Suboxone Program Specialist

No matter how you became dependent on opioids, you share the same challenge as everyone with an opioid addiction: It’s hard to fight the cravings and impossible to stop without experiencing withdrawal symptoms. Dr. Chrisette Dharma and Dr. Monica Ramirez at Southwest Family Medicine Associates can help with medication-assisted treatment using Suboxone®. Please don’t wait to call their office in Dallas to learn how Suboxone management can help you successfully kick opioid dependence.

What is medication-assisted treatment for opioid dependence?

Medication-assisted treatment combines medications with behavioral therapy and counseling to help you overcome opioid dependence. This approach is highly effective because the medication normalizes brain chemistry and relieves cravings while behavioral therapy helps you learn to resist opioids.

It’s important to know you’re not replacing one addiction with another. The medications used to treat opioid dependence are safe and effective because they’re carefully managed by Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez, and they don’t produce the same euphoria as opioids. They also reduce your desire to use opioids.

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is the prescription medication used by Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez to treat opioid dependence. It consists of two medications — buprenorphine and naloxone — that work together to control cravings for opioids, reduce withdrawal symptoms, and block the effect of opioids.

What happens during Suboxone management?

You can receive Suboxone treatment in Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez's office, but the process is gradual and requires ongoing medical care to ensure your health and well-being.

Suboxone management goes through several stages, because you first use the medication to withdraw from opioids, and then you continue using it in your ongoing recovery. The treatment steps include:

• Induction: Your first dose of Suboxone is administered when you’re in a moderate state of withdrawal. Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez explain what that means and tells you when to stop taking opioids.
• Maintenance: You can begin the maintenance phase when withdrawal symptoms stop and you no longer have uncontrollable cravings for opioids. During this phase, you continue to take Suboxone and begin counseling or behavioral therapy.
• Medical taper: Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez work with you to determine when to stop Suboxone treatment. When it’s time to discontinue medical therapy, your dose must be gradually reduced, or tapered.

Please don’t hesitate to talk with Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez any time you’re tempted to start taking opioids again, whether that craving occurs during medical treatment or after medication is discontinued. They may need to adjust your medication to relieve the temptation.

How do you find pain relief without opioids?

If you started taking opioids to relieve chronic pain, you can be sure that Dr. Dharma and Dr. Ramirez can help you find alternative treatments. Studies show that a variety of therapies can effectively relieve pain. For example, acupuncture and massage therapy — which are both available at Southwest Family Medicine Associates — relieve pain caused by health conditions such as back pain and osteoarthritis.

Don’t wait to call or schedule an appointment online.