We understand that many individuals suffer from opioid addictions. We are here to help you treat your addiction to alcohol, heroin, and other opiates through medication assisted treatment. Unlike methadone and other clinics, our treatment program is office-based. Medication assisted treatment is initiated and continued by our Nurse Practitioner in private individual sessions. You are treated with the dignity, and respect you deserve in the comforts of a private practice. We will assess you psychologically and physically together we will decide the best treatment option for you.
We will do our part, you will have to do yours.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is the first oral medication that has been approved in the U.S. that healthcare providers can prescribe in an office-based setting to people who are dependent or addicted to opioids such as pain medication, heroin, or methadone. Suboxone is an effective medication for opioid addiction that does not require daily or weekly visits to a clinic. Suboxone blocks the effects of other opioids. This eliminates cravings and prevents withdrawal symptoms such as pain and nausea. Patients can be maintained on Suboxone or go through a medically assisted detoxification program.
Suboxone is a different type of opioid than pain pills, heroin or methadone. This medication leaves the brain cells more slowly than typical opioids, the withdrawal process is milder and detoxification is generally easier to accomplish. Clients work with a Suboxone provider to reach this goal.
Suboxone is composed of two separate medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid, has opiate affects that are significantly reduced compared to that of full opioid agonists, such as Vicodin, or heroin. Naloxone, which is not absorbed by the digestive track when Suboxone is taken orally, is added to Suboxone in order to prevent the misuse of the medication by injection drug users and those who are looking to replace their illegal addiction with a legal one.
What are the components of Suboxone Treatment?
- Individualized treatment plans.
- Increased chances of sustaining abstinence.
- Can be used on a maintenance, while the patient stabilizes their emotional, physical and mental well-being.
What is Sublocade (buprenorphine)?
Sublocade is a form of buprenorphine medication used to help people combat their opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is an opioid and narcotic, but it is not used as a pain medication, as other narcotics are because it only partially stimulates the opioid reactor, which prevents the euphoric effects associated with other drugs. As a result, it helps you manage your withdrawal symptoms and prevents cravings, but it isn’t a full detox from opioids.
The injection is administered by a health care provider, and only certified providers with waivers can offer it. You can’t get it from a retail pharmacy or even a doctor who hasn’t received certification. You get the injection under the skin in your abdomen once each month (with at least 26 days between doses) for the prescribed treatment period. You can only take Sublocade if you are at least seven consecutive days into your initial oral buprenorphine treatment (either Suboxone or Subutex). Your Sublocade then becomes your maintenance treatment.
One of the reasons you can’t give yourself the medication is that it requires extreme accuracy. It can’t be injected into your veins or muscles. An improper injection can result in blood clots that can become a pulmonary embolism with a serious risk for death.
Sublocade Patient Information (click here)
What is Vivitrol?
Vivitrol is a brand-name prescription medication used to:
- Treat alcohol dependence. Vivitrol is used for people who aren’t in the hospital for their alcohol dependence. You must stop drinking alcohol before and while using Vivitrol.
- Prevent opioid dependence after opioid detoxification. An opioid is a powerful type of drug often prescribed to treat pain. Opioid detoxification involves clearing the drug from your body. So Vivitrol is meant to help you avoid becoming dependent on opioids again after you’ve successfully detoxed. You must stop using opioids for at least 7 to 10 days before taking Vivitrol.
Vivitrol contains the drug naltrexone, which is in a class of drugs called opioid antagonists. (A class of drugs is a group of medications that work in a similar way.) Vivitrol isn’t approved to be used in children.
Vivitrol is given as an intramuscular injection in your buttocks. A healthcare provider will give you the injection at your doctor’s office once every 4 weeks.
Vivitrol Patient Information (click here)
**All medication assisted treatment is best when used in conjunction with counseling, behavioral therapy, support groups, and/or psychosocial support.**
