MEDICAL TREATMENTS

A Suboxone Detox Can Help You Get Sober

If you or a loved one are seeking a Suboxone detox to help overcome an addiction to or dependence to opioids or opiates, Gallus Medical Detox is here and ready to help.

Suboxone is a prescription only medication used to treat opioid drug addictions. It is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone and helps reduce uncomfortable side effects of opioid withdrawal, including the cravings.

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How Does Suboxone Help With Opioid Withdrawal?

What is suboxone? Suboxone and opioids bind to the same receptors in the brain. While buprenorphine mimics the presence of opioids, naloxone blocks the euphoric effects commonly found in opioids. By blocking opioids already present in the body, Suboxone prevents or reduces common opioid withdrawal symptoms like cramps, muscle pain, diarrhea, tremors, vomiting, cold sweats, agitation, anxiety, and rapid heart rate.

Because Suboxone effectively dulls or prevents cravings for opioids, it helps recovering individuals stick to a drug addiction recovery program. Recent clinical studies found the use of Suboxone helped individuals with opioid dependency stay in treatment for up to 24 weeks.

Suboxone can be a valuable component of a comprehensive treatment program, including behavioral therapy, for recovery from opioid use disorder. If used under medical supervision, Suboxone may help people stay committed to their treatment program.

However, Suboxone is a controlled substance, meaning it may cause physical or psychological dependence and has a high risk for abuse. Doctors are required to complete specialized training before they can legally prescribe Suboxone.

Opioids are the leading cause of overdose deaths in the United States, and Suboxone is one effective way to reduce those numbers. However, Suboxone can be addictive itself.

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Side Effects of Suboxone Use

Taking Suboxone is not without risk. Some effects may be very mild, while others can be severe and even dangerous, depending on how long the person has been taking Suboxone and at what dose. The manufacturers warn that combining Suboxone with alcohol, other opioids, benzodiazepines, muscle relaxants, tranquilizers, or central nervous system depressants is very dangerous and can cause life-threatening breathing problems, coma, and death.

In addition, individuals who have been using Suboxone for a prolonged period or who have been taking more than recommended are at risk for Suboxone addiction and may experience withdrawal symptoms when they attempt to stop using the drug.

See the manufacturer’s website for a complete list of possible Suboxone side effects. The most common may include:

Headache, body ache, or back pain
Abdominal cramps, nausea
Rapid heart rate
Anxiety or depression
Confused thinking
Sweating
Constipation
Weakness or fatigue
Burning tongue, or redness in the mouth

Side effects can be severe and may include:

Severe allergic reaction indicated by trouble breathing, skin rash or hives, or swelling of the lips, tongue, throat
Trouble breathing, especially if the breathing is abnormally slow

Can a Person Overdose on Suboxone?

Suboxone combines buprenorphine (which limits the activation of opioid receptors of the brain) and naloxone (which blocks a feeling of euphoria). Scientists refer to these built-in limitations as a “ceiling effect,” meaning the effects of Suboxone plateaus at a low dose, so there is no benefit for a person to take more. If a person takes Suboxone as prescribed, the chance of an overdose is minimal.

Researchers find in most cases of an overdose involving Suboxone, the person has also taken a depressant or another drug, has consumed alcohol, is elderly or has no history of ever taking an opioid.

Do I need Medical Detox?

Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms

Suboxone withdrawal symptoms are similar to opioid withdrawal symptoms. These include physical symptoms as well as psychological ones. In general, withdrawal symptoms will be strongest in the first few days of Suboxone detox, but some side effects may continue for weeks or even months. Symptoms may include:

Anxiety
Chills
Depression
Headaches
Insomnia
Lethargy
Mood swings
Muscle aches and pains
Nausea and vomiting
Restlessness
Runny nose
Sweating
Tremors or twitching
Teary eyes

Addiction is a chronic but treatable condition. If you are taking Suboxone to help you recover from opioid addiction, you have already taken a crucial and courageous step. Now it is time to rid your body of Suboxone and embrace a recovery program that gives you the quality of life you deserve, entirely free of addictive substances.

Warning signs of an overdose include:

Extreme drowsiness
Confusion
Weakness, dizziness
Shallow, slow breathing
Pinpoint pupils

Any overdose is a medical emergency requiring immediate intervention. As with opioid overdose, quick administration of naloxone can reverse a Suboxone overdose. Because thousands of people die from an opioid overdose every day, most states allow the public to purchase and keep naloxone on hand.
With rare exceptions, taking Suboxone as prescribed is far less risky than misusing or illegally taking opioids. However, Suboxone itself does not help a person overcome drug dependence or addiction. If a person remains dependent on Suboxone long term to function in their daily life, they have not resolved the underlying issues that led to their initial addiction and have become “cross addicted” to another substance.

