One of the most fear-inducing aspects of quitting opiate use (heroin, oxycontin, etc.) is the physical withdrawal that takes place as the patient stops use. Many of those addicted to opiates will have experienced some form of withdrawal at one point or another and the pain and suffering associated with the experience is often one of the key reasons why use continues. Opiate withdrawal is not fun.
There are a number of treatment options out there for opiate addiction and some of these utilize pharmacological aids to help patients get through the withdrawal period. One of the most common treatments includes the use of Suboxone, which is a prescription medicine used to replace opiates in such a way that the patient does not suffer the physical aspects of withdrawal.
The way Soboxone works is by blocking the specific receptors in the brain that opiates use to cause the euphoria associated with the drugs. By blocking these receptors, the patient no longer gets the “high” and eventually the craving disappears. In addition, however, the receptors believe something is happening and so the typical physical withdrawal associated with halting opiate use does not occur.
Obviously if you can quit opiates without suffering withdrawals you are on your way to stopping the addiction. However, it is extremely important to understand that in order to remain withdrawal free, you also need to continue use of Suboxone. If you stop taking Suboxone, your receptors once again start to crave the opiate and withdrawal symptoms start to appear.
Many people out there believe switching from opiates to Suboxone is extremely helpful.
Others, however, soon recognize that they may have simply substituted one addiction for another. Though using Suboxone is nowhere near as debilitating as consistent opiate use, as someone who suffers from addictions, often the goal is to rid all forms of addiction from your system, including those medications that may have helped you in the past.
Take the time to learn from others. The SoberRecovery community has a number of discussions about quitting Suboxone. It is something that should be done with the aid of your doctor and just like opiates, should not be done ‘cold turkey’ but rather gradually.
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