Can I Quit Suboxone on My Own?

Suboxone is a mild opiate that is commonly used to wean addicts off of stronger opiates such as heroin, hydrocodone or morphine. Even though it is a weaker type of opiate, it still has the same effects on the brain, and the user can become physically dependent. Ideally, a person would take decreasing doses of Suboxone over time until the need to take the drug no longer exists. Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for physical dependency and addiction to develop with Suboxone use. Once a person becomes addicted to Suboxone, the need to take large doses of the drug in order to avoid withdrawal symptoms fuels addiction.

Why Quitting Suboxone Alone Is So Difficult

One of the primary reasons quitting Suboxone alone is difficult is the withdrawal symptoms experienced when a person stops taking the drug. When a Suboxone user ceases to take the drug, any of the following withdrawal symptoms may occur:

• Nausea
• Vomiting
• Diarrhea
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Intense physical pain

With no way to lessen the effects of withdrawal other than taking more Suboxone, Suboxone addicts face an impossible task when trying to quit alone. At detox clinics and rehab centers, doctors and trained professionals have resources available to make detox and withdrawal more bearable. Due to the fact that the severity of withdrawal symptoms can be unpredictable, it is vital that medical professionals be at hand. Doctors can administer over-the-counter medications to treat individual symptoms that can ease the pain of withdrawal.

Even if a person successfully stops taking Suboxone for a period of time on his or her own, relapse is almost guaranteed. The psychological aspects of addiction cannot be treated individually. It is important that psychological dependency be addressed in a professional rehab program. There may be deeply buried emotional issues that first started a person on the path to addiction. It is also common for Suboxone users to have an underlying mental disorder such as depression or anxiety. Suboxone abuse is often a means of escaping the negative feelings associated with such disorders. In a professional rehab facility, therapists and counselors are on hand to help each and every person deal with emotional and psychological issues. Once the deeper roots of addiction are discovered, a Suboxone user can gain a better understanding of what causes Suboxone abuse and ways to handle emotions aside from drug abuse.

Get Help Quitting Suboxone

If you are struggling with Suboxone addiction, know that you are not alone. We are here to help you right now, all you have to do is pick up the phone. Our helpline is always toll free, and we are available to offer assistance 24 hours a day. We know that overcoming addiction is a battle, and we are here so that you don’t have to fight it alone.