Suboxone Doctor in Spokane, WA

Suboxone combines buprenorphine and naloxone into a single medication designed to aid in the treatment of opioid addiction. It is used as part of a comprehensive addiction treatment plan. Naloxone works to reverse the effects of opioids in the body, while buprenorphine reduces an addict’s urge to use by blocking opiate receptors. By combining these two drugs into one treatment, Suboxone can help prevent withdrawal symptoms while patients seek help for their addiction.

Suboxone can be used for both induction and maintenance treatment for patients suffering from opioid dependence. Induction is considered the first phase of treatment, while maintenance treatments will help you continue to make progress with a comprehensive treatment program. In order for Suboxone to be initially effective, patients must be in a moderate state of withdrawal. Your Suboxone dosage will be adjusted by your doctor to help you reduce your withdrawal symptoms and make it easier to pursue effective addiction treatment with therapy and support.

The amount of time a patient may require Suboxone during their recovery will vary depending on their individual needs. Choosing to stop your Suboxone treatment should be a joint decision made between you, your doctor, and your therapist as a team. It is important that you do not stop taking Suboxone until you are instructed to do so by your healthcare provider, as you could face withdrawal symptoms. While it is used as a maintenance treatment, it also important to remember that Suboxone is not designed to be taken on an “as-needed” basis and should be administered in accordance with your doctor’s instructions.

As with any prescription drug used to treat opioid addiction, there are side effects every patient should be aware of. The most common side effects include nausea or vomiting, headaches, constipation, feeling lightheaded or dizzy, drowsiness, heart palpitations, insomnia, blurred vision, and back pain. Potentially serious side effects you should discuss with your doctor include decrease in blood pressure, allergic reactions, liver problems, and trouble breathing, as well as withdrawal symptoms or dependency on Suboxone.

Methadone has been used for decades to help patients working to recover from opioid addiction. However, unlike Suboxone, methadone is a full opioid agonist, which means that it binds itself to opioid receptors in the brain. Unfortunately, the pain relieving effects of methadone have led some patients to become addicted. A significant number of prescription drug overdoses that lead to death in the United States happen to patients using methadone. Suboxone uses a partial opioid agonist (buprenorphine) while naloxone is used to block its effects, negating any “high” a person might feel as a result of opioid use. Because of this, many medical professionals are beginning to use Suboxone more readily because, while there is still a chance of addiction development, it is far smaller than other opioid medications used in the past.

If you or a loved one are suffering from addiction to opioids and are looking for a doctor who can help, contact Franklin Park Urgent Care in Spokane, WA today. We offer compassionate opioid addiction treatment using Suboxone as part of a comprehensive plan to help you live a long and healthy life.