Suboxone contains buprenorphine and naloxone, both used widely in the treatment of opioid addiction. Naloxone is used for treating opioid addiction, and Buprenorphine is used to treat withdrawal symptoms once the opioid usage is reduced or stopped. Naloxone is also useful against other hazardous drugs like heroin, oxycodone, etc. Buprenorphine helps block opiate receptors and reduces a person’s urges to take the drug. Even though Buprenorphine is a semi-synthetic opioid, it’s effect in suboxone is comparatively mild hence it is less addictive than other drugs.
Getting addicted to even mild drugs is not very uncommon over a long period of dosage but if a drug is taken according to the medical practitioner’s advice, a person is less likely to get addicted to the drug. Like many other medications, suboxone has both short term and long term side effects. The short term side effects include breathing issues, sleepiness, confusion, depression, or nausea.
Since suboxone is used for long term treatment of opioid addiction, it may cause dependence, drug abuse, or even addiction if taken in high doses for a long time. This addiction, like all other addictions, may take a toll on its host and cause severe side effects. Some of which are discussed here.
1. Decreased Tolerance For Pain
This addiction can develop a decreased tolerance for pain also known as pain sensitivity. This phenomenon is also known as Opioid-Induced Hyperalgesia and it can prove to be extremely harmful. Pain tolerance means that the patient will try even harder to feel pain and that can result in increased substance consumption. In such a case, you should immediately look for a treatment program like this one being offered by expert Suboxone doctors in Charleston.
2. Respiratory Depression
Respiratory depression also known as hyperventilating is a respiratory disease in which a person breathes slowly and ineffectively than normal. This disease is a side effect of using opioids and can be reversed with monitored suboxone treatment but once a person is addicted to suboxone, this disease starts growing stronger again.
3. Anxiety
Drugs and medications cause anxiety and depression. This anxiety can be due to being nervous around friends, family, work, etc. thinking about whether they might think low of you because of your addiction. The fear of not being able to perform well at work or school also causes anxiety and it may also be a result of previously existing mental health conditions.
4. Confused Personality
Long term use of high doses of suboxone can cause confusion or delirium. Confusion may be followed by not being able to think clearly, hallucinations, or confused identity. One of the reasons this happens is because of your brain working slower. Your brain goes into a constant slow state and cannot perform its normal functions. If it becomes chronic and isn’t treated timely, it might turn into constant paranoia.
5. Social Isolation
Like every other drug, long term use of suboxone and the resulting dependence can cause a person to isolate themselves because of anxiety and the fear of public reaction to their addiction. This isolation is dangerous for an addict since he/she is deprived of any support that might have been helpful in recovery. If you see someone who is an addict, reach out to them for support and convince them to seek professional help.
The goal of substance abuse recovery isn’t to substitute one addiction with another. Even without having developed an addiction, long term use of high doses of suboxone can make a person dependent on it and cause several mental and physical health conditions. This is why it is important to seek only professional advice before starting any sort of treatment.