Suboxone
Suboxone® combines buprenorphine and naloxone to reduce withdrawal symptoms while protecting against misuse.
Methadone used to be the “gold standard” for assisting patients in overcoming their opiate addiction. While it is effective in curbing the withdrawal and craving symptoms of opiate discontinuation, it has some serious side effects that can hinder someone from getting on with their life. In addition, transitioning off methadone can be very challenging as it stays in your system for an exceptionally long time, making it difficult to start another treatment right away. Thus, many people have trouble stopping methadone treatment due to long withdrawal periods before starting a better and safer treatment.
We know how to help you comfortably make that transition from Methadone to buprenorphine. Our doctors will initially coach you through your tapering of methadone and then transition you into a buprenorphine medically-assisted treatment (MAT) program.
To successfully transition to Suboxone, patients need to be at a daily dosage level of between 20 – 40 mg of methadone. If the patient is above this level, we have a couple options of either meeting on a regular basis and coaching the patient as they bring their dosage down to acceptable level. At the induction visit, patients meet with a doctor, create an individualized treatment plan, and will be induced on to the appropriate buprenorphine medication.
During the first week on Suboxone, we want to identify the optimal dosage for treatment. Our doctors stay in constant contact through the week, monitoring the transition, and stabilizing the body on the proper dosage. At the end of the stabilization, we finalize the ongoing treatment plan.
Similar to methadone treatment, buprenorphine (Suboxone) MAT can last from six months to a lifetime. At Brightside Recovery, we continue to monitor and manage the medication on a monthly basis. During this phase of treatment, we recommend and offer counseling through our Brightside Recovery Program as well as through some of our trusted partners.
When someone is ready to reduce the prescribed medication, we work as a team with therapists and counselors to develop a taper program that will ensure a comfortable, successful completion of your treatment. Our philosophy is to carefully and slowly taper your medication to ensure stability and success.
Ready to take the first step toward recovery? Brightside uses telehealth to ensure everyone can access life-saving addiction treatment no matter where they are. Schedule your virtual visit today!
