If you look up the word “addiction” anywhere, it will tell you the same thing: addiction is a complex condition that affects an individual’s brain. It’s classified as a brain disease that manifests as a person’s irresistible urge to seek out and abuse substances constantly. Such substances are commonly alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs, among many others. No matter the cost, an addicted individual will engage in repeated substance abuse–that is, until intervened.

Addiction is a global issue, apparent in people of almost all ages, young or old. Fortunately, there are ways to treat addiction, such as drug addiction. Through medical discoveries and advanced technology, treatments can now be administered to drug-addicted patients.

If you haven’t already heard, some of these treatments include the use of Subutex. However, this drug can also lead to devastating consequences if not used correctly.

What is Subutex?

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, is marketed under the brand name Subutex. It is promoted to advance medically-assisted addiction therapy, especially for the treatment of opioid-dependent patients. It is also meant to manage Withdrawal Symptoms and cravings associated with opioid addiction and can be used for detoxification and long-term medical maintenance. Offered as a sublingual tablet, addicted individuals are instructed to put this beneath the tongue and allow it to dissolve.

In simple terms, the buprenorphine molecule attaches to the same opioid receptors as heroin and, as a result, prevents heroin from producing its full spectrum of effects. While it has a lesser opioid impact than morphine and heroin, it nevertheless has the potential for misuse owing to the sensations of euphoria it produces.

There are numerous benefits to taking a drug like buprenorphine to treat opiate addiction. Buprenorphine can assist a person in staying comfortable throughout detox, as well as lessen or eliminate cravings. This can help to ensure that relapse episodes are kept to a minimum, especially if the addicted person is experiencing unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.

In addition to buprenorphine, you must encourage the addicted person to focus on therapy without being distracted by symptoms or cravings. Finally, both Subutex and Suboxone include buprenorphine.

Subutex, like other medicines, might cause adverse effects in some patients. The majority of minor side effects will dissipate on their own after a few days. Patients who suffer severe reactions, on the other hand, should discontinue Subutex immediately and consult with their healthcare professional.

Side effects associated with Subutex include:

– Stomach pain

– Headache

– Nausea

– Chills

– Sweating

– Muscle weakness

– Back pain

– Constipation

– Vomiting

– Depression

– Anxiety

– Difficulty sleeping

– Runny nose

– Diarrhea

– Indigestion

– Drowsiness

– Chills

– Sweating

– Muscle weakness

– Back pain

Subutex may also interact with other medications, including:

– Other opioids

– Sleeping pills

– Muscle relaxers

– Tranquilizers

– Sedatives

– Some antibiotics

– Benzodiazepines

– Some heart and blood pressure medications

– HIV/AIDS medications

How Can One Abuse Subutex Effects?

If Subutex is given as a pill or tablet, it has a greater chance of being abused by addicted patients. When patients give in to their cravings, users will often smash the Subutex pill before snorting it or injecting it into their bloodstream. When the pill or tablet is crushed and injected or snorted, it produces euphoria comparable to heroin or morphine abuse.

As with any opiate or opioid, signs of abuse may include an individual’s failure to complete daily tasks and obligations, avoidance of hobbies, changes in temperament, unusual sleeping patterns, persistent flu-like symptoms, yellowing of skin and eyes, nasal damage, and signs of injection and bruising. The addict may also lose interest in sexual activity, reject intriguing activities, alter their social circle, and have difficulty managing their finances

The Dangers of Using Subutex

In addition to the danger of addiction, Subutex users face the following risks:

1. Overdose: Although buprenorphine seldom causes overdosing on its own, it can also be lethal when taken with alcohol, benzodiazepines, or other medications that impair respiration or CNS function. Subutex may increase the risk of overdose among opioid-naive users. Buprenorphine, on the other hand, is not as deadly as other opioids, with just three deaths recorded by US poison control centers in 2011.

2. Respiratory or breathing issues: When taken in excess or with other drugs, all opiates, including buprenorphine, can impair breathing. This breathing issue can be fatal, especially for people who have asthma or COPD. Subutex should not be given to children because they are especially vulnerable.

3. Drug interactions: Particularly with benzodiazepines, alcohol, and other sedatives, Subutex can cause drug interactions. These can significantly increase the risk of respiratory failure, complications, and overdose.

4. Liver issues: According to the National Library of Medicine, abuse of buprenorphine may cause liver inflammation and, later on, failure. Buprenorphine users should have their liver function checked regularly, especially if they have contracted hepatitis B or hepatitis C.

5. Extreme allergic reactions: Some patients develop allergic reactions to buprenorphine. An allergic reaction to Subutex may develop into a rash, hives, bronchospasm, or anaphylactic shock.

6. Increased fluid pressure within the skull: Subutex use may be dangerous in patients who have experienced a previous head injury or currently have a brain tumor.

When combined with other central nervous system depressants, Subutex can cause severe and potentially fatal breathing problems. Taking too much Subutex, combining it with other substances, or abusing it through injection raises this risk and the risk of overdose. When someone overdoses on Subutex, they may experience breathing difficulties, dizziness, drowsiness, an irregular heartbeat, blue lips, and loss of consciousness. In the case of an opioid overdose, rapid medical treatment is required.

The Withdrawal Symptoms

Although Subutex is intended to treat opioid withdrawal, detoxification, and completed addiction treatment, the medication itself is an opioid that can cause additional withdrawal symptoms. Although, such risks only increase through improper medication administration.

When people stop using Subutex or other buprenorphine-containing medicines, they may suffer withdrawal symptoms. But while Subutex withdrawal is not as severe as most opioid withdrawal effects, most doctors recommend gradually weaning off Subutex to avoid sudden withdrawal effects.

Similarly, persons who misuse their Subutex prescription may become addicted to the medicine and experience withdrawal symptoms when they try to stop taking it. Common symptoms of Subutex withdrawal include:

– Anxiety

– Difficulty sleeping

– Watery eyes

– Diarrhea

– Muscle aches

– Sweating

– Chills

– Runny nose

– Nausea

The Aftercare

It is critical to assist a recovering addict in staying on track once they have completed a treatment program. This implies that once a recovered addict returns to regular life, they must maintain contact with their doctors and have a solid network of trusted family and supportive friends. All of these circles must work together to help you avoid triggers, cravings, and temptations. More significantly, recovering addicts must establish healthy coping strategies to avoid relapse and successfully help in recovery maintenance.

Conclusion

As we’ve said, many people worldwide suffer from addiction to harmful substances such as alcohol, cigarettes, and drugs. Its effects could lead to permanent mental and physical health issues, such as anxiety, depression, diabetes, liver disease, and heart disease, among many others. 

This is why we must intervene with medical help and get treatment for our loved ones as soon as possible. While some recovering addicts don’t experience extreme lingering effects of addiction, this brain disease in itself could significantly diminish one’s quality of life.

Source: https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine 

The post Everything You Need to Know About Subutex first appeared on American Drug Rehabs.

The post Everything You Need to Know About Subutex appeared first on American Drug Rehabs.