How Long Do I Need to Stay on Suboxone?

How Long Do I Need to Stay on Suboxone?

Opiate Detoxification Begins with Suboxone

Suboxone is meant to be used as a short-term medicine to help eliminate opiate addiction. Unlike methadone, suboxone is not a maintenance medication, nor was it created to be one. But many doctors and pain clinics use this medication for long-term maintenance. Even the Suboxone website  states, “Long-term use of SUBOXONE causes physical dependence.” You never want Suboxone to be the maintenance remedy for opiate addiction. Essentially, you need to be careful of substituting one addiction for another.

Suboxone Has Fewer Side Effects than Methadone

Suboxone is an opiate antagonist, which will help you lessen the withdrawal symptoms of opiates  (like OxyContin and heroin) without making you high or sick. Suboxone was intended as a short-term outpatient remedy for detox. The protocol for Suboxone detox treatment is typically 6 months in an outpatient setting. However, some inpatient addiction treatment hospitals also use it for shorter intervals, with much success.  Suboxone has been known among opiate addicts to be easier to come off then methadone.

Get Sober with Suboxone

Suboxone should be used as part of a treatment plan. It is coupled with therapy to help you learn new ways of coping with emotions and situations without using drugs. People who use Suboxone and talk therapy together are most successful recovering from opiate addiction. In an addiction treatment center you will have the opportunity to detox and get counseling to increase your chances of remaining opiate free.

Share your success stories of Suboxone treatment below or on our Facebook page. Your experience may inspire others to get help today!