Here is What to Expect
Sadly, there are a lot of people who are battling addiction, and unfortunately, many of these individuals never seek help or at least the right one. Besides the support that is always welcome, there’s a number of treatments that can lead you to recovery.
One of them involves Suboxone. So what does it represent? Namely, Suboxone healthcare providers and doctors are specialized in helping those who are experiencing problems with opioids and who have developed an addiction to them.
Now, does it mean that anyone can prescribe it? No. Only qualified doctors can do that. So if you wish to combat addiction, or you know someone who is currently struggling, and you want to know how this medication works, keep reading to provide yourself with more useful info.
Start With a Consultation
You’ve made one of the most crucial steps in terms of your recovery which is definitely amazing, but before you make any further decisions when it comes to this treatment, it would be recommendable to first schedule a consultation.
This should be with a board-certified doctor who has a plethora of experience regarding this medication. Both of you should express your opinions concerning this journey and then your doctor will determine if this treatment is right for you or not. If he or she thinks it is, then you can move on to the induction phase.
Now, in order to get the best possible results when it comes to your recovery, you should make sure to find a reputable rehabilitation center. Luckily, nowadays, you can schedule an online consultation with experts from this field.
This means that you do not have to go to a million places until you find the one that’s best for you. If by any chance you live in the state of Florida, and you’re looking for the best possible care, then you should search for Florida Suboxone clinic online to schedule a consultation. Then with their help, you will quickly realize if this is a good choice for you or not.
Who Are the Best Candidates for This Treatment?
Even though your doctor is going to be able to determine that, there are also some criteria that you should focus on and it includes people who:
- Are interested in a high-quality treatment for opioid addiction
- Do not have any contraindications with this medication
- Can be compliant with medicine-assisted treatment
- Are familiar with all the benefits and risks
- Are willing to follow all precautions during the recovery process
The Induction Phase – What to Expect?
Once you and your doctor decide that this is the right treatment for you, then the first two days are utilized for induction into the medicine. What does induction mean? To simplify it, it represents the beginning.
Your initial dose is going to be between two and four milligrams. After it, under supervision, your physician may decide to increase the dose and go up to eight milligrams. Dosages that you will later receive, highly depend on your withdrawal symptoms.
Many doctors suggest that patients aren’t supposed to be doing any hard work during their first day of treatment. Generally speaking, even if your doctor decides to increase the dosage, it should always be done at a slower pace so that you always feel comfortable.
How Long Does the Treatment Take?
When it comes to this, no one can give you an answer that’s one hundred percent accurate. It highly depends on your needs, and your healthcare provider is the one who is going to be able to determine that.
Namely, some people progress much faster than other patients and only use this medication for a couple of weeks. On the other hand, there are those who may need an extended treatment and are obligated to utilize Suboxone for a couple of months, and sometimes even years.
Furthermore, there are patients who have been on this treatment for a short period of time and who didn’t have enough time to deal with various behavioral and emotional effects of drug addiction.
That’s precisely why doctors have to be extremely careful when it comes to terminating Suboxone treatment because it can potentially lead to relapse, especially if the patient hasn’t been using it for a longer period of time.
Therefore, you should only quit using it when you are one hundred percent able to look the other way when you are “surrounded” by drugs, such as Morphine, Vicodin, Oxycontin, and many others.
Visits
You should return to the office one week after the consultation visit to have a UTOX (urine toxicology) done. You should do it every single time you have a visit. What happens during this time?
Normally, you should talk to your physician and let him/her know how the medicine is affecting you, discuss the results of urine toxicology, and decide if you’re going to keep using this medication or not. If you want to proceed with it, then you should talk about the dosage.
Furthermore, it is highly likely that you’ll be having visits at least once a week until you establish the right dose for you. The proper dose means that you are feeling comfortable, that you are not experiencing any withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Bear in mind that the most important thing for you is to feel stable.
Maintenance
Once you’ve determined a steady dose of this medication and you are continuously feeling well, it means that you’ve successfully entered this phase. The length of it is tailored to each individual.
Fortunately, many studies have shown that Suboxone is really safe to use, even for a longer period of time. Ans as was previously mentioned, some patients use it short-term, while there are those who use it for long periods of time.
What’s great about this medication is the fact that it can successfully stop opioid craving and all those uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms, which means that it will allow you to normally live your life.
Based on the facts that we provided you with, it is easy to conclude that Suboxone treatment can be very effective, however, before you make any decisions, it’s important to consult with your healthcare provider first.
