While it would be nice to have a one-size-fits all answer here, the truth is it depends on your symptoms and usage of the drug. Suboxone detoxification can be done at home but often requires medical supervision.
When Can You Do Suboxone Detoxification at Home?
If you have been using the drug as directed by your doctor with no symptoms of abuse, then you should be able to complete Suboxone detoxification at home. Your doctor will give you a taper schedule to gradually decrease your dose until you no longer need it at all. At the point, withdrawal symptoms should be minor and manageable at home.
A Home Suboxone Detoxification Plan
Depending on the strength of your prescription, your doctor will have you taper your dosage up to three months before discontinuing use. Every week or two you will step down in milligrams until at a low enough dose to completely stop taking the drug.
If you experience severe withdrawal symptoms during the tapering process, tell your doctor. You may taper too fast and need to slow down the process to allow your body time to adjust. Your doctor will change your taper plan to reduce the withdrawal symptoms. With severe withdrawal symptoms that continue throughout the detox, your doctor may suggest medically assisted detox in a clinic.
Withdrawal Symptoms Are Normal
When you finally stop taking Suboxone, you will still experience minor withdrawal symptoms. This is to be expected even after tapering down for weeks or months beforehand. Your body is used to having a chemical as a crutch. Without the crutch, your body will react for a short time, trying to convince you the drug is still needed. Stay strong and have a recovery plan in place to avoid the temptation to use the drug.
When Should You Do Suboxone Detoxification in a Medical Center?
If you are taking a high dose of Suboxone or are using it for an extended period, consider detoxing in a medical center. The longer your body has been relying on Suboxone, the harder it is to detox. Withdrawal symptoms can cause distress on your heart and other vital organs. Suboxone detoxification in a medical center is safer as it allows medical personnel to watch your vital organs for distress. If you have any medical problems during detox, nurses are there to help.
Regardless if you handle Suboxone detoxification at home or in a medical center, remember to prepare a recovery plan.
Implementing Your Recovery Plan after Suboxone Detoxification
Once detoxed from Suboxone, it is important to begin a recovery plan. Individual counseling, peer group counseling, and other therapies are important to help stay off Suboxone. These therapies can be enrolled in through an outpatient program. If your Suboxone detoxification was needed due to abuse of the drug, consider an intensive inpatient program or partial hospitalization program where you can get focused treatment away from potential reminders of drug use.
Ready for Suboxone Detoxification?
If you or a loved one needs help to choose the right Suboxone detoxification program, call Aion Recovery at 888-811-2879. We can help you locate a detox program near you. Once the drug is out of your system, we offer a variety of recovery plans to help you stay sober. Call today.
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