Suboxone Treatment
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IMPORTANT INFORMATION ON SUBOXONE
Suboxone® is an opiate itself, belonging in the family with oxycodone, heroin, and methadone. It works by binding to and blocking your opiate receptors from responding to other opiates. Suboxone does block the high if you use while taking it; it can also react with other opiates already in your system and cause you to feel withdrawal. For this reason, individuals wishing to start this medication need to stop all other opiates for 24 hours before starting Suboxone. Suboxone® is not a magic cure for opiate dependence nor does it take away all cravings to use. Yes, it is safer than using heroin or shooting pain pills. If you are already opiate dependent, it doesn’t give you a high and keeps you from feeling withdrawal. It has minimal risk of overdose unless you mix it with other opiates. But if you don’t address what’s fueling the opiate |
use or work on breaking the cycle of ‘addiction thinking,’ it is merely a substitution. It can be life-saving when you’re worrying about yourself or a loved one overdosing, but after that first important step of starting Suboxone, what’s to keep it going when the urge to get high hits again or life gets too stressful and doesn’t go as planned?
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DIFFERENT DOCTORS PRESCRIBE IN DIFFERENT WAYS:
Some addiction specialists will say that Suboxone is something that should be taken for life and that this is the best and/or only way to prevent a relapse. Some doctors who prescribe Suboxone do not expect their patients to get counseling or take gradual steps down on the medication in order to taper. It is important for every individual looking for this type of treatment to understand there are differing opinions among the experts. Talk to doctors and programs about their philosophy and listen to your gut as you listen to their answers. It is understandable and sometimes necessary to pick the doctor with the first opening or the one who takes your insurance, but understand that when you do have a choice, who you work with on this healing journey is just as important as the decision to start Suboxone. |
DR. FELGUS' PHILOSOPHY:
Dr. Felgus has been prescribing Suboxone® for treatment of Opiate Dependence since 2003. He believes in stabilizing the individual on the lowest dose to keep him or her out of opiate withdrawal, then over a several year period, slowly stepping down while working on all areas of wellness. Often, an underlying mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, past trauma, or insomnia is fueling the use and treatment is focused equally on treating the underlying condition as it is on recovery work. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing, but some type of additional work beyond medication is expected. This can be individual sessions with a mental health therapist or addiction counselor, group therapy, documented self-help meetings, or another regimen that allows an individual to address his or her underlying issues. Dr. Felgus does have mental health and addiction counselors who he frequently refers to and consults with closely. He will recommend options that match the individual with the best treatment for their needs and situation. Respect for individual differences is emphasized and everyone needs to walk their path in the way they see fit. He has successfully tapered many of his patients off Suboxone, many of whom never believed it possible to be opiate free.
Dr. Felgus has been prescribing Suboxone® for treatment of Opiate Dependence since 2003. He believes in stabilizing the individual on the lowest dose to keep him or her out of opiate withdrawal, then over a several year period, slowly stepping down while working on all areas of wellness. Often, an underlying mental health issue such as anxiety, depression, past trauma, or insomnia is fueling the use and treatment is focused equally on treating the underlying condition as it is on recovery work. There is no one-size-fits-all approach to healing, but some type of additional work beyond medication is expected. This can be individual sessions with a mental health therapist or addiction counselor, group therapy, documented self-help meetings, or another regimen that allows an individual to address his or her underlying issues. Dr. Felgus does have mental health and addiction counselors who he frequently refers to and consults with closely. He will recommend options that match the individual with the best treatment for their needs and situation. Respect for individual differences is emphasized and everyone needs to walk their path in the way they see fit. He has successfully tapered many of his patients off Suboxone, many of whom never believed it possible to be opiate free.
