Why Do People Need to Taper Off Suboxone During Their Detox Program?

An opioid addiction is one of the most serious types of substance use disorders you can face. Once you have decided to get treatment to reclaim your sobriety, you will have to undergo the detox process. Many people are administered Suboxone to wean themselves off of the opioids. It’s one of the more effective medications when you have an opioid addiction, and it can help to reduce your cravings and prevent potential relapses. However, when you take Suboxone to eliminate opioids from your system during detox, much care needs to be taken. Suboxone itself is an opioid, which means that it, too, can be addictive. As a result, when you complete your detox and abruptly stop taking it, you might begin to experience those familiar symptoms of withdrawal. Instead of going cold turkey, you need to taper off of Suboxone.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication used for treating opioid addiction that is is comprised of buprenorphine and naloxone. It’s a proven medication that’s approved by the Food and Drug Administration for treating opioid addiction. The drug works in much the same way as opioids themselves as it affects the same areas of the brain. Suboxone is highly effective at reducing a person’s cravings for opioids and helps them to retain their newfound sobriety while they undergo the drug rehab treatment and recovery processes. In order to understand why Suboxone can create dependency in those taking it, you need to know about the two drugs that make it up. Buprenorphine is the opioid component.

Naloxone, on the other hand, is a drug that combats the addictive effects of opioids and works to prevent potential misuse of the medication. When the two drugs are combined, they help to decrease the symptoms of opioid withdrawal. Usually, Suboxone is given to people who have their drug rehab in an outpatient setting. It allows people to shed their cravings for opioids in a way that’s safe and effective and helps with withdrawal symptoms that would otherwise be uncomfortable and severe.

Why is Suboxone Difficult to Stop Taking?

Suboxone can give you that feeling of dependence when you’re taking it to wean yourself off of opioids. Because of the components of the medication, you can experience withdrawal that feels familiar if you suddenly stop taking it. While your withdrawal will not feel anywhere near as severe as what you experienced with opioids, it can be uncomfortable. You can experience certain side effects if you abruptly go off of Suboxone during detox. However, these can be subdued to a huge extent if you gradually taper off your usage with the help of medication management and counseling.

What are the Common Signs of Symptoms of Suboxone Withdrawal?

If you stop using Suboxone cold turkey instead of gradually tapering it off to stop using it, you could experience withdrawal. Your signs and symptoms can come as your dependence on the medication builds. This dependence isn’t exactly the same as an addiction, but your symptoms can closely mimic what you experienced while abusing opioids. The following are among the most common symptoms of Suboxone withdrawal:

  • Anxiety
  • Chills and shivering
  • Diarrhea
  • Goosebumps
  • Muscle aches and pains
  • Nausea
  • Restlessness
  • Runny nose
  • Sweating
  • Stomach cramps
  • Teary eyes
  • Tremors
  • Twitching
  • Vomiting

You can experience some or even all of these symptoms when going through Suboxone withdrawal. However, your symptoms shouldn’t be as severe as those you experienced while abusing opioids.

Continuing Treatment After Tapering Off of Suboxone

Suboxone is a great option for overcoming your opioid addiction. Once you have tapered off of the medication, you will be well on your way to enjoying your newfound sobriety. However, in order to go on with that success and maintain it for the long term, you will want to continue treatment after your detox. Therapy sessions are helpful for helping you to avoid a relapse.

Whether you have individual, group or family therapy, talking openly about your experiences can help you gain perspective and realize why you started abusing drugs in the first place. You can learn about triggers that led you to your substance use disorder and find out healthier ways to react. Ready to take that big step and get help to overcome your addiction? Call us at 833-610-1174. We can help you get started today.