Buprenorphine Treatment

Buprenorphine Addiction Treatment Frequently Asked Questions

 

What is the so-called “precipitated withdrawal” that some patients report when undergoing buprenorphine treatment? Basically, buprenorphine acts to knock out other semi-synthetic opioids or opiates from μ receptors in the brain, and thus, the drug therapy can precipitate a kind of very rapid chemical withdrawal.

 

Although precipitated pain pill withdrawal can be quite uncomfortable, it is sometimes medically necessary -- particularly in the case of an overdose. However, talk to your physician and addiction counselor, and never under report the amount of your last dose of hydrocodone, oxycodone, or other opioid.

 

What are some of the pros of buprenorphine addiction treatment? First, since both Suboxone and Subutex bind tightly and stickily to the brain’s μ receptors, treatment can be given at longer intervals. Thus, it’s easier to get back into a normal routine. Second, it’s markedly superior to both cold turkey withdrawal and rapid detox under anesthesia, which carries numerous medical risks, costs lots of money, and has been discredited by several articles in the esteemed JAMA publication. Third, since buprenorphine contains both agonist and antagonist elements, it allows for a slower, smoother transition off of opioids -- without the intense cravings that accompany cold turkey withdrawal or the continued addiction that often accompanies methadone treatment.

 

What is the difference between the Suboxone and Subutex preparations of buprenorphine? Subutex is “plain” buprenorphine, while Suboxone contains an additional antagonistic chemical called naloxone, which prevents patients from overdosing on the substitute opioid and leads to something known in the vernacular as the “ceiling effect.”