A medical addiction treatment program can help address the physical symptoms of Suboxone addiction as well as any corresponding psychological symptoms and mental health issues. Quitting cold turkey without the oversight of a medical professional can be uncomfortable and even dangerous. To learn more about our substance abuse program for Suboxone addiction, reach out to Gallus today.

How Medical Detox Eases Suboxone Withdrawal

Medical detox centers focus on the first step in addiction recovery, which is ridding your body of toxic substances. The National Institute on Drug Abuse (NIDA) defines detoxification, or detox, as “the process by which the body clears itself of drugs.” NIDA explains medically managed withdrawal “is designed to manage the acute and potentially dangerous physiological effects of stopping drug use.”

When undergoing Suboxone detox, you may experience mild to severe withdrawal symptoms such as nausea, headaches, muscle aches, mood swings, digestive distress, dizziness, confusion, anxiety, depression, fever, chills, cravings, and more. Medically supervised detox helps minimize most discomfort by using tapering protocols and medication management.

The staff at detox centers like Gallus are skilled medical professionals who will monitor your physical and mental well-being throughout the detox process, ensuring you are safe and as comfortable as possible. In addition, we can provide the emotional support and professional medical advice needed to create a stable foundation for sobriety and prevent future relapse.

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What to Look for in a Medical Detox Center

Medical detox treatment centers are not the same as drug rehabilitation programs. A medical Suboxone detox keeps you medically stable and safe during withdrawal, minimizes uncomfortable Suboxone withdrawal symptoms, and helps you transition to an addiction treatment program that meets your needs once your body is free of Suboxone. Treatment programs can then offer psychotherapeutic services—such as talk therapy, family therapy, and mental health services—to assist in your long-term recovery.

Finding a detox center that can treat your substance use disorder effectively is critical. Talk to the intake staff at any treatment facilities you are considering before you commit to their program to ensure they are the best fit for you. A quality detox program should meet the following criteria:

Medical Director on staff
Staff licensed and experienced in substance abuse treatment
Endorsed by the Joint Commission, the most respected certification for health care companies, ensuring they meet the highest quality and performance standards
Individualized treatment plans for substance abuse and addiction
Vital signs continuously monitored by a medical professional
IV and oral medication protocols to reduce withdrawal symptoms
Proven record of success
Patient testimonials available

Provide long-term support and resources for the next steps in recovery
Once you have completed detox, you are ready to enter a treatment program, which may include medication management and behavioral therapy.

About Gallus Medical Detox

Gallus Medical Detox combines the highest standards of professional medical services with the comfort of a luxurious residential facility. We proudly bear the Joint Commission’s gold seal for excellence in patient care and services.

Dr. Patrick Gallus, the founder of Gallus Detox, emphasizes patient safety and careful attention to the needs of each patient. At Gallus, we treat every patient with respect and personalized care.

The expert Gallus team includes board-certified physicians, ICU-level registered nurses, and medical care technicians, all with critical care and emergency medicine backgrounds. Collectively, we have over 75 years of experience helping patients with alcohol and substance use disorders, including Suboxone dependence.

As your body detoxifies from Suboxone or another addictive substance, withdrawal symptoms are not only physical but may include psychological symptoms. Our compassionate staff will stay by your side, ensuring you are supported and protected.
Suboxone use alone is not addiction recovery. Without follow-up therapy, people who become dependent or addicted to Suboxone may still experience negative consequences in their lives, including damaged relationships, financial and legal challenges, and physical and mental health issues.

Although Suboxone may effectively reduce symptoms and cravings associated with opioid withdrawal, it poses risks for abuse and dangerous side effects. Even short-term use has the potential for harm, and long-term use can be very damaging. Experts warn that using Suboxone long term can result in depression, decreased pain tolerance, confusion, hormone dysfunction, lowered sex drive, liver damage, tooth, and hair loss and more.
At Gallus, we consider Suboxone use to be cross-addiction, which occurs when one addictive substance replaces another. We use an IV and oral medication protocol that avoids cross-addiction. When you leave Gallus detox, you should not be on any addictive substances, including Suboxone.