You may have already read on this website what to expect when you decide to begin buprenorphine treatment. If you’re working, you know you have to request the day off. It’s also necessary to be experiencing withdrawal symptoms when you present for treatment, which may be uncomfortable but is necessary. The clinic will need to monitor you for approximately two hours after your first dose, and you’ll need to return a couple of times throughout the week. In subsequent weeks, you’ll go just once weekly.
Ways to Handle Buprenorphine Treatment Explanation
Your Job. So just how do you manage all those clinic visits without telling your employer that you are getting medication-assisted treatment for opioid addiction? The answer is that if your employer does not know about your addiction, why would your employer need to know about your treatment? If necessary, you can request a note from the doctor that simply says you are under his medical care. If your supervisor asks you why you’re going to doctor appointments so often, you can say something like, “Oh, I’m receiving services recommended by my physician.” If your supervisor or the HR director asks you outright if the clinic provides buprenorphine and methadone treatment, you can answer by saying, “I think they provide a variety of services.” Whether this is true or not, it is none of their business. Remain polite and professional, and no matter how curious they are, they will have to respect your privacy as long as you are able to perform the duties of your job.
Your Family. You can expect your family to support your decision to get treatment, but don’t assume they will forgive you immediately for the breaches of trust you’ve committed. It takes time to mend those breaches. While your parents, spouse, siblings, or children will continue to love you, it will probably take six to nine months to regain their trust. Just remember, you didn’t lose their trust overnight, and you can’t regain it that quickly either.
Your Dose. Your initial dose may be somewhere between 8 to 16 mg, but this is a physician decision and varies from patient to patient. As you follow up, clinic staff will determine exactly what dose is right for you. Remember to take your dose at the same time every day so that you don’t forget a dose. Take it as directed. Never split your dose unless the clinic physician directs you to do so.
Don’t delay in calling a clinic to learn more about buprenorphine treatment.
