Opioid addiction has been a major problem in the United States for decades now, but the good news is there is help available. Dr. Ahsen Ali at The Clinic of Dr. Ahsen Ali in South Williamson, KY is here to help you overcome your addiction.

Quitting an opioid addiction is never easy and one of the most common and effective treatments available is a medication called Suboxone. Suboxone eases the symptoms and cravings for the opioid drug and helps lessen any symptoms of withdrawal.

Keep reading to get answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Suboxone.

What Is Suboxone and How Does It Work?

Suboxone is also called Buprenorphine or naloxone. It is a partial opioid that acts in a person's body to stabilize the brain. 

Suboxone prevents symptoms of drug withdrawal, it also reduces cravings and blocks receptors in the brain that can help prevent overdoses. It does not cause patients to feel high. Instead, its goal is to make them feel more normal.

What Opiates Are Suboxone Used To Help Treat?

Suboxone is used to help patients overcome addictions to both prescription medications and illegal drugs, including:

• Percocet (oxycodone)
• Vicodin (hydrocodone)
• Dilauded (hydromorphone)
• Methadone
• Heroin
• Fentanyl

How Long Does Suboxone Treatment Take?

The duration of suboxone treatment will vary depending on the severity of a person's addiction, but in most cases Suboxone treatment will last longer than six months. Suboxone is safe to take for short periods of time or long periods of time. It is not uncommon for patients to take Suboxone for months or years.  It is vital that patients work closely with their doctors and follow all recommendations for the duration of their treatment and tapering off the medication if they are going to stop treatment. Long term Suboxone treatment for addiction can vastly reduce the chances of a relapse.

How Is Suboxone Treatment Performed?

The medication will be given as a film that is placed under the tongue or inside the cheek where it will then dissolve. After taking the medication, the patient will need to stay at the clinic or doctor's office to be observed.

What Else Should a Patient Do While Taking Suboxone?

It is strongly recommended that while taking Suboxone, patients also undergo counseling and psychosocial treatments to attain the highest level of success. Joining a recovery or twelve-step program such as Narcotics Anonymous can provide people with addictions with the support and help they need to deal with the underlying triggers for their addiction.

If you want to learn more about Suboxone and how it can help you beat your addiction in South Williamson, KY, contact The Clinic of Dr. Ahsen Ali at (606) 237-4800 today.