Buprenorphine and Suboxone, Treating Opioid Addictions

Buprenorphine is an opiod medication used in thefor opioid dependence can be divided into 6 phases:
treatment of opioid addiction. It is usually dispensedPretreatment Screening: The goal in this phase is to
by a physician as a take home treatment. Heroin anddetermine whether office based treatment is best
other opiate addictions can be safely treated and bycourse of action for a particular patient. It consists of
the process of gaining American FDA approval it hasa brief interview conducted over phone or in person.
crossed one major hurdle.Intake: patients accepted for treatment in the
While Buprenorphine is the generic name for apretreatment screening are then scheduled for intake.
chemical compound, short form for BuprenorphineTo establish the patient's medical record showing
Hydrochloride and is a semi-synthetic opioid.suitability for office based treatment is the main
Suboxone and Subutex are brand names ofobjective of the intake.
Buprenorphine-based medications.Induction: The chief goal is to safely suppress opioid
Suboxone contains 4 parts Buprenorphine and 1 partwithdrawal as rapidly as possible with adequate doses
naloxone. Only active ingredient in Subutex isof SUBOXONE. The patient should be warned of
Buprenorphine. Most physicians prefer Suboxonepossible moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms. This
because it is less likely to be misused due tostage usually lasts anywhere from 2-5 days and
presence of the naloxone. Even though Suboxoneshould begin immediately following intake.
was invented for the US market, it is available inStabilization: During this stage the patient's
other countries as well.SUBOXONE dose is "fine-tuned." The objective is
Buprenorphine as a Curebeing to find the minimum dose necessary to hold
For treating opiate addiction Buprenophine as anthe patient in treatment and suppress opioid
analgesic may act as fourth medication other beingwithdrawal effects, and use. This is done with
methadone, naltrexone, and LAAMprogressive dose adjustments.
(l-alpha-acetyl-methadol). Buprenorphine's uniqueMaintenance:
effects and pharmacology make it an attractive andChief goals are:
clinically helpful treatment option. For example,Prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms
buprenorphine produces less euphoria than morphineSuppress opioid cravings
and heroin. Significant lower degree of sedation andSelf-administered opioids are attenuated for use
respiratory depression is caused by buprenorphineMedically Supervised Withdrawal: Only when the
than other opiates; heroin overdoses gets dangerouspatient and physician agree that it is beneficial, it is
when breathing gets slowed down. Even high dosesdone to them. The patient's SUBOXONE dose should
of buprenorphine--as much as 100 times the dose atbe slowly tapered at a rate that both physician and
which it produces analgesia--do not producepatient consider acceptable.
dangerous respiratory effects. "RespiratoryPatients should be prepared for the possibility of mild,
depression caused by buprenorphine is not of clinicaltransitory withdrawal symptoms, which may include
concern," says Segal, "which makes it an extremelyreduced energy, reduced appetite, irritability, or
attractive treatment alternative."insomnia.
Buprenorphine being an agonist which are chemicalsWhen applying SUBOXONE treatment, therapy and
that bind to and stimulate opiate receptors has limitedpsychosocial counseling should be continued and
side effects.regularly monitored. Person's recovery and well being
SUBOXONE Treatmentare dependent on these steps.
The use of Suboxone as an office based treatment