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Opiate/Narcotic Dependence: Treatment with Suboxone
Dr. Baruch a Diplomate of ABAM (The American Board of Addiction
Medicine) and is ASAM (American Society of Addiction Medicine) certified
and has special licensure to prescribe Suboxone, Subutex, or Buprenorphine
for the treatment of Opiate/Narcotic dependence.
 Suboxone
is a synthetic opiate approved for the treatment of narcotic dependence.
It is used to treat heroin, Oxycontin, Percocet, and Vicodin dependence
and abuse.
Patients need to be in withdrawal at the time of administration of the
first dosage of medication. This is not to make life difficult for the
patient but if the Suboxone is given prematurely the patient will go
into withdrawal, sometimes severe. For heroin, percocet, vicodin, it is
generally ok if the patient has not used in 24 hours. In the case of
OxyContin, Methadone, or Fentanyl (patches or lollypops), a longer
duration is needed before the Suboxone can be started. The patient may
need to be placed on a short term narcotic for a few days and then
placed on the Suboxone. The longer acting narcotics are harder to
transition to Suboxone than the shorter acting ones.
After the initial evaluation a test dosage of the medication is started
in the office. This is known as the Induction process. The test dosage
place under the tongue for sublingual absorption. After the test dosage
medication is given the patient will be monitored for approximately
75-90 minutes. If there are no ill effects the patient can go home with
a prescription for a one week supply and return for a med-check the
following week. If the patient is stable he/she can return on a monthly
basis. We offer counseling services and advise the patient attend NA or
AA meetings. The total initial process can take up to three hours and
should be done early in the day. If we are unable to do the induction
that day (generally because the patient is not in withdrawal) then the
induction is scheduled for another time.
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for details at Suboxone.com |
