Opioids are a class of drugs naturally found in the opium poppy plant. Some prescription opioids are made from the plant directly, and others are made by scientists in labs using the same chemical structure. Opioids are often used as medicines because they contain chemicals that relax the body and can relieve pain. Prescription opioids are used mostly to treat moderate to severe pain, though some opioids can be used to treat coughing and diarrhea. Opioids can also make people feel very relaxed and “high” – which is why they are sometimes used for non-medical reasons. This can be dangerous because opioids can be highly addictive, and overdoses and death are common. Heroin is one of the world’s most dangerous opioids, and is never used as a medicine in the United States.

Popular slang terms for opioids include Oxy, Percs, and Vikes.

Opioid drug examples include: oxycodone (OxyContin®, & Percocet®), methadone, Buprenorphine, oxymorphone (Opana^®), morphine (Kadian^®, Avinza^®),Palladone® (taken off the market 7/2005), Percodan®, Tylox®, Demerol®, hydrocodone (Vicodin^®), codeine, and fentanyl among others. 

Heroin is also an opioid and is illegal. Prescription opioids and heroin are chemically similar and can produce a similar high. In some places, heroin is cheaper and easier to get than prescription opioids, so some people switch to using heroin instead. Nearly 80 percent of Americans using heroin (including those in treatment) reported misusing prescription opioids prior to using heroin

Drugs that are not opioids are; cocaine, marijuana, methamphetamines, ecstasy, LSD, GHB, Ketamine, other club drugs, or steroids.

Opioids bind to and activate opioid receptors on cells located in many areas of the brain, spinal cord, and other organs in the body, especially those involved in feelings of pain and pleasure. When opioids attach to these receptors, they block pain signals sent from the brain to the body and release large amounts of dopamine throughout the body. This release can strongly reinforce the act of taking the drug, making the user want to repeat the experience.

In the short term, opioids can relieve pain and make people feel relaxed and happy. However, opioids can also have harmful effects, including drowsiness, confusion, nausea, constipation, euphoria and slowed breathing

Opioid misuse can cause slowed breathing, which can cause hypoxia, a condition that results when too little oxygen reaches the brain. Hypoxia can have short- and long-term psychological and neurological effects, including coma, permanent brain damage, or death. Researchers are also investigating the long-term effects of opioid addiction on the brain, including whether damage can be reversed.

Yes, repeated misuse of prescription opioids can lead to a substance use disorder (SUD), a medical illness which ranges from mild to severe and from temporary to chronic. Addiction is the most severe form of an SUD. An SUD develops when continued misuse of the drug changes the brain and causes health problems and failure to meet responsibilities at work, school, or home.

People addicted to an opioid medication who stop using the drug can have severe withdrawal symptoms that begin as early as a few hours after the drug was last taken. These symptoms include:

• muscle and bone pain
• sleep problems
• diarrhea and vomiting
• cold flashes with goose bumps
• uncontrollable leg movements
• severe cravings

These symptoms can be extremely uncomfortable and are the reason many people find it so difficult to stop using opioids. 

Suboxone and the two drugs that comprise it, buprenorphine and naloxone, are used to treat opioid addiction, although they are both subject to abuse. You may have read about how naloxone has saved the lives of many young people suffering from heroin overdoses. The following Suboxone facts provide insights on these often misunderstood drugs. Learn the differences between buprenorphine and naloxone, how they work together and alone, side effects and more.

No. Subutex, a brand name of buprenorphine manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser Pharmaceuticals, was discontinued in 2011. This caused widespread confusion due to the misconception that it was withdrawn due to abuse potential or safety concerns. Administered as sublingual tablets, the drug was placed under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. When taken in prescribed doses, Subutex did not generate the same level of euphoria, drowsiness or central nervous system suppression as illicit opioids. In February 2015, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) said Subutex was not withdrawn for reasons of safety or effectiveness. Currently, three buprenorphine/naloxone formulas and one buprenorphine formula have been approved by the FDA, although generic versions of Subutex may now be considered due to the 2015 findings.

