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Suboxone is a doctor’s prescribed medication used to treat opioid use disorder. It also reduces the risk of nonfatal overdoses which are traumatic and medically dangerous. It is an agent used in agonist substitution treatment, which is a process for treating addiction by using a substance (such as buprenorphine or methadone) to substitute for a stronger full agonist opioid (such as heroin).
More Data On Suboxone:
Suboxone belongs to a class of medicine opioid partial agonist-antagonists. It is the brand name of buprenorphine and naloxone. This medicine is a mixture of two compounds i.e. buprenorphine and naloxone.
It is an effective option to treat opioid dependence, reduce cravings, and improve the quality of life for patients undergoing addiction treatment. Buprenorphine is an opioid medication, sometimes called a narcotic. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioid medication, including pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse.
Suboxone was approved for use in the U.S.A in October 2022 and in the European Union in November 2017. Its generic version was approved for use in 2017. It is one of the most commonly prescribed medicine in the U.S. with more than one million prescriptions.
How To Buy Suboxone?
As Suboxone is banned in many countries, it is available offline or in pharmaceutical stores with verified medical prescriptions only but it is available on various online websites. These online websites sell Suboxone and its varieties with or without any prescription. But buying it without a prescription is always risky as there are some websites which provide Suboxone without any prescription but charge extra money for that.
How To Take Suboxone?
Suboxone is taken exactly as prescribed by the doctor in the prescription. Any overdose or underdose or completely stopping it immediately can harm the health of a person.
The following points should be taken into consideration before taking Suboxone.
- Read the medication guide before taking it.
- Place the medication under your tongue for 5 to 10 minutes and let it dissolve completely.
- Do not swallow or chew this medication as it will not work well.
- After it is fully dissolved, take a large sip of water and swish gently around your teeth and gums and then swallow the water. This will help to prevent problems with your teeth.
- Do not brush your teeth for at least one hour after using this medication.
Strengths Of Suboxone Available:
Suboxone is available both online and offline in the market in 2 different varieties. These are
- Suboxone 2 mg, a small hexagonal-shaped, pink-coloured tablet, N2 inscribed on it.
- Suboxone 8 mg, a small hexagonal-shaped, pink-coloured tablet, N8 inscribed on it.
Composition Of Suboxone:
Each Suboxone 2 mg tablet contains 2 mg buprenorphine hydrochloride and 0.5 mg naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate as active ingredients in it. Similarly, Suboxone 8 mg tablet contains 8 mg buprenorphine hydrochloride and 2 mg naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate as active ingredients in it. Both tablets contain lactose, mannitol, cornstarch, povidone K30, citric acid, sodium citrate, and FD&C yellow as inactive ingredients in it.
Dosages Of Taking Suboxone:
The use of Suboxone is only recommended for adults and not for children. The dosages of taking Suboxone are as follows:
- On Day 1, an induction dosage of up to 2 mg/8 mg Suboxone sublingual film is prescribed for the patient.
- On Day 2, a single daily dose of up to 16 mg/4 mg of Suboxone sublingual film is recommended.
- The dosage may be altered by the doctor according to the requirement.
The Function Of Suboxone In The Human Body:
Suboxone belongs to a group of medications called buprenorphine-naloxone. They block the effects of opioid medication, including pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse.
Storage:
Storage of every medicine and the medicinal product is an important aspect of day-to-day life. So we need to remember some points before storing any medicine.
Points to remember before storing Suboxone are:
- Keep it in a cool, dark, dry, place, preferably in an airtight container.
- Store the cut film or tablets in a childproof pharmacy tablet bottle.
- Put a fresh food-safe silica gel packet to absorb any humidity.
- Store it at a temperature between 20- 25 degrees Celsius i.e. 68- 77 degrees Fahrenheit i.e. at room temperature.
- Do not store it in the bathroom.
- Do not keep it inside the refrigerator.
