Opiate Treatment

Opiate treatment refers to any treatment that provides relief from drug addiction and dependency with a goal of eventual abstinence and freedom from the physical symptoms associated with withdrawal. New approaches for opiate addiction are in constant development and one of the latest is a drug called buprenorphine. This new drug is similar to drugs like methadone, which allow a doctor to monitor a patient's drug use and systematically taper off the dosage to minimize withdrawal symptoms and stamp out the physical aspects of opioid-based prescription drug addiction.

What is Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine is a drug that has been approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for use in the treatment of opioid-based prescription drug withdrawal from a doctor’s office. At Meditox, we make use of both forms, Subutex and Suboxone, prescribing whichever is most appropriate for the individual’s circumstance.

What is Subutex?

Subutex is the name of a prescription which is made up of pure buprenorphine. It is used to treat addiction to prescription opiates on an out-patient basis.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is the name of the prescription, which is made up of a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine essentially replaces the opiate prescription to which the patient is addicted and the naloxone provides a further deterrent from using additional opiates by blocking the body's ability to process and feel any euphoric effects of opiates beyond a certain dosage level.

How Does Buprenorphine Treatment Differ From Previously Available Treatments?

Unmanageable prescription drug addiction has traditionally been treated with a methadone detox program. This required that the person struggling with the physical addiction either enroll in an inpatient drug addiction treatment facility and receive a daily methadone dose there or else enroll in an outpatient drug addiction program and make daily trips to a local methadone clinic in order to receive their dose.

With the advent of buprenorphine, it is now possible to receive a drug addiction treatment in the doctor's office setting without enrolling in an inpatient program or a daily treatment center.

What are the Specifications of Opiate Treatment with Buprenorphine?

Buprenorphine in any form can only be prescribed a physician who is trained in its dispensation. Also, the patient must not have a physical addiction to opioid-based prescription drugs that would, in other circumstances, warrant a methadone dose higher than 40 milligrams per day.

At Meditox, we meet with each person one-on-one and determine with our team of physicians and counseling support which prescription is most appropriate. Should you and your Meditox doctor determine that you and our program are a good fit, you will leave with a prescription for either Subutex or Suboxone for your opiate addiction treatment as well as a plan to be drug free in as few as six weeks.

If you feel that Meditox might be the right solution for you or your loved one, please call us for a toll-free and private consultation:

Additional Resources

Opening the Door to Mainstream Medical Treatment of Drug Addiction
Policy Progress for Physician Treatment of Opiate Addiction
Planned Methadone Treatment for Non-Heroin Opiate Admissions

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August 11, 2006

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