Subutex
Drug addiction is one of the most complicated social issues today. It is capable of destroying families, dimming the hopes of what could have been a bright future. One of the leading substances being abused is heroin, an opiate.
Quitting heroin is not an easy task. If done improperly, it could cause serious health hazards due to withdrawal symptoms. Fatalities related to heroin withdrawal have been documented. Also, heroin withdrawal symptoms can cause severe discomfort to the addict, which may lead to a relapse of the addiction.
To address this growing social problem, several drugs have been utilized to help reform heroin addicts. Among these drugs is Subutex.
Background:
Subutex is a brand name for the Schedule III substance, Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine itself is an opioid drug, sharing some properties of morphine. This substance is used as an analgesic for moderate to severe pain. Its pain-relieving properties can last longer than morphine’s, with the sublingual tablet being effective for 6 to 8 hrs.
Subutex is manufactured by the British firm, Reckitt Benckiser. It is marketed in the form of white tablets that are administered orally. Subutex was approved for use by the FDA for detoxification in 2002.
Use and Dosage:
Subutex is used for the process of heroin detoxification, as well as the detoxification for opioid dependence. Subutex only has buprenorphine hydrochloride as its active agent, as compared to Suboxone, which also contains the drug naloxone.
Subutex is the drug of choice during the initial phase of narcotic detoxification. The drug is available in 2mg and 8mg tablets which are given sublingually, which means it must be completely dissolved under the tongue. These Subutex tablets are usually given once a day, with varying doses depending on your doctor. Usually, after two days, the medication is then switched to Suboxone tablets, which are used during the maintenance phase of the detoxification.
Subutex works by preventing the manifestations of opioid withdrawal symptoms. This is made possible by it being an opioid itself. This process is called opioid replacement therapy, using a milder substitute for the more harmful substances. However, being an opioid itself, the use of Subutex should be done responsibly.
The active agent of Subutex, buprenorphine hydrochloride, is a Schedule III substance. This means that the substance has a potential for abuse. This makes it imperative that patients under Subutex therapy follow the doctor’s instructions to the letter.
Before starting to use Subutex, you should inform your doctor if you are currently using other medications. These drugs might interact with each other and may cause serious health hazards.
Like other opioids, Subutex can cause drowsiness. This fact is stressed to discourage patients on the drug from driving and operating machinery. Patients prescribed with Subutex are advised not to take alcohol because this may lead to a life-threatening respiratory depression.
Advantages:
The use of Subutex in opioid replacement therapy has become popular since its introduction in 2002. This is made possible for various reasons. One of these reasons is that Subutex is more effective than other drugs that are used, such as methadone, in relatively lower doses. The usual dose of 8-16mg of Subutex has been proven to be more effective than the 20-40mg dose of methadone. Also, Subutex’s effects last longer, which may allow dosing to take longer intervals between doses. The active agent of Subutex, buprenorphine, also has a lower potential for abuse compared to other opioids. This makes it possible for Subutex therapy to be done on an out-patient basis. Lastly, Subutex withdrawal, if it occurs, is a lot less severe than with other opioids.
Side Effects:
Subutex is known to cause the following side effects:
- Headaches, sleeping disorders, nausea, mood swings
- Sweating
- Flu-like symptoms
Counseling:
Of course, detoxification is only the first step to a successful rehabilitation. A lasting solution can best be achieved if done in conjunction with effective counseling. Counseling can help address precipitating factors which lead to the drug dependence.
What Subutex Rehabilitation Patients say about Malibu Horizon
The identities of the people writing these testimonials have been withheld to protect their inalienable right to privacy. The names that follow are fictional names of the author’s choosing.
"Malibu Horizon is really the best at what they do!" –Jim
"I had a drug problem. I had a hard time admitting this to the people around me. I was so ashamed. I needed help, which was what Malibu Horizon did for me." –Carey
"I wanted to be rid of my heroin addiction discreetly. I went to various rehabs, but none of them seemed to offer what I needed. Eventually, I learned about Malibu Horizon. They were able to help me be rid of my addiction while keeping it quiet." –Grant
"There was a time when I thought my life had no meaning. I started using crack, and eventually got hooked. I had a very bleak outlook in life, you know? Nothing mattered but the next high. I started hurting myself and the people who cared for me. And one day, I realized that fact. At first, I tried quitting on my own, but it proved to be near impossible. I told them how sorry I was and that I needed help. My family and I found out about Malibu Horizon, and their Subutex treatment did its magic! It took me a couple of weeks, but after the program I was completely over my drug problem, and I am now more optimistic." -Hill
"Malibu Horizon really knows what they’re doing. Their understanding but firm approach to rehabilitation helps people like me to change for the better." –Billy
"For a time, I prayed and prayed to God to help us find a way to help my son who had a drug problem. I tried getting him in various centers to try and help him quit, but it didn’t take long after when he’d be back on the streets, doing dope. When we got to Malibu Horizon, they were very professional but caring about the treatment. They were able to give me hope that, maybe, my son wasn’t completely lost yet. And sure enough, after the program was over, I saw the change to my son. He was more caring, and was more open to us. Malibu Horizon is really God’s answer to my prayers" –Nora