about-suboxone
We Can Help With Opioid Dependence
No matter your situation, our excellent team at Cedar Grove Medical Associates in Smyrna, TN
can help.will treat you with compassion and friendliness. You are more than just a number – you are a person. With that said, your recovery is important to us, and you will be treated with the individual care and attention you deserve.
With our office-based program, no inpatient treatment is required. This means that recovery is easier than ever and involves very little interruption to your daily life, enabling you to maintain occupational stability. SUBOXONE® is the medication we prescribe in our program. Because it is a lawfully acquired medication, unlike illicit substances, from a licensed physician, there are no potential legal repercussions such as incarceration. Suboxone has also been proven to reduce the risks of accidental suicide due to overdose. MOST IMPORTANTLY, Suboxone will help reduce your cravings for other opioids as well as suppress any symptoms of withdrawal.
Additionally, for a limited time, we are offering a free prescription savings card to help with your cost of medication. call today to reserve your spot in our program for a chance at these remarkable savings!
HOW IT WORKS:
Explanation Of Treatment
Intake
Initially, you will be given a comprehensive substance dependence assessment as well as an evaluation of mental status and a physical exam. We will discuss the pros and cons of the medication, SUBOXONE®, with you to ensure our program is your best opportunity for recovery. After such, treatment expectations as well as issues involved with maintenance versus medically supervised withdrawal will be discussed so that the best option for you can be chosen.
Induction
During your first appointment, you will be switched from your current opioid (heroin, methadone, or prescription painkillers) to Suboxone. You must arrive for your first visit experiencing mild to moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms for a proper evaluation. Arrangements will be made for you to receive your first dose shortly after or during your initial appointment. Your response to the initial dose will be monitored. You may receive additional medication, if necessary, to reduce your withdrawal symptoms. Since individual tolerances and reactions to Suboxone vary, weekly in-person appointments or daily phone appointments may be scheduled. Medications will be adjusted until you no longer experience withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Intake and Induction may both occur at the first visit, depending on your needs and your doctor's evaluation.
Stabilization
Once the appropriate dose of Suboxone is established, you will stay at this dose until steady blood levels are achieved. At this point, you and your doctor will discuss the treatment options best for your individual recovery.
Maintenance
Your progress will be monitored, while you undergo both medication-assistance and behavioral counseling. The maintenance phase canals from weeks to years; such as, the length of treatment will be determined by you, your doctor and, possibly, your counselor. Your length of treatment may vary depending on your
individual needs.
Medically Supervised Withdrawal
As your treatment progresses, you and your doctor may eventually decide that medically supervised withdrawal is an appropriate option for you. In this phase, your doctor will gradually taper your Suboxone dose over time, taking care to see that you do not experience any withdrawal symptoms or cravings. However, it is important to be aware that opioid addiction is a lifetime illness that requires daily care through counseling, medication assistance, or a combination of both to
prevent relapse.
Initially, you will be given a comprehensive substance dependence assessment as well as an evaluation of mental status and a physical exam. We will discuss the pros and cons of the medication, SUBOXONE®, with you to ensure our program is your best opportunity for recovery. After such, treatment expectations as well as issues involved with maintenance versus medically supervised withdrawal will be discussed so that the best option for you can be chosen.
Induction
During your first appointment, you will be switched from your current opioid (heroin, methadone, or prescription painkillers) to Suboxone. You must arrive for your first visit experiencing mild to moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms for a proper evaluation. Arrangements will be made for you to receive your first dose shortly after or during your initial appointment. Your response to the initial dose will be monitored. You may receive additional medication, if necessary, to reduce your withdrawal symptoms. Since individual tolerances and reactions to Suboxone vary, weekly in-person appointments or daily phone appointments may be scheduled. Medications will be adjusted until you no longer experience withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Intake and Induction may both occur at the first visit, depending on your needs and your doctor's evaluation.
Stabilization
Once the appropriate dose of Suboxone is established, you will stay at this dose until steady blood levels are achieved. At this point, you and your doctor will discuss the treatment options best for your individual recovery.
Maintenance
Your progress will be monitored, while you undergo both medication-assistance and behavioral counseling. The maintenance phase canals from weeks to years; such as, the length of treatment will be determined by you, your doctor and, possibly, your counselor. Your length of treatment may vary depending on your
individual needs.
Medically Supervised Withdrawal
As your treatment progresses, you and your doctor may eventually decide that medically supervised withdrawal is an appropriate option for you. In this phase, your doctor will gradually taper your Suboxone dose over time, taking care to see that you do not experience any withdrawal symptoms or cravings. However, it is important to be aware that opioid addiction is a lifetime illness that requires daily care through counseling, medication assistance, or a combination of both to
prevent relapse.
UNDERSTANDING OPIOID ADDICTION
Understanding Opioid Dependence
Opioid dependence is a disease in which there are biological, psychological and social changes. Some of the biological changes include:
- The need for increasing amounts of opioid to produce the same effect
- Symptoms of withdrawal
- Feelings of craving
- Changes in sleep patterns
- A reliance on heroin or other drugs to help you cope with everyday problems
- An inability to feel good or celebrate without using heroin or opioids.
- Isolating oneself by reducing contact with important people in your life
- An inability to participate in important events due to drug use
- Continued use of drugs despite their negative effect,
- Need for increasing amounts of opioids to have the same effect
- Development of withdrawal symptoms upon cessation
Each of the aforementioned changes can contribute to the continued use of opioids. Treatment for opioid dependence is best considered a long-term process. Recovery from opioid dependence is not an easy or painless process, as it involves changes in not only drug abuse habits and lifestyle, but also overall. Oftentimes, we find the development of coping skills through therapy to be amongst the most helpful changes. Recovery will involve hard work, commitment, discipline and a willingness to examine the effects of opioid dependence on your life. At first, it isn't unusual to feel impatient, angry or frustrated. The changes you need to make will depend on how opioid dependence has specifically affected your life. PLEASE do not hesitate to call us during this time. During this dual treatment process, your counselor may help you with the above areas of change while SUBOXONE® will help you avoid many or all of the physical symptoms of opioid withdrawal. These typically include craving, restlessness, poor sleep, irritability, yawning, muscle cramps, runny nose, tearing, gooseflesh, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea. Your doctor may prescribe other medications for you as necessary to help relieve these symptoms. You should be careful not to respond to these withdrawal symptoms by losing patience with the treatment process and thinking that the symptoms can only be corrected by using drugs. To help you deal with the symptoms of withdrawal, you should try to set small goals with your counselor and work toward them on a daily basis.
