Suboxone for Opioid Addiction Treatment
05/02/2024 2024-05-02 14:24Suboxone for Opioid Addiction Treatment
Suboxone for Opioid Addiction Treatment
Overcome opioid dependence with Suboxone and holistic therapies tailored to your needs at our Integrative wellness center in Denver.
The opioid addiction epidemic in the United States has become a crisis, with an average of 90 people dying every day due to opioid overdose, according to the American Society of Anesthesiologists. Opioid Addiction or Opioid Use Disorder (OUD) is defined as an uncontrollable urge to use opioids, even when it causes repeated harm, as they activate powerful reward centers in the brain.
What begins with a prescription for pain management can quickly lead to dependence, addiction, and even potentially fatal overdose. At Ballen Medical & Wellness, we offer Suboxone treatment and other evidence-based therapies to help you overcome opioid dependence and achieve long-term recovery. Let’s explore the broader aspects of opioid addiction and how Suboxone can help treat this life-threatening condition.
Opioid Use Disorder(OUD): How It Occurs
Opioids are highly addictive due to their interaction with the brain’s reward system. They trigger the release of dopamine and endorphins, creating a sense of euphoria and well-being. However, this pleasurable effect is temporary. As it wears off, individuals experience strong cravings to recreate that feeling, leading to continued use and dependence.
Over time, the brain adapts to the presence of opioids, and higher doses are required to achieve the same effects. This is known as tolerance. As tolerance increases, individuals may take larger doses or use opioids more frequently, further increasing the risk of developing an opioid use disorder.
The combination of the powerful euphoric effects, the development of tolerance, and the unpleasant withdrawal symptoms that occur when opioid use is discontinued can make it extremely difficult for individuals to stop using opioids on their own. This is how opioid use disorder can develop, even for those who initially took opioids as prescribed for legitimate medical purposes.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a prescription medication used in the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). It contains two active ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, which means it activates the same receptors as opioids but with a reduced risk of respiratory depression and a lower potential for misuse. Naloxone, on the other hand, is an opioid antagonist that reverses the effects of opioids and also helps prevent misuse.
Suboxone is effective in treating addiction to various opioids, including prescription painkillers like hydrocodone, oxycodone (OxyContin), and fentanyl, as well as illicit opioids like heroin and morphine. It works by suppressing withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings for opioids without producing the euphoric “high” associated with full opioid agonists.
How Suboxone Helps You Fight Opioid Dependency
One of the key benefits of Suboxone is its ability to help individuals regain a sense of normalcy and improve their quality of life. By alleviating the physical and psychological effects of opioid withdrawal and cravings, Suboxone can facilitate a successful recovery process when combined with counseling and behavioral therapies. At Ballen Medical & Wellness, our comprehensive approach combines Suboxone with therapy and natural alternatives, aiming to provide you with:
- Stop immediate cravings for opioids and opiates
- Stop the cycle of time, energy and criminal risk of procuring illegal opioids and opiates
- Develop a treatment program that respects your life and work schedules as well as your individual history of dependence
- Make opioid withdrawal as comfortable and stigma-free as possible
- Put an end to the feelings of guilt and shame that often accompany dependence
- Develop a proper therapy and aftercare program to minimize the chances of relapse
- Get you back in control of your life, both for you and your loved ones
Every day we help people just like you take steps to regain control of their lives. Contact us to learn more at (720)738-8531
Tapering Off Suboxone Safely
While Suboxone can be an effective maintenance medication, some patients may wish to taper off and find a non-medication solution. We are committed to supporting this process safely and effectively.
Stopping Suboxone abruptly can lead to severe withdrawal symptoms and raises relapse risks. It’s important to taper dosages gradually under medical supervision to minimize withdrawal effects. We’ll create a customized tapering schedule for your needs.
Our holistic approach combines traditional and complementary therapies like counseling, nutritional support, NAD+ therapy, and mindfulness to reinforce your recovery after discontinuing Suboxone.
Our goal is providing compassionate, judgment-free care focused on your long-term wellbeing, whether through medication-assisted treatment or alternative paths. We’ll explore all possibilities until the right solution for you.
Treatment options beyond Suboxone
In addition to Suboxone, we offer an intensive 10-Day Outpatient Detox program. This option is available if you’d prefer to detox naturally without prescription medication. Our outpatient program utilizes an innovative NAD+ IV therapy infusion protocol designed to reset the neurotransmitters responsible for addictive cravings. During this process, we prioritize your comfort, safety, and pain management. Remarkably, most patients experience a significant reduction in cravings within just 1-3 days of beginning their NAD+ infusions.
