Alarmingly, approximately 2.1 million people had abused or were dependent on opioids over the past year. This included everything from heroin to prescription painkillers. It’s well known that opioid addiction is debilitating, and opioid overdose-related deaths are at a historic high.
If you or a loved one is struggling with opioid abuse, watch out for the following tell-tale signs:
- Inability to control opioid use
- Frequent flu-like symptoms
- Uncontrollable cravings
- Grogginess
- Change in sleep/exercise patterns
- Weight loss
- Decreased libido
- Poor hygiene
- Isolation from loved ones
- Stealing
- New/sudden financial struggles
Prescription drugs Suboxone and Sublocade are proven to not only reduce opioid cravings - they also lower the risk of relapse and overdose. Suboxone and Sublocade treatment makes recovery much safer and more accessible.
What Is Suboxone/Sublocade?
Suboxone is the brand name for a prescription medicine used to treat adults who are dependent on or addicted to opioids. The active ingredients are buprenorphine and naloxone, which affect the same regions of the brain as opiates.
Sublocade (manufactured by the same company that makes Suboxone) contains only buprenorphine, and is taken as an extended-release injection. It is designed to deliver buprenorphine at a controlled rate over a period of one month.
Suboxone is taken orally. Sublocade is an injection given by a doctor once per month. In order to receive Sublocade, you first must use a form of buprenorphine for at least seven days.
How Do Suboxone/Sublocade Help Treat Opioid Addiction?
The active ingredients in Suboxone - buprenorphine and naloxone - help control cravings and prevent relapse. Buprenorphine is what’s known as a ‘partial agonist’, meaning it can attach to the same receptors as other opioids. It reduces the physical cravings people experience while going through detox.
Naloxone is an ‘opioid antagonist,’ and blocks receptors that are activated by opioid drugs. It functions as a protective agent that helps prevent people from abusing the drug by causing immediate withdrawal symptoms.
What Are The Benefits of Suboxone/Sublocade?
Both medications have been effectively used to help millions of people addicted to opioids avoid the potentially-deadly effects of withdrawal, and reclaim their lives. Suboxone and Sublocade both:
- Prevent ‘cold turkey’ symptom withdrawals
- Allow patients to wean off opioids slowly, without pain
- Carry a low risk of being abused (they do not make patients feel high)
- Reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Do not create long-term harm to organs
Is Suboxone/Sublocade Right For Me?
If you have become dependent on one or more opioids, beginning a medicated-assisted treatment program that includes Suboxone or Sublocade can empower you towards a safe, healthy recovery. These medications have worked successfully for many people because it takes them through the recovery process without cravings or painful withdrawal symptoms.
However, as with any medication, Suboxone and Sublocade do come with side effects, and may not be suitable if you have certain medical conditions. The best way to determine if this line of treatment is right for you is to speak to your doctor.
Are you struggling with opioid addiction? If so, and you’re wondering if you are a candidate for Suboxone or Sublocade, please call the office of Dr. James Cardi to set up an appointment for an evaluation. Dr. Cardi is a concierge physician that is highly experienced administering Suboxone and Sublocade to qualifying patients. You can also request an appointment online!
