If you’re looking to get professional support during your opioid addiction recovery, Suboxone may play a central role in treatment. Suboxone is a medicine that helps people recovering from opioid use disorder (OUD). It reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. You may wonder if Suboxone can be used to help manage pain as well. The answer is yes, though Suboxone is mainly prescribed for other reasons.
Suboxone’s main job is to help people stop using opioids safely. However, some doctors may give Suboxone for pain in certain cases. Since Suboxone isn’t FDA-approved for pain, this is considered off-label use. There are other medicines with buprenorphine (one of Suboxone’s main ingredients) that may be better for pain. These include Butrans and Belbuca. Buprenorphine can be a safer alternative to traditional opioids for managing chronic pain, research shows. Learning more about how buprenorphine relieves pain can help you find the treatment solution you need.
What is Suboxone and how does it work?
Suboxone is made up of two important medicines: buprenorphine and naloxone. Each of these ingredients has a specific job that helps people recover from OUD. In some cases, buprenorphine can help provide pain relief as well.
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist; it attaches to the same areas of the brain as opioids like heroin or oxycodone. However, it does not cause a strong “high.” Instead, buprenorphine reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This can make it easier for people to focus on recovery without a high risk of becoming dependent on their medication. Buprenorphine also has a ceiling effect — taking more of it won’t increase its effects after a certain point. The ceiling effect helps prevent misuse and overdose.
Naloxone is a medicine that blocks the effects of opioids. Its main job is to keep people safe by stopping misuse and overdose. If someone tries to take Suboxone in an unintended way, naloxone steps in and blocks the “high” that opioids cause. This can help prevent someone from misusing their treatment. When Suboxone is taken as prescribed, naloxone stays in the background. It does not interfere with the helpful effects of buprenorphine.
Suboxone comes as a tablet or strip that goes under the tongue. Once the medication is absorbed, it starts working within 30 to 60 minutes to ease cravings and withdrawal symptoms. For many people, this steady relief helps them feel “normal” and stay on track with recovery. Suboxone can also provide mild pain relief in some cases, which can be helpful for people with long-term pain.
Does Suboxone help with pain?
Buprenorphine, one of the key ingredients in Suboxone, can help relieve pain. It works by blocking pain signals in the brain. But it doesn’t work the same way as stronger opioids like morphine or oxycodone.
If you’re experiencing chronic pain and have OUD, Suboxone may help you in multiple ways. It could help control your cravings while giving some pain relief. If pain is your main complaint, though, doctors tend to prescribe other medicines, such as Butrans.
Benefits of buprenorphine for pain
Buprenorphine is a unique medication that can help manage pain while reducing the risks often linked to stronger opioids. Here are some key benefits that may make buprenorphine the right medication for you:
- Lower addiction risk — One of the most important benefits of buprenorphine is its ceiling effect. Full opioids can become more dangerous as doses increase. Buprenorphine’s effects level off after a certain point, though, so even if someone takes more than prescribed, they won’t experience a “high.” This feature lowers the risk of misuse, overdose, and addiction. Full opioids like oxycodone or morphine can lead to dependency when taken in high amounts. Buprenorphine is safer because it doesn’t trigger the same intense effects. For people in recovery, this is especially important. Buprenorphine helps them stay on track without the same risk of using again.
- Lasting relief — Buprenorphine stays in the body much longer than other pain medicines that wear off quickly. Medications like morphine or hydrocodone often need to be taken every four to six hours, but buprenorphine can provide pain relief for 24 hours or more. Because it lasts so long, people don’t need to take as many doses throughout the day. This makes it easier to manage pain without constant interruptions. For people with chronic pain, it means they can go about their day without worrying as much about taking their next dose.
- Minimal side effects — Many opioids can cause uncomfortable side effects. These might include feeling very sleepy or feeling sick to your stomach. Negative side effects can make it hard to do daily tasks and may even cause serious health problems. Buprenorphine is different because it usually causes fewer side effects than stronger opioids. It only partially activates the brain’s opioid receptors. It helps reduce pain but doesn’t overwhelm the body. This means people taking buprenorphine are less likely to feel too tired or have major digestive issues. For those living with long-term pain, fewer side effects mean they can stay active and enjoy their day with fewer disruptions.
Does Suboxone help with arthritis pain?
Arthritis is a condition that causes swelling and stiffness in the joints. It can make it hard to move and perform daily tasks. In some cases, arthritis pain can be severe and long lasting. Suboxone may not be ideal for managing arthritis pain. However, other buprenorphine-based medicines like Butrans might be helpful. Your doctor may also prescribe anti-inflammatory medications to reduce your swelling.
Effective arthritis management typically involves more than medication. For the best results, you may want to participate in physical therapy. Physical therapy treatments such as targeted exercises can help improve your overall joint function. If you have arthritis pain and are taking Suboxone, talk to your treatment provider. They may adjust your current treatments or suggest other techniques to help manage your pain. Mayo Clinic offers in-depth information about the arthritis diagnosis and treatment process.
Does Suboxone help with pain after surgery?
After surgery, many people experience pain as their body heals. When your pain is effectively managed, you can focus on healing. Postsurgical pain management can involve multiple approaches. Buprenorphine can be a relatively safe way to reduce your pain levels. You may also benefit from a professional rehabilitation program, depending on the scope of your surgery.
If you’re already taking Suboxone for OUD, you should talk to your treatment provider before surgery. They can help you come up with a postsurgery recovery plan that doesn’t get in the way of your OUD recovery progress. Your surgeon and treatment provider should coordinate pain management to avoid withdrawal or undertreatment of acute pain.
Does Suboxone help with opioid use disorder?
Suboxone can be highly effective in helping people with OUD. If you’re experiencing addiction, Suboxone can help you safely stop using and reduce your risk of using again. Some positive effects of Suboxone include:
- Reduced cravings — Buprenorphine activates opioid receptors just enough to stop cravings.
- Withdrawal relief — Suboxone helps relieve withdrawal symptoms like nausea, muscle pain, and anxiety.
- Greater safety — Naloxone works to block potentially harmful effects of opioids. This reduces the risk of Suboxone misuse or overdose.
Find support in managing opioid use disorder with Groups
If you need help managing your recovery, Groups is ready to support you. Suboxone can be a powerful tool in recovery. At Groups, we offer fast, convenient access to the medication our members need. We can also help you with other aspects of your recovery, from finding peer support to rebuilding your life.
Give our Recovery Support Specialists a call today for more information or to begin your recovery. If Groups doesn’t offer treatment in your state, you can locate other treatment options here.
