Suboxone

Suboxone® is a prescription medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder. Omobolaji Oyebanjo-Popoola, MD, and the team at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic in Decatur, Stockbridge, Villa Rica and Hiram, Georgia, includes board-certified addiction specialists who use Suboxone to reduce drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms. As part of their medication-assisted treatment (MAT), the team combines Suboxone with behavioral therapy to support recovery. Call or schedule an appointment online today. Telepsychiatry appointments are available.  

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is an FDA-approved treatment for opioid use disorder. It helps control drug cravings and withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to stop using. The medication contains two ingredients:

Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It produces the same euphoric effects as opioids. But it has a ceiling effect, which means taking more won’t elevate the euphoric feelings. This ingredient reduces your physical dependence on the drug.

Naloxone

Naloxone is an opioid agonist and reverses the effects of the opioids, sending you immediately into withdrawal. You only activate the naloxone in Suboxone when you misuse the medication. 

The team at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic uses Suboxone as part of their medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for addiction. MAT is a more holistic approach to addiction, treating both the physical and psychological aspects of your addiction. 

Am I a candidate for Suboxone?

The team at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic determines if you’re a candidate for Suboxone after an initial evaluation. They use it for patients who are struggling with an addiction to opioids and want to stop using. 

If you or someone you love is struggling with an opioid addiction, you can schedule a telepsychiatry appointment to discuss treatment options. 

The team at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic understands the need for privacy for families who have general questions about addiction and intervention options. They offer family consultations to discuss treatment for addiction, but emphasize that these consultations are informational only, not therapeutic. 

What happens during Suboxone treatment?

The addiction specialists at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic talk to you about your Suboxone, how it works, and the general process for starting and continuing the medication.

You must stop taking all other opioids prior to starting Suboxone. If you have opioids in your system when you take Suboxone, you activate the naloxone and go right into withdrawal. 

You start your initial therapy at the office with a small dose of the medication. You return the next day so the team can assess symptoms and give you your next dose.

Your provider slowly increases the dose until you reach an amount that controls cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You continue on this dose while you participate in behavioral therapy.  

How long do I need Suboxone?

You and the team at The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic work together to decide how long you need to take Suboxone. You can continue on the medication for as long as necessary.

If you and your provider both agree that you can manage your addiction without the medication, then they slowly wean you off Suboxone. 

Call The Potter’s Behavioral Medicine Clinic or book an appointment online today to learn more about Suboxone.