Medication assisted treatment (M.A.T) is the use of medications including buprenorphine, methadone, and naltrexone to treat opioid addiction.
Buprenorphine is used in medication-assisted treatment to help people reduce or quit their use of heroin or other opioids like prescription painkillers.
Buprenorphine is an important part of successful opioid addiction treatment for many patients. Research has shown that opioid abusers that attempt abstinence-based treatment have a very high relapse rate, with more than 90% returning to opioid abuse within one year. Medication assisted treatment with Buprenorphine (Suboxone) gives those suffering from addiction the best chance at recovery.
Buprenorphine is an opioid medication, that is FDA approved for treatment of opiate addiction, given in the privacy of a physician’s office.
Buprenorphine/Naloxone are the active ingredients in Suboxone, Zubsolv, and Bunavail. Buprenorphine can be prescribed for take home use by patients in an outpatient treatment program. This makes Buprenorphine different from methadone treatment, because methadone must be administered in a specialized clinic setting. Using Buprenorphine (Suboxone and other similar products) allows much better access for patients seeking opioid addiction treatment.
Buprenorphine is a “partial opioid agonist” which makes it different from other opioids (such as oxycodone, hydrocodone, Oxycontin, heroin).
Naloxone is a medication approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to prevent overdose by opioids such as heroin, morphine, and oxycodone.
The medication supports patients in recovery by allowing for:
- Less cravings for opioids
- Less euphoria (“high”) and less physical dependence
- Relief from withdrawal symptoms
- Reduced use of illicit opioids (like heroin)
- Blocking the effects of other opioids
With successful buprenorphine (Suboxone) treatment, the addictive behavior often stops. Patients regain control over drug use and see an end to the constant cravings, compulsive behaviors, drug seeking, and loss of control.
Relief from these symptoms of opiate addiction, allows patients to have a chance to work on the other aspects of their addiction- lifestyle, social situation, psychological aspects and more. This enables patients to take back their life and control their own health and wellness.
FDA-approved buprenorphine products approved for the treatment of opioid dependence include:
- Bunavail (buprenorphine and naloxone) buccal film
- Cassipa (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film
- Probuphine (buprenorphine) implant for subdermal administration
- Sublocade (buprenorphine extended‐release) injection for subcutaneous use
- Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film for sublingual or buccal use, or sublingual tablet.
- Subutex (buprenorphine) sublingual tablet
- Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual tablets