People who want to try buprenorphine or Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction should be informed about the guidelines for determining someone’s suitability for this kind of therapy. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration has established criteria for physicians to consider when they are evaluating their patients for Suboxone versus methadone.
The primary concern, of course, is whether the person is committed to treatment for opioid addiction. It doesn’t matter what kind of treatment a person chooses: If he’s not open to the idea of recovery, it won’t work. Treatment professionals understand there is always some reluctance to give up that wonderful substance that stimulates the brain’s reward center. There will always be some hesitation to give up the comfort of the drug and step into the unknown realm of recovery. But treatment acceptance is also a concept that is worked on in recovery. So, the candidate must at least be willing to enter treatment. He also has to be aware of other medication-assisted treatment options so that he is making an informed decision to choose Suboxone.
The person should be willing and able to follow through with the physician’s recommended schedule of visits. The visits will most likely be necessary every day for a week or two, and then at least weekly. Someone cannot step into treatment and then decide that he’s going to skip some of his checkups.
The person has to understand the benefits and risks of Suboxone. Probably the biggest risk is its potential for abuse. While buprenorphine is a partial agonist that places a ceiling on just how high you can get, there are still people who find a way to misuse it.
Most Importantly About Suboxone Treatment
Perhaps most importantly, the person seeking buprenorphine or Suboxone treatment for opiate addiction should not be using alcohol or other benzodiazepines. Those substances combined with buprenorphine can seriously depress the central nervous system, including the body’s respiratory function. If the person has significant emotional or psychiatric diagnoses that require him to remain on benzos, then he must have a serious discussion with his doctor about the best way to proceed.
Once he begins treatment, the person should watch for negative reactions to Suboxone, including its components of buprenorphine and naloxone. There have been no statistically significant reports of disturbed body functions such as body temperature increases or high blood pressure. Give it some thought and then decide: Is buprenorphine therapy right for you?
