4 Ways to Manage PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) affects people from all walks of life who’ve been through trauma. Learn lifestyle strategies you can use to stay on top of your PTSD symptoms.
How Suboxone Works to Break Addiction
When you’ve made a commitment to yourself to break your addiction to opioids but are afraid of the withdrawal effects from quitting, it’s time to learn more about Suboxone®.
At Revolution Psychiatry and Addiction Treatment, we specialize in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) plans. Richard E. Repass, MD, can prescribe Suboxone or other medications to help you safely detox from opioids and make long-term recovery possible.
Why quitting opioids without support is difficult
Opioids are highly addictive medications prescribed for chronic pain. Misuse or abuse of opioids causes changes in your brain that make it seem like you can’t survive without the drugs.
Also, the more opioids you take, the more tolerant your body becomes. Over time, in order to achieve the same high feeling you desire, you have to take more medication. This cycle can quickly spiral into an addiction you can’t break free from on your own.
Even if you have the best intentions to quit using opioids, the changes in your brain make it difficult. You may be deterred by the physical side effects like nausea, abdominal pain, and tremors. Quitting can also be derailed by persistent opioid cravings, anxiety, and irritability.
Withdrawal symptoms can last for several days, and many people return to using opioids simply to find relief from the physical discomfort and the shame they experience when battling addiction. This is when Suboxone may be an effective solution for successful recovery.
What to know about Suboxone
Suboxone is a medication that contains two ingredients that help break the cycle of addiction: naloxone and buprenorphine.
Naloxone
Naloxone is a short-acting opioid antagonist that blocks the receptors from being activated by opioids to reduce your cravings.
Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is a long-acting, partial opioid agonist that doesn’t trigger the high you feel when you misuse other opioids. When combined with naloxone, this medication can help you reduce your dependence on opioids and minimize the cravings and withdrawal symptoms that are common in early stages of recovery.
Dr. Repass can determine if you’re a candidate for Suboxone therapy during a complete medical evaluation and an assessment of your addiction. He can prescribe the medication as part of a medication-assisted treatment plan that focuses on safe detox and addiction recovery.
Other components of MAT
While Suboxone can make it easier for you to break away from opioid addiction, the medication is only a part of your treatment plan.
Dr. Repass also includes general psychiatric counseling services for those with opioid use disorders to address the impact addiction has on your life. Psychotherapy and cognitive behavioral therapy are two techniques that help you better cope with life stressors as you work toward recovery.
Psychiatric treatment can also address the underlying issues that may have initially contributed to opioid addiction. We give you resources and tools you can use to improve your overall quality of life, as well as your physical, mental, and emotional health.
Call us at Revolution Psychiatric and Addiction Treatment in Mercer Island, Washington, to learn more about the benefits of Suboxone therapy or book a consultation.
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