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About Us
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Expanded Services
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Medically Supervised
Buprenorphine Withdrawal Program
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Medication Information
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Suboxone
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Subutex
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Medical Care
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Psychiatric Clinic
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Buprenorphine FAQ's
(Frequently Asked Questions)
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Download Our
Buprenorphine Brochure
ABOUT US
Bi-Valley Medical Clinic, Inc.
began treating opiate addiction in July 1980 when it
took over a 150 patient methadone maintenance program from the University
of California, Davis Medical Center. Bi-Valley has developed a
comprehensive array of addiction treatment services in addition to
methadone maintenance. These include a psychiatric clinic for patients
enrolled in the program, a 21-day medically supervised withdrawal program,
a pregnant addict program, a Southeast Asian addict program, and medical
screening and referral services for HIV and Hepatitis C. These services
are now provided at our three clinics. We have also recently added a
Buprenorphine Program which is offered at our Carmichael clinic.
Currently, federal law only allows each program to treat 30 patients, so
spots are limited.
Bi-Valley has been very active in providing
education and consultation to community agencies and local and state
government regarding opiate addiction and methadone treatment, as well as
harm reduction approaches to drug policy.
Our work with addicted patients is guided by
the awareness that addiction is an illness and that our patients merit
respect and understanding, as does any patient suffering from an illness.
Our patients are perhaps the most stigmatized of any patient group, and we
must help them to overcome the adverse effects of such negative biases and
stereotypes. It is this overall philosophy that guides the various
counseling, medical, and psychiatric services that we provide. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
EXPANDED SERVICES
BUPRENORPHINE PROGRAM
Bi-Valley is proud to introduce our newly
established Buprenorphine Program. Bi-Valley has expanded its services in
attempt to offer more treatment options for the opiate addicted
population. Opiate addiction may result from heroin (i.e., morphine) use,
or from prescription/pharmaceutical opiate use (i.e. vicodin, codeine,
dilaudid, etc.), or from smoking opium. Chronic use of any of the opiates
produces the same brain hormone problem. Buprenorphine normalizes this
chemical imbalance without causing euphoria or other impairments.
Buprenorphine treatment is perfectly compatible with work and parenting.
Treatment is individualized and may range anywhere from months to years,
allowing for the essential long-term changes in the recovering addict’s
lifestyle, environment, and employment situations. Counseling is a
critical and mandatory component of the success of this treatment and
involves individual sessions with a psychiatric nurse and/or counselor. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
MEDICALLY SUPERVISED BUPRENORPHINE WITHDRAWAL
PROGRAM
This is an outpatient medically supervised
withdrawal using buprenorphine in decreasing doses to transition the
patient off opiates in a medically safe fashion. The duration of the
taper process is individualized and will be determined by the patient and
our medical and counseling staff. This treatment is appropriate for those
patients who are seeking medical treatment for addiction for the first
time, or for those who feel confident that brief treatment offers a good
chance for success. Those who have failed previous withdrawal attempts
are better candidates for longer-term buprenorphine maintenance.
Individual counseling, physical exams, urine screening, HIV and HCV
education and TB screening and education are included in this program.
Referral for post-withdrawal treatment and participation in support groups
are encouraged. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
MEDICATION INFORMATION
In this program, Bi-Valley provides medical
and counseling services, as well as an option to purchase the medication
through Bi-Valley or through your local pharmacy. Currently two forms of
buprenorphine are being used by Bi-Valley. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
SUBOXONE
Suboxone contains buprenorphine hydrochloride
and an additional ingredient, naloxone hydrochloride. Naloxone is an
opioid antagonist and is present in the suboxone formulation to reduce
risk of intravenous abuse. If injected, suboxone may cause severe
withdrawal symptoms. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
SUBUTEX
Subutex contains buprenorphine hydrochloride.
