suboxone film

Suboxone  Film   Suboxone strips

Suboxone film may be used for pain management. If the physician writes a prescription for Suboxone
for pain management, the prescription may be called in to the pharmacy. Suboxone prescriptions for
addiction management may not be called or faxed into the pharmacy, without the physician first
obtaining a HIPAA release form from the patient.

Suboxone film is among others, is an opioid used to treat opioid use disorder, acute pain, and chronic pain. It can be used under the tongue, in the cheek, by injection, as a skin patch, or as an implant. For opioid use disorder, it is typically started when withdrawal symptoms have begun and for the first two days of treatment under direct observation of a health care provider. The combination formulation of buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone) is recommended to discourage misuse by injection.Maximum pain relief is generally within an hour with effects up to 24 hours.

Side effects may include respiratory depression (decreased breathing), sleepiness, adrenal insufficiency, QT prolongation, low blood pressure, allergic reactions, and opioid addiction.Among those with a history of seizures, there is a risk of further seizures.^[8] Opioid withdrawal following stopping suboxone film is generally less severe than with other opioids. It is unclear if use during pregnancy is safe and use while breastfeeding is not recommended. suboxone film affects different types of opioid receptors in different ways.Depending on the type of receptor it may be an agonist, partial agonist, or antagonist.

suboxone film was patented in 1965 and approved for medical use in the United States in 1981. In 2017, 14.6 million prescriptions for the medication were written in the United States.It is also a common drug of abuse, being used in place of heroin. suboxone film may be used recreationally by injection or in the nose for the high it produces.In the United States, it is a Schedule III controlled substance. suboxone film

USAGE OF SUBOXONE  FILM

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approves prescription drugs such as Suboxone to treat certain conditions. Suboxone may also be used off-label for other conditions.

Suboxone for opioid dependence

Suboxone is FDA-approved to treat opioid dependence. According to the American Society of Addiction Medicine, Suboxone is a recommended treatment for opioid dependence. It helps treat opioid dependence by reducing the withdrawal symptoms that can occur when opioid use is stopped or reduced.

Suboxone for withdrawal

Suboxone is sometimes used off-label to help manage opioid withdrawal symptoms as part of a detoxification program. It may help reduce how severe symptoms are.

Detoxification programs are generally short-term, inpatient treatment plans used to wean people off of drugs, such as opioids, or alcohol.

Opioid dependence treatment, on the other hand, is a longer-term approach to reducing dependence on opioids, with most of the treatment being done on an outpatient basis.

Suboxone for pain

Suboxone is sometimes used off-label for treating pain. However, this use is controversial, because it’s not clear how well, or if, Suboxone works to treat pain. Suboxone may be beneficial for people who have both chronic pain and opioid dependence.

Buprenorphine, one of the drugs contained in Suboxone, is also used for pain. However, studies of how effective it is for this purpose are mixed.

Suboxone  film for depression

Suboxone is not used for treating depression. However, buprenorphine, one of the drugs contained in Suboxone, is sometimes used to treat depression and treatment-resistant depression. Some research shows that buprenorphine may improve mood in people with depression

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Suboxone film dosage

The Suboxone dosage your doctor prescribes will depend on several factors. These include:

• the type and severity of opioid dependence
• the stage of treatment you’re in
• other medical conditions you may have

Typically, your doctor will start you on a low dosage and adjust it over time to reach the dosage that’s right for you. They’ll ultimately prescribe the smallest dosage that provides the desired effect.

The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.

Drug forms and strengths

Suboxone is only available as an oral film that can be placed under the tongue (sublingual) or in the cheek (buccal). It comes in four strengths:

• 2 mg buprenorphine / 0.5 mg naloxone
• 4 mg buprenorphine / 1 mg naloxone
• 8 mg buprenorphine / 2 mg naloxone
• 12 mg buprenorphine / 3 mg naloxone

Suboxone is also available as a generic version that comes in other forms. These forms include a sublingual film and a sublingual tablet.

Other drug forms

suboxone  contains two drugs: buprenorphine and naloxone. These individual drugs come in additional forms. suboxone filmforms include a sublingual tablet, a skin patch, an implant for under the skin, and a solution for injection. Naloxone forms include a nasal spray and a solution for injection. (These forms of the two drugs are not all used to treat opioid dependence.)