Naloxone, also called Narcan, is a drug formulated with buprenorphine in Suboxone to treat opioid addiction. On its own, it is a highly effective antidote indicated for the emergency treatment of known or suspected opioid overdose, as manifested by respiratory and or CNS depression. Although emergency medical personnel and hospitals have used naloxone for decades, it is being used with growing frequency by police departments and families of addicted individuals to reverse opioid overdose. For many years, it was available only as an injection. In late 2015, however, the FDA approved a nasal spray. This provides family members, caregivers and first responders with an easy-to-use, needle-free alternative to injectable naloxone. The opioid abuse epidemic sparked the enactment of legislation in many states to make naloxone widely available

Suboxone is known for its safety and effectiveness when it comes to treating those who are battling with opioid addictions. If you have become dependent on one or more opioids, consuming Suboxone within a medication assisted treatment program can help you put an end to your abuse of these substances without going through cravings or withdrawal symptoms. The best way to determine if Suboxone is right for you is to speak your with your provider who can evaluate your treatment needs and recommend the most appropriate form of treatment for you.

No- with successful buprenorphine treatment, the compulsive behavior, the loss of control of drug use, the constant cravings, and all of the other hallmarks of addiction vanish. When all signs and symptoms of the disease of addiction vanish, we call that remission, not switching addictions.

You and your provider will determine the ideal length of time that you will remain on Suboxone. Extensive research has shown that Suboxone is a safe and effective medication to use for short- and long-term purposes. Some individuals take Suboxone for a few months, while others take it for years. Some of the many benefits of Suboxone include the fact that the medication is capable of preventing cravings and withdrawal symptoms from standing in the way of your ability to go to school, work, drive, or engage in therapy. Additionally, the effectiveness of Suboxone does not erode over time, meaning that you can keep taking Suboxone for as long as needed.

Suboxone can cause serious life-threatening breathing problems, overdose and death, especially when the film is injected intravenously. Injecting Suboxone film may cause serious withdrawal symptoms such as pain, cramps, vomiting, diarrhea, anxiety, sleep problems and cravings. Injecting it in combination with benzodiazepines or other medications acting on the CNS (e.g. sedatives, tranquilizers, or alcohol) is extremely dangerous. Drinking alcohol while taking Suboxone can lead to a loss of consciousness or death. Fatalities have been reported in individuals who were not opioid-dependent. Suboxone impacts the liver and is not recommended for individuals with severe hepatic impairment. It may be used with caution for maintenance treatment in those with moderate hepatic impairment who have initiated treatment with a buprenorphine product without naloxone.

Accidental or intentional overdose of Suboxone is less likely to kill you then an overdose of other opiates. Thousands of people die from methadone overdoses in the US each year. However, you can die from an overdose with Suboxone in combination with another sedative. You can die if you take too much benzodiazepine (Xanax, Valium, Klonopin) or too much alcohol with Suboxone. However, this appears to be a much less common occurrence than with methadone.

Medication alone can reduce cravings and withdrawal, but recovering from an addictive disorder requires a rewiring of the brain and medication alone is not enough. Attention to eliminating things in life that cause stress or depression will help minimize the chance of relapse. Disassociating with friends who are in active addiction can be difficult but very necessary. An experienced counselor/therapist will be able to teach other techniques that will further help undo some of the brain changes and conditioned learning that occurred while becoming and once addicted.

Similar to most other prescription medications, you should always keep your provider informed of the medications that you are taking prior to starting on a Suboxone program. This medication can trigger serious reactions when combined with other opioids such as codeine, hydrocodone, oxycodone, or heroin. Those who are taking Suboxone should also avoid taking sleeping pills, narcotic pain medications, and sedatives. Regarding other medications, please speak with your provider so you can proceed safely.

The simple answer is yes. When you are dealing with an opioid addiction, individuals are treading a fine line with incarceration, institutions or even death in some cases. When you start your buprenorphine program, you may start feeling “like your old self”. You will start to curb your cravings for opioids, start feeling better physically and mentally and your confidence will also start to rise. With this new confidence, some patients get a false sense that they have their main problem (opioids) under control and think they are capable of doing a lesser addictive drug recreationally. This is a huge mistake. Eventually, old habits will take over and you may find yourself back using and this could lead to relapse. At Right Path Clinics, you will be required to submit regular drug screens and positive test results can lead to discharge from our program.

