According to Dr. Adam Bisaga, professor of psychiatry at CUMC and researcher at New York State Psychiatric Institute, “When taken properly, individuals on Suboxone will have no cravings, have no withdrawal, and will feel ‘normal’…that’s why it’s so effective.”

So how does one become addicted to opioids in the first place and how does Suboxone come into play? Basically, the presence of an opioid drug in the brain causes a flood of the neurotransmitter dopamine, a chemical messenger responsible for mood regulation, feelings of pleasure, anxiety minimization, and enhanced relaxation. These sensations result in a feeling of euphoria for the user, a feeling addicts chase each time they use.

If abused and taken regularly over a long period of time, opioids can permanently alter brain chemistry, resulting in physical dependence on the drug and severe withdrawal if abruptly removed from the body.

The symptoms of withdrawal for those addicted to opioids are often s and potentially dangerous. These symptoms include muscle pain, restlessness, sweating, extreme anxiety, insomnia, and even tremors.

Suboxone alleviates or eliminates these symptoms if taken properly and part of a comprehensive treatment program. It is essentially a long-acting opioid that stays in the bloodstream longer than most other opiates, so it can be given in lower doses less often to minimize withdrawal symptoms. The ingredient buprenorphine also contains a “celling effect,” meaning it limits any pleasurable feeling the user can experience, thereby curtailing its potential for abuse.

Doctors typically begin tapering down doses of Suboxone—which typically come in sublingual strips that are dissolved under the tongue—until the medication is no longer needed.