Suboxone + Opioids & the treatment with NAD+
Contents
Understanding opioid addiction
Suboxone as opioid addiction treatment
How to taper off Suboxone
NAD+ for tapering off Suboxone
Achieve lasting opioid freedom with NAD+
Do you know how to taper off Suboxone? This drug is a critical tool against opioid addiction, but it could cause dependence. A gradual weaning-off plan is your best bet for a medication-free life.
Going medication-free is the way to regain control of your life. Plus, stopping Suboxone is much easier than getting off opioids. It just takes a gradual approach, medical supervision, and NAD+. The latter is a promising method to reduce cravings and heal your body post-addiction.
Join us to learn about Suboxone, why it matters, and ways to eventually stop using it. Don’t rely solely on traditional methods. Keep reading to let regenerative medicine help you rediscover your best self.
Understanding opioid addiction
Оpioids, known as narcotics, are prescription medications for treating severe pain. They attach to opioid receptors on nerve cells and block messages sent to the brain.
These drugs also trigger the release of endorphins, the feel-good neurotransmitters. Besides blocking pain, endorphins cause a sense of pleasure and well-being. As a result of this two-fold effect, addiction often occurs in long-term users.
Before discussing ways peptide injections help, let’s familiarize ourselves with this issue.
As opioids wear off, people find themselves wanting more. These medications make your brain feel they’re necessary and form a strong habit.
A common way to combat this problem is through medications like Suboxone. They stimulate the same receptors, but to a lesser extent. Unfortunately, this strategy isn’t foolproof. Many people end up dealing with Suboxone withdrawal.
Let’s discuss the traditional road to opioid addiction recovery. We pay special attention to the potential pitfalls one may encounter.
Suboxone as opioid addiction treatment
Before sharing how to taper off Suboxone, let’s see why you’d use it in the first place. It’s the top drug for medication-assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid use disorder (OUD).
Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication for OUD. It consists of two active ingredients that have a synergistic effect:
- Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist. It binds to the same receptors as opioids, but activates them to a lesser extent. It reduces cravings, helping folks discontinue the use of heavy opioids.
- Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of other opioids. It’s a safety measure to prevent the abuse of Suboxone.
Suboxone operates in three stages. The first is the introduction, and it happens 12–24 hours after the person’s final opioid dose. Then comes the stabilization phase. The physician adjusts the dosing to control cravings without making the patient high.
The maintenance phase is last and sometimes indefinite. Suboxone is safe to use for years to help patients stay clean. They may get counseling and therapy to address other aspects of addiction.
But what if people want to come off this medication, too? Given its opioid-like properties, this decision can lead to Suboxone withdrawal.
An unexpected obstacle: Suboxone withdrawal
Although Suboxone impacts the same receptors as opioids, its influence is mild. This drug has a slow onset, long duration, and a ceiling effect. Taking more than the prescribed dose won’t intensify its effects. For these reasons, the risk of developing a Suboxone addiction is low.
But dependence can still happen. This condition occurs when the body gets accustomed to a substance. Stop using it, and you experience Suboxone withdrawal symptoms. They include:
- Craving opioids
- Flu-like symptoms
- Muscle shaking and pain
- Nausea and diarrhea
A relapse is more likely to occur in these circumstances. So, knowing how to taper off Suboxone right is key to staying on track. Let’s start with the conventional approach.
How to taper off Suboxone
In some ways, getting off Suboxone resembles stopping opioid use. But the process is faster and with fewer side effects. Going cold turkey isn’t the answer: take a tactical approach for optimal results.
Gradual tapering protocols
Figuring out how to taper off Suboxone depends on your current dependency level. The base procedure is simple: you lower your dose bit by bit until you’re off it. Those with high starting dosages will reduce their intake over weeks instead of days.
As a rule, lower your dose in 2 mg increments every few days. Cravings and withdrawal symptoms may occur as your body readjusts. Adjust your dosing and frequency accordingly.
Medical supervision and support
A medical professional is the best person to tell you how to taper off Suboxone. They determine your dependence level and help you lower it slowly and safely.
