Suboxone Effects: What You Can Expect During Treatment
Suboxone is one of the best methods to combat – and reduce – opioid dependence. But as with any drug, there are both positive and negative effects from using suboxone. To help ease your fears and reduce any ambiguity with using suboxone, it’s important to understand exactly what will happen to your body in both the near & long term.
The first thing you need to understand about suboxone is that it is a depressant – it will slow your body & its functions down, just as alcohol does. Suboxone is a long-acting opioid. This means its side effects can last 3 days, but are often less intense than other similar drugs.
When taking suboxone, you can (and likely will) experience several positive and negative side effects. Some of the positive effects include: significant pain relief (20-30 times more powerful than morphine), a sense of euphoria, feeling of calm & well-being, increased relaxation, and a perception of fewer worries and stress. The negative short-term side effects include: sleepiness, confusion, nausea, and respiratory depression (hypoventilation).
In addition to these short-term issues, there are some long lasting ones that you should understand before undergoing suboxone treatment. These include, but are not limited to: frequent drowsiness, decreased pain tolerance, anxiety, isolation, and antisocial behavior. Depression, relationship instability, difficulty upholding responsibilities, and financial strain are also possible.
Additionally, suboxone itself can be potentially addictive. You can experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using suboxone. This can be a positive sign in ending your opioid addiction. Suboxone dependence requires additional monitoring from doctors.
These are just several of the most common side effects of suboxone. You may experience additional effects depending on your body and your specific opioid addiction. This is just a guide to give you more clarity on how exactly suboxone will effect you, but the best way to fully understand suboxone treatment is to pay us a visit and meet with one of our experienced doctors.