Suboxone is a drug that contains higher dosage (more than 2 milligrams) of buprenorphine and is prescribed mainly to treat drug addiction and withdrawal signs. Suboxone helps taper down signs of addiction and eventually stop drug abuse. To help patients overcome opioid addiction and to help them stop drug abuse, many psychiatrists prescribe Suboxone (trade name for buprenorphine sublingual tablet containing one part naloxone per four parts of buprenorphine).
 

Opioid addiction can be very difficult to deal with and hard to treat. Buprenorphine can be very useful in recovering people from drug abuse when the signs of addiction are very serious. In such cases, people cannot simply taper down opioid intake without having to go through severe withdrawal effects that make self-controlled reduction of opioid intake and subsequent withdrawal from addiction almost impossible.

How Does Suboxone Help Overcome Opioid Addiction?
 

Trying to cut down opioid intake can be harmful for those who suffer hardcore addiction to opioids like heroine. It can lead to withdrawal signs such as severe pain, depression, extreme mood swings, lack of self-control, and abnormal behavior.
 

Taking 2 to 8 milligrams of Suboxone a day helps substitute the addiction with dryness through the action of buprenorphine. Buprenorphine and naloxone block the action of opioid in the nervous system and appease the psychological dependency created by opioid addiction. Hence, Suboxone helps switch gradually from drug abuse and overcome opioid addiction completely. However, buprenorphine is also an opioid and it is important to taper down the dosage of Suboxone also in due course of time.

What Are the Risks of Suboxone Overdose?
 

Higher dosages of Suboxone can eventually lead to Suboxone addiction, and you need to be watchful of signs of Suboxone addiction before you continue using it. The dosage recommended by Reckitt Benckiser (manufacturer of Suboxone) is 2 to 24 milligrams per day based on the severity of previous addiction, withdrawal signs, and nature of abuse the person may be subjected to.  

Suboxone overdose can lead to signs such as headache, sweating, numbness and redness of mouth, painful tongue, blurred vision, back pain, dizziness, sleepiness, constipation, and irregular heartbeat.
 

The tricky part is that Suboxone overdose can often be confused with signs of opioid addiction and drug abuse since they are similar. According to a survey performed by the CDC, signs of Suboxone overdose are very common in the U.S. among those who are suffering from opioid addiction. In fact, around 35 percent of those who reported drug abuse had also experienced signs of Suboxone overdose.

Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms

Even if you were prescribed Suboxone only for a week or four days, it is important that you do not abruptly stop taking buprenorphine. Sudden reduction in Suboxone intake can lead to withdrawal signs such as addiction over a period of time, nausea, vertigo, headache, shallow breathing, confusion, profuse drowsiness, lack of concentration, fainting, and disturbed and decreased sleep.
 

Suboxone may sound like a wonder drug to treat opioid addiction but it can be a double-edged sword, if not taken the right way. Given the fact that Suboxone addiction could be the next thing you are leading into while trying to stop yourself from drug abuse, it is essential that you contact a psychiatrist for help and take Suboxone following prescribed directions to ensure there aren’t many withdrawal signs you will have to deal with.