravings without the same level of euphoria.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. It blocks the opioid receptors, causing immediate withdrawal. It’s included in Suboxone to discourage misuse.
When you take Suboxone as prescribed, the naloxone has little activity. However, if you try to misuse the medication by injecting it, naloxone can interfere with opioid effects and trigger immediate withdrawal.
Together, these medications help make Suboxone an effective treatment option for OUD.
When you’re caught in a cycle of opioid use, cravings and withdrawal can make recovery feel impossible. Suboxone can help by providing stability while you work toward long-term recovery.
Treatment may:
Taking Suboxone isn’t replacing one opioid for another. Buprenorphine is used in a controlled, therapeutic way to treat OUD and reduce symptoms that make recovery hard.
And you combine the medication treatment with counseling or behavioral therapy. These services can help you identify triggers, develop coping strategies, and address the factors that contribute to problematic opioid use to help you finally break the cycle.
Starting Suboxone requires careful timing. Taking it too soon after using opioids can cause severe withdrawal.
Dr. Ojeyemi gives you specific instructions about when to take your first dose. The timing can vary based on the opioid you use, how often you take it, and other factors.
Once treatment starts, he adjusts your dose based on how you feel and how well it’s controlling your withdrawal symptoms and cravings. The goal is to find a dose that helps you feel stable without unnecessary side effects.
Signs your on the right dose of Suboxone include:
Dr. Ojeyemi continues to monitor you closely, making adjustments as needed.
There isn’t one standard treatment length that works for everyone. Some people take Suboxone for months, while others need treatment for several years.
Research supports longer use of medication for OUD as it can help reduce risk of relapse. The right approach depends on your health, recovery goals, history of opioid use, and response to treatment.
If at some point you decide to stop taking Suboxone, don’t quit suddenly or change your dose without support. Dr. Ojeyemi helps you taper off the drug to reduce risk of withdrawal.
Trying to stop opioids without support is difficult, especially when withdrawal and cravings are strong. Treatment can give you the medical support you need to get off opioids.
Dr. Ojeyemi can talk to you about Suboxone and help you safely reduce your opioid use without painful withdrawals and intense cravings. To learn more, call Orthopedic & Wellness today or book an appointment online.
