Buprenorphine is commonly used to treat opioid use disorders, or opioid addiction. However, it is possible to become dependent on this medication if you start abusing it. When this happens, you will require buprenorphine detoxification services.
Buprenorphine is a medication that is derived from thebaine - an extract from the opium poppy plant. As such, it is classified as an opioid drug. However, it does not produce effects that are quite as strong as those produced by methadone and heroin. Even so, it is possible to feel slightly sedated and euphoric while using it. It also comes with a high risk for abuse and addiction, although this risk is lower if you are already tolerant to other more potent opioids.
The DEA - the Drug Enforcement Administration - classifies buprenorphine as a schedule III drug under the Controlled Substances Act passed by the federal government. This means that it has some medical uses but comes with a risk of substance abuse and addiction - even though this risk is relatively lower than drugs in schedule II and I.
If you take buprenorphine regularly or in higher doses than your doctor advised - or without a valid prescription or an opioid use disorder - there is a high risk that you could develop tolerance to its effects.
This means that you will soon find yourself using it much more often than you used to before you can experience its pleasurable effects. Over time, this could give rise to the development of physical and psychological dependence.
Once dependence has occurred, your body would not be able to function normally unless you take the drug. This means that if you significantly reduce the dose that you have gotten accustomed to or completely stop using the drug, you will experience withdrawal symptoms.
When this happens, you will have to take buprenorphine to ensure that these withdrawal symptoms stop. However, a more effective way to manage them would be through a professional buprenorphine detoxification program.
It is possible to check into a buprenorphine detoxification program to manage your withdrawal symptoms and reduce or completely eliminate your cravings for this opioid medication.
These symptoms of withdrawal are similar to those that you would experience if you were addicted to heroin and abruptly stopped taking it. Even so, they often tend to be somewhat milder. They include:
The goal of buprenorphine detoxification is to ease the withdrawal process. It can also help you abstain from abusing this drug and other opioids. depending on your individual needs, the treatment might be provided on an outpatient or inpatient basis.
The recovery method, on the other hand, will largely dependent on your substance abuse history and medical needs. If you are taking the drug for oxycodone, heroin, or opioid addiction, for instance, your doctor might taper off this drug. By so doing, they would be able to help you transition away from its use gradually.
In other instances, doctors might prescribe different types of medications in case you have issues with buprenorphine. If you do not have a valid prescription for this drug, you might also be encouraged to go through buprenorphine detoxification before checking into an addiction treatment facility for further therapy and rehabilitation.
Learning what treatment is best for you or your loved one is easy. Speak to one of our trained counselors and let them guide you to the best treatment options available for your specific needs.