It can be dangerous to mix Suboxone with drugs like benzodiazepines, alcohol, sleeping pills and other tranquilizers, certain antidepressants, or other opioid medications, especially when not under the care of a doctor or in doses different from those prescribed by your doctor. Mixing these drugs can lead to drowsiness, sedation, unconsciousness, and death, especially if injected. It is important to let your doctor know about all medications and substances you are taking. Your doctor can provide guidance if any of these medications are prescribed for the treatment of other medical conditions you may have.

Intravenous misuse of buprenorphine, usually in combination with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) has been associated with significant respiratory depression and death.

No. Mixing Suboxone® , an opioid agonist, and alcohol can have severe — and even fatal — consequences. To understand why taking these two substances together is dangerous, it’s important to know how each affects your body. Suboxone (naloxone and buprenorphine) is an opioid agonist that binds to the same receptors in your brain as opiates, increasing its abuse potential. Alcohol (ethanol) is a central nervous system depressant that affects your brain chemistry. Taken together, especially intravenously, Suboxone and alcohol intensify each other’s effects and can wreak havoc on your respiratory system and mental state. This can easily cause overdose, potentially fatal breathing problems, loss of consciousness and coma, among other dangerous side effects.

When combined, Suboxone and alcohol can exacerbate the harmful effects each has on your respiratory system, but that’s just the beginning. Mixing these two drugs can do detrimental damage to your entire body and can lead to fatal overdose.

If you suspect an overdose due to Suboxone and alcohol, call 911 immediately.

If you mix Suboxone and alcohol, side effects may include:

• Impaired or slurred speech
• Potentially fatal breathing problems
• Extreme drowsiness
• Loss of consciousness
• Coma

 We are located on Maple Avenue in Naperville. 

Please call us for directions. To help keep our patient’s anonymity, we do not advertise our clinic name or address to the public. This helps to ensure your privacy which is paramount to our policy standards.

Suboxone is a flexible option for those who wish to end their dependence on opioids. Because it is safe and effective for both short- and long-term use, you can taper and eventually cease your Suboxone use as you and your treatment provider see fit.

It is important to be in mild-to-moderate withdrawal when you take your first dose of Suboxone. If you have high levels of another opioid in your system, Suboxone will compete with the other opioid molecules and knock them off the receptors. Suboxone then replaces those opioid molecules on the receptors, but because Suboxone has less opioid effects than full opioid agonists, you may go into withdrawal and feel sick. This is called precipitated withdrawal. If you are already in the first stages of withdrawal when you take your first dose,  Suboxone® will make you feel better, not worse. Once your doctor has assessed your withdrawal symptoms and decided that you are ready to start Suboxone, you will begin Induction

We commonly see our patients weekly for the first month. It is imperative to closely monitor your response and compliance to the treatment, adjust medications, and observe for any unexpected side effects. After the first month of your treatment our next goal is to start seeing you every two weeks. Monthly visits are normal if you demonstrate that you are stable on your dose of Suboxone® and confidence in you abstinence from opioids. All treatment plans are personally tailored to each individual patient and your visits will ultimately be at the discretion of your doctor and councilors.

It is recommended to take the first day of treatment off. Some are able to work even on Day One. Certainly after Day One, you should be able to work with greater attentiveness and clarity than before starting treatment. The transition from addictive substance to Suboxone® is usually painless and most patients experience no adverse physical effects. In fact most say that they feel normal again, like they were never on drugs at all.

The confidentiality of alcohol and drug dependence patient records maintained by a practice/program are protected by federal law and regulations. Generally, the practice/program may not say to a person outside the practice/program that a patient attends the practice/program, or disclose any information identifying a patient as being alcohol or drug dependent unless:

• The patient consents in writing;
• The disclosure is allowed by a court order, or
• The disclosure is made to medical personnel in a medical emergency or to qualified personnel for research, audit, or practice/program evaluation.

