Professional rehab is the best route for anyone seeking recovery from an addiction. Receiving evidence-based interventions immediately increases your chances of long-term success. That being said, relapse does happen. Addiction is a chronic disease and, as such, cannot be cured, only managed. Evidence-based therapies such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT) and motivational enhancement therapy (MET) are extremely helpful in assisting in recovery. However, for opioids and alcohol, medical intervention with a substance such as Suboxone greatly increases recovery success.
As part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), Suboxone intersects with counseling to maximize long-term recovery outcomes. Denver, Colorado Suboxone treatment at Mile High Recovery Center is one of the two MAT programs offered; the other is Vivitrol MAT. One of the most common concerns among those seeking effective medically supported treatment for addiction is whether it is risky. Is Suboxone treatment safe?
Reach out to Mile High to discuss the safety of Suboxone treatment, what medication-assisted therapy is like, and how you can get started on your recovery. Our online form will connect you with someone promptly or you can call us any time at 303-268-2144.
Medication-Assisted Treatment
Using medications like Suboxone as part of your treatment for an opioid or alcohol use disorder (OUD or AUD) helps your brain heal and begin functioning normally again, producing the neurotransmitters and chemicals you need to feel good without substances. The flood of opioids or alcohol your brain experienced during the years of your addiction interfered with a system that simply needs time to rebalance itself. Suboxone helps with that process.
In a MAT program where you receive Suboxone, you will have an easier time coping with sobriety as the medication mitigates your cravings, including psychological cravings. As you return to a baseline at which you can experience pleasure, contentment, attachment, and satisfaction, your psychological need or desire to use drugs will abate.
The drugs used in MAT programs have been extensively studied and are considered safe, especially when viewed in comparison to the devastating harm done to your system by drugs or alcohol, including the risk of death by overdose or accident.
Remember, MAT means both medication and therapy are used in conjunction to address your substance use disorder.
Is Suboxone Treatment Safe?
Yes – the safety of Suboxone treatment has been confirmed by researchers and front-line prescribers and addiction specialists. Every year, Suboxone helps thousands of people with an OUD or AUD begin and continue recovery.
However, as with any drug, Suboxone has side effects, though not everyone experiences them. They are, generally speaking, easy to manage. The side effects of Suboxone can include:
- Headache
- Insomnia
- Dry mouth
- Nausea
- Stomach pain
- Constipation
- Dizziness
There is a risk of Suboxone abuse, but because of the drug’s ceiling effect, the risk is minimal. The ceiling effect limits the ability of Suboxone to produce opioid-like euphoria or even pain relief. It has a small euphoric effect but that feeling doesn’t increase at higher doses, making it very different from heroin, Oxy, morphine, and other opioids.
If someone takes their first Suboxone dose too soon after stopping opioid use, the immediate signs of detoxification can create severe feelings of illness. Thankfully, they will pass, and can be avoided by following guidelines regarding the timing of the first Suboxone dose.
Suboxone Treatment at Mile High Recovery Center
The safety of Suboxone treatment depends in part on the professionalism and precision of the medical and therapeutic team overseeing medication-assisted treatment in the rehab facility. At Mile High Recovery Center, we stand behind the MAT teams that care for our clients every year. They oversee your Suboxone treatment while you are enrolled, and ensure that you receive continued medical oversight of your MAT upon discharge.
Learn more about Suboxone and its role in medication-assisted treatment at Mile High Recovery Center. Consider your options while talking with one of our professional staff members. Furthermore, let us help you begin recovery, right here in the heart of the Mile High City. Call us at 303-268-2144 or use our online form.
