Methadone Addiction Treatment
Northbound Treatment Services is an addiction recovery center with two locations; one in Newport Beach, California and another in St. Louis, Missouri. We have been dedicated to helping those who suffer from addiction for over 25 years. We understand the overwhelmingly addictive and devastating properties of oxycodone and other opiate prescription drugs. The following is a brief guide to provide information on oxycodone abuse, addiction, symptoms, risks and Suboxone detox and treatment.
Methadone Addiction Treatment
As heroin users have turned to methadone treatment to inhibit heroin withdrawal symptoms, methadone addiction has become a growing problem. Although methadone is capable of alleviating the physical withdrawal symptoms to help end drug use, there are also several disadvantages. One of the most detrimental effects is that methadone is highly addictive.
Addiction to methadone is similar to that of heroin, morphine, vicodin and other opiates. It also produces the same sense of euphoria as those drugs. In addition, the FDA has issued warnings about the possible life-threatening side effects of the drug. Individuals who attempt to stop using methadone experience excruciatingly painful withdrawal symptoms. Some patients have stated that it is worse than heroin withdrawal. The withdrawal symptoms from methadone may include
• Fever
• Chills
• Nausea and Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Tremors
• Tachycardia
• Pain in joints or legs
• Elevated pain sensitivity
• Elevated blood pressure
Treatment for methadone withdrawal requires a medication assisted program similar to that of heroin. Fortunately, there are now drugs available that can help prevent withdrawal symptoms that arise from methadone detox without trading one addiction for another. Buprenorphine inhibits cravings by attaching to opiate receptors. Since it doesn’t produce the same euphoria as full opioid agonists, the potential for abuse is much less. Naloxone is the other active ingredient in Suboxone. It is a pure opioid antagonist and discourages intravenous use or dissolving the tablets by producing withdrawal symptoms. Subutex is another drug used to treat opiate withdrawals. It is similar to Suboxone in that the active ingredient is buprenorphine, but it does not contain naloxone. Suboxone and Subutex were approved for treatment of opiate addictions by the FDA in 2002.
Suboxone can be administered as an outpatient therapy or at a methadone rehab center. Suboxone is the first medication for treatment of opiate withdrawal symptoms to be approved for prescription by a physician’s office. The initial dose of Suboxone must be administered by a physician or healthcare provider at a drug rehabilitation facility. Afterwards, the patient may be able to administer the drug at home. Suboxone allows patients to become drug free without disrupting their daily lives.
Northbound Treatment Services can help individuals overcome methadone dependence and addiction. They understand that no two individuals are the same and offer customized treatment plans to meet each patient’s needs. Patients are treated by caring staff members in a comfortable environment. Northbound treats drug addictions as well as underlying causes such as co-occurring mental illnesses simultaneously. A variety of therapies and classes provide patients with coping and daily living skills to help them return to being productive members of society.
