Suboxone Maintenance Treatment

I've discussed how Suboxone can be used for the detox portion of treatment. This initial phase of treatment is where you are taken off your opiate and smoothly transitioned to the Suboxone.

At this point there are really two options:

One is that you could be stabilized over a few days or so on the dose of buprenorphine and then tapered off of it over the course of a few weeks. This would mean you are just using the medication for a detox. Once taken off, you are still vulnerable to cravings and a relapse to the addiction. And unfortunately, the relapse risk back to active addiction is quite high with opiates.

The other option is to stay on the Suboxone for an extended period of time, usually at a lower dose, to help decrease your cravings for the opiate. This can make it easier for you, over time, to learn how to live drug free. And the longer you are drug free, the greater your chance of dealing with cravings once you are taken off the medication.

Is Suboxone Subutex Detox or Maintenance Treatment Right For Me?

This can only be definitively answered by the Suboxone doctor treating you.

But let me give you my opinion and how I tend to approach this question with people seeking treatment from me.

Here is an important point to consider:

Is the addiction short term or over a longer period of time?

For example, if the addiction is just for a few weeks to months on a shorter acting opiate (Vicodin, Percocet, heroin), then a detox is all that may be needed. Once off the buprenorphine, cravings could be minimal and only a brief addiction psychotherapy treatment course may be needed.

If the opiate addiction is of a longer duration and is characterized by repeated failures at staying clean (off the drug), then it is more likely that maintenance use of Suboxone is needed. Why? Because cravings will likely reappear once the suboxone is stopped, especially if only used for a short term detox.

I've successfully detoxed patients from their opiate and have many patients on longer term treatment. Each is determined on a case by case basis.

Warning: Buprenorphine Outpatient Treatment Needs To Be Much More Than Just Getting Your Medication Once A Month

I'm about to discuss something I feel strongly about. So strongly that you should pay focused attention. I'm not exaggerrating when I say that it  could mean the difference between your success and failure with Suboxone treatment.

There are many suboxone doctors in practice who simply focus on prescribing the medication. They do not have any interest or training in providing the absolutely required additional component to opiate addiction treatment.

This missing piece could mean the difference between a happy, empowered life clean and sober or a rapid relapse to opiate use. It's what I provide to all my patients .

What is it? Addiction recovery focused psychotherapy.

Since I'm an Addiction Psychiatrist, I have the expertise to treat any other co-occuring psychiatric issue and to deliver the required psychotherapy that teaches you how to deal with cravings, minimize the risk of relapse and become a much better adjusted person.

This is true comprehensive opiate addiction treatment - all from one clinician.

It's So Important In Treatment Success, That I Often Get Patients From Other Suboxone Doctors Who Are NOT Addiction Psychiatrists

Read the suboxone doctor section for more information about the different types of cliniciand who treat with buprenorphine.

The take home point is this: Outpatient suboxone treatment is more than just getting your Suboxone or Subutex pills!

Click this link to discover the Suboxone Treatment Options offered by Dr. Gilman