Table of Contents
- Prescription Drug Addiction and Treatment Options in The U.S.
- Understanding Subutex Addiction
- Is Subutex Addictive?
- What Are the Signs of Subutex Addiction?
- Subutex Withdrawal Symptoms
- What is Subutex?
- The Cause of Subutex Addiction
- Subutex Addiction Treatment
- How to Find Subutex Rehab Treatment Centers Near Me?
Prescription Drug Addiction and Treatment Options in The U.S.
The U.S. is the biggest consumer of prescription opioid painkillers, with more than 10.1 million people aged 12 or older misusing opioids in 2019 alone.
Subutex, a brand name for the drug buprenorphine, has become one of the most widely used opioids and is a popular treatment option for opioid addiction. But how much do we really know about this drug and its effects?Subutex is a brand name for buprenorphine, which is used to treat opiate addiction.
It is one of the most effective and popular drugs in its class. The drug is prescribed to addicts who are withdrawing from heroin or other opiate drugs. It is available in tablet form and dissolves under the tongue, which allows the drug to be absorbed into the blood stream faster than other drugs. Subutex is also used to treat pain, but it has a much lower risk of addiction than opiate medications such as morphine or oxycodone.
Subutex works by binding to opiate receptors in the brain, which blocks the effects of other opiates. This prevents addicts from feeling “high” when they use their drug of choice. The drug also reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms, which makes it easier for addicts to stop taking drugs.
In the US, Subutex is a controlled substance and it is illegal to take this medication without a prescription. It is only available as part of a drug rehabilitation program. In Europe, however, it is used to treat pain and addiction.
Subutex can be taken by mouth, or it can be injected into a muscle. It comes in the form of a small tablet that dissolves in the mouth. It is important to use Subutex as directed by a doctor, since taking too much of it can be dangerous or even fatal. People who take this medication should not drink alcohol, since doing so can cause serious side effects.
Understanding Subutex Addiction
Subutex is a form of the drug buprenorphine, which is used to help people struggling with opiate addiction. It helps by reducing cravings and withdrawal symptoms from heroin, prescription painkillers, and other opiates. However, Subutex can be addictive itself and must be prescribed by or used under the supervision of a doctor.
Subutex is used to treat opiate addiction because it is a partial agonist. It attaches itself to the same receptors in the brain as other opiates but does not produce as much of an effect. This helps gradually reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but also means that the drug can be easily abused. Subutex is often used as a way to get high when it is not prescribed for this purpose.
The most serious side effect of Subutex is respiratory depression, which occurs when a drug depresses the central nervous system and slows breathing to dangerously low levels. This can lead to brain damage.
Is Subutex Addictive?
Subutex is a form of the opiate buprenorphine, which itself has an addiction potential that may be as high as 30%. Subutex also contains naloxone, an opiate antagonist that is intended to discourage abuse by those who might try to snort or inject Subutex.
The naloxone in Subutex, however, does not make the medication non-addictive. It has a ceiling effect which means is that buprenorphine has a certain maximum amount it can bind to opioid receptors in the brain, and no matter how much more of the drug is taken, it cannnot bind to any more opioid receptors.
This means that no matter how much Subutex taken, it is unlikely to cause the abuser to experience euphoria or respiratory depression.
Subutex is a schedule III controlled substance and may be addictive to any individual who takes it, even if that person has no previous history of addiction.
What Are the Signs of Subutex Addiction?
Subutex addiction is more common than most people might think. It can be easy to miss the signs of Subutex abuse and even easier to ignore them until they become a serious problem. If you suspect that a loved one is abusing Subutex, look for the following signs:
- Changes in mood or personality
- Sleeping habits change dramatically
- A decline in school or work performance
- Withdrawal from friends and family, including missing social events
- Unusual smells on the breath
- Change in circle of friends
- Flu-like symptoms
- Have difficulties with finances
- Loss of interest in sex
- Neglecting hobbies and recreational activities
- Nosebleeds/nasal damage
- Signs of injection use such as bruising
- Yellowing of skin and eyes
Subutex Withdrawal Symptoms
Subutex works by binding to the same receptors as other drugs in this class, but it is not as likely to cause a “high” or severe withdrawal symptoms. Unfortunately, Subutex abuse can lead to addiction and other health problems.
