Suboxone detox is Delray Center for Addiction Medicine’s preferred method of treating opiate withdrawal and addiction. While many people have heard of Suboxone before, not many people know exactly what it is.
Suboxone is actually a brand name for a combination medicine that includes buprenorphine and naloxone. This combination has been proven to be effective at treating opiate withdrawal and reducing relapse. While Suboxone is just the brand name for the drug, and a generic version is now approved, it’s generally the most common name for this combination drug.
The buprenorphine part of Suboxone works by binding to opioid receptors in the brain. This helps reduce pain in the central nervous system (CNS). Unlike methadone though, buprenorphine is only a partially binds with opioid receptors. This means that there is a ceiling or a plateau effect. When this happens, no matter how much of an opioid a person takes, they will not get any “higher”. This helps decrease the chance of overdoses.
The Naloxone portion of Suboxone works by binding with opioid molecules in the CNS and preventing them from binding to opioid receptors. Naloxone is used to reduce the euphoric effects of the opioid and help with withdrawal. It’s also the drug used by medical and emergency professionals to treat overdoses.
So what is Suboxone? Simply put it’s the brand name for the combination medicine of buprenorphine and naloxone that works to reduce opiate withdrawal and relapse.
If you or someone you know is struggling with opiate addiction please contact us. Suboxone detox may be the best treatment for them.