Suboxone
Withdrawal
Suboxone withdrawal occurs if the patient suddenly stops the substance without gradually decreasing doses.
“A sudden discontinued supply of opiates
will often cause unbearable withdrawal symptoms including
irritability, profuse sweating, abdominal cramping
and diarrhea,” states detoxification anesthesiologist,
Dr. Clifford A. Bernstein, M.D. “This agonizing
withdrawal is the reason most of those with dependencies
cannot stop taking the drugs.”
Stopping Suboxone suddenly will cause withdrawal
symptoms. Withdrawal will also commence upon administration
of Suboxone in opiate-tolerant patients.
Suboxone is an narcotic medication, synthesized
from opiates, that delivers similar effect and withdrawal
to that of other opioid analgesics. Its ingredients
bind to the brain’s opiate receptors to help
delay withdrawal symptoms in patients who have stopped
taking other narcotics.
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms from chronic
use resemble those of other opiate medication,
yet milder in intensity and quicker in onset than
withdrawal from Methadone substitute or other opioids.
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms typically peak early,
within in the first few days.
Some patients may experience effects that
last up until a number of weeks afterwards.
Varying effects may include:
- Abnormal skin sensations
- Aches and pains
- Anxiety
- Cold- or flu-like symptoms
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Goose bumps
- Headaches
- Loss of appetite
- Mood swings
- Nausea
- Pain
- Rapid heartbeat
- Rigid muscles
- Runny nose
- Seeing, hearing or feeling things that are
not there
- Shivering or tremors
- Sleeping difficulties
- Sneezing
- Sweating
- Vomiting
By regulation, psychotherapy is recommended with
Suboxone use. Although rare, The American Journal
of Psychiatry (2008) has documented a patient
who developed psychotic symptoms following Suboxone
withdrawal, which receded only after reintroduction
of the medication. (i)
Suboxone often replaces Methadone in dependency
maintenance treatment because it offers a less
difficult withdrawal than does Methadone. Unlike
Methadone, Suboxone can also be self-administered
in 30-day take-home doses under certain conditions.
Addiction withdrawal may occur prematurely in Methadone
patients who employ Suboxone, if maintenance patients
are not candid with their doctors about their actual
narcotic drug use and history of past opiate tolerance.
Suboxone should never be taken intravenously.
Injection may provoke severe Suboxone withdrawal
symptoms, in addition to severe breathing problems
and possible death.
Like all opiate withdrawal, Suboxone withdrawal
can be a long, anguishing process. For certain
patients with compromised health due to addiction,
untreated or unmonitored withdrawal may be very
dangerous.
Suboxone withdrawal and dependency treatment
requires safe and responsible care combined with
current medical technology and training. More
conventional detoxification programs may cause
patients an unnecessary, debilitating and dangerous
withdrawal syndrome.
The Waismann Method of Rapid Detoxification recognizes
Suboxone dependency as a reversible medical disorder,
treatable in an effective, dignified, safe
and humane manner through rapid detox.
Learn more about Suboxone withdrawal and The
Waismann Method of Rapid Detoxification.
| Please
call
(310)
205-0808 or (888)
987-HOPE (4673).
during business hours for more information
about Suboxone
addiction and rapid
detox treatment for prescription
pain medications.
Please call (310)
927-7155 after
hours and on weekends.
Or send us a confidential
email. |
(i)
http://ajp.psychiatryonline.org/cgi/content/full/165/3/400-a
|
