Suboxone is a powerful drug that is used to treat opioid addiction. It can be very helpful in getting people off of opioids and onto a path to recovery. A NIDA study has shown that Suboxone effectively treats opioid addiction. It was more effective than other medications, such as methadone.
However, it is essential to understand what this drug does and how it works before you decide whether or not to take it. Read on to learn everything about Suboxone.
What is Suboxone?
More than 20 million people in the U.S. have an addiction. Yet only 10% of these people receive any addiction treatment. Opioid addiction is a problem in the U.S., with over two million people addicted to prescription painkillers and another half a million addicted to heroin.
Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication that is used to treat opioid addiction. It is a combination of two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist, which binds to the receptors in the brain, but produces a less euphoric effect. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist which stops the severe effects of other opioids.
How Does Suboxone Work in Your Body?
Your brain has what’s called mu-opioid receptors. These receptors are responsible for the “high” you feel when you use drugs like heroin, oxycodone, or fentanyl. When you consume Suboxone, it binds to these receptors. This action blocks the other drugs from binding and, as a result, prevents you from feeling their effects.
How Should You Consume Suboxone?
Suboxone is typically consumed orally, either as a sublingual film or tablet. When taking Suboxone sublingually, placing the film or tablet under your tongue is important and allows it to dissolve completely.
Do not chew, swallow, or move the film or tablet around your mouth, as this will decrease its efficacy. It is common to experience a bitter taste when consuming Suboxone sublingually.
Rinsing your mouth with water or drinking fruit juice may help to lessen the taste. After the first dose, Suboxone dissolves quickly and enters the bloodstream, where it begins to work.
The effects of Suboxone can be felt within 15-30 minutes after consumption.
Suboxone typically lasts 24 hours, although the effects may wear off sooner if a smaller dose is taken. If you are new to Suboxone, start with a small dose and increase it gradually as needed.
You should not consume more than 32mg of Suboxone per day.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in the System?
Factors that will affect how long Suboxone stays in your system and works for withdrawal of drugs include:
- Your age
- Your liver and kidney function
- The amount of Suboxone you took
- How long do you take Suboxone for
- If you abuse alcohol or other drugs while taking Suboxone
Vertical Treatment Centers offer addiction treatment in Greenville, SC. Our team of compassionate and highly-trained professionals provides individualized care to help you on your journey to recovery.