Suboxone

Suboxone services offered in Frisco and Little Elm, TX

Struggling with opioid use disorder is common, affecting three million people in the United States. If you need help breaking an addiction, turn to board-certified psychiatrists Pratibha Agarwal, MD, and Krishnendu Ghosh, MD, in Frisco, Texas. They can prescribe Suboxone (buprenorphine) during medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid use disorder. Call the AG Psychiatry office to learn more or request an appointment online today.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is an FDA-approved, highly effective medication for treating opioid use disorder, a condition in which you’re addicted to pain medications, heroin, or other opioids. Suboxone works by reducing cravings for opioids or lessening withdrawal symptoms. When combined with psychotherapy, Suboxone can help you overcome substance use disorder.

Is Suboxone right for me?

Your psychiatrist determines if you’re a candidate for Suboxone after discussing your symptoms, medical, history, lifestyle, treatment preferences, and goals. They may complete a physical exam and order blood tests before personalizing a treatment plan.

Your provider might suggest Suboxone if you’ve been diagnosed with opioid use disorder, are willing to abide by safety precautions when undergoing treatment, don’t have any health conflicts, and have reviewed all other treatment options.

Symptoms of opioid use disorder include getting high, needing more and more opioids to produce the same effect, not being able to stop using opioids, and having withdrawal symptoms (muscle aches, anxiety, difficulty sleeping, nausea, vomiting, etc.) when quitting.

How does Suboxone work?

Suboxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it produces similar effects but is weaker than opioids. It limits the potential for misuse and reduces physical dependence, including drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone’s effects increase with each dose until they eventually level off (a ceiling effect).

What should I expect during Suboxone treatment?

The three phases of Suboxone treatment include:

Induction phase

During the induction phase, take Suboxone under medical supervision after abstaining from opioids.

Stabilization phase

Your psychiatrist may adjust your Suboxone dosage during the stabilization phase of treatment after you no longer have cravings and experience few to no side effects.

Maintenance phase

You’ve reached the maintenance phase of Suboxone treatment when you’re taking a steady dose of Suboxone. The length of this phase varies from person to person. Your provider might eventually recommend medically supervised withdrawal to continue rehabilitation without medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Using Suboxone for opioid use disorder is most effective when combined with psychotherapy services, including behavioral therapies and self-help programs. It’s also important to adopt and maintain healthy habits: eat nutritious foods, exercise regularly, get enough sleep, and minimize stress.

Call AG Psychiatry or request an appointment online today to determine if Suboxone treatment is right for you.