Treatments: Suboxone Induction and Maintenance

Suboxone is a new treatment option for patients with opiate dependence. It is an alternative to methadone, and is the only office based treatment. Methadone must be prescribed in specific licensed facilities.

Patients with chronic pain can occasionally develop secondary addiction and this may limit prescription of narcotic medications. Methadone can be a therapeutic option for them but must be prescribed within a licensed methadone clinic (Boulder or Denver) and that can be logistically restrictive.

In the past two years, Suboxone (brand name) or buprenorphine (generic) is offering the addiction medicine physician or psychiatrist an exciting opportunity to manage patients with either chronic pain and secondary opiate dependence or primary opiate abuse/dependence within a local outpatient setting. It is a partial opiate agonist, without as significant a potential for abuse, dependence, tolerance, or diversion.

Suboxone.com - Office-Based Treatment for Opioid Dependence