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Suboxone Addiction

People who have become dependent on opiates, and who are hoping to end their cycle of drug abuse, will often start a program of methadone or Suboxone. However, Suboxone is itself a synthetic opiate, which means that it is also susceptible to being abused. If this behavior is not quickly treated, it is possible to become addicted to Suboxone in much the same way as for other opiates.

Signs of Suboxone Addiction

By some way the most obvious sign that Suboxone is being abused is the physical change which it is likely to provoke in its user. Examples of this are a noticeably slower heart rate and breathing that is excessively shallow and depressed. Associated symptoms include tiredness or dizziness to such a great degree that they result in an almost complete loss of co-ordination. These signs suggest that a person has taken an overdose of Suboxone, and this in turn is likely to mean that the user has been abusing Suboxone by taking a higher dosage of it than they should have done.

Some of the other warning signals are more difficult to spot. For example, someone who is abusing a drug like Suboxone is likely to conceal details about what they are doing with their time, even from their family and close friends. Those who are in a relationship with the abuser may well notice that he or she has started to use a significantly increased dose of the drug, or that they have started to use it for the first time. It is very common for changes in behavior to be a significant element of the symptoms of Suboxone addiction. Abusers are also likely to attempt to deny that they have a problem, so they need to be helped to appreciate that continuing to use it in an improper way will harm them.

How Suboxone Abuse Affects the Body

In stark and blunt terms, the ultimate effect of the continued abuse of Suboxone is death. There are several reasons why misuse of the drug might lead to this extreme and shocking consequence. Chief among these is that the abuser has taken an overdose which has remained untreated until it is too late. Alternatively, death can sometimes result if the Suboxone has interacted in a catastrophic way with another drug - and, of course, the lack of co-ordination which abuse of Suboxone engenders in a person can have fatal consequences if they are driving a car.

Among the medications which are known to have potentially devastating conflicts with Suboxone are antidepressants, but even something as straightforward as an alcoholic drink can cause the most severe effects. Even if a person is not killed by these interactions, their body may be permanently damaged, with the kidneys and the liver particularly at risk. For this reason, it is very important to understand that abusing Suboxone as well as other drugs can be extremely dangerous and can potentially produce horrific results.

The fact that Suboxone depresses the central nervous system also gives its abuse the potential to cause severe respiratory conditions. In large doses, the drug can even slow down the functioning of the brain, as well as dangerously impairing motor functions. Although Suboxone can be very useful in helping to wean people off other opiates, its potentially severe side-effects mean that it is extremely important to use it only with great care. Although most people do not want anything to do with Suboxone addiction, the level of risk means that it is sensible to talk about the issues and possible courses of treatment with a doctor.

Treating Suboxone Addiction

When a person stops taking Suboxone, they are likely to experience some physical symptoms, such as sweating, tremors, and nausea. These feelings can be frightening and difficult to deal with on your own, and can sometimes affect the relationships you have with both coworkers and personal acquaintances. Severe addiction is often treated as an inpatient condition, because of the high level of care and oversight which is necessary in order to monitor a patient's progress, as well as the long time - averaging three months - which it takes.

The treatment you will receive during this time will give you a wider understanding of how Suboxone works, combined with a deeper appreciation of how you can use other methods to manage your pain and discomfort. Treatment regimes will vary from person to person, with multiple approaches frequently being combined in one course of treatment. After this phase of the detoxification process is over, rehabilitation will take place, possibly including counseling and group therapy.

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