How to Talk to Your Doctor About Adjusting Your Buprenorphine Dose
The road to addiction recovery can be difficult, but having the right tools in your arsenal soothes stress and makes symptoms easier to manage. Buprenorphine, an opioid agonist prescribed to those struggling with opioid use disorder, plays a vital role in treating withdrawal symptoms.
Using an incorrect dose, however, can render Buprenorphine considerably less effective. As such, it’s important for each patient to find the dose that works for them. This requires some degree of patient-doctor discussion, so knowing how to approach a doctor with dose change concerns is crucial.
Phases of Buprenorphine Treatment
With the help of a doctor, patients prescribed Buprenorphine undergo two distinct phases of treatment: the induction phase and the maintenance phase. The induction phase is a period defined by adaptation. During the first 2-4 days of treatment, patients are given a low dose (2 mg to 4 mg is common) so doctors can observe how they respond and adjust the dose if needed.
Afterward, during the maintenance phase, patients will settle into a Buprenorphine dose that works best for them. This will differ based on factors like weight, liver function, and history with opioids, but many patients take between 4 and 16 mg of Buprenorphine per day.
We prioritize patient health and safety at Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc., so patients shouldn’t hesitate to share questions or concerns with our staff during either phase of Buprenorphine treatment.
Forms of Buprenorphine
Taking Buprenorphine isn’t always as simple as swallowing a small pill. It actually comes in several forms, and this variety makes it easier for doctors to assign treatment based on individual patient needs.
Sublingual Tablets
For some patients, Buprenorphine works best as a sublingual tablet. A sublingual tablet is a traditional pill that, when placed under the tongue, will dissolve and take effect.
Sublingual Film
Sublingual film is a thin strip of Buprenorphine that dissolves when placed under the tongue. Functioning in essentially the same way as a sublingual tablet, sublingual film acts as a less obtrusive alternative to pills.
Buccal Film
If a patient is averse to sublingual options, he or she can take Buprenorphine in the form of buccal film instead. Buccal film, a small strip that patients can tuck inside their cheek, transmits medication to the bloodstream when it dissolves. Patients should be aware that buccal film can be habit-forming and should only be taken with caution and under proper supervision by a medical professional.
Injection
First approved by the FDA in 1982, Buprenex® is the brand name for an injectable form of Buprenorphine. Administered using intramuscular or intravenous injection, Buprenex® is usually given to patients in clinics or hospitals for quick-acting pain alleviation.
Signs A Patient May Need A Dosage AdjustmentÂ
In order to receive the best possible care, patients should monitor their symptoms and communicate any and all questions, concerns, and observations to their doctors as soon as possible. When taking Buprenorphine, patients must watch for a few key signs that their current dose needs modifying.
When someone’s Buprenorphine dosage is too low, they may experience a myriad of unpleasant symptoms. Elevated anxiety, irritability, and distractibility are symptoms that commonly accompany insufficient doses of Buprenorphine. If a patient feels more tense, jittery, or panicked than normal, this is a sign to speak to a doctor about increasing their current Buprenorphine dosage.
Low dosage side-effects may also manifest physically, causing acute sweating, tremors, muscle aches, and gastrointestinal upset. When taking Buprenorphine, symptoms like cramping, vomit, and diarrhea are not to be taken lightly; these may indicate a patient is in need of a dosage increase. These are common symptoms of withdrawal, which Buprenorphine aims to combat. When withdrawal effects are still present, this can tip off doctors that patients may respond better to a dose adjustment.
It’s important to note that there is some overlap between withdrawal symptoms and Buprenorphine side effects. Negative reactions to this drug can range from nausea, headaches, constipation, and body aches to more severe issues like low blood pressure and heart issues. Regardless of why these symptoms are occurring, patients should alert their doctors so they can treat problems accordingly, identify root causes, and adjust doses if needed.
Discussing Buprenorphine Dose Adjustments with a Doctor Â
Physicians can sometimes seem intimidating, but patients should remember that they’re ultimately there to help. If patients are hesitant about approaching their doctors with dosage adjustment requests, they can implement a few steps to simplify the process.
Before bringing up dosage changes to their doctors, patients should be prepared with a summary of their concerns and questions. Doctors will want to know why a patient suspects they need a dose adjustment, and appointments will be more efficient (and more helpful!) if patients have an idea of what they want to discuss ahead of time.
To keep doctors abreast of any and all emerging changes, patients may choose to keep notes on their symptoms. By recording information such as symptom duration and symptom frequency, patients can provide detailed, accurate reports to their doctors. Patients can write this information down and bring it to their next appointment or message their physicians securely through a patient portal.
Medication changes can sometimes inhibit a patient’s ability to perform daily tasks, so it’s best to consider this ahead of time before speaking with a doctor. Patients may want to plan medication changes around life events, and they should communicate any scheduling concerns with their doctors.
Don’t Be Afraid To Seek Help
At Buprenorphine Treatment Centers, Inc., we blend Buprenorphine treatment and psychiatric care to create cohesive recovery plans for our patients. By prescribing Buprenorphine medications such as Suboxone and Subutex, our compassionate doctors guide patients as they heal from addiction.
Tough on the body and mind, addiction recovery is strenuous for even the most resilient patients. Our mental health providers provide counseling for individuals, families, and couples, so patients can develop the coping strategies they need to help them through recovery. With both telehealth and in-person services available, we make it our goal to keep patients happy and comfortable while they receive care.