Who are Suboxone doctors in Delaware able to prescribe to? The short answer to this question is that Delaware doctors can prescribe Suboxone to anyone who they have determined has a medical need for it. However, the full answer is more complicated than that. This is because the law makes a critical distinction between Suboxone prescribed only for pain and Suboxone prescribed as an opioid maintenance medication. This is called MAT for medication assisted treatment.
Suboxone for Pain
Although not as common as more mainstream opioids like hydrocodone for pain relief, Suboxone is prescribed for this purpose. It typically doesn’t produce the euphoria or other addiction-reinforcing effects of other opioids. Unfortunately, it also doesn’t have their pain-fighting power, either. This is mainly because the synthetic opioid in the combination Suboxone product, buprenorphine, is not a full agonist opioid. It’s a partial agonist. This means that it can bind to the same receptors as full agonists do but not to the same degree. This typically makes it less effective as a painkiller, but because it does activate the brain’s opioid receptors, it still offers acceptable relief from withdrawal symptoms and drug cravings for those addicted to opioids.
Facts About Suboxone
Buprenorphine isn’t as strictly controlled as most of the other opioids, either. This is a major advantage for doctors. Not only do they see the drug as less addictive, but it can be called in to pharmacies and may be refilled up to five times in six months on a single prescription. Full agonist opioids like oxycodone and hydrocodone cannot be called in to the pharmacy and cannot be refilled. A new written prescription is required every single time more of the drug is needed. The federal government can also impose quotas on these drugs. This limits the drug available to medication distributors and often contributes to regional drug shortages.
Suboxone for MAT
Any licensed Delaware physician with a DEA certificate can prescribe Suboxone for pain. However, if it’s for opioid addiction maintenance, that’s another matter entirely. A doctor who wishes to prescribe the drug for opioid maintenance must complete a special certification program. He or she must also have a patient quota. This means that only a certain number of Suboxone patients are allowed at any one time. If the doctor’s quota group is full, then you must either wait for a spot to open up, or you must find another Suboxone doctor. It may take time and a great deal of effort to find a Suboxone physician for you.
This can be a real problem, especially if you live in a rural or suburban area, and there are no Suboxone doctors near you. It’s also a problem if the doctors near you all have full quotas. However, if you can find a doctor with an open spot within a reasonable distance, even if it’s kind of far, it may still be worth it to go, because you will receive a prescription for a full month’s supply at once. Just fill it at any pharmacy that stocks it. Be sure to bring valid identification. The pharmacy will ask for it and will almost certainly refuse to fill it without it. Don’t worry about what they will think. It’s none of their business. It’s their job to fill it, not make judgements about your need for it. That’s your doctor’s job, not theirs.
Does Suboxone Work?
Suboxone works to allay withdrawal symptoms and suppress drug cravings quite well for many people. These people can take their dose at home and then go about their daily lives. However, it does have one major disadvantage besides finding a doctor to prescribe it in the first place: Suboxone therapy cannot be started until opioid withdrawal symptoms are well under way. It must be delayed until at least 24 hours after the last dose of any opioid that someone is addicted to. Some doctors will recommend 48 or even 72 hours. This is because if the drug is taken too soon, it will cause precipitated withdrawal syndrome or PWS. This is a set of severe opioid withdrawal symptoms. It’s very unpleasant and has no treatment other than time. PWS is best avoided in the first place.
Call us for Help
If you’d like to know more about Suboxone treatment in Delaware, give us a call at 302-842-2390. We’re trained drug counselors with the information you need to get help with opioid abuse. Suboxone may be a good option for you. Call us, and we can talk about your options. We look forward to your call.
