Suboxone is a common medication used to manage opioid dependence. It contains four parts buprenorphine (a partial opioid agonist) and one part naloxone (an opioid antagonist). As an opioid combination drug, Suboxone use can lead to drug dependence.
Long-term use of Suboxone can alter brain chemistry. When the drug is not active in the bloodstream, withdrawal symptoms and cravings appear. Buprenorphine has a long half-life of between 24 hours and 72 hours, which means it can stay active in the brain for a few days.
When active, it binds to opioid receptors and elevates the brain’s dopamine levels, which, in turn, affects mood, thinking abilities, sleep functions, and movement capability. Opioids like buprenorphine also depress functions of the central nervous system. This means breathing rate and heart rate both slow and blood pressure and body temperature lower.
Even though buprenorphine has a ceiling effect, where its effects plateau after a certain amount is ingested, it is still a target for abuse. The National Survey on Drug Use and Health (NSDUH) publishes that in 2016, about 0.3 percent of the U.S. population misused a buprenorphine product.
Misuse of Suboxone can increase drug dependence and, therefore, the associated withdrawal symptoms. Since withdrawal from Suboxone can be so significant, it is not a drug that should be stopped suddenly. Instead, it should be tapered off slowly to allow a gradual adjustment for the brain and body.
What to Expect After Suboxone Cessation
Those taking Suboxone often come off more potent drugs like heroin, fentanyl, or other prescription opioids. While Suboxone has been an incredible tool in helping people transition from active addiction to a more stable lifestyle, Suboxone can still cause tolerance and dependence, meaning withdrawal is possible. When you reach this point and face the almighty opioid withdrawal syndrome again, which Suboxone saved you from before, you’re likely wondering how to get off Suboxone. Unfortunately, it’s not going to be the simplest of processes. However, with a Suboxone taper schedule, it’ll get you through these withdrawal symptoms.
There’s no way around it – getting off Suboxone isn’t easy. In many cases, it’s the final step when you’ve conquered an opioid addiction. You’ve reached the finish line, and your body no longer requires that medication to manage cravings. It’s a significant step in the recovery process, but that doesn’t mean it’s absent of challenges. The best way to get off Suboxone is by tapering. However, you’re likely going to experience withdrawal symptoms. With the help of medical professionals, you can experience a relatively painless Suboxone taper.
A Safe Tapering Schedule
The safest way to taper off Suboxone is through a medical detox program. In this program, trained medical professionals can determine the level of Suboxone dependence and work to lower levels of the drug in a safe and controlled manner to keep the body and brain stabilized.
Other medications can be used to help with drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms as well. Vital signs and emotional well-being can be closely monitored, and the environment is supportive and calm with around-the-clock supervision and care.
When tapering off Suboxone, it is vital to be honest regarding the following:
- How much Suboxone is taken regularly
- When the last dose was
- How long Suboxone has been used
- The method in which Suboxone is taken (i.e., as directed or through recreational use)
- What (if any) other drugs or medications are also being used
- Any physical or mental health disorders
- Biological or genetic factors that can affect drug dependence, such as a personal or family history of addiction
The starting dose of Suboxone during a taper will be different for everyone and is based on how dependent the brain and body are on the drug. Once this is established, the drug’s dosage can be lowered a little bit at a time over several days or weeks — again, this is related to the level of dependence. With a higher level of Suboxone dependence, the starting dosage of the taper will need to be higher, and the overall weaning process will need to be longer.
During a taper, Suboxone should generally be lowered in increments of 2 mg at a time every few days. If at any point withdrawal symptoms or drug cravings become more intense, the dosing may need to be readjusted, or the taper slowed. It may be necessary to go back to a previous dosage level to stabilize or to increase the amount of time in between when doses are reduced. Suboxone dosages can then be lowered again every two to three days until no more is needed and the drug is entirely out of the body.
Risks of Withdrawal
Withdrawal from an opioid drug can be physically and emotionally difficult, which is why the drug is tapered off during a specific period rather than stopped suddenly. In the case of Suboxone withdrawal, symptoms will generally start a few days after stopping the drug. The U.S. National Library of Medicine (NLM) warns that the following side effects are common during opioid withdrawal:
- Agitation
- Restlessness
- Insomnia
- Yawning
- Watery eyes
- Runny nose
- Tremors
- Muscle aches
- Stomach upset
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Anxiety
- Sweating
- Goosebumps
- Dilated pupils
Since Suboxone contains an opioid drug that suppresses some of the functions of the central nervous system, if that drug suddenly leaves the body after a level of dependence has formed, then those functions can become hyperactive. Heart rate, body temperature, breathing rate, and blood pressure can increase. Depression, trouble with thinking clearly, memory issues, problems with concentration, and drug cravings are all side effects of Suboxone withdrawal.
