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Chained to Prescription Pain Killers or Heroin?
UCLA Family Medicine offers medical treatment for opioid dependence with Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) in a confidential and convenient clinic setting
What is Suboxone ® (buprenorphine/naloxone)? Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) is an FDA-approved medication that makes treatment of addiction to opioids (pain killers and heroin) available in the privacy of your doctor’s office. Suboxone® is a partial opioid agonist, which means that it works at the same brain receptors as other opioids (such as Vicodin® and heroin) but does not produce a full opioid effect. As a result, Suboxone® can help patients who are trying to stop using opioids by relieving their opioid withdrawal symptoms and can help patients stay off of opioids once they stop by reducing their cravings and urges.
How is Suboxone ® taken? Suboxone® is a tablet that patients take sublingually (under the tongue) usually once or twice a day. The first dose of Suboxone® is usually taken at the doctor’s office, due to the possibility of a precipitated withdrawal reaction, but after that patients receive a prescription for Suboxone® that they then take in the privacy of their own home. UCLA Family Medicine Suboxone® Treatment for Opioid Dependence The UCLA Family Medicine Suboxone® Treatment for Opioid Dependence Program provides confidential, medical treatment for opioid dependence using Suboxone® (buprenorphine/naloxone) in a convenient outpatient clinic setting at the UCLA Les Kelley Family Health Center in Santa Monica.
UCLA Faculty Physicians Patients receive personalized attention from our team of doctors, who are faculty in the UCLA Department of Family Medicine and primary care physicians with special expertise in addiction treatment. UCLA Research Experience Our doctors are involved in clinical research aimed at developing new anti-addiction medications, as part of the UCLA Substance Abuse Pharmacotherapy Unit and the UCLA Department of Family Medicine. As a result, our doctors are able to provide you with care that combines the warm and personal approach you expect from your primary care doctor with the knowledge and experience that comes from research into the latest anti-addiction treatments. Three Treatment Options We offer three treatment options allowing our doctors to tailor your treatment to meet your particular goals and needs. 30-day medically assisted opioid withdrawal (“detoxification”) · First two weeks: Suboxone® is taken to relieve the symptoms of opioid withdrawal (irritability, muscle aches, insomnia, chills, diarrhea, vomiting) that occur when you quit opioids · Second two weeks: Suboxone® is slowly tapered to insure a comfortable detoxification process. · Since detoxification only treats the symptoms of withdrawal, and not the underlying addiction, you should begin a drug treatment counseling program once the detoxification process is complete. 90-day short term stabilization · First two months: Suboxone® is used to suppress the cravings and urges that occur when you quit opioids, so that you can become stable off of opioids and begin a drug counseling treatment program. · Third month: After the stabilization period, Suboxone® is slowly tapered to insure you remain comfortable. · Continuing with a drug treatment counseling program after stopping Suboxone® is recommended. Longer-term treatment options Treatment for longer than 90 days is also available for patients who still have difficulty staying off of opioids after completing the 90-day short term stabilization treatment. Substance Abuse Counseling Counseling is a critical aspect of your treatment for opioid dependence. Our doctors provide brief substance abuse counseling (referred to as “medical management”) at every visit. Other counseling approaches can also be of benefit, and our doctors can help you find a counseling program or therapist who fits your specific needs. Integrated Treatment for Opioid Dependence and Chronic Pain Combined treatment for opioid dependence and chronic pain is also available through referral to our on-site UCLA chronic pain specialists, allowing our doctors to address both addiction and pain problems simultaneously Meet the UCLA Treatment Team
Keith Heinzerling, MD, MPH; Assistant Clinical Professor David Wallenstein, MD; Assistant Clinical Professor and Pain Specialist
For more information or to schedule an appointment call: 310-319-4733 Or visit us on the web at: www.uclasarx.org/suboxone
UCLA Les Kelley Family Health Center 1920 Colorado Ave. Santa Monica, CA 90404
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