Overdose And Missed Dose:
Overdose:
Overdose is a condition when a person takes an extra dose of medicine than the doctor prescribes for him/her. An overdose of any medication is dangerous to our health, so an overdose of Suboxone also has some bad effects on our health.
Overdose of Suboxone leads to slow breathing, shallow breathing, slow heartbeat, burning tongue, decreases touch sensation, dizziness, weakness, fatigue, sweating, stomach pain, vomiting, diarrhoea, anxiety, headache, severe drowsiness, pinpoint pupils and coma.
Missed Dose:
Taking medicine at an improper time and irregularly leads to a missed dose. People after missing a dose usually take a double dose which leads to overdose. In case you miss a dose, do not panic. Take the dose immediately or continue with your regular dose or consult your doctor.
Side Effects Of Using Suboxone:
Any medicine when used improper way shows dangerous adverse effects hence Suboxone shows. It shows both common and serious adverse effects.
Common Side Effects:
The common side effects are:
- Dizziness
- Drowsiness
- Blurred vision
- Drunk feeling
- Trouble concentrating
- Tongue pain
- Redness or numbness inside your mouth
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Constipation
- Headache
- Back pain
- Fast heartbeats
- Heavy sweating
- Insomnia
Serious Side Effects:
The serious side effects are:
- Breathing that stops during sleep
- Loss of coordination
- Slurred speech
- Loss of appetite
- Dark urine
- Clay-coloured stools
- Yellowing of the skin or eyes (jaundice)
- Shivering
- Goosebumps
- Feeling too much hot or cold
- Watery eyes and runny nose
- Muscle pain
Alternatives For Suboxone (Natural And Medicinal):
Finding the exact alternative is not possible, but there are some similar medications which are prescribed instead of Suboxone.
Natural Substitute:
The natural substitutes are:
- Insomnia
- Melatonin
- Vitamin B-Complex
- Magnesium
- Chamomile
- Valerian extracts
Medicinal Substitute:
The medicinal substitutes are:
Precautions While Taking Suboxone:
Some precautions are needed to be taken by patients suffering from severe pain before taking Suboxone. These are
- Test whether you are allergic to buprenorphine or naloxone.
- Describe both your physician and mental history before the doctor.
- Test whether you have any kidney disease, liver disease, glaucoma, lung/ breathing problems or mental disorder.
- As drowsiness is one of its side effects, one should not drive, should not operate any machine or do any serious work as it can be dangerous.
- Using Suboxone while pregnant can harm your unborn baby.
- Breastfeeding mothers are advised to consult a doctor and follow the advice.
Other Food And Medicine Interactions:
One should make it clear to the doctor if he/she is taking any other medicines before the doctor prescribes Suboxone as it can be dangerous if some specific medicines are taken with it.
Medicine Interaction:
Medicines which should not be taken with Suboxone are:
- Pain medications
- Naltrexone
- Sedating antihistamine
- Samidorphan
- Amiodarone
- Disopyramide
- Dofetilide
- Ibutilide
- Procainamide
- Quinidine
- Sotalol
Food And Beverage Interaction:
Food items and beverages which should not be taken with Suboxone are:
- Grapefruit
- Grapefruit juice
- Alcohol
- Cigarette
Important:-
- Grapefruit juice can lower the levels of enzymes in your liver responsible for breaking down medications. Blood levels of an interacting drug may rise, leading to toxicity.
- Intake of alcohol leads to drowsiness. So taking alcohol along with Suboxone can cause severe drowsiness, dizziness, tiredness and body imbalance.
- Smoking cigarettes along with Suboxone decreases the effectiveness of the drug.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Suboxone preferred over Provigil?
Suboxone is safer and less addictive for treating opioid addiction as compared to Suboxone. So, Suboxone is preferred over Provigil.
Is Suboxone prescribed for children’s use?
Suboxone is not generally seen prescribed by doctors for use in children. If prescribed, the dosage and use should be mentioned by the doctor.