Personalized Opioid Addiction Treatment at Ballen Medical & Wellness
At our integrative mental health and wellness center in Denver, we offer a warm, supportive environment to help you or your loved ones overcome opioid dependence. Our founder, Dr. Beth Ballen, is a licensed psychiatrist who guides all addiction treatment, including Suboxone for opioid and opiate dependence.
We provide personalized, individualized treatment programs tailored to your unique needs and schedule. Our comprehensive approach addresses the physical, mental, and emotional aspects of dependence, offering:
- Rapid detox options
- Licensed addiction counseling and psychotherapy
- Long-term Suboxone maintenance
- Ketamine therapy to increase neuroplasticity, help reset old patterns, and accelerate progress in psychotherapy and counseling
- Holistic health and wellness therapies, including:
- Hormone and thyroid treatment
- Nutrient optimization
- IV therapy
All therapy, counseling, and treatments are conducted in a private, non-judgmental outpatient setting, with individual sessions rather than group therapy.
Understanding the urgency of opioid addiction treatment, we prioritize prompt scheduling and try to accommodate next-day appointments or sometimes even same-day appointments for clients in need if we can. Our goal is to work with you to develop a comprehensive plan that fits your life and work schedule while supporting your journey towards recovery.
Start Your Suboxone Program Today
To learn more about Suboxone as well as our other treatment services centered around opioid and opioid dependence, we recommend calling and speaking with a member of our team. Complimentary 15-minute consultations can be scheduled here.
If you’d prefer to call, you can reach us at (720)222-0550.
FAQs
How Effective Is Suboxone Treatment?
Suboxone treatment is highly effective in helping to transition away from prescription pain medicine and other opioids and opiates. The long term success of fighting opioid dependence, however, typically depends on appropriate therapy and aftercare.
Is Suboxone A Short-Term Or Long-Term Solution?
Suboxone can be used short-term to decrease withdrawal symptoms while detoxing from opioids and opiates. For clients who require more long-term assistance, Suboxone can also be used for maintenance to decrease the chances of relapse. We’ll work with you and discuss all options so you can make an educated decision about which treatment is best suited for you.
What Opioids & Opioids Can Suboxone Help Treat?
Between Suboxone and other treatment options, we can address the full spectrum of opioids and opiates you might be dependent on. Some of the most common ones include:
- OxyContin
- Vicodin
- Percocet
- Opana
- Oxycodone
- Hydrocodone
- Demerol
- Dilaudid
- Actiq
- Fentanyl
- Codeine
- Heroin
How Painful Is Opioid Withdrawal And Detox?
Different practitioners can have different philosophies surrounding withdrawal and detox from opioids and opiates. Our philosophy is to make this process as comfortable as possible so you’re able to successfully detox or transition to Suboxone for maintenance.
During your withdrawal and detox, we’ll provide what Dr. Ballen calls “comfort meds” to keep you comfortable and help relieve withdrawal symptoms such as restlessness, agitation, sleeplessness or nausea. How difficult withdrawal and detox is depends on several individual factors, but some clients are able to manage withdrawal over a weekend and keep their work schedule uninterrupted.
What To Expect During Suboxone for Opioid Addiction Treatment
All treatment begins with an in-person evaluation to assess your unique medical history and needs. From there, we’ll develop a treatment program that fits the goals and scheduling needs of your life, including personal and work considerations. This may include transitioning from your current opioid or opiate use to Suboxone for maintenance, or it might mean helping you detox entirely.
Why Don’t You Take Insurance?
When we started our practice, we decided that we’d rather have a smaller number of clients and develop a substantial, meaningful relationship with them than see more clients but be forced to rush them through shorter appointment times. For instance, our follow-up appointments are 30 minutes long, as opposed to 15 minutes with you and 15 minutes (or longer) with your insurance company. Many of our clients can get reimbursement for our services through superbills, however, which we are happy to provide.
Get started today
To learn more about Suboxone for Opioid Addiction as well as our other treatment services centered around opioid and opioid dependence, we recommend scheduling a free 15-minute consultation with a member of our care team here.
If you’d prefer to call, you can reach us at (720)222-0550.