At Workit Health, we prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone (commonly known by its most popular brand name, Suboxone) for opiate addiction because quitting cold turkey is tough.
Medication-assisted treatment, which means Suboxone & counseling long-term, is the gold standard of care for opiate withdrawal and addiction.
Here’s a breakdown of medications for opiate withdrawal you might want to know.
Prescription Medications For Opiate Withdrawal
Suboxone: Most common brand name for buprenorphine/naloxone, an opioid & opioid antagonist combination designed to ease symptoms of opiate withdrawal and treat opiate addiction.
Only clinicians who have gotten a special waiver from the DEA are able to prescribe Suboxone for opiate addiction. Need a provider? Check out Workit Clinic. Our clinicians are able to prescribe Suboxone in many states.
Struggling to quit opiates? Workit Health helps you stay on track.
Buprenorphine/naloxone: Generic name for Suboxone, described above. Although many in the medical field refer to buprenorphine, many outside the medical world recognize the brand name Suboxone. Other brand names of buprenorphine/naloxone commonly prescribed: Zubsolv, Bunavail.
Methadone: Used to treat pain and in maintenance programs to taper down from other opioids. Sold under the brand name Dolophine. Methadone is dispensed by Opioid Treatment Programs certified by SAMSHA.
Clonidine: Clonidine is a blood pressure medication that can help with opiate withdrawal, as well as withdrawal from cigarettes, alcohol, or benzodiazepines. It works by affecting your body’s nervous system. Any doctor should be able to prescribe Clonidine.
Zofran: Some may wonder is Zofran an Opioid? Zofran, the brand name for the generic anti-nausea medication ondansetron, is a prescription medication that can help with nausea and vomiting caused by opiate withdrawal. Any doctor should be able to prescribe Zofran.
The gold standard in opiate addiction treatment: medication like Suboxone & counseling.
Over-the-Counter Medications For Opiate Withdrawal
Sometimes, you can’t make it to the doctor. Check out our Heroin Detox Survival Guide for strategies to get you through.
Imodium: Imodium (brand name for the generic over-the-counter anti-diarrhea medication loperamide) can help with the stomach issues caused by opiate withdrawal. Imodium can be dangerous when taken in excess! We recommend taking it only as directed.
Dramamine: Over-the-counter anti-nausea meds such as Antivert, Bonine, and Dramamine can help with nausea caused by withdrawal. These are commonly offered for motion sickness.
Advil or Tylenol: For achy muscles, take acetaminophen (like Tylenol) or ibuprofen (like Advil). A hot bath or a slow walk can also work wonders.
Want to know how long opiate withdrawal will last? Check out our opiate withdrawal timeline to know exactly what to expect.