Addiction is a chronic disease that affects your brain’s reward and motivation circuitry. Dysfunction in this circuit leads to characteristic changes that can trigger substance use disorders. Substance abuse disorder is responsible for taking the lives of several thousands of Americans every year.
While it is not fully understood, the disease has relatively consistent symptoms and a pattern of progression, which treatments can help address. Suboxone treatment in Bedford, TX, can help relieve your symptoms and increase the likelihood of sustainable recovery. We encourage you to call a psychiatrist today to learn more about our substance abuse disorder treatments and how they can help you regain control over your life.
Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone that aims to reduce your withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Unlike other opioids, buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it binds to your brain’s opioid receptors but does not fully activate them.
This helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing the high that you would receive from opioids. Buprenorphine also has a ceiling effect. This means that higher doses do not increase the effects. While it is possible to misuse buprenorphine, this ceiling effect lowers the risk.
Naloxone is an opioid antagonist. It blocks the opioid effect in the brain, which also discourages misuse because you do not get the high that is typically associated with opioid drugs like heroin, oxycodone, fentanyl, or morphine.
Suboxone treatment is typically used alongside psychotherapy or talk therapy in Bedford, TX, to support your recovery journey. Psychotherapy helps you identify your triggers for opioid use and develop healthy coping strategies for daily stress. With reduced cravings, you can better engage in therapy, leading to better results.
Suboxone also lowers the risk of an overdose and supports long-term recovery by stabilizing your brain chemistry. Suboxone is typically part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program that combines counseling and behavioral therapy. This comprehensive approach to opioid addiction recovery has been shown to provide the best results.
Our psychiatrists can develop a personalized treatment plan that aligns with your specific needs. They can assess your condition to determine if Suboxone is right for you and connect you with a therapist in the area for long-term results.
As with all medication, there are side effects. An overdose of opioid medications or illegal drugs can depress a person’s respiratory system, leading to death. However, this side effect is rare with Suboxone. To reduce the risk of overdosing, we recommend refraining from taking Suboxone with another drug or substance that slows your breathing, such as alcohol or sedatives.
Some common side effects include:
Rare but serious side effects include hormonal imbalances or allergic reactions.
Although Suboxone has a lower overdose risk than full opioids, like oxycodone or heroin, an overdose can still occur if it is misused. For example, an overdose can occur if you mix Suboxone with another depressant like benzodiazepines or take a higher dose than prescribed. Suboxone is usually administered as a sublingual tablet, meaning that you place it under the tongue until it is dissolved.
Our caring team in Bedford, TX, can answer your questions and address any concerns you may have during an initial appointment for Suboxone treatment.
While there is a risk of becoming dependent on Suboxone, it is far lower compared to other types of opioids like oxycodone or fentanyl.
There is also a difference between dependence and addiction. When you are dependent on a drug, your body has adjusted to receiving the drug, and stopping it suddenly can cause withdrawal symptoms. Addiction leads to compulsive drug-seeking behavior despite the fact that you are experiencing harmful consequences.
When taken under medical supervision, the risk of addiction is low. However, long-term use can lead to psychological reliance, even if there is little physical dependence. This means that you may come to believe that the only reason you do not relapse is because you are taking Suboxone.
In other words, you are relying psychologically on the drug, even though your body does not depend on it. You may experience some withdrawal symptoms when stopping Suboxone. However, these are far milder than withdrawing from a full opioid and can be minimized by tapering the dosage gradually rather than stopping abruptly.
During an appointment for Suboxone treatment, our Bedford, TX providers can explain the benefits and risks of Suboxone and help you determine whether it is right for you.
Suboxone treatment in Bedford, TX, has provided many people with opioid addiction with a clear path to recovery. Get in touch with us today to learn more about how we can help you overcome your opioid addiction and support your recovery.