Doctors might suggest other medications to reduce cravings and symptoms. They also track your vitals, support system, and emotional well-being. That way, they make the journey as seamless as possible.
To devise a plan, they’ll ask you about:
- Your regular Suboxone dose, how long you consumed it, and the last time you took it.
- Personal and family history of drug dependence.
- Other meds you might’ve consumed with Suboxone.
Lifestyle adjustments
Good lifestyle habits can reduce Suboxone withdrawal symptoms. Here’s what to do to make weaning off more manageable:
- Get enough sleep. Stick to a regular sleep-wake cycle and give yourself 7–9 hours of rest every night.
- Eat healthy. Think high protein, vitamins, and minerals and low refined sugars. Stay away from caffeine and salty foods.
- Exercise regularly. Movement can lower stress and help you recenter. It also keeps you busy and improves your physical state.
- Try holistic techniques. Yoga, breathing exercises, mindfulness, massage, and acupuncture may ease pain and stress.
- Reach out to others. Have a friend or family member nearby to help with cravings or mood swings.
NAD+ for tapering off Suboxone
Folks researching how to taper off Suboxone often run into NAD+ as a solution. This peptide supports energy production, anti-aging, disease prevention, and addiction treatment.
Short for “nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide,” NAD+ is a vital coenzyme in our bodies. It supports many metabolic functions, boosting everything from eyesight to injury recovery. It’s also indirectly linked to neurotransmitter regulation.
The addiction-fighting mechanisms of NAD+ come from its influence on the mu receptors. This class of neuroreceptors modulates physiological functions like pain, memory, motivation, and mood. Opioids and Suboxone bind to the mu receptors post-consumption.
The mu receptor is responsible for most effects of opioids. And that’s where NAD+ comes in to save the day.
How NAD+ affects mu-opioid receptors
As opioids reach the mu receptors, they relieve pain and induce feel-good effects. Suboxone binds to the same receptor, reducing cravings and withdrawal struggles. But this process isn’t always seamless.
Once the brain stops receiving the opioid stimulation, Suboxone withdrawal soon follows. The mu receptors become sensitive and send distress signals to the brain. NAD+ desensitizes the mu receptor, mitigating nasty symptoms.
Through its mechanism of action, NAD+ makes it smoother to discontinue opioids. It calms the mu receptor, letting you gradually quit all medications. The brain stabilizes as time passes, and the brain returns to its regular functioning.
NAD+ therapy in addiction treatment
NAD+ IV therapy shows great promise for treating opioid dependency. While it doesn’t treat addiction, it improves the chances of long-term recovery.
When used in addiction contexts, NAD+ is administered in doses of 1000 mg or more. You receive it intravenously for bioavailability. The precise dosing schedule varies, but it’s usually once a week for four weeks.
This delivery method ensures NAD+ reaches the brain and attaches to opioid receptors. It numbs them, reducing Suboxone withdrawal symptoms.
Beyond directly impacting addiction, NAD+ supports your body in recovery. Opioids deplete the brain of energy, and supplementation may help. It boosts the body’s healing power, making it easier to withstand withdrawal.
NAD+ is also beneficial for emotional health. It’s been shown to uplift the spirit and decrease anxiety and depression. As mental health conditions correlate with OUD, better mood reduces relapse risk.
Note that NAD+ isn’t a magic wand. Patients fare best with a combination of traditional MAT, psychological counseling, and naturopathic medicine.
This approach treats the whole person and not just their symptoms. Physicians offer lifestyle changes, natural medications, and counseling during recovery. They effectively address root causes and help folks leave opiates in the past.
Achieve lasting opioid freedom with NAD+
Suboxone plays a vital role in most MAT protocols. It offers an easier path to sobriety, but it’s not without its challenges.
Determining how to taper off Suboxone requires a systemic approach under expert guidance. Such plans minimize withdrawal symptoms and boost your odds of long-term recovery. Combine it with NAD+, and you get a winning combination.
Is our guide giving you hope? Schedule a consultation today for a cleaner tomorrow.
Author: Dr. Jason Phan NMD – Founder of LIVV Natural – Anti-aging – regenerative medicine – peptide therapy
