Is Suboxone a Safe Treatment for Getting Off Opioids?

Overuse of opioids can be a side effect of managing chronic pain, especially if you aren’t under the medical supervision of a skilled physician. If you’re looking for an alternative to opioids for pain management, you can find a range of services at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine.

Our experienced interventional pain physician Jose De La Torre, MD can also help you address any dependence you have on opioids. We offer Suboxone® therapy, which is a safe, medically supervised treatment that lessens opioid cravings and minimizes uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.

How Suboxone therapy works

Suboxone is a prescription medication in the opioid family that blocks the euphoric effects of opioids on your brain. The drug contains buprenorphine, which tricks your brain into thinking you’ve taken a full opioid dose, and naloxone to prevent the activation of your opioid receptors.

Suboxone is available as an oral tablet or a sublingual film that dissolves under your tongue. Injecting Suboxone can cause uncomfortable symptoms of withdrawal, which helps discourage people from misusing the medication.

Continued misuse of opioids increases your risk for overdose complications, including premature death. Suboxone is a safe, effective treatment option to prevent such complications.

Getting started with Suboxone therapy

Our Suboxone therapy plans are available for individuals who are ready to break their addiction to narcotic painkillers and opioids like:

• Heroin
• Fentanyl
• Morphine
• Oxycodone

Dr. De La Torre completes a health evaluation to confirm you’re a candidate for Suboxone. He also discusses your options for psychological counseling to support your long-term recovery from opioids.

You can expect to take Suboxone daily. The medication typically starts working fast, and its effects can last up to 36 hours. Our team continues to monitor your progress with Suboxone therapy during follow-up visits.

Even though Suboxone can also provide pain relief, you may still need additional treatments for chronic pain issues. Dr. De La Torre can customize a care plan using interventional pain strategies like nerve block and spinal cord stimulation to provide lasting pain relief from herniated discs, arthritis, and other conditions.

When to consider Suboxone therapy

If you’re using prescription opioids for more than just pain relief and your life is starting to take a downward turn, you can get the help you need at New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine.

Our team understands how opioid misuse can negatively impact your life. We offer a judgment-free, safe space for you to address opioid dependence, so you can regain your independence, confidence, and quality of life.

Although it can be difficult for opioid users to realize or admit they have a problem, warning signs of dependence can include:

• Mood changes
• Poor personal hygiene
• Financial issues
• Legal problems
• Difficulties holding a job
• Relationship conflicts

You may also find that your tolerance for opioids increases, and you have to take more of the drug to achieve the same effects.

Any of these red flags require medical intervention. We can help you get back on track without the discomfort of cravings and withdrawal symptoms. Our team also ensures your existing pain condition is well-controlled, so you won’t have to self-medicate.

Call New Tampa Interventional Pain & Sports Medicine in Wesley Chapel, Florida, to schedule a Suboxone consultation, or book an appointment online today.