Suboxone - An Overview
Medical professionals prescribe Suboxone to people suffering from an opioid addiction. The brand-name drug can be an effective treatment for opioid addiction, such as oxycodone or any illicit drug like heroin. Suboxone is typically a combination of two potent drugs: naloxone and buprenorphine.
Naloxone falls into the class of opioid antagonists. Like other drugs, it binds to the opioid receptors present in the brain and prevents drugs (opioids) from stopping the dopamine’s intoxicating flood and taking hold. Naloxone is a crucial ingredient of Narcan, a drug that doctors administer to revive addicted individuals who suffered from an opioid overdose.
Buprenorphine works as a partial opioid agonist that can activate and stimulate the opioid receptors in your brain. It is different from full agonists as it affects plateau -commonly referred to as “ceiling effect”. An increased dose of Buprenorphine doesn’t increase the effects or provide more significant relief to the patients.
As Buprenorphine is also an opioid, its ceiling effects can help patients discontinue using dependent drugs without any withdrawal symptoms.
Suboxone includes one part of naloxone and four parts of buprenorphine. Naloxone is sufficient to curb any narcotic effects and prevent drug abuse. That means taking Suboxone for other reasons may cause severe narcotic withdrawal symptoms. Your doctor may prescribe Suboxone as a sublingual film. That means you can place it under your cheek or tongue to dissolve it. The film may have different dosage strengths.