If you or your loved one suffers from opioid addiction, speak with our experienced team to see if Suboxone therapy is right for you. At Pinnacle Healthcare Services in Alexandria, VA, we provide Suboxone treatment as a part of a holistic opioid addiction treatment program.
Suboxone is an FDA-approved prescription drug that also contains opioids, as it is required to reduce opioid dependency. We can also effectively combine Suboxone treatment with other therapies like addiction therapies, rehabilitation or detoxification treatments, and proper counseling to get the best results.
Are You a Good Candidate for Suboxone Treatment?
Usually, people addicted to opioids display symptoms like inability to control their opioid usage, uncontrolled opioid cravings, changes in sleep patterns, and isolation from loved ones.
Ideal candidates for Suboxone treatment are people who:
- Are addicted to prescription painkillers and recreational drugs like heroin
- Do not have kidney problems or thyroid disorders
- Are not pregnant or breastfeeding
We can recommend other efficient treatment options to effectively treat your opioid addiction and chronic pain if you have an underlying medical condition and therefore cannot opt for Suboxone therapy.
What to Expect at Your SuboxoneTreatment
Though Suboxone treatment effectively reduces opioid dependency, being prepared for your treatment is essential to achieving the best results.
Preparation Before the Treatment
Since it can cause severe withdrawal symptoms that often require hospitalization, Suboxone is not recommended when you are not in the early stages of withdrawal or have opioids in your bloodstream.
Before your first Suboxonedose, you may be asked to wait for some hours, days, or weeks depending on the type of opioid and the dosage you are currently taking. For example, short-acting opioids such as Vicodin typically leave the body within a day, whereas long-acting opioids like Morphine and Oxycontin can take two days to subside.
What to Expect From Your Treatment
Our doctor will review your physical and mental health history and addiction consequences during the initial appointment to determine whether you are the right candidate for Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). You are also asked to provide your urine sample for laboratory analysis.
If you are a good candidate for Suboxone, we will give you an initial prescription, generally for seven days. Before taking Suboxone, you should not take any opioids and let yourself experience these withdrawal symptoms:
- Fatigue
- Body aches
- Difficulty focusing
- Cravings
- Difficulty sleeping
- Chills or sweating
- Anxiety
- Vomiting or diarrhea
- Increased heart rate
These symptoms are normal and will subside after taking Suboxone.
You will be asked to take the first dose of Suboxoneonce your withdrawal symptoms become mild to moderate. Generally, Suboxone eases these withdrawal symptoms and leaves you feeling better within 30 to 45 minutes. Otherwise, visit us for dosage adjustments. We will work with you to find the ideal dose to reduce your withdrawal symptoms and opioid dependency.
Your Suboxone treatment will take place in three stages:
- Induction: The goal is to find the best dosage to provide relief from withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
- Stabilization: In this stage, your dosage is customized to suit your requirements
- Maintenance: This stage is meant to keep cravings at bay and avert any relapse
Find Out If Suboxone Is Right for You
If you are looking for Suboxone treatment near you or want to learn how Suboxone can help you, contact Pinnacle Healthcare Services in Alexandria, VA. Our physician, Dr. Kurwa Nyigu, is a certified addiction medicine specialist and uses a customized approach to treat opioid addiction with 100% patient satisfaction. We rank among the top practices for “online Suboxone doctors near me” and “Suboxone clinic near me” searches.
FAQs
Before taking Suboxone, you have to wait for 12 to 48 hours, depending on the type of opioid you use. For example, short-acting opioids, like heroin, leave your body more quickly than long-acting opioids, like methadone.
You might need to wait for:
- 12 to 16 hours for short-acting opioids
- 17 to 48 hours for long-acting opioids
Our lead physician, Dr. Kurwa Nyigu, will advise on what is best for your treatment plan.
The Drug Addiction Treatment Act 2000 (DATA 2000) first allowed qualified doctors to prescribe Suboxone (that combines buprenorphine and naloxone). However, after some restrictions implemented by the ACT, Suboxone should be only prescribed by a trained doctor. Our physician, Dr. Kurwa Nyigu, has received extensive training for prescribing suboxone.
Generally, your first visit with your Suboxone doctor includes reviewing your physical and mental health history, addiction consequences, and whether you are a good candidate for Medicated-Assisted Treatment (MAT). You will need to provide your urine sample for lab analysis. After assessing these factors, your provider will determine the best course of treatment for you.
You will be prescribed Suboxone for the follow-up appointments once you start exhibiting opioid withdrawal symptoms.
It differs from patient to patient. While some may need to take Suboxone for a few months, others might need it for a year or more.
The success rate of Suboxone treatment is 50%, and you can improve it further by following the treatment program as directed by your doctor.
Taking Suboxone can reduce the pain, stress, and anxiety you may experience during the treatment. This helps you stay relaxed while focusing on your treatment, increasing its chances of success.
Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist. Therefore, it can cause mild to severe side effects. These include:
- Drowsiness
- Headache
- Nausea and vomiting
- Insomnia
- Sweating
- Constipation
- Difficulty concentrating
- Blurry vision
- Painful tongue
- Numb mouth
- Irregular heartbeat
- Back pain
- Dizziness and fainting
For patients with few health complications, it will take 5 to 8 days for suboxone to leave your system, and it will take 7 to 14 days in patients with serious liver disease.
If you miss an oral Suboxone dose, take it as soon as you remember, provided you are not nearing the time for your next dose. Overdose or misuse of Suboxone can cause respiratory depression (slow or shallow breathing), so don’t take a missed dose along with your next dose.
The cost of Suboxone varies depending on its format (films or tablets) and version (brand or generic), and also on your insurance or the pharmacy you use. Usually, for the lesser doses of buprenorphine/ naloxone, Suboxone can cost about $5 per dose.
Also, most health insurance policies cover the cost of Suboxone treatment. You can check with your insurance to ensure whether the treatment is covered. At Pinnacle Healthcare Services, we also offer cash paying options for patients who are not insured or do not want to use insurance. We always offer transparent pricing for your entire treatment plan.
