Suboxone is a combination of an opiate called Buprenorphine and a narcotic called Naloxone. Naloxone is a special narcotic that is designed to reverse the effects of other narcotics.
Suboxone is designed to treat narcotic addiction, and it comes in only two strengths: 8mg and 2mg. It is a federally controlled drug due to its potential for abuse. This drug comes in sublingual pill form, meaning that it is administered under the tongue. The taste is described as resembling a combination of burnt tang and orange peel zest. It can take as long as an hour to feel the effects of Suboxone. Individuals report feeling a calming effect, followed by euphoria.
Side Effects
Some of the side effects of Suboxone addiction include drowsiness, a drop in blood pressure, dizziness, slow reaction time, constipation, and jitteriness.
Symptoms
Since Suboxone contains habit-forming ingredients, it is important to know the symptoms of a Suboxone addiction. The symptoms include sweating, an increase in blood pressure, fever, an increase in heart rate, nausea, and muscle pain.
Those who use Suboxone in order to relax are at a higher risk of dependence. When individuals begin to crush Suboxone in order to snort it or dissolve in water in order to inject it, they are abusing Suboxone. This puts the individual at high risk for developing an addiction.
Addiction is known for changing how an individual behaves and reacts to outside influences. These changes are due to psychological and physical dependence on Suboxone. There are some symptoms that cause behavioral changes. Some of these behavioral changes include the following:
- Increased anxiety
- Mood swings
- Disinterest in activities
- Theft
- Lying
- Poor performance at work and/or in school
- Severe changes in attitude.
These behavior changes can be extremely problematic and cause an individual to get into trouble with the law. Sometimes, the addiction can become so severe that an individual needs to resort to stealing money in order to buy more Suboxone.
Withdrawal Symptoms
Because it is a relatively new drug, there is not much written about the long-term effects of using Suboxone. Since Suboxone is similar to opiates, it is assumed that Suboxone withdrawal mirrors opiate withdrawal. It is assumed that Suboxone withdrawal is milder than opiate withdrawal and can last up to one month. Individuals withdrawing from Suboxone can develop a syndrome called Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome, or PAWS, for short. The symptoms of PAWS include insomnia, depression, and long-term lethargy
Individuals who use Suboxone to treat narcotic addiction have found it to be quite expensive. Fortunately, the treatment is accepted by many of the major insurance companies.
Suboxone has been successful in helping individuals overcome narcotic addiction. However, it can become an addiction in itself if used improperly. If Suboxone was prescribed to help manage an opiate dependence, it is important to know the symptoms of Suboxone addiction. Knowing the symptoms and getting them treated early on can help prevent any complications from coming up. If you (or someone you know) may be developing an addiction to Suboxone, you must seek help from a medical professional.