Neurowellness Clinic
Kent Smalley, M.D.
Addiction Medicine Specialist & Behavioral Neurology located in Edmond, OK
Suboxone® is a prescription medication used to treat patients with an addiction to heroin or prescription painkillers. At Neurowellness Clinic in Edmond, Oklahoma and serving the greater Oklahoma City area, Kent Smalley, MD, offers a comprehensive medication-assisted treatment program that includes Suboxone and mindfulness-based counseling. Suboxone allows patients to safely and painlessly withdraw from opioids, while therapy helps them overcome the emotions and habits that trigger their addiction. If you’re ready to overcome your addiction, call the office or schedule an appointment online today.
Suboxone Q & A
How does Suboxone work?
There are two reasons why Suboxone is an exceptional choice for helping patients withdraw from an opioid addiction. First, it’s administered in the privacy of the doctor’s office and under the personal supervision of Dr. Smalley. Second, it contains two medications that improve its effectiveness and safety: buprenorphine and naloxone.
Buprenorphine reduces withdrawal symptoms and stops your cravings. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioids in your brain. Working together, these medications allow you to stop taking opioids without suffering physical symptoms. They also help to rebalance the brain chemicals that trigger cravings.
Dr. Smalley may also prescribe Subutex in the first stage of your opioid treatment. Subutex contains buprenorphine without naloxone.
What is medication-assisted treatment with Suboxone?
Dr. Smalley offers Suboxone as part of a comprehensive medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program. MAT combines medication to help you safely withdraw from opioids with a counseling program that supports your long-term recovery.
What should I expect during Suboxone treatment?
Your Suboxone treatment doesn’t follow a specific timeline. Dr. Smalley works with you every step of the way to determine how you feel, the dose of Suboxone you need, and how long you need to stay on the medication. However, your treatment proceeds through three stages:
Induction
You start your first dose in the office when you’re in a mild-to-moderate state of withdrawal. During induction, you stop taking opioids while you’re on the optimal dose of Suboxone to diminish withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Maintenance
The maintenance phase begins when your symptoms stop and your uncontrollable cravings are gone. During this stage, you continue taking a maintenance dose of Suboxone to ensure your cravings don’t return. You also begin counseling.
Medical taper
When you’re ready to stop taking Suboxone, Dr. Smalley gradually reduces or tapers your dose. As you gradually take less Suboxone, and any time after you finish the treatment, it’s important to let Dr. Smalley know if you start to experience any symptoms or cravings, so he can proactively review your treatment and provide medication to prevent a relapse.
What type of therapy might I receive with Suboxone?
Dr. Smalley offers a comprehensive MAT program based on mindfulness-based counseling. Studies show that mindfulness techniques like meditation can reduce opioid misuse and cravings through their impact on your thoughts, emotions, and other brain processes.
Many of the benefits gained through mindfulness support a successful recovery. For example, mindfulness training teaches you to stay aware of your thoughts and why you crave drugs. This awareness allows you to turn your negative thought patterns around and change your behavior.