Significant drug cravings that occur during withdrawal can make a relapse likely. Introducing other opioids, or altering and injecting Suboxone, can activate the dormant naloxone component, which can then precipitate withdrawal symptoms, and they can be even more intense when brought on this way.
Naloxone essentially kicks opioids off the receptors in the brain, and intense withdrawal can start immediately.
A return to opioid use after a period of withdrawal can be especially risky, as the brain and body had some time to regulate without the drugs. Going back to using drugs at the same rate as before can be toxic and trigger a life-threatening overdose. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) publishes that every single day more than 130 people die from an opioid overdose in the United States.
Helpful Ways to Ease Suboxone Detox
There are several things you can do to make detox more manageable.
Again, the optimal method for tapering off Suboxone is through a medical detox program. These programs offer support and encouragement 24/7 as well as medical and mental health care, including medications to address withdrawal symptoms. A medical detox program can manage any complications as they arise and can even help with cravings, often through the use of other medications and/or supplements.
Keep these things in mind to ease the withdrawal process:
- Get enough sleep. Stick to a set sleeping/waking schedule.
- Eat healthy and balanced meals high in protein, vitamins, and minerals and low in refined sugars. Try to stay away from processed foods and caffeine.
- Drink plenty of water.
- Exercise often. This can lower stress, but it can also keep you busy and has physical benefits as well.
- Try holistic methods like yoga, breathing exercises, grounding techniques, and mindfulness.
- Massage therapy, chiropractic care, acupuncture, and spa therapies can also help alleviate pain, stress, and physical discomfort.
- Engage in activities that keep the brain busy. Art, writing, music, dancing, and other forms of creative expression can be great ways to reduce stress and keep the mind occupied.
- Reach out for help when needed. Have a friend, family member, or therapist to talk to when cravings or mood swings intensify.
A Suboxone taper should be controlled, slow, and closely monitored by a trained professional. Pay attention to your body and mental state, and be honest about how you are feeling. This can help to ensure that dosage levels remain safe and the chemical balance in the brain is maintained at a stable level.
Suboxone Addiction Treatment
It’s OK to admit if you’ve become dependent or even addicted to Suboxone you were prescribed. Some view it as a miracle drug, but that doesn’t mean it’s free of risk. Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance in the United States, meaning it’s deemed to have medical value. However, it also means there’s a risk of the individual becoming addicted. For that reason, special doctors with certifications from the Department of Health and Human Services can prescribe the drug. Unfortunately, even when the right steps are taken, becoming addicted is possible, and you might need to go back to treatment.
Becoming addicted to Suboxone is less likely than other opioids. Suboxone is not sedative like other drugs in its class, so it’s less likely to cause someone to experience cravings. However, your body will become extremely dependent on it, leading to withdrawal symptoms that you cannot overcome without treatment. Doctors will mitigate this with a tapering schedule, but that may not always be enough.
There’s no denying that Suboxone is a practical medication, but it must be used responsibly. Abusing Suboxone is dangerous, which indicates someone is taking it too often or in excessively large doses without a prescription. It’s unfortunate that a medication designed to help addiction can also become addictive, but life isn’t over.
The first stage in Suboxone addiction treatment is to enter medical detox. If someone was taking large doses of Suboxone, withdrawal symptoms could be uncomfortable, and the process could last a little longer. You’ll be given medication to cope with these symptoms and tapered slowly off the drug. Once the specialists are satisfied with your progress, you’ll be placed into the next level of care, which will most likely be an outpatient program. You’ve already proven your ability to stay sober from harder opioids, so outpatient is likely the best path for you. However, only the addiction specialists can make that call based on your recovery.
The program will last a few weeks and consist of therapies to retrain your brain to learn how to live without Suboxone. Once you’re free of drugs, life after Suboxone will be beautiful.
Life After Suboxone
Suboxone continues to play a significant role in the recovery process for millions of people across the country battling opioid addiction. An estimated one million people are successfully using the medication to maintain their sobriety and have a stable life. Once you’ve achieved your treatment goals, discontinuing Suboxone is a reasonable expectation. Clinicians are learning the best ways to manage this transition as it’s not always smooth as we’d like to think. Opioid addiction has become problematic across the country, but life after Suboxone is possible.
