Is the Use of Suboxone For Pain Helpful?

Suboxone for pain

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Suboxone is FDA approved medication used to treat opioid disorders. Like others, if you are searching for the answer to your question, can I use suboxone for pain? This article can help you to understand what suboxone is, how it works, how to use it, and also the use of suboxone for pain is helpful.

Research shows that many people take suboxone for pain without consulting a doctor. Illegal prescription of suboxone increases the risk of overdose, resulting in suboxone dependence. 

What is suboxone?

Suboxone is a controlled medication. It is a combination of two active drugs buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid medication that is used to treat opioid addiction. At the same time, naloxone is a medication that blocks the effects of opioids and is used to prevent overdose.

Suboxone is typically used as part of a medication-assisted treatment (MAT) program for individuals who are recovering from opioid addiction. Here the question arises: can we use suboxone for pain? Does suboxone help with pain management? Before talking about the use of suboxone for pain, let’s discover how suboxone works. 

How does Suboxone work?

 Suboxone prescribed by suboxone doctors near you help patients struggling with opioid addiction cope with their withdrawal symptoms. The combination of buprenorphine and naloxone helps to reduce the risk of overdose and abuse.

 These two drugs work effectively to decrease the severity of withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone reduces a patient’s dependence on an opioid for the long term. Suboxone activates your opioid receptors so that your brain feels satisfied.

Does suboxone help to relieve pain?

Suboxone may provide some pain relief due to its buprenorphine presence, Suboxone is a medication that is used to treat opioid addiction. Still, it can also be used to manage chronic pain. It contains a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, which work together to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction.

Some studies have shown that Suboxone can be effective in managing chronic pain, but more research is needed to fully understand its use in this context. It’s important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if Suboxone is a safe and appropriate treatment option for managing your pain.

Suboxone For Pain

The use of suboxone for pain management is a good idea

 The use of Suboxone for pain management is not a common practice and is not considered an FDA-approved indication for the medication. Suboxone is primarily used to treat opioid addiction, and while the buprenorphine component of the medication may have some pain-relieving properties, it is not typically prescribed for this purpose.

Other medications and treatments are more commonly used for pain management:                         

  •  non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), 
  •  acetaminophen
  •  physical therapy, and nerve blocks.

 In addition, there are other medications specifically approved for chronic pain management such as tramadol, fentanyl, oxycodone, and so on.

Consult with a healthcare professional

It is important to consult with a healthcare professional to determine if the use of suboxone for pain is the best or the best course of treatment for pain management. They can evaluate your specific condition and recommend a treatment plan that is suitable for you.

When is suboxone for pain appropriate: in some instances, such as when other pain medications are not effective or are causing unwanted side effects. It is important to note that Suboxone is a controlled substance and should only be prescribed and used under the guidance of a healthcare professional.

When suboxone for pain is not good: When people are in pain, they do anything not to experience pain. They mix different medications, it’s a dangerous idea. If you mix suboxone with other medications such as Xanax, the combination could be fatal. The slow processing may lead people to take more buprenorphine which can lead to an overdose.

Side Effect of suboxone

More common side effects of suboxone when we use it for pain management are chills, cough, fever, redness on the face and neck, headache, etc

Physical dependence: suboxone can cause physical dependence. NAABT does not support the use of suboxone for pain. Suboxone is FDA-approved for an opioid disorder, not for chronic pain. suboxone still contains opioids that can cause physical damage. it’s unlikely to effectively relieve patient pain when they do not have an opioid disorder.

Research on suboxone painkilling effect

 Some doctors write off-label prescriptions for suboxone. However, we have only some research on the suboxone painkilling effect. The medical field needs more studies on it. Once we have more evidence from the expert analysis we can say that suboxone works effectively for pain management.

Off-label use of suboxone: The FDA has not approved the use of suboxone for treatment. Some doctors may still use suboxone “off-label” for acute or chronic pain treatment. The use of medicine and dose depends on the patient’s health. listen to your doctor’s advice carefully

 Acute pain is usually short-term after surgery(sprain, broken bone) after an accident. 

chronic pain is long-lasting cancer pain and nerve pain.

Can a doctor prescribe suboxone for pain?

Yes, a doctor can prescribe Suboxone for pain, although it is more commonly used to treat opioid addiction. It is important to note that Suboxone should only be used under the close supervision of a doctor, as it can be habit-forming and has the potential for abuse.

 The suboxone ceiling effect could also make it safer to take. suboxone can reduce patient pain while helping them avoid relapse.

 

How long does suboxone stay in your system?

 Suboxone is given just once a day. Its effect will last at least 24 hours.in healthy people, no trace of suboxone was found after 5 to 8 days. In patients who have liver issues, no trace of suboxone is found after 14 to 15 days.

Don’t stop suboxone immediately: Suppose you have been using suboxone for pain for a long time. Do not stop it immediately, Must talk to your doctor who recommends you take suboxone for pain management. You could become sick and have withdrawal symptoms. Follow your doctor’s direction on how to discontinue suboxone.

Conclusion;

Suboxone is used as a medication-assisted treatment program. It is usually used for opioid disorders. Some doctors recommend it for pain. It depends on the patient’s body weight and health condition.  Don,t take suboxone by yourself, talk to your doctor and tell him about your condition if he/she suggests you take it. Listen carefully to your doctor’s advice on how much and when you can take a dose or for how many days.

suboxone for pain

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Medically reviewed by DR.Reckitt.

Claire Wilcox, MD, is a general and addiction psychiatrist in private practice and an associate professor of translational neuroscience at the Mind Research Network in New Mexico; and has completed an addictions fellowship, psychiatry residency, and internal medicine residency. Having done extensive research in the area, she is an expert in the neuroscience of substance use disorders. Although she is interested in several topics in medicine and psychiatry, with a particular focus on substance use disorders, obesity, eating disorders, and chronic pain, her primary career goal is to help promote recovery and wellbeing for people with a range of mental health challenges.

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Disclaimer

AddictedRecovery aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint’s qualified staff.

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