Author: Alex Thompson

5 myths about using Suboxone to treat opioid addiction

Other medical conditions you have can also affect your Suboxone dosage. For information about the dosage of Suboxone, including its strengths and how to take it, keep reading. For a comprehensive look at Suboxone, see this article. New studies suggest that taking Suboxone during pregnancy is safe for your baby.

Starting Suboxone®

Your doctor will prescribe the best dose for your recovery. It produces effects such as euphoria or respiratory depression at low to moderate doses. With buprenorphine, however, these effects are weaker than full opioid agonists such as methadone and heroin.

  1. Check out this article to learn more about Suboxone, including possible side effects the drug can cause.
  2. Do not stop using Suboxone suddenly, or you could have unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
  3. It is often used as part of a comprehensive treatment plan that includes counseling, behavioral therapy, and other support services.
  4. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to fit your needs.
  5. One of Suboxone’s active ingredients, buprenorphine, can be used alone to treat severe pain that hasn’t been controlled with other pain medications.
  6. Ask your doctor or pharmacist if you’re not sure how to take it.

Factors that can affect your dosage

But Suboxone itself won’t make you sick because naloxone doesn’t work when you take it by mouth. Both the tablet and film come in many dosages or strengths. Usually, you start with a dose of 4 milligrams of buprenorphine and 1 milligram of naloxone per day.

Suboxone is one of several drugs that may be prescribed as MOUD. It treats opioid use disorder, or recovery from addiction to opioids, such as fentanyl, heroin, hydrocodone (Vicodin, Lortab, Lorcet), morphine, or oxycodone (OxyContin). Additional doses may be given to treat withdrawal symptoms. The maximum dosage of Suboxone for the first day is 8 mg buprenorphine/2 mg naloxone. Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is a prescription drug that’s used to treat opioid use disorder.

Typical dosages

Avoid grapefruit products and drinking alcohol or taking illegal or recreational drugs while taking Suboxone. Rinse your mouth with water after the Suboxone tablet dissolves. Wait one hour after the medicine dissolves to brush your teeth to prevent damage to the teeth and gums. You should receive regular dental checkups while using Suboxone.

Services

Keep the films in place until they have completely dissolved. If your doctor tells you to take a third film, place it on the inside of your right or left cheek after the first 2 films have dissolved. You and your doctor will periodically reevaluate your need for Suboxone throughout your treatment. If a decision is made to stop your Suboxone treatment, your doctor will slowly lower your dose over time.

Speak to a member of our team to schedule a New Patient visit, or just to get more information.

Fatal side effects can occur if you use this medicine with alcohol, or with other drugs that cause drowsiness or slow your breathing. Talk with your healthcare provider which option would be best suited to you. There are alternative drugs in different forms available to treat opioid use disorder. Each maintains evening office hours in addition to being open every Saturday. Appointments can be scheduled 24/7 and patients are often seen the same day.

But if it’s almost time for your next dose, skip your missed dose and take your next dose at its regularly scheduled time. If you’re not sure if you should take a missed dose or skip it, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. If you need more than one film to complete your dose, place them both under the tongue — one on the right side and one on the left side.

What is Suboxone’s dosage?

Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) is a brand-name prescription medication. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved it to treat dependence on opioid drugs. This includes treating opioid use disorder (formerly called opioid addiction).

Suboxone is prescribed for adults to treat opioid use disorder. Medicines that interact with Suboxone may either decrease its effect, affect how long it works, increase side effects, or have less of an effect when taken with Suboxone. An interaction between two medications does not always mean that you must stop taking one of the medications; however, sometimes it does. Speak to your doctor about how drug interactions should be managed. Always consult your healthcare provider to ensure the information displayed on this page applies to your personal circumstances. Remember, keep this and all other medicines out of the reach of children, never share your medicines with others, and use Suboxone only for the indication prescribed.

A dose taper helps reduce your risk of withdrawal symptoms when you stop treatment with Suboxone. Using the drug for this purpose is an example of off-label use. With off-label use, a drug is prescribed for a purpose other than what it’s approved for. Suboxone could also cause withdrawal symptoms if you misuse it.