Benefits and Side-effects of Suboxone Treatment

Buprenorphine and naloxone are two main ingredients of suboxone treatment. In 2002, it was approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for clinical use. This is especially meant for opiate addicted patients.

There are some major differences between suboxone and methadone treatment. Methadone should be treated in a highly structured clinic and the patient needs to go there regularly to take the treatment. But suboxone can be taken in the doctor’s clinic or chamber. When the patient will be used to the medicine, the patient can visit the doctor once in a month. Buprenorphine provides multiple benefits to the people who are addicted to the opiate. It also helps them who do not prefer methadone clinics. Buprenorphine products approved by FDA are:

•    Bunavil (blend of buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film.

•    Buprenorphine-based transmucosal products to combat opioid dependency

•    Suboxone ( also a blend of buprenorphine and naloxone)

•    Zubslov sublingual tablets.

Buprenorphine has properties such as:

•    It lower the potential for excessive or misuse

•    It diminishes the side effects such as withdrawal symptoms and cravings etc.

•    It provides safety against overdoses

In this context, it should be noted that buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist. It implies that buprenorphine, causes effects such as respiratory depression or euphoria like opioids. Buprenorphine produces these effects but these are weaker in comparison to the other drugs. What are side effects of buprenorphine? Some of the side effects of buprenorphine are given below:

•    Nausea

•    Vomiting

•    Constipation

•    Muscle aches and headache

•    Cravings

•    Insomnia

•    Distress

•    Irritability

•    Fever

Patients can weaken the side effects. In doing so, they have to strictly maintain some steps:

•    This medication should not be taken with other medications without the suggestion of the doctor

•    Alcohol and other addictions are strictly prohibited during the treatment.

•    A patient, having liver and kidney problem should not take the medicine.

•    Pregnant women should consult the experienced doctor before going for the treatment.

Psychiatrist