Pines Recovery Life · Blog

What exactly is Suboxone?

Published February 1, 2021 · Reviewed by Sergey Litvinov, MD · ~670 words

If your doctor has raised Suboxone, you probably want to know what it actually does before you agree to take it. It eases some of the side effects of opioid withdrawal, and it is often part of a medication-assisted treatment program or MAT. Suboxone combines buprenorphine and naloxone. The buprenorphine controls the craving for opioids, and the naloxone reduces the side effects. It usually comes as a film that dissolves in your mouth.

What is Suboxone used for?

Doctors usually prescribe Suboxone for people dependent on short-acting opioids like heroin. It is not the first choice for longer-acting opioids. A physician may give buprenorphine on its own instead, or a similar medication.

Unlike most medications used during withdrawal, a doctor can prescribe Suboxone for you to take at home instead of giving it to you at a treatment center.

Can Suboxone help with addiction?

Suboxone is one part of a treatment plan. Medication alone is rarely enough to get past an opioid addiction. Therapy gets at the reasons a person started using in the first place.

Doctors can use Suboxone at different stages of treatment. Paired with therapy, it lets you put your attention on recovery instead of on cravings.

Follow your doctor’s instructions exactly. Put the film under your tongue and let it dissolve. Do not chew it and do not talk while it is dissolving, because either one changes how much medicine your body takes in. The effects can include:

Relief from pain
Feelings of calmness and relaxation
Reduced stress levels

Your physician may change the dose over time and eventually wean you off it. That is one reason to have a full treatment plan behind the prescription.

Are there side effects from Suboxone use?

People can become addicted to Suboxone itself, even though it eases withdrawal and curbs cravings. Some do not know its side effects. Others use it as a substitute for heroin or another opioid.

Do not try to wean yourself off Suboxone without a doctor. You may run into side effects, including:

Joint and muscle pain
Feelings of irritability
Insomnia
Jitteriness
Diarrhea

Taking Suboxone as prescribed may still produce symptoms like:

Feeling like you have the flu
Stomach pain
Sweating
Vomiting
Headaches
Lack of energy

What else should I know about Suboxone?

Some substances react badly with Suboxone, so tell your doctor about everything else you take. Known problems include:

Medications for lowering cholesterol
Acetaminophen
Drugs for HIV treatment
Niacin
Fluoxetine
Verapamil
Oral contraceptives

Most doctors will want to see you at intervals to check how the medication is working. Take it only as prescribed. Suboxone works when the rest of your treatment is happening alongside it.