Who Benefits From Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication used to treat opiate addiction and also can be used for general detoxification. When Suboxone is first used the patient will feel a mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms, but after 30 minutes to an hour the buprenorphine in the Suboxone starts to kick in, relieving the withdrawal symptoms.

Ingredients

• Suboxone is made up of two ingredients, buprenorphine and naloxone. The ingredient buprenorphine found in Suboxone helps ease the patient during opiate withdrawals, and naloxone helps reverse the effects of opiate drugs.

Function

• The effects of opiate drugs occur when they bind to receptors in the brain. Suboxone is a partial opiate drug, so it binds to the receptor in the brain and blocks other opiate drugs from doing the same. Because Suboxone is a partial opiate drug, it is easier to stop taking than other opiate drugs.

Treatment

• Suboxone is prescribed to people who have used illegal drugs such as heroin as well as prescription painkillers including Vicodin, Percocet, Oxycontin, and methadone.

Convenience

• Because there is a low chance of abuse or other side effects, Suboxone can be taken at home by patients. This is considered a convenient option because other detoxification medications can require a doctor's visit for each dose.

Warning

• People prescribed Suboxone should take the medication exactly as instructed by the doctor. Even though the chances of abuse or overdose is low, the pull can still interact dangerously with other medications.