Violation of the federal law and regulations by a practice/program is a crime. Suspected violations may be reported to appropriate authorities in accordance with federal regulations.

Federal law and regulations do not protect any information about a crime committed by a patient either at the practice/program or against any person who works for the practice/program or about any threat to commit such a crime. Federal laws and regulations do not protect any information about suspected child abuse or neglect from being reported under state law to appropriate state or local authorities.

Suboxone® has to be specifically tested for and still isn’t commonly included on standard drug screen panels. Suboxone®   will NOT cause a positive result on tests for other opiates. The typical urine tests used to detect methadone, oxycodone, heroin, and other opioids check for a different metabolite than that found with buprenorphine and will not show a positive result in buprenorphine (only) maintained patients.

Although there is the potential for addiction to Suboxone®  , the risk is low. Few people develop the dangerous uncontrollable compulsion to Suboxone® that we know as addiction. Suboxone®  will maintain some of a patient’s existing physical dependence to opioids but that is manageable and can be resolved with a gradual taper once the patient is ready.

Amazingly despite 100% of people being treated for addiction with Suboxone® have demonstrated that they have a greater vulnerability to opioid addiction than the average person, very few become addicted to the, Suboxone®   meaning very few lose control of their medication intake, nor experience uncontrollable compulsions and cravings toward the Suboxone®.

Headache is one of the most commonly reported buprenorphine side effects. A common remedy for headaches is aspirin or other OTC (over the counter) pain remedies with a glass of water; but water alone may be all that’s needed.

Constipation may also be a factor. Many medications can cause constipation, including opioids, and especially long-acting opioids. This can lead to chronic constipation if preventative strategies aren’t employed. Constipation can become serious, but for most, it’s an unnecessary inconvenience and discomfort. Fortunately, it is usually avoidable with OTC remedies (Colace®), exercise, good diet and good hydration.

Dry mouth (xerostomia) if often reported. This may seem like an innocuous symptom and is not often cited as a buprenorphine side effect, but it should not be ignored. Saliva is the mouth’s primary defense against tooth decay, gun disease, and maintains the health of the soft and hard tissues in the mouth. Dry mouth may lead to leads to gingivitis, periodontitis disease, and eventually bone and tooth loss.

Other Side effects include:

• Lightheadedness, dizziness, or fainting,
• Sleepiness or sedation
• Nausea or vomiting
• Other stomach cramps
• Sweating
• Numbness in the mouth
• Swollen, painful tongue
• Difficulty paying attention or remembering events
• Back pain
• Blurry vision

Because Suboxone is a partial opioid agonist, it will interact with several other medications and drugs. Alcohol, sedatives, and other opioids are the riskiest substances, as these can greatly increase the risk of overdose, even accidentally.

Other drugs that will interact with Suboxone include:

• Acetaminophen
• Iron supplements
• Anxiety, insomnia, and seizure medicines
• Antifungals
• Cholesterol medications
• Protease inhibitors to treat HIV
• Drugs that treat mental illness, including schizophrenia
• Oral contraceptives

Most insurance companies cover the medication itself, however many people choose to pay for it themselves to keep their condition private. We operate as a self-pay (cash, credit or debit) clinic.  We have been told by most of our patients that our fees are typically lower that other providers. You can always submit our bill to your insurance company for reimbursement for treatment from them but we do not bill the insurance company directly.  If you do have insurance, many companies will allow you to submit the claim yourself for direct reimbursement. If your plan covers behavioral health conditions demand they pay your claim. Some insurance companies still feel that they can discriminate against people with addictive disorders. Most states have laws requiring insurance plans to cover addiction treatment.

If you miss a dose and remember it hours later, take it upon remembering. If you forget until it is close to the time of the next day’s dose, do not take a double dose. Not because you will take too much but rather you will just be wasting it, due to the ceiling effect. After being on treatment for a relatively short period of time you will feel so normal it may be difficult to remember unless you tie taking your medication to an activity you do every day at the same time. For example, after you have coffee or orange juice in the morning, or while reading the newspaper.

Call us today at 630.428.4300 to set up a tele-medicine appointment with Dr. Haidak.