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Suboxone Therapy: Success Rate
By C.King, M.Ed. | September 4, 2008
Suboxone Therapy: Success Rate
Suboxone therapy is the most popular medication administered to opioid dependents. It is mainly done under strict and monitored conditions and taking suboxone will always require the assistance of an attending physician to make sure that the correct dosage is taken.
What it does
Suboxone is a medication that contains buprenorphine – another type of opioid that elicits minimal euphoric effects as compared to addictive drugs such as morphine and heroin. The drug works to help curb a patient’s cravings and minimize, if not prevent, the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms that are normally associated with quitting drug use.
The therapy usually starts when the patient is already in a mild withdrawal state. The first dosage of Suboxone is administered to the patient so that buprenorphine attaches itself to the opioid receptors in the brain that were once occupied by morphine or other drug. Throughout the duration of the therapy, patients and health care professionals are supposed to watch out for any signs of relapse or the occurrence of withdrawal symptoms especially when dosage is gradually being decreased.
Does it work?
Based on theory, Suboxone therapy can be considered a miracle drug because it is meant to mirror the effects of an addictive opioid without causing dependence. Its mechanism is essentially geared at taking the place of the opioid in the brain receptors until such time that the patient doesn’t experience withdrawal.
Because opioid dependence is a long-term medical issue, there aer many cases in which patients will need to undergo this therapy for longer periods of time so as to minimize the possibility of relapse. The typical therapy lasts for three to five months during such time, dosage may be adjusted according to the patient’s needs.
Surveys suggest that Suboxone maintenance can increase the chances of recovery because it targets the main control centers for pleasure which is where addiction is rooted in the first place.
The drug itself works. It does what it is supposed to do. But Suboxone therapy on its own will not cause addiction recovery. It is, after all, just one part of the medication.
Supplementing the therapy with counseling
It is important to understand that opioid addiction is not just an affliction of the body. Drug dependents do not only suffer the addiction on a physiological level but also on a psychological aspect as well. Suboxone therapy targets brain functions with the goal of treating drug dependence at its physiological root.
However, just as any other addiction medication, Suboxone therapy is meant to be administered in conjunction with counseling. It helps to buy the patient time to come to terms with his addiction and work towards being more proactive at overcoming the problem. Therapy is usually given alongside counseling sessions that are aimed at attacking the emotional and psychological cause of the individual’s predisposition for drug use.
On the whole Suboxone therapy will only work given proper rehab conditions. Medication is given with psychological treatment and a re-introduction to society. Becaues suboxone in itself can cause dependence in the long run, it is important that the patient is taught to recover his self-esteem while undergoing therapy. If anything, Suboxone therapy just makes it easier for the individual to quit drug use.
Topics: Addiction and Drug Dependency |
4 Responses to “Suboxone Therapy: Success Rate”
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September 4th, 2008 at 7:40 pm
Nothing is more deceitful than the appearance of humility. It is often only carelessness of opinion, and sometimes an indirect boast.
September 8th, 2008 at 10:23 am
Off course Suboxone works…it is an opiate and a very addicting opiate. Methadone, Heroin, oxycontin or any other opiate would work. This drug is impossible to get off of without the typical pain and suffering of withdrawal…which will last 2-4 weeks and patients are not being told the truth.
I cannot believe this saying that “it is a miracle drug”. The doctors and the drug company thinks it is a miracle all right, they are making millions on this drug, especially psychiatrists. They have never made more money in their lives…what a gravy train…I am sure they are thrilled to have 100 patients at a time on this drug at $200-$400 per month X 100…add it up…what a great income for them. They give this drug out like water…without telling the person the trouble they will have coming off…and some are telling people they will need to be on it for life. I hope we see a class action law suit against this drug company….doctors should be included for the lies they are telling the patients.
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