Drug dependence and mental diseases are sad and dangerous problems millions suffer from. But on top of there being thousands of rehab centers across the country, there are several ways you can treat your addiction– from solo and group therapy to medical detox.
One way to medically detox from drug addiction is with suboxone detox treatment. Unfortunately, there lies adverse and addictive effects to using this drug to treat addiction.
How Suboxone Can Treat Opioid Addiction
People undergoing treatment for an opioid addiction usually take suboxone, a prescription medication designed to do just that.
Besides the medication naloxone, one of its main ingredients is opioid buprenorphine. When combined, the effects of the two are reduced cravings for addictive opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone.
Suboxone can help you manage withdrawal symptoms while detoxing from opioids. People often continue taking this medication to control cravings throughout their treatment and rehab.
But it’s important to note that suboxone does not cure opioid addiction but rather helps you during the recovery process.
Suboxone Side Effects
This drug has a few adverse effects– some are mild, others may be more serious. Typically, they go away after a few days to a couple of weeks.
Listed below are some of the common side effects of suboxone.
— Anxiety
— Depression
— Insomnia
— Headaches
— Nausea
— Fever
— Fatigue
— Muscle pain
— Sweating
— Constipation
— Mouth redness
— Burning tongue
Sometimes, suboxone side effects may be more severe. These are more likely to happen if you take huge amounts of it. So if this is the case or if they do not subside, consult your doctor or pharmacist.
— Breathing problems
— Severe allergic reaction
— Liver damage
— Hormone problems (adrenal insufficiency)
— Coma
— Abuse, dependence, and addiction
The Dangers Of Detoxing Using Suboxone
Because its main component is an opioid, suboxone has the risk of becoming addictive.
In the United States, the drug is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance. By the definition of the United States Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA), Schedule III drugs have a moderate to low potential for psychological and physical dependence.
With that said, only doctors with a certification from the Department of Health and Human Services can prescribe suboxone.
Disadvantages Of Long-Term Suboxone Use
Drug detox in a treatment program is meant to eliminate substance dependence. While taking a physician-administered drug in place of opioids is less hazardous, long term-use can prove to be dangerous.
As with many other substances, prolonged use of suboxone can up your tolerance and increase the potential of dependence, abuse, and addiction.
If you become addicted to suboxone, the impact is not only on your physical health. You can experience drastic changes in your behavior and damage your social life.
— Money problems
— Compromising work for or because of the drug
— Isolating yourself from friends and family
— Lack of personal hygiene
Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms
If you are dependent on suboxone and you haven’t taken it in a while, or if you are in treatment for addiction, you may undergo these withdrawal symptoms.
— Headaches
— Digestive problems
— Insomnia
— Irritability
— Lethargy
— Fever
— Chills
— Muscle aches
— Lethargy
— Depression
Suboxone Overdose Symptoms
In worse cases, you can overdose on suboxone. If left untreated, an overdose on this drug can also be lethal. You are more likely to suffer an overdose if you take copious amounts of it or combine it with other substances.
Suboxone overdose symptoms include:
— Blurred vision
— Chills
— Confusion
— Anxiety
— Dizziness
— Headaches
— Fatigue
— Anxiety
— Slurred speech
— Loss of coordination
— Nausea
— Vomiting
— Stomach pain
— Sweating
— Loss of consciousness
Recovering From Suboxone Dependence With A Suboxone Detox Treatment
You might ask, “how long does it take to detox from suboxone?” Well, there is no answer set in stone as that experience differs from person to person.
Generally, suboxone detox treatment and rehabs depend on the length and severity of the substance use disorder (SUD)– the longer you have been addicted, the longer the detox process will be. On the other hand, some recovering addicts might only experience withdrawal symptoms for at most a couple of weeks.
While there is no blanket or definitive answer to how long a suboxone detox takes, the best we can get is this guideline.
1-4 days
The height of physical symptoms. The first few days are going to be uncomfortable and exhausting. But this stage should pass after a few days.
7 days
A week into detoxing from suboxone, you may still feel muscle aches, have mood swings, and experience sleeping problems.
2-4 weeks
At this point, the physical symptoms should subside. However, you will begin to undergo psychological symptoms, which include depression, anxiety, and intense drug cravings.
The Best and Safest Suboxone Detox Treatment
Although a suboxone detox treatment is helpful in treating opioid addiction, it does have the potential to be addictive itself. When it comes to addiction treatment and suboxone detox protocol, the first and best method is seeking help in a recovery center.
Places like Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers are well-equipped to help patients medically detox from drug abuse safely. Our drug detox programs include opioid drug detox, prescription drug detox (both of which are ideal for a suboxone addiction), and stimulant detox.
Click here to learn more about our medical detox programs, as well as the symptoms of addiction and withdrawal.
Are you seeking help or know someone needing suboxone detox in Tucson? Then, turn to Buena Vista Health and Recovery Centers.
You can contact us at (800) 922-0095, or go to any of our locations:
CAVE CREEK
29858 N. Tatum Blvd.
Cave Creek, AZ 85331
CHANDLER
3033 South Arizona Avenue
Chandler, Arizona 85248
TUCSON
5151 East Pima Road
Tucson, Arizona 85712
