Morphine was first used to treat opium addiction. Heroin was then created to treat morphine addiction. Methadone was developed to treat heroin addiction. And, now we have Buprenorphine treatment which is used to treat opioid addiction.
If you have watched or read anything in the news lately, you have likely heard something about the opioid crisis that our country is facing. Prescription narcotics are finding their way onto the street and into the wrong hands has delivered us with a major problem, including the rising need for buprenorphine treatment.
What Is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine was created a decade ago as a means of pain management. Unlike the most popular narcotics that cause opiates to attach to the brain’s receptors, Buprenorphine treatment knocks these opiates off.
It then begins to stimulate the receptors, letting the brain know that is satisfied and doesn’t need to go through withdrawal – causing an addict to use more. It eliminates the withdrawal and craving.
Using this drug in addiction treatment for opiates shows wonderful results and has been proven very effective. Plus, being weaned off of the drug is much easier, allow the patient to continue to have full energy and be of full functional health. This is quite different than being weaned off of opiates, which often leads to fatigue and depression or anxiety.
Scientists have been seeking an effective treatment for opiate addiction for many, many years. And, they have found it in Buprenorphine as it appears to act as a partial agonist at mu and kappa opioid receptors and as an antagonist at delta receptors.
The Medications: Subutex and Suboxone
Subutex and Suboxone are the official names of the medications approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. Both medicines contain the active ingredient, Buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence.
Subutex contains only Buprenorphine hydrochloride. This formulation was developed as the initial product. This medication is often prescribed during the first few days of treatment.
Suboxone, the second medication, contains Buprenorphine hydrochloride, plus an additional ingredient called naloxone, to guard against misuse. This medication is common during the maintenance phase of treatment.
Our Buprenorphine Treatment Program
At the Lakehouse Recovery Center, our Buprenorphine treatment program attributes most of its success to a holistic approach to recovery. This gives us the ability to allow our patients to recover in a comfortable, welcoming, safe, and supervised environment. We also work hard to maintain a facility that is conducive to personal growth, as this is the key to a successful recovery.
Combining our multi-faceted approach to Buprenorphine treatment with the development of this drug has increased the success of treatment for opiate addiction.
While each of these steps created a less intense drug, they required carefully measured dosages for an indeterminate amount of time. Finally, science has found what it has been looking for.
With Buprenorphine treatment, the body experiences the plateau effect. No high is created, leaving you unable to abuse this drug. What more could you ask for in a treatment?
We Are Here for You
If you or someone you know is struggling with opiate addiction, contact the Lakehouse Recovery Center today. We can help.