| Suboxone Clinics | | What is a Suboxone Clinic? | A Suboxone Clinic is where you can receive a prescription for Suboxone, the medication that stops withdrawal symptoms when you are going through withdrawal. Withdrawal happens when someone dependent on opioids suddenly stops taking them.
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| | What is Suboxone? |
Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone, and was the first brand name marketed in USA. Now it is marketed only as a film. The name has become popular and is commonly used. This is now also available as a generic tablet, and under brand names Bunavail, and Zubsolv.
This medication is to be taken by placing it under the tongue from where it is absorbed. Most of it is absorbed within 5 to 10 minutes. It is very fast acting and its effects can be felt within 10 to 15 minutes.
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| | What is withdrawal and why is Suboxone used to treat it? | Opioids are drugs (commonly known as pain killers) like Lortab, Percocet, Hydrocodone, Oxycodone, Morphine, Opana, Fentanyl, Methadone, and the street drug Heroin. Patients or persons using these drugs over a long period develop dependence on these drugs. Abruptly stopping these drugs will cause the person to go into a state of withdrawal.
Withdrawal symptoms can appear as anxiety, depression, decreased energy, agitation, and progresses to running nose, tearing, yawning, hot and cold flashes, skin crawling, sweating, and diarrhea.
Severe withdrawal will manifest as abdominal cramps, muscle cramps, vomiting, and diarrhea, and poses a risk of dehydration.
Because a person who decides to stop using opioid drugs will have withdrawal, a medication called Buprenorphine is used to stop withdrawal symptoms. This medication is taken once a day, is administered by placing it under the tongue, works for 24 hours, does not have any significant side effects if taken in the recommended dose, and allows patients to function normally.
Buprenorphine has certain properties that make it very suitable in the treatment of opioid dependence and addiction. It is also an opioid, acts as a substitute for opioids, working on the same receptors as opioids, is long acting … a single adequate dose is effective for 24 hours or more, binds much more strongly to opioid receptors … so that if a person takes an opioid after taking Buprenorphine, that opioid will not have much effect.
Buprenorphine when taken in recommended doses does not cause euphoria, the sensation sought by drug addicts, and thus does not have any positive reinforcement that leads to addiction. It also has a better safety profile than other opioids … it does not cause as much respiratory depression as other opioids at similar doses. Respiratory depression is the cause of death in opioid overdose.
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| | How can Suboxone treat addiction? |
Suboxone helps patients treat addiction. Suboxone stops withdrawal, keeping patients more comfortable, and giving them a chance to work of their issues.
Patients with doctor supervision can reduce their dose of Buprenorphine at regular intervals. As long as this is tolerated, the patient can continue tapering. This may take several months to a year or more. During this time, are able to control their tapering process, function normally, be employed or attend school.
In addition patients attend counseling and workshops where they learn to modify their behavior, stop seeking drugs, and learn to cope with the problems in life, health related problems, financial problems, employment problems, domestic relations problems, legal problems.
Buprenorphine is available in combination with Naloxone. Naloxone has been added to discourage intravenous use. This combination preparation is available as a generic tablet and as brand name preparations called Suboxone, Bunavail, and Zubsolv.
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| | How can I find a Suboxone Clinic? |
Not every doctor is willing to treat addiction. Many are already busy providing other services and many do not wish to have drug addicts coming to their clinic … afraid that this will put off their regular patients. Drug addicts are generally non-compliant, have multiple medical and non-medical problems, and are difficult to deal with.
Currently Suboxone can be prescribed by a medical doctor, M.D or D.O.
Each doctor is allowed to treat a maximum of 275 active patients at a time.
You can find a list of treatment facilities, and treating physicians from SAMHSA web site: samhsa.gov
Similar lists are maintained by Suboxone.com, Bunavail.com, Zubsolv.com
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| | How much does the treatment cost? |
How much do you spend on drugs? Treatment today is cheaper than what you spend on drugs.
Treatment related costs are:
1. Cost of doctor visits. Initial visit $8 per month.
2. Cost of medication $1 to $3 each 8mg Suboxone tablet or film.
3. Cost of counseling or addiction workshops. Varies
4. Peer support programs like Narcotics Anonymous, Celebrate recovery, Smart recovery, etc., are free to attend.
5. And there are luxury rehab centers where you can breakfast with the rich and famous for $1000 per day. These come in packages $25000 and up.
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| | How long does the treatment last? |
It is up to the patient and how much withdrawal they are willing to tolerate. It generally correlates with how long a person has used opioids and how much every day. Prolonged opioid use alters your brain chemistry and its ability to produce its own opioid like substances called endorphins.
Some patients have treated their opioid addiction 'Cold Turkey'.
Some patients have done it in one month, some in three, some in six. Most take longer.
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| | Does insurance cover Suboxone treatment? |
Ask your insurance.
If your insurance coverage includes behavioral therapy then it may be covered. If it is covered then it is only covered through certain contracted /network providers. They may require preauthorization. They may have a waiting list.
Your prescription plan may be different from your insurance plan. Some cover prescriptions, some will cover it after preauthorization. They are likely to have a duration and quantity limits, and will cover only a certain brand.
Most insurances cover in-patient detox for up to three days
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| | Can I get Suboxone at the ER? |
No. Most Emergency Rooms do not prescribe Suboxone. They may give you other medications to control withdrawal, will start an IV and treat dehydration, may refer or admit you for Detox. At an average bill of $3000 for an ER visit I do not know why they can’t give you a $10 Suboxone.
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| | Is a Suboxone Clinic different from Methadone Clinic? |
Methadone clinics in USA are run by private contractors with assistance from the Government. Methadone clinics dispense Methadone tablets; dispense means actually give it to the patients. Patients have to go there every day to receive Methadone. Methadone clinics do not prescribe Methadone, that is, you do not get a prescription to take to your pharmacy to receive Methadone.
Methadone clinics do not treat addiction, they offer Methadone Maintenance Programs to reduce criminal activity in the society. Essentially the Government’s approach is less effective.
Some Methadone clinics encourage patients to come off Methadone, asking them to reduce their daily dose progressively, but still give what the patient needs, no one is forced to taper their dose.
More and more Methadone Clinics have started offering Suboxone, now you can get Suboxone instead of Methadone from the Methadone Clinic.
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| | This page was last updated on September 29, 2020 |
| | Mark A. Seldes, MD | | Dr. Seldes is a board-certified family physician, He is experienced with OWCP medical reports and performing Impairment Rating examinations. Dr. Seldes and his qualified staff, assist in obtaining compensation and medical treatment after a work-related injury. | | We perform both In-person examinations and Telehealth visits for our Florida residents who are already established patients. depending on the patient's needs. |
Contact Us Today! | | Phone: 813-328-4120, We are Open Monday-Friday, From 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM EST. (We are Currently Accepting New Patients) |
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