Medication for Opiate Addiction

Opiates are some of the most difficult drugs to quit using once addicted. Many methods to treat opiate addiction have succeeded, and many have failed. Many medications have been used, though only a few practically and successfully.

Dependence and Tolerance

• Dependence on opiates involves a physical need to take the drug. After repeated use of pain killers, the brain and body become used to the effects, and higher doses are required to create the same pain-killing and euphoric effects.

Withdrawal

• With physical tolerance and dependence, withdrawal occurs once opiate use is discontinued. Opiate withdrawal symptoms, which can be painful and very intense, include sweating, chills, insomnia and nausea.

Suboxone

• Suboxone, made of buprenorphine and naloxone, is a drug used to treat opiate withdrawal symptoms and addiction. Buprenorphine reduces withdrawal effects, and naloxene blocks opiates from working. This medication is used to deal with the physical symptoms, so opiate use can be stopped.

Methadone

• Methadone, most notably used to treat heroin addiction, is a long-acting synthetic pain killer. Since methadone stays in the body longer, it is easier to manage and stabilize a methadone habit, so it's used to help treat opiate addiction.

Significance

• Apart from the psychological and emotional aspects of opiate addiction, physical withdrawal is a large obstacle to quitting. Medications offer relief from withdrawal symptoms, which are painful and may cause relapse, and allow addicts to focus on the other issues of addiction.