Suboxone

Suboxone is prescribed to individuals who are currently addicted to opiates/opioids, such as Percocet, Oxycontin, heroin, or morphine.

The National Alliance of Advocates for Buprenorphine Treatment (NAABT) doesn’t support the use of Suboxone for pain. The NAABT website includes a letter from the Drug Enforcement Administration to a Dr. Heit, who asked about prescribing Subutex or Suboxone for pain. The letter states that the use of sublingual buprenorphine “is not prohibited under DEA requirements.”

Only physicians with a specific state license allowing XDEA medications can write you a prescription for Suboxone.

Most major pharmacies can and should stock Suboxone. However, it is common for patients to run into some push back from pharmacists who are cautious about the controlled substance. Whether it’s legal or not, refusing a legitimate prescription is blocking your access to treatment. If you or someone you know are refused Suboxone, contact your prescribing physician or your treatment program case manager immediately to make sure your recovery plan isn’t compromised in any way.

Most insurance carriers cover Suboxone, although it may be covered in their out-of-network benefits. Check with your commercial insurance/prescription coverage provider to confirm your exact benefit. In Colorado, Medicaid covers the cost of your treatment, as well as the cost of the medication.

The short answer is no. If the medication is being prescribed at the appropriate time and in the correct dose, Suboxone will not make you sick. Patients should already be in mild to moderate withdrawal before they are given their first dose of buprenorphine. They should also not be given buprenorphine if they are high on opioids.

In regards to potential overdose risk, buprenorphine has been found to be six times safer than methadone, according to researchers, according to a six year study performed in the UK.

In some cases, yes. Some patients do report trouble sleeping, or insomnia, while taking buprenorphine.

Suboxone in it’s film form can be cut as necessary. As a patient starts their taper, they may decrease their dose by 1/8 of a film at a time, according to their physician’s directions.

Suboxone is a schedule III narcotic.

Suboxone is absorbed through the mucous membranes in the mouth, and is metabolized by the liver.

The only reaction that could cause itchiness to Suboxone would be an allergic reaction.

There is no evidence to suggest that Subutex, Suboxone, or Zubsolv are more effective in treating opioid addiction than the others. However, each of these drugs has been shown to be more helpful under certain circumstances. Your doctor can determine which medication will be best for you.

This depends on the specific drug test you are taking. Many labs are starting to test for the presence of buprenorphine, and it’s metabolite, norbuprenorphine. This ensures that the patient is taking their medication and that their body is metabolizing it through the liver.

Yes, one of Suboxone’s side effects is sweating. This usually goes away after the body adjusts to the steady presence of buprenorphine.

Yes, one of the side effects of Suboxone is drowsiness. However, as your body adjusts to the buprenorphine, this side effect seems to lessen.

Yes. The buprenorphine in Suboxone has a much stronger pull to the opioid receptors in your brain, and therefore, blocks the Kratom from having any type of effect.