It is formulated as a sublingual tablet that contains either 2mg or 8mg of
buprenorphine. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
MEDICAL CARE
Bi-Valley is experienced in assessing medical
problems common to the addict and provides diagnosis, treatment, and
referral for all patients enrolled in our programs. The most common
addiction-related medical illnesses are hepatitis C, skin infections from
needle use, and HIV disease. Bi-Valley also provides consultation to
other physicians and health facilities treating opiate addicts with
co-existent medical problems.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
PSYCHIATRIC CLINIC
Bi-Valley offers psychiatric evaluation and
treatment of dual-diagnosis patients (i.e., those with both addiction and
mental health problems) enrolled in our treatment programs. Untreated
psychiatric problems are the most common antecedent to opiate abuse.
Recovery for addiction is enhanced and facilitated by treating co-existing
depression, anxiety or other disorders. At times, recovery is impossible
without this psychiatric care.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
BUPRENORPHINE
(FAQ's) FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
(Click on the heading
title below to jump to that section.)
What are Suboxone
and Subutex?
Why did the FDA
approve two medications?
Will most
prescriptions be for the Suboxone formulation?
How are Suboxone and
Subutex different from the current treatment options for opiate dependence?
What are potential
side effects of Suboxone and Subutex?
Are patients allowed
to take home supplies of Suboxone and Subutex?
Can any doctor
prescribe Suboxone and Subutex?
How will Suboxone
and Subutex be supplied?
Where can patients
get Suboxone and Subutex?
Where can I get more
information on these medications?
What are Suboxone
and Subutex?
Suboxone and Subutex are medications approved for the treatment of opiate
dependence. Both of these medications contain the active ingredient,
buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate
dependence. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Why did the FDA
approve two medications?
Subutex contains only buprenorphine hydrochloride. Suboxone also contains both
buprenorphine hydrochloride and naloxone hydrochloride. Naloxone is an opioid
antagonist and is present to reduce risk of intravenous abuse. If injected,
suboxone may cause severe withdrawal symptoms. Subutex is often used during the
induction phase and Suboxone is more commonly used during the maintenance phase
of treatment.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Will most
prescriptions be for the Suboxone formulation?
The patient may choose which formulation they want to use. Suboxone is the
formulation a majority of the patients use because Suboxone costs less than
Subutex, not because of any medical reasons.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
How are Suboxone and
Subutex different from the current treatment options for opiate dependence?
Currently methadone maintenance is considered the standard for treating opiate
dependence and/or addiction. Methadone can only be dispensed in a limited
number of clinics that specialize in addiction treatment. Suboxone and Subutex
are the first narcotic drugs available under the 2000 Drug Abuse Treatment Act
(DATA) for opiate dependence that can be prescribed in a doctor’s office. Each
program or doctor is allowed to treat up to thirty patients with buprenorphine.
This will help increase access to treatment for patients suffering from opiate
dependence.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
What are potential
side effects of Suboxone and Subutex?
The most common side effects reported are:
-cold or flu-like symptoms
-headaches
-sweating
-sleep disturbance
-nausea
-mood swings
This is not a comprehensive list and potential side effects should be discussed
with a physician.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Are patients allowed
to take home supplies of Suboxone and Subutex?
Yes, patients are allowed to take home these medications, which are not as
controlled as methadone because they have a lower potential for abuse and are
safer if someone accidentally or intentionally overdoses. Prescriptions are
usually written for these medications once the patient stabilizes. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Can any doctor
prescribe Suboxone and Subutex?
No, only qualified doctors with the necessary Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA)
identification number (signifying that they have received special training) are
able to prescribe these medications. The Center for Substance Abuse (CSAT)
maintains a database of qualified doctors to help patients locate doctors
who are approved to prescribe these medications.
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
How will Suboxone
and Subutex be supplied?
Both medications come in 2mg and 8mg tablets, which are
placed under the tongue to be dissolved (sublingual).
(Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Where can patients
get Suboxone and Subutex?
Both medications can be obtained in most commercial pharmacies. Some treatment
programs may also carry these medications. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs)
Where can I get more
information on these medications?
You can contact the CSAT Buprenorphine
Information Center
at 866-BUP-CSAT or via email at
info@buprenorphine.samsha.gov. (Top
of Page) (Buprenorphine FAQs) |
