Substance use disorders can have a widespread impact on your personal life, your professional life, and the lives of people you’re close to. Many people don’t realize that substance use disorders are physical health conditions, as they cause observable changes inside the brain.
Medical conditions often require medical treatments. If you or a loved one experiences cravings or withdrawal symptoms, it may be time to talk to your healthcare provider about addiction treatment options. At Clear Choice Physicians in Mesa, Arizona, Shantha Kumar, MD, can help you decide which addiction treatment is right for you.
At our office, we routinely prescribe Suboxone® and Vivitrol® to manage substance use disorders, including opioid use disorder and alcohol use disorder. Here’s what you should know about each medication and what it does:
Suboxone is an oral medication that comes in the form of a pill. You take the first dose under Dr. Kumar’s supervision, then use it at home with regular follow-up visits.
Suboxone treats opioid use disorder, which involves the compulsive use of opioid medications like fentanyl or oxycodone. You might be a candidate for Suboxone treatment if you experience regular cravings for these medications, experience withdrawal symptoms when you stop using them, or if their use significantly impacts your life.
Suboxone contains two medications: buprenorphine and naloxone. These medications latch onto opioid receptors in your brain so you won’t feel the same effects when taking opioids. They prevent withdrawal symptoms such as fever, aches, and body chills.
Vivitrol is a once-a-month injection treatment. It’s an intramuscular injection, which means you inject it directly into a muscle so it can quickly reach your bloodstream.
Vivitrol can treat opioid dependence, but you must fully detox from opioids before starting Vivitrol. It can help stop you from relapsing after you recover. Vivitrol can also treat alcohol use disorder and excessive drinking behaviors.
Vivitrol contains the drug naltrexone, which takes a couple of actions inside your brain. It blocks opioid receptors to reduce cravings and prevent opioid relapse. It also changes how your hypothalamus, pituitary gland, and adrenal gland interact to prevent you from wanting to drink a lot.
At our office, Dr. Kumar can help you decide if medical support is right for you during recovery from a substance use disorder. He can also explain what to expect while using medications like Vivitrol and Suboxone. Together, you’ll decide which treatment best aligns with your needs.
Call Clear Choice Physicians or request an appointment online to learn more about addiction treatment options.