Buprenorphine is a drug that is prescribed to treat pain, but has also been approved for treating heroin addiction. It works on the opioid receptors in a similar manner as illicit opioid narcotics do, to reduce the cravings associated with drug withdrawal. In other words, it is a drug used to treat a drug problem. Buprenorphine has a lower risk for drug abuse and dependence, a long duration of action, and fewer side effects. It is usually administered intravenously under the care of the ordering physician.
Buprenex, Suboxone, and Subutex are all name brands for the drug Buprenorphine. In a detox setting, these medications work to the reduce the symptoms of heroin and other opiate withdrawals. In addition to the cravings, the withdrawal symptoms that are targeted by buprenorphine include nausea, vomiting, insomnia, and agitation. Although the drug does not provide a cure for detox withdrawals, it lasts for several days, minimizing the unpleasantness of the experience.
Negative side effects of buprenorphine are less common than those of illicit opiates. However, some patients report cold or flu-like symptoms, mood swings, headaches, sweating, and difficulty sleeping. When it is used in conjunction with alcohol or other central nervous depressants, it can produce a lethal concoction, which typically affects the users ability to breathe.
Some people frown on the use of buprenorphine treatment, as it is using one drug in place of another. However, despite any controversy, buprenorphine has become a commonly prescribed medication in drug rehab/detox facilities around the world. Approximately 73% of those who are administered buprenorphine succeed in completing the entire detox process.
