Is it possible to get off suboxone

The following Suboxone withdrawal tips will help you cope with the discomfort and challenges that accompany Suboxone withdrawals. Speak with your doctor and form a plan. Entering a period of withdrawal can be scary. Get your questions answered and voice concerns about the process to your doctor. Problems like nausea and increased cravings are common.

Your doctor may be able to prescribe medications that mitigate these symptoms without interrupting the withdrawal process. Prepare for the physical effects. Detoxing from Suboxone may feel like a bad case of the flu.

Prepare for rapid body temperature changes with blankets, a fan, ice packs, and heating pads. Hydrate with water and electrolyte beverages throughout the detox.

Compile distractions like movies, books or magazines, or video games to take your mind off the pain. Have a support system in place. The emotional toll that withdrawal takes is no small matter. Once you come off Suboxone, you will have beaten your physical dependence on opioids, but not the psychological aspects of addiction.

Talk therapy can help you figure out why you began abusing drugs in the first place. You can learn to identify specific situations and feelings that have led you to use in the past. Identifying these triggers helps you recognize and eliminate the negative thought patterns that cause you to make poor decisions.

Research shows that combining talk therapy with medication management is more effective at treating opioid addiction than medication alone. There are many ways to explore talk therapy. You might consider working one-on-one with a psychologist or mental health counselor in private practice. You can meet with a mental health or addiction counselor at a local community clinic.

Or you can explore group therapy programs, which are offered at many hospitals, clinics, and addiction treatment facilities. To find more information about Narcotics Anonymous NA meetings in your area, check out its website. You can find a meeting near you with their searchable directory. If you are the loved one of someone with an opioid use disorder, you may want to consider attending a support group for people like you. Nar-Anon is a step program for family and friends of people with substance abuse problems.

At these meetings, you can talk with people who have experienced the same fears and frustrations as you. For more mental health resources, see our National Helpline Database.

If you are on Suboxone and making plans to quit, chances are you are already on the path to recovery. Finding some sort of support, whether through meetings or therapy sessions, can help you stay sober in the long-term. Learn the best ways to manage stress and negativity in your life. FDA approves the first non-opioid treatment for management of opioid withdrawal symptoms in adults. Food and Drug Administration.

Published May 16, Velander JR. Suboxone: Rationale, Science, Misconceptions. Ochsner J. National Library of Medicine. Highlights of Prescribing Information: Suboxone. American Psychiatric Association. Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders. Psychosocial and pharmacological treatments versus pharmacological treatments for opioid detoxification. Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews. Buprenorphine tapering schedule and illicit opioid use.

A randomized, double-blind evaluation of buprenorphine taper duration in primary prescription opioid abusers. JAMA Psychiatry. J Addict Res Ther. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist.

It binds to the same receptors in the brain that addictive opioid drugs do in order to prevent both the effects of opioids and withdrawal symptoms. Since buprenorphine has opioid-like properties itself, it activates opioid receptors when taken. Over time, the body adjusts to having the substance in the body, so it becomes physically dependent on buprenorphine. If a person is taking the medication as prescribed but experiences withdrawal symptoms, he or she is physically dependent.

However, if the individual abuses Suboxone and experiences cravings for it, he or she may be addicted. Even though people are likely to become dependent on Suboxone after long-term use, there are ways to stop taking the medication safely.

Usually, the safest way to do so is with the help of a treatment program that will manage your symptoms of withdrawal. Even if you are taking Suboxone as directed, you can still expect to experience some level of withdrawal when you stop taking it. As a result, stopping cold-turkey can make a person feel drug cravings and even the desire to relapse. This is dangerous because it can easily lead back into a toxic cycle of drug abuse and addiction.

Suboxone withdrawal is similar to opioid withdrawal as it produces flu-like symptoms, such as:[1]. Fortunately, these symptoms are typically less intense than those of opioid withdrawal. Skip to content. Facebook page opens in new window Instagram page opens in new window Linkedin page opens in new window. Tapering Off Suboxone. Do You Have Questions?