Opioid Substitution Therapy (OST) is used for treating opioid addiction. OST helps to prevent opioid withdrawal symptoms and prevents or eliminates drug cravings.
Suboxone is a combination of Buprenorphine and Naloxone. It is most commonly used to treat addiction to other opiates such as heroin, fentanyl, oxycodone (OxyContin), and hydromorphone (Dilaudid). It is made in a lab rather than being derived from plants like heroine.
Suboxone is an opioid antagonist. Heroin, morphine and oxycodone are opioid agonists.
An opioid agonist drug activates a pain-blocking receptor in your brain, altering your perceptions of pain and releasing endorphins that mimic pleasure.
An opioid antagonist medication will block the effects of any opioid by preventing them from activating those pain receptors.
OST involves the prescription of suboxone as an alternative to the opiate which a person is addicted to. Central to OST is the provision of counselling, case management and other medical services to help the patient change addictive behaviour and get back on their feet.
Suboxone is dispensed as a small tablet, which is taken "sub-lingually", which means it is held under the tongue and allowed to dissolve. While the tablet is dissolving, it is important not to chew or swallow it because the medicine will not work as well.
Talking while the tablet is dissolving can affect how well the medicine is absorbed.