Much like any other treatment procedures, suboxone treatment duration varies by individual. Those severely affected by opioid addiction require more time than those experiencing mild to severe effects. Learn more about how the suboxone treatment duration is determined in this article below.
Why is Suboxone Treatment Needed?
Substance addiction is one of the primary concerns in healthcare today -, especially in the United States. In 2012, approximately 5 million people were reported to use opioids for recreational purposes. The treatment and management of opioid use disorders such as dependence and addiction have become a primary focus for healthcare practitioners.
Several treatment options have been explored with the major ones being non-pharmacological interventions such as abstinence, buprenorphine maintenance therapy, methadone maintenance therapy and Suboxone therapy (buprenorphine/naloxone).
How Long is the Suboxone Treatment Duration Normally?
While one may wish to get over with the opioid addiction treatment as fast as possible, it is a process that has no shortcuts. Opioid addiction rewires the brain creating changes that can take quite some time to repair. It interferes with our memory and reward systems which can easily cause one to relapse in absence of medications such as Suboxone.
However, medications such as Suboxone are equally as addictive especially if used for prolonged periods of time, this raises the question “How long does one need to stay on Suboxone?” On top of it, the dependence on opioids use is extremely tough to fight against for many.
To answer this question, we will explore some of the effects of Suboxone both over a short and prolonged durations, the appropriate amount of Suboxone recommended, tapering off and management of Suboxone addiction.
Effects of Suboxone Use
There is no telling exactly for how long one should be on Suboxone. However, unlike methadone, Suboxone is not recommended for maintenance therapy and should be prescribed only as short-term therapy in the management of opioid addiction. Despite this, some practitioners still prescribe it as part of long-term maintenance therapy. Once administered, Suboxone takes approximately 1 to 2 hours before it can begin to function. It stays in the body for 24 hours, but this can vary depending on the dosage that one is on.
When taken for short periods, Suboxone invokes feelings of euphoria and reduced anxiety. Prolonged use of the other hand, results in sleep disturbance, dizziness, confusion, nausea, headaches, and stomach pain. These symptoms often manifest as part of Suboxone withdrawal.
Tapering off Suboxone
One can choose to continue Suboxone treatment for as long as they need as long as they are taking the appropriate dosage and they ensure that they do not become dependent. Usually, doctors will start tapering you off Suboxone once you begin feeling better and more in control of yourself. This on its own isn’t quite sufficient. A criterion often used to evaluate one’s readiness to taper off consists of the following factors:
- Being 30 years and over
- Having stable job
- Being more confident in yourself
- Distancing yourself from friends who use opiates
- Having completed relapse prevention work
- Being able to live comfortably on a dosage of 8 mg Suboxone for several months.
How to Get Off Suboxone
Just like with many other medications, getting off Suboxone is a process that will involve slowly being weaned off the drug. This is often done under the supervision of a doctor who’ll monitor the individual for an estimated four to five weeks while slowly lowering the dosage over time.
To spot opioid addiction and get the help needed before its too late, read our article on these common addiction signs here.