Dosage for opioid dependence

Suboxone is FDA-approved to treat opioid dependence. Treatment of opioid dependence occurs in two phases: induction and maintenance.

During the induction phase (see “How Suboxone works” above), suboxone film is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms when opioid use is being decreased or stopped. During the maintenance phase, suboxone film is continued at a stable dose for a time ranging from several months to over a year.

Below are examples of how your induction and maintenance dosages may be administered.

Induction dosage

• Induction details
  • Induction treatment with suboxone film takes place in your doctor’s office or clinic.
  • Suboxone is only used for induction treatment if you’re dependent on short-acting opioids such as heroin, codeine, morphine, or oxycodone (Roxicodone, RoxyBond).
  • You should use Suboxone oral film under your tongue during induction treatment. Don’t use it in your cheek because this is more likely to cause withdrawal symptoms.
  • Suboxone induction shouldn’t start until:
    • at least six hours after your last use of a short-acting opioid
    • you start to have moderate opioid withdrawal symptoms
• On day 1:
  • In your doctor’s office, your doctor will start you on a low Suboxone dose. This dose might be 2 mg buprenorphine / 0.5 mg naloxone or 4 mg buprenorphine / 1 mg naloxone.
  • Your doctor will evaluate your withdrawal symptoms for about two hours. If needed, they’ll give you another dose of Suboxone.
  • The maximum total dose on the first day is 8 mg buprenorphine / 2 mg naloxone.
• On day 2:
  • Your doctor will evaluate your withdrawal symptoms. If your symptoms are controlled, your doctor will give you the same total dose you received on day 1. If your symptoms are not controlled, your doctor will give you what you received on day 1, plus an additional amount of 2 mg buprenorphine / 0.5 mg naloxone or 4 mg buprenorphine / 1 mg naloxone.
  • Your doctor will evaluate your symptoms again in about two hours. If needed, they’ll give you another dose of Suboxone.
• Additional days:
  • This stepwise process may continue for additional days until your withdrawal symptoms are controlled and stabilized for two or more days. During induction, your Suboxone dose may be increased to a maximum of 32 mg buprenorphine / 8 mg naloxone once daily.

Maintenance dosage

• Maintenance details:
  • When you reach a Suboxone dose that keeps you stable, your treatment will be continued with this dose during the maintenance phase.
  • During this phase, you can use Suboxone oral film under your tongue or in your cheek.
  • The length of your maintenance treatment will depend on your needs and goals. It may last from a few weeks or months, to more than a year.
  • During this time, you may have weekly or monthly appointments with your doctor.
  • If you continue to use opioids during the maintenance phase, or if you misuse Suboxone, your doctor may recommend a different treatment program for you.
• Suboxone taper:
  • You and your doctor will decide together when it might be the right time to end your treatment with Suboxone.
  • When the decision is made to stop Suboxone, your dosage of the medication will be slowly decreased over time. This tapering off of your dosage may take several weeks or months.
  • If your withdrawal symptoms or cravings return during the taper, your doctor may temporarily increase your dosage.
• Maximum dosage: The maximum daily dose during the maintenance phase is 32 mg buprenorphine / 8 mg naloxone.

Suboxone film side effects

Suboxone can cause mild or serious side effects. The following list contains some of the key side effects that may occur while taking Suboxone. This list does not include all possible side effects.

For more information on the possible side effects of Suboxone, or tips on how to deal with a troubling side effect, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

More common side effects

The more common side effects of Suboxone include:

• headache
• opioid withdrawal symptoms, such as body aches, abdominal cramps, and rapid heart rate
• anxiety
• insomnia (trouble sleeping)
• sweating
• depression
• constipation
• nausea
• weakness or fatigue
• back pain
• burning tongue
• redness in the mouth

Some of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks. If they’re more severe or don’t go away, talk to your doctor or pharmacist.

Serious side effects

Serious side effects from Suboxone aren’t common, but they can occur. Call your doctor right away if you have serious side effects. Call 911 if your symptoms feel life-threatening or if you think you’re having a medical emergency.

Serious side effects can include the following:

• severe allergic reaction
• abuse and dependence
• breathing problems
• coma
• hormone problems (adrenal insufficiency)
• liver damage
• severe withdrawal symptoms