Today, online medication-assisted treatment of substance use disorders makes it possible for you to get prescription medication and counseling in the comfort of your home.
If you’re considering booking a Suboxone telemedicine consultation, here’s everything you need to know about this service and medication to help you manage your withdrawal symptoms and improve your treatment for opioid use.
How Telemedicine Suboxone Treatment Works
Here’s how to book a consultation and what to expect during the online treatment process.
Book a Consultation and Get Assessed
You can book a consultation anytime at an online Suboxone clinic or telemedicine platform specializing in addiction treatment as long as you have an Internet-connected device.
For example, to book an appointment at Curednation, you only need to provide your basic information, such as name, state, payment method, insurance provider, and email address.
During your scheduled consultation, your virtual doctor will gather information about your condition and assess the most effective medication plan for your condition.
Your medications may include Suboxone or other medications with buprenorphine, naltrexone, or methadone. Depending on your doctor or platform, your e-prescription may be sent directly to your local pharmacy.
Note that all your medical information is stored and accessed in a secure database and will be strictly confidential.
Undergo Counseling
Medications are just one part of a Suboxone treatment. Besides the prescription, the treatment will include mental health and psychosocial support to address the behavioral and emotional aspects of addiction.
In fact, federal law 42 CFR 8.12 requires opioid treatment programs to provide counseling, along with medical, educational, and vocational assessment and treatment services.
Counseling can help you develop coping strategies, learn to live a healthier lifestyle, and rebuild relationships.
Continue Being Monitored
Your treatment plan doesn’t stop after receiving your prescription. As you take your medications and undergo counseling, your online healthcare provider will monitor your condition and make adjustments as necessary.
Your doctor will also monitor your progress to ensure you follow the plan, receive help when you encounter challenges, and encourage you to complete the treatment.
Monitoring will be vital to reduce the risk of relapse and help treat opioid use disorder completely.
The Benefits of Online Suboxone Treatment
Many people struggling with opioid use disorder prefer getting online help due to the following perks.
Makes Treatment Convenient and Accessible
Virtual addiction treatment platforms, like Curednation, make it easy to gain access to medical professionals and opioid addiction treatment at your preferred time in your own home.
You only need an Internet-connected device, like a smartphone, tablet, or computer, to book an appointment and conduct the consultations via phone or video calls.
This can be very helpful if you have mobility issues that prevent you from leaving your home.
Plus, choosing these virtual services takes away the need to travel. It’s the best option for people who don’t have opioid treatment centers or addiction specialists near them.
Provides Privacy
If you don’t want others to see or know you’re dealing with substance addiction, telemedicine services offer a private way for you to get help and receive treatment.
Also, rest assured that the medical professionals you’ll encounter are compassionate and non-judgmental, removing any stigma or shame.
Since the service is conducted online, your personal information will also be protected and confidential.
Offers an Affordable Option
In-person treatment usually covers a lot of overhead costs. It also requires you to travel to and from the clinic, adding to your expenses.
However, telehealth services have lower overhead costs and remove the need to travel. As a result, treatment prices and your overall expenses are cheaper.
Besides this, many online Suboxone doctors accept most health insurance providers. For example, they accept Medicaid, Medicare, United Healthcare, and other private insurance companies.
Supports Retention
A study conducted by NIH and federal researchers found that patients who received medications from telehealth services were more likely to continue taking them or receiving follow-up treatment.
If you struggle to recover from opioid use disorder, consider trying telehealth services to receive online medications and treatment.
Since most programs monitor your progress, you’ll have someone to oversee your condition and ensure you finish the program, even if you don’t see them in person.
More About Suboxone Treatment
Suboxone is a brand name of a medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. It’s prescribed to treat opioid use disorder in adults as part of a complete medication-assisted treatment program.
Consulting with online Suboxone doctors lets you know the proper way to take this medication, manage withdrawal symptoms, reduce illicit opioid use, and improve your opioid addiction treatment.
How Suboxone Works
Suboxone is a sublingual film or tablet that contains buprenorphine and naloxone, which help manage withdrawal symptoms from opioid use disorder.
Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist that reduces the effects of opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms and increases safety in case of an overdose.
Meanwhile, naloxone is an opioid antagonist that reverses and blocks the effect of opioids to prevent overdose. It also helps normalize a person’s breathing if it slowed or stopped due to opioid overdose.
How to Take Suboxone
Before taking this medication, your healthcare provider will require you to abstain from opiates for 12 to 24 hours. Once you experience withdrawal, you can take Suboxone to alleviate the symptoms.
Follow these steps to take the Suboxone sublingual film safely.
- Make sure your hands are clean by washing them first and drying them properly.
- Moisten your mouth with a bit of water to ensure you can dissolve the film easily.
- Carefully remove the Suboxone film from the packaging.
- Put it under your tongue all the way back on either the left or right side of your mouth.
- If your dose requires two films, put the second one beside the first one without overlapping.
- Ensure that the film is flat and hold it in place until it sticks.
- Keep it under your tongue for five to ten minutes or until it dissolves completely. Don’t chew, move, or swallow the film.
- When the film dissolves, don’t eat, drink, or smoke anything for at least 15 to 20 minutes to let your body absorb the medication. Also, avoid talking too much.
Continue using the film as prescribed by your doctor. Consult your doctor for any questions you may have.
Suboxone Side Effects
The side effects of Suboxone vary depending on the person’s condition. Common side effects of this medication include, but are not limited to:
- Nausea
- Headache
- Pain
- Constipation
- Vomiting
- Increased sweating
- Insomnia
- Dental issues
Suboxone also has sexual side effects, such as low testosterone, decreased libido, and reduced fertility, among others.
If you have a pre-existing condition, you may experience serious side effects. It’s important to be transparent with your doctor about any existing physical and mental health conditions to ensure you receive the right prescription.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can You Receive Suboxone Prescription Via Telemedicine?
Yes. Licensed virtual medical practitioners can prescribe buprenorphine treatment or Suboxone medication via telemedicine services after conducting at least one consultation.
The Ryan Haight Act of 2008 initially required patients to receive consultation and prescriptions in person, but this was suspended starting during the pandemic, making it legal.
Is Suboxone Safe?
Suboxone is safe to take under the prescription and guidance of a licensed medical professional. However, common side effects include nausea, pain, and insomnia, among others. Consult with your doctor if this medication suits your pre-existing conditions.
Should You Try Suboxone Telemedicine?
Consider receiving online medication-assisted treatment if you have no healthcare providers nearby, prefer privacy and confidentiality, and want an easier way to maintain your treatment.
Seeking an online clinic or platform specializing in drug abuse treatment will give you unlimited access to a licensed team of addiction specialists to assess your condition, plan your treatment, and help you at every step.
Access Medically-Assisted Opioid Use Disorder Treatment Today…
If you don’t know if you have opioid use disorder, take Curednation’s self-assessment test to check your condition and see how Curednation can help you. Note that this test is for informational purposes only and doesn’t substitute for a clinical diagnosis.
