As one of the newly developed opiate addiction treatment medications, Subutex, a brand name for buprenorphine, offers certain benefits not afforded through the more traditional methadone treatment approach. Like methadone, a person can take Subutex as a long-term maintenance treatment.
While effective as a long-term maintenance treatment, Subutex does still carry risks for abuse and addiction, according to the Substance Abuse & Mental Health Services Administration. Individuals who fall into abusive drug-using patterns will likely require some form of Subutex withdrawal treatment to stop using the drug. Likewise, people who’ve been in Subutex treatment on a long-term basis will also require some form of withdrawal treatment once they’re ready to discontinue the drug.
Subutex withdrawal treatment options run the gamut in terms of addressing the different needs each person brings to the recovery process. If you need help finding a program that meets your treatment needs, call our toll-free helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? for assistance.
Subutex Withdrawal Effects
Depression symptoms are common during Subutex withdrawal.
Subutex withdrawal effects develop for many of the same reasons that heroin or hydrocodone withdrawal develops. After so many months or years using the drug, the brain develops a certain degree of dependence on Subutex to function normally.
When stopping Subutex use, the brain is left to pick up where the drug’s effects leave off. Subutex withdrawal effects develop out of the brain’s inability to manage bodily functions as normal.
Withdrawal effects typically take the form of:
- Depression symptoms
- Bouts of anxiety
- Irritability
- Problems sleeping
- Gastrointestinal problems (diarrhea, nausea, vomiting)
- Body aches
- Agitation
Not surprisingly, this degree of discomfort can easily drive a person back to using the drug. Herein lies the need for Subutex withdrawal treatment.
Types of Subutex Withdrawal Treatment
Inpatient Treatment
Inpatient-based programs take an all-inclusive approach to detox withdrawal, addressing any and all medical and psychological problems that develop as a result of drug abuse, while also helping a person make it through the withdrawal stage. Inpatient programs operate as live-in facilities and tend to be shorter in duration, though long-term inpatient care is made available when needed.
Services offered through inpatient programs include:
- Medical treatment
- Treatment for mental health problems
- Relapse prevention training
- Drug education
Outpatient Treatment
Outpatient Subutex withdrawal treatment options work well for people at the early stages of Subutex abuse or those who still have work and family responsibilities to meet. For the most part these programs offer many of the same services as inpatient care minus the ongoing medical and mental health treatment services. Patients also live at home while in outpatient treatment so a person must be able to exercise a certain degree of self-control in order to make it through the detox stage successfully.
Intensive Outpatient Treatment
Intensive outpatient programs act as a type of bridge between inpatient and outpatient care. These programs provide a type of step-down approach by gradually decreasing treatment intensity based on how well a person progresses through the treatment process, according to the National Institute on Drug Abuse. Like inpatient treatment, a person attends an intensive schedule of treatment sessions throughout the week, but lives at home for the duration of the program.
Additional services offered through these types of programs include:
- One-on-one psychotherapy
- Group therapy
- Family therapy
- Vocational assistance
Considerations
Subutex abuse and addiction can be just as problematic as any other form of opiate addiction, so getting needed treatment help is important, regardless of what types of circumstances lead a person to seek out Subutex withdrawal treatment.
Please don’t hesitate to call our toll-free helpline at 800-442-6158 Who Answers? to speak with one of our addiction specialists if you need help finding a treatment program.
