Buprenorphine
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Buprenorphine is an established medication that can be used to treat the symptoms of heroin and opioid withdrawal.
Our clinicians have decades clinical experience of prescribing Buprenorphine. We can help you access treatment for heroin addiction. There is heroin addiction help available. Call now.
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Effective discharge planning starts at the point of pre admission assessment. For free and impartial advice from a clinician, in the field, who prescribes for and treats opioid addiction call us.
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The Basics
Buprenorphine has been used for the treatment of heroin and opioid addiction for many decades in the UK and across the world.
Taken in tablet form which dissolves on or under your tongue it is a once a day medication.
For some people, it can be taken every 2 or 3 days.
You can either stay on Buprenorphine, which is known as maintenance, or taper down which is known as detox.
Buprenorphine, also known as Subutex, Espranor and Buvidal (injection) is available at most rehab centres
For those wanting to use Buprenorphine as a detox for opioids and heroin, the treatment time can be shorter than if you use Methadone.
Buprenorphine
What is Buprenorphine
Buprenorphine is an opioid.
It is known as a partial agonist.
This means that unlike Methadone, when it reaches the opioid receptors it only attaches to some of them, not all of them as a full agonist will.
However, when Buprenorphine does attach to receptors it will stick to them more strongly than other opioids. As a result, you need to be in withdrawal before you start taking it.
Buprenorphine
Precipitated Withdrawal
Because Buprenorphine attaches itself, very strongly, to receptors it will knock off any other opioids that are already there.
This means if you have opioids in your system, Buprenorphine will dislodge them making you go into withdrawal.
This means that you will need to stop using opioids for a period of time before you go into rehab.
Alternatively, you must wait until you are in withdrawal at the rehab centre before starting treatment. You can discuss this with your clinician.
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Buprenorphine: How is it taken?
As soon as you are in a clear state of withdrawal, you normally start with 4MG on the first day.
Next, you take 8MG the second day followed by 12MG the day after and then 16MG.
Some clinicians will move patients from 8MG to 16MG without the 12MG stage, depending on the individual.
There is no clinical evidence that taking any more than 16MG a day will provide any additional benefit though some people are given more. This is because Buprenorphine has what is known as a ceiling effect.
This means that if you take More Buprenorphine it will not be able to sit on the receptors because there is already Buprenorphine on them. It will simply not be actioned.
Buprenorphine
What does it do?
As an opioid, it will stop you experiencing withdrawal symptoms.
Opioids take control of the brains reward system. The receptors in the reward system are also involved in pain relief because when opioids bind to these receptors the nerve signals that convey pain are inhibited.
This means you feel pleasure. A very warm feeling.
This leads to a cycle of reward because of overwhelming cravings.
Why wouldn't someone want to recreate a pleasurable experience?
Can my GP prescribe it?
No.
Due to the way the NHS commissions addiction services, your GP can not provide you with an NHS prescription for Buprenorphine.
While, now, very rare, there are a few “shared care” NHS GP services that are commissioned to provide addiction services but these are the exception, and not the rule.
Buprenorphine
What it can't do
Buprenorphine is very useful for managing opioid withdrawal symptoms. However, it is not a complete treatment. While it can help someone to manage their withdrawals it does not address the psychological aspects of addiction. Simply getting through withdrawals, whilst a vital element of treatment, is only one aspect of recovery.
Buprenorphine
What about home treatment with Buprenorphine?
With Buprenorphine, very close medical monitoring is needed.
You will need a live in nurse or highly trained support worker would be needed 24/7. This would make the cost far higher than a stay in rehab.
In any event, treatment at home won't provide the three other elements needed for recovery: Therapy, relapse prevention and aftercare.
With withdrawal comes cravings. At home, you simply wouldn't have the support you need to deal with them.
When you stop taking opioids your tolerance to them drops. If you succumb to cravings you run the risk of accidental overdose.
This is because you are likely to take an amount you think you need to settle yourself. This will be more than your brain can handle and an overdose is very highly likely.
Therapy
All centers who provide treatment for opioid addiction provide a fully immersive therapy programme, either along a 12 step approach or a SMART based recovery model. These run seven days a week and , those in treatment, are obliged to attend all sessions if physically well enough to do so. For new admissions, it can be 24-48 hours , on occasion, before someone is able to take part.
Sitting alongside this programme, many centers also offer adjunctive treatments and therapies such as:
Yoga
Mindfulness
Art therapy
Gentle exercise and group walks
Music therapy
Individual sessions (for those staying more than a week)
Clients, before leaving, are linked in with support groups in their local community, be they voluntary or statutory. A psychological tool kit is built up so that clients have a selection of techniques to employ.
If you need treatment for heroin addiction, heroin addiction advice call and speak to us. We can provide heroin addiction help on 0333 041 9922.
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