Buprenorphine was originally created in 1969 to treat heroin addiction. It was not approved for use in the United States until 2002, when it became available as Subutex. The drug is a Schedule III controlled substance and can only prescribed and supervised by a doctor.
Like any opioids, the withdrawal symptoms for Subutex is similar if the drug is stopped suddenly. Both physical and mental withdrawal symptoms are possible.
The physical symptoms may include:
- Diarrhea
- Fever
- Goosebumps
- muscle cramps
- Nausea
- Sweating
- Vomiting
- Yawning
The physical symptoms may include:
- Anxiety
- cravings for the drug
- Insomnia
- Irritability
- mood swings
The specific symptoms vary between individuals and may also depend on the frequency of use, the length of time the patient has been taking the drug, and the dosage taken. In most cases, The symptoms are not dangerous or deadly or dangerous but they can be extremely uncomfortable.
What is Subutex?
Subutex is a brand name for buprenorphine, which is an opioid used to treat addiction. The drug was first approved by the FDA in October of 2002 under the brand name “Subutex,” and it was later approved in December of 2003 under the brand name “Suboxone.”
Subutex is a Schedule III drug, which means that it has less potential for abuse than drugs in Schedules I and II. It is also used to treat severe pain, as well as moderate-to-severe chronic pain that can’t be managed with other medications. The main difference of these two drugs is that Suboxone contains both buprenorphine and naloxone, whereas Subutex contains only buprenorphine.
The manufacturer of Subutex (buprenorphine sublingual tablets), Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals Inc., discontinued production of the drug in the United States in 2011 after developing new formulations that were less likely to be abused.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) determined that the drug was not taken off the market because of concerns about safety or effectiveness. Subutex is still available in other parts of the world, and generic forms of sublingual buprenorphine are available in the United States.
The Cause of Subutex Addiction
The cause of buprenorphine addiction is the same as for any other opioid drug. Taking more than is needed to feel good. When a user takes a suboxone tablet and it makes them feel good, they may be tempted to take another one.
If that makes them feel good too, then it might seem like a great idea to take two or three at once. This then leads to Subutex abusers to get carried away and take more than is needed.
Subutex Addiction Treatment
If you or someone you care about is addicted to Subutex, medical treatment may be reqquired to help you stop taking it. Your doctor will probably recommend that you take another drug called naloxone branded as Narcan to help recover from buprenorphine withdrawal symptoms.
Naloxone is a drug that reverses the effects of opioids and can be used in an emergency to save someone who has an opioid overdose and to prevent opioid overdose deaths.
Treatment for Subutex can be done at both inpatient treatment facilitiess or as outpatient treatment. One of the biggest controversies in addiction treatment is whether patients should be treated at an inpatient or outpatient clinic. Although inpatient treatment is considered by many to be more effective than outpatient help, it depends on the individual, the severity of the addiction, the motivation and discipline of the person getting treatment, location and finances.
Inpatient rehab can last anywhere from 30 days to 2 years. The length of treatment depends on the severity of addiction and other factors. Once someone with a Subutex addition has undergone a clinical assessment with an addiction therapist or treatment proviser, they will have better understanding of which option works best for them.
If you or your loved one need as more information on Subutex addiction treatment, call us today to speak to someone who will advise you of the best treatment fit for you.
How to Find Subutex Rehab Treatment Centers Near Me?
There are several different methods that can be used to find Subutex rehab treatment centers near you. The first is to use a search engine, such as Google or Yahoo. By typing in the name of a city, state and the word “Subutex”, you can find several treatment centers that are located in your area.
The second method is to contact local hospitals or medical clinics. Many of these facilities offer drug rehabilitation programs, and they should be able to provide you with information on the nearest treatment centers. The third method is to contact your local police department or a government agency that deals with drug abuse and addiction.
The police can refer you to local treatment centers or government agencies that deal with these issues. Finally, consider contacting a private rehab center directly. Many of these facilities have toll-free numbers that you can use to get information on the nearest facilities.
