Suboxone is a drug used to help recovering addicts with the cravings they may have and assist with opioid dependency issues. Just like any other drug or medication that a person uses, there are bound to be some side effects.
In this article, we’re going to give you all the knowledge you need regarding Suboxone side effects that you should keep an eye out for. Without further ado, let’s jump straight into the article and fill you in on all of the details.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a drug used to help lessen an addict’s dependency on drugs. It’s a form of medicated-drug treatment. The way that it works is the recovering addict will take the Suboxone and place it in their cheek or underneath their tongue. Once they place it in one of these places, it will take a couple of seconds for the drug to dissolve fully.
Various dosage strengths are available to an addict, depending on how severe their addiction is. The following dosages include:
- 2 milligrams
- 4 milligrams
- 8 milligrams
- 12 milligrams
Suboxone is a schedule three prescription drug; therefore, using it to help with their drug dependency will have to visit a nearby clinic every day for their daily dose of Suboxone or be able to take it in the privacy of their own home. Suboxone is only for people that are addicted to opioids.
As stated above, with any drug, there are bound to be some side effects, and the use of Suboxone is no different. Continue reading for the side effects that someone prescribed Suboxone may experience. Suboxone isn’t a way to reduce withdrawal. However, there is an off-brand form of Suboxone can be prescribed and used to reduce withdrawal symptoms.
How to Get a Suboxone Prescription
Before you’ve got a Suboxone prescription, you’ll need to meet with a certified doctor first, and they will decide if you meet the qualifications for someone that requires withdrawal assistance. Before being given the medication, it’s recommended that you’ve already begun having withdrawal symptoms.
The reason for this is because once you begin taking the prescription, it may increase the severity of your withdrawal; symptoms. When you go for your initial visit, you’ve got to be honest with the physician about your current drug use and past drug use.
If you’re not honest, you could risk being prescribed the wrong dosage.
How Often Will I See the Doctor?
Initially, you’ll need to continue visiting the doctor for the first couple of weeks of Suboxone use. This is so that the doctor can ensure your current dosage is working for you and if it does not adjust accordingly.
Once you’ve got the right dosage, and your withdrawal symptoms have begun to fade away, your visits to the doctor will be moved to a monthly basis.
Will I Have Drug Tests?
During your initial visit to the clinic, you will have to take a drug test. Don’t worry when you’re coming to a clinic for Suboxone; they understand that the likelihood of you testing positive for opioids is high.
That being said, even if you relapse during the time that you’re using Suboxone, you can continue coming to the clinic. Relapsing is a normal part of the road to recovery, and it’s expected.
When you relapse, call the clinic as soon as possible so they can help to get you back on the track. Also, any information that you share with the clinic and your visits are kept confidential by law.
Is Suboxone the Same as Methadone?
No, the two medications are entirely different from one another because of how they make the user feel. They both have the same goal, and that is to keep addicts from continuing their drug addictions.
Methadone can only be given daily by visiting the clinic, whereas taking Suboxone allows you to choose whether you want to visit the clinic every day or take it from your home. Some users also report that Methadone causes them to feel high. Now that you know all of this let’s get into the side effects of taking Suboxone.
Opioid Withdrawal
Suboxone is an opioid itself, but it doesn’t give the user the same euphoric high that a regular opioid would provide. Someone that has begun to use Suboxone will initially go through withdrawals.
This may include:
- Abdominal cramping
- Increased heart rate
- Body aches
- Cold sweats
Opioid withdrawal can last approximately seven days; remember that Suboxone isn’t going to keep you from going through withdrawal; it’s merely going to help reduce your drug dependency.
Constipation
Whenever you take medications, there’s a chance that you’ll become constipated. We recommend that you flush your system with eight glasses of water daily to reduce the likelihood that you’ll become constipated.
Not only will consuming more water help you avoid constipation, but it’ll also help increase some of the energy taken from you during the withdrawal process.
Insomnia
When you use drugs for a prolonged time, your body’s sleep cycle becomes will become irregular. And this irregularity will increase once you’ve stopped doing drugs as your body does it’s best to return to homeostasis after opioid use.
During this time you’ll find that you can’t sleep at night. If you’ve begun to experience insomnia, there are various sleep aid medications on the market that can help restore your sleep cycle.
Because the body naturally produces melatonin, making it safe to take.
There are many other symptoms that you’ll experience that are on the less severe side of the spectrum, and then there are some symptoms that can cause severe consequences for the recovering addict.
Further Drug Abuse
Although Suboxone is supposed to reduce an addict’s dependency on opioids, the addict will begin abusing Suboxone. Abusing Suboxone could mean not taking it as recommended and taking it by other means to increase the effect that it has on the user.
While this isn’t an everyday occurrence, there are situations where an addict will do anything to continue pursuing that high. If it comes down to being high or going through withdrawal pains, most will choose to get high.
Using Suboxone, along with other drugs, can risk overdosing and even death if they continue to abuse it. If you find that you’ve become dependent on Suboxone and it’s method of reducing drug dependency, then you can ask your doctor to reduce the dosage that you’re taking to reduce the likelihood of further drug abuse.
Allergic Reactions
Much like any other medication you take, there is a chance that you could be allergic to it. And for some people having an allergic reaction can prove not only to be dangerous but deadly.
An allergic reaction may mean the closing of the throat, making it challenging to breathe. Or there may be other facial swellings that may occur in the lips or tongue.
Your skin may also break out in hives or an intense rash.
Some addicts don’t know that they are allergic to Suboxone until they begin taking it if you’re allergic. Visit your doctor to find another medication that can help curb your drug dependency.
Coma
The reason that Suboxone’s provided in specific dosages is that taking too much of it can cause a person to experience breathing difficulties. It can also cause the person that’s using it to go into a coma.
When a person is in a coma, there is a chance that the fluid in the pressure of fluid in the brain and spinal cord can result in permanent brain damage.
Live Damage
Some people don’t realize that there having issues with their liver until outward signs begin to present themselves. Signs that you’ve got liver damage due to taking Suboxone can start with pain in the upper right side of the abdomen.
You may also notice a sudden increase in nauseous and yellowing of your skin or eyes. If you see the yellowing, then you’re experiencing jaundice and should seek medical attention immediately.
Hormonal Issues
When you take Suboxone until your hormones have regulated, you’ll find that your cortisone levels are higher than they’d typically be. These high levels of cortisol in the blood can result in adrenal insufficiencies and lead to a host of problems because of the symptoms that are associated with hormonal issues.
You may experience symptoms, including:
- Lowered blood pressure
- Risk of depression
- Increased fatigue
- Weakness
- Vomiting and nausea
If you’re looking to stay on the road to recovery, then some of these symptoms you’ll have to work through as your hormone levels regulate themselves.
Suboxone Side Effects Explained
Now that you know all about Suboxone side effects, you can approach using it with caution or know what to expect if you’ve already begun taking it. It’s a given that you’re going to go through some of the symptoms listed above when you start taking Suboxone.
If you’re ready to begin treatment, find one of our locations, and get the ball rolling. If you’d like to read more of our content, check out the site’s blog section for other articles such as this one.
