2. Starting Buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone)
If this is your first time on Suboxone, or you are being restarted on it, it is important to first stop all opioid use. You must wait until you have mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms (generally 12- 72 hours) before taking your first dose of Suboxone. If it is taken too early, it can force you into precipitated withdrawal, which is both very uncomfortable and may be dangerous. Click here to see a list of withdrawal symptoms and determine if it is the right time to take your first dose. Continue as directed by your doctor and that’s it. Generally 95% of our patient’s do not have any withdrawal symptoms after the first 3-5 days of starting Suboxone. You may also request additional medication to help ease withdrawal symptoms so that you can continue with your day to day activities (work, school, etc) without skipping a beat.