A drug that counterfeits the effects of opiates that have caused millions and millions of lives to be destroyed because of addiction is now available. Subutex is a mixture of two presently marketed medications, buprenorphine and naloxone. It will be used for the treatment of subjects with heroin and opiate addictions. It is a long-acting opiate primarily used to cire narcotic dependence. It is most usually sold as a capsule that dissolves in the tongue. Its primary objective is to prevent withdrawal symptoms from happening in an individual, by stimulating the opiate receptors in the brain. Subutex has a greater attraction to the opiate receptors than other drugs such as heroin and methadone, whichreduces the desire to take such drugs.
Takin in heroin or methadone will have no effect at all when subutex binds tightly to the opiate receptors. This substance is generally used in narcotic drug treatment programs, and prescribed in varying doses. The effects of subutex are less pronounced than those of other opiates, giving the individual the feeling of being somewhat “normal” once more. Buprenorphine is an opioid that is used to wean people off their addiction to stronger opioids such as morphine, diamorphine (heroin) and methadone. It is prescribed as a alternate for such drugs. By acting on the same opioid receptors as other opioids, buprenorphine stops the physical withdrawal symptoms that occur when these drugs are blocked. Physical cravings is then being stopped. Over time, the dose of buprenorhpine is gradually reduced until it can be stopped completely. Moreover, buprenorphine substitution therapy for opioid addiction must be used in combination with other medical, social and psychological treatment.
We must also take into account that addiction would not leave an individual right after medication. The body would eventually adapt to the effects of subutex and thus would probably become reliant to it. Meaning to say, the person may be free from heroin addiction but in turn, become a subutex addict. Science has found a drug that could imitate the effects of certain drugs such as heroin and methadone, to prevent withdrawal syndrome. However, just like any other drugs, subutex still has a negative effect on the body.
Some side effects of the drug are as follows: Drowsiness; dizziness; weakness; constipation; headache; nausea or vomiting; slow, shallow breathing; mental changes; mood changes (depression); stomach or abdominal pain; liver problems; dark urine; yellowing eyes; skin changes; vision changes; and death due to overdose). These effects could be experienced upon taking subutex. Moreover, it could worsen if the drug is taken together with other substances such as alcohol.
Subutex (buprenorphine) can cause drug addiction. If the use of subutex is suddenly stopped, the individual may experience withdrawal symptoms and/or the want to relapse and consume the addictive drug once more. When taken together with other drugs (antidepressants, alcohol, sleeping medicine, etc.), subutex may boost their effects and cause severe health hazards. Subutex can cause death from overdose if injected with a tranquilizer.
It’s easy access and less expensive price contribute to the increase in the number of subutex addiction cases. The fact that buprenorphine costs less than heroin and is more accessible has accelerated the development of illegal markets in various countries. Buprenorphine manufactured in India, for example, is smuggled into Nepal and Sri Lanka, as well as Bangladesh, where it is used by 90 percent of the country’s intravenous drug users, according to a UN Drug and Crime report last year.
It is quite upsetting to believe that no single drug is free from becoming an object of addiction. People have to be watchful in taking both prescribed and non-prescribed drugs. These certain drugs could somehow be thought of as a traitor. At first they act as if they are giving you positive effects. Then later on, you become addicted to the drug and take the drug
regardless of the depressing it is eliciting. It’s like the devil that lured you to eat the apple from the forbidden tree and then left you when everything else went wrong.
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It’s good that so much progress is being in the field of addiction treatment, but I would still be hesitant to take any medication for drug addiction because of the risk of becoming addicted to that drug. It’s important to do lots of research.