At Outreach Recovery, our Suboxone doctors have helped many in the Millersville area overcome drug addiction. Suboxone (also known as buprenorphine and naloxone) is essential in treating opioid addiction, but there are many misconceptions surrounding this medication.
To help you learn more, our Suboxone doctors are dispelling the top 5 most common myths:
Myth #1: Suboxone should not be taken indefinitely
The main goal of Suboxone is to help those suffering from addiction to safely taper off opiates. Ideally, this means taking Suboxone for a short amount of time while the patient can gradually transition back to normalcy. However, everyone has a different recovery journey.
Some patients may struggle to completely stop using opiates, requiring long-term use of Suboxone. Just as someone may need to take medication to manage their high blood pressure, a person in recovery may need to be on Suboxone indefinitely to manage their addiction.
Myth #2: It’s easy to overdose on Suboxone
Although Suboxone is technically an opiate, it’s not the same as taking heroin or similar drugs. This is because Suboxone is what’s known as a “partial opiate receptor agonist.” In other words, Suboxone doesn’t activate opioid receptors as much as full agonists, such as heroin or oxycodone, and it loses effectiveness at higher doses.
As a result, it is much harder to overdose on Suboxone compared to stronger opiates. In most cases, Suboxone overdoses are caused by inappropriately mixing the drug with sedatives.
Myth #3: You’re not really sober if you take Suboxone
Subuxone sometimes has a bad reputation because it is an opiate, but the truth is, this medication can help stabilize patients for life. While Suboxone is an opiate, it’s not the same as a street drug. It has a built-in “ceiling effect” to limit the amount of opiate receptors that are activated.
You can absolutely be sober while taking Suboxone. Simply put, drug addiction is a mental health issue. Just like some individuals may need anxiety medication for long-term stability, others need Suboxone to improve their quality of life.
Myth #4: Suboxone makes you high
This myth is likely due to confusion between Suboxone and methadone. Suboxone and methadone are both opioids, but they react differently in the body. Methadone is prescribed for chronic pain and opioid addiction, and it can create a feeling of euphoria when taken. Subuxone, on the other hand, is only approved to treat opioid addiction.
As mentioned above, Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist, so its effects are much weaker than taking heroin or even methadone. Most users don’t report feeling any type of “buzz,” and if they do, it will level off as the dosage increases. This is because of Suboxone’s built-in “ceiling” effect, which stabilizes users without them feeling high.
Myth #5: Suboxone is not effective without therapy
For best results, our Suboxone doctors recommend therapy when treating any drug addiction. But the reality is, not everyone has the time for therapy. For those without health insurance or reliable transportation, going to therapy is even more unrealistic.
The good news is this: Suboxone is still effective, even without therapy. Only a small percentage of Suboxone users incorporate therapy as part of their recovery plan. Despite this, the medication is still instrumental in helping people overcome their addiction and live a more stable life.
Speak to a Suboxone doctor in Millersville, MD
Our caring Suboxone doctors are proud to serve Millersville and surrounding areas in Maryland. If you or someone you love is struggling with an opiate addiction, we can help. Contact us today to take the next step.