Opioid Addiction Treatment — Page 3

What is buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is an opioid that reduces craving, tames withdrawal symptoms, and blunts the high from opioids and alcohol.

Successful use of the drug to treat opioid addiction may depend on a comprehensive treatment program that includes counseling and a support group such as NA.

Suboxone, a combination of buprenorphine and the opioid receptor blocker naltrexone, can treat opioid use disorder about as well as buprenorphine alone. The use of naltrexone alone requires full detoxication before a patient can take it.

The length of detoxication depends on the opioid a person used. Heroin withdrawal symptoms can last up to seven days. Withdrawal from morphine, oxycodone and hydrocodone, and fentanyl can take up to two weeks.

Because detoxification from opioids can be significantly difficult, the use of naltrexone alone can be initially difficult but then have a similar effectiveness as Suboxone.

To find a doctor who will prescribe you buprenorphine, you might check a service called TreatmentMatch, or ask your insurer for a list of certified doctors in your network.

You’ll typically take buprenorphine only after you have not used any opioid for 12 to 24 hours and are in the early stages of withdrawal. The dose will be adjusted over time.

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