If you have reached the point in your opiate addiction where you have begun to consider rehabilitation, the idea of withdrawal must scare you to death. Popular culture makes opiate withdrawal look like the most excruciating experience any human being can possible face. But, many addicts do face withdrawal and come out the other side. It is possible.
If you want to make the detoxification and recovery process a little easier to deal with, you may look into medication-assisted treatment, in which a medication is used to limit withdrawal and craving of opiates. One of the newer medications, suboxone, is proving to be excellent in treating opiate addicts.
If you choose to go the suboxone route, you might be concerned about possible side effects from its use. It is wise to research them ahead of time.
For more information about suboxone and its benefits, contact the Opiate.com at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? and speak with someone who can direct you to resources and provide you with information.
Opioid Withdrawal
All opioid abuse treatment plans include a detoxification pahse and every detox comes with withdrawal symptoms. The US National Library of Medicine identifies the following symptoms of opiate withdrawal:
Early symptoms
- agitation
- anxiety
- muscle aches
- increased tearing
- insomnia
- runny nose
- sweating
- yawning
Late symptoms:
- abdominal cramping
- diarrhea
- dilated pupils
- goose bumps
- nausea
- vomiting
Despite the severity of the withdrawal symptoms listed, you will survive the process. Look forward to encountering the symptoms within 12 hours of last heroin usage or within 30 hours of last methadone exposure. Don’t worry. You will get through them and a medication like suboxone may help.
Suboxone
Stomach pain and constipation are mild side effects of suboxone.
The drugs uprenorphine and naloxone can be used alone or in combination to treat opioid dependence. According to the US National Library of Medicine, “Buprenorphine is in a class of medications called opioid partial agonist-antagonists and naloxone is in a class of medications called opioid antagonists … buprenorphine and naloxone work to prevent withdrawal symptoms when someone stops taking opioid drugs by producing similar effects to these drugs.”
Suboxone is prescribed by a doctor and can be administered in private, rather than at a treatment center, which many patients find appealing.
Either in pill form or as a sublingual (under the tongue) film, suboxone is generally taken once daily, around the same time every day. A doctor typically will start you on a low dose of buprenorphine and increase the dose for 1 or 2 days before switching you to buprenorphine and naloxone.
Mild Side Effects
Suboxone is not without its side effects, though many of them are extremely mild. The mild side effects identified by the US National Library of Medicine include:
- headache
- stomach pain
- constipation
- vomiting
- difficulty falling asleep or staying asleep
- mouth numbness or redness
- tongue pain
- blurred vision
- back pain
If these side effects persist, you should contact a doctor. But, the majority of these side effects will either not be experienced or will be so mild that they are easily coped with.
Serious Side Effects
There are, unfortunately, more serious side effects. Those identified by the US National Library of Medicine include:
- hives
- skin rash
- itching
- difficulty breathing or swallowing
- swelling of the face, throat, tongue, lips, eyes, hands, feet, ankles, or lower legs
- slowed breathing
- upset stomach
- extreme tiredness
- blurred vision
- slurred speech
- confusion
- unusual bleeding or bruising
- lack of energy
- loss of appetite
- pain in the upper right part of the stomach
- yellowing of the skin or eyes
- dark-colored urine
- light-colored stools
- nausea
If these side effects develop, you should seek medical assistance immediately.
No treatment of an opiate addiction is without its drawbacks. There isn’t a perfect solution. But, suboxone does offer some of the best results and its side effects can generally be medically managed. If you are interested in treating your opiate addiction with medication-assistance and would like to know more about the process and about suboxone, contact Opiate.com at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? and speak with someone today.
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