Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Is it the best

If you are suffering from addiction seek treatment but remember Buprenorphine may not be a better option.

Buprenorphine is used to help you keep off street drugs such as heroin. It can prevent or reduce the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms when you stop using such drugs. It is a medicine that is similar to heroin and works as a replacement treatment. Many people choose to stay on buprenorphine long-term, although some people gradually reduce their dose and come off it.

The effects of buprenorphine last longer than heroin so it is usually prescribed as a once-daily dose. To begin with, you will usually be asked to take it under the supervision of the pharmacist who dispenses the buprenorphine to you. This means there can be no doubt about how much buprenorphine you take at each dose. This supervision may be relaxed after a few months of your taking a regular maintenance dose.

Buprenorphine is also available combined with another medicine called naloxone (the tablet brand name is Suboxone). Naloxone blocks the action of buprenorphine and the effect of the combination is that, if you are tempted to crush the tablet and try to inject it, you will start to get withdrawal effects.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Can buprenorphine cause problems?

As with all medications, Buprenorphine (Suboxone) drug treatment also has some disadvantages. It is still a medication and if you prefer to break free from any kind of addiction immediately, then Buprenorphine may not be the way to go. Also, you may not be completely Buprenorphine-free by the time you leave drug treatment, even if you opt for an inpatient drug rehab program.

Some may consider these disadvantages while others consider them well worth the advantage of avoiding opiate withdrawal symptoms. Also, some initial studies on long-term use of Buprenorphine suggest that there are anti-depressant effects of the drug as well. The dosing schedule is also relatively easy to maintain as most don’t even have to take it every day. Additionally, you can’t abuse Suboxone, get high off of it or overdose on it like you can with some other opiate addiction maintenance or detox drugs, like methadone. Much as this may offer treatment for addiction, it is in itself addiction and should not be encouraged. Its demerits far much out ways the merits just have a look at the conditions lined below before and during its usage.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Before taking buprenorphine

Some medicines are not suitable for people with certain conditions, and sometimes a medicine may only be used if extra care is taken. For these reasons, before you start taking buprenorphine it is important that your doctor knows:

If you have liver or kidney problems.
If you have prostate problems or any difficulties passing urine.
If you have any breathing problems, such as asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
If you have been told you have low blood pressure.
If you have any problems with your thyroid or adrenal glands.
If you have epilepsy.
If you have a problem with your bile duct.
If you are pregnant or breast-feeding.
If you have been constipated for more than a week or have an inflammatory bowel problem.
If you have a condition causing muscle weakness, called myasthenia gravis.
If you have recently had a severe head injury.
If you have ever had an allergic reaction to a medicine.
If you are taking any other street drugs or medicines. This includes any medicines you are taking which are available to buy without a prescription, such as herbal and complementary medicines.

Buprenorphine for the treatment of addiction-Getting the most from your treatment

Some people feel uncomfortable during the first 2 to 3 days of taking buprenorphine. Do not be tempted to take heroin on top, and do not take more than the dose your doctor has prescribed for you.
It is important that you keep your regular appointments with your doctor or clinic so your progress can be reviewed. You will be asked to give a urine sample from time to time.
Buprenorphine cannot be supplied to you without a prescription. You will not be able to ask for any changes to be made to your supply, as your pharmacist can only dispense the prescription exactly as your doctor has directed.
There are several different brands and strengths of buprenorphine tablets, so each time you collect a supply, check to make sure it contains what you are expecting.
You are more likely to succeed in staying off heroin if you have support and counseling in addition to taking buprenorphine. Local drug community teams, self-help groups and other agencies may be of help. It is much harder to ‘do it alone’, so go for counseling and help if it is available in your area.
You should not take any street drugs or drink too much alcohol while you are on buprenorphine. This is because other street drugs such as benzodiazepines (benzos) and alcohol can affect buprenorphine and increase the chance of unwanted effects.
You should tell the DVLA that you are taking buprenorphine if you are a driver. You are likely to be banned from driving at first, although you may be allowed to drive again later, subject to an annual medical review. Your doctor will tell you when you can resume driving.
Do not stop taking buprenorphine without discussing this with your doctor or drug-team worker first. It is important that buprenorphine should be taken regularly to reduce the risk of withdrawal symptoms occurring. When you are ready to consider becoming drug-free, your doctor or drug-team worker will be able to help you decide on the best way to do this in order to keep withdrawal effects to a minimum.
If you are planning any trip abroad, you should carry a letter with you from your doctor to explain that you have been prescribed buprenorphine. This is because buprenorphine is classed as a ‘controlled drug’ and is subject to certain restrictions.
If you buy any medicines, check with a pharmacist that they are suitable for you to take with buprenorphine. Many other medicines have similar side-effects to buprenorphine and taking them together will increase the risk of unwanted effects.
If you are having an operation or dental treatment, tell the person carrying out the treatment that you are taking buprenorphine.