The prescription medication Suboxone can play an important role in opioid addiction treatment, as it can alleviate withdrawal symptoms and make drug cravings more manageable. Suboxone is beneficial, but since it is a controlled substance, it can be difficult to obtain an emergency Suboxone prescription.
If you find yourself in a situation in which you ran out of Suboxone early, you might not know what to do. Here, learn some strategies for how to get emergency Suboxone, so that you can stay on track with your recovery.
Is It Possible To Get An Emergency Suboxone Prescription?
If you’re in need of an emergency Suboxone refill, you might assume that you can simply go to the emergency room for a refill. Unfortunately, the process might not be that simple.
Should you need emergency Suboxone, it might be possible to visit a hospital emergency department for medication, but it’s important to keep in mind that you might not be given a prescription for Suboxone.
According to Federal regulations, emergency department physicians can administer Suboxone for up to three days for patients who are in the emergency room. This is considered Suboxone without prescription, because administering the medication on a short-term basis does not mean that a physician is giving a long-term prescription.
In order for an emergency room doctor to provide a Suboxone prescription to a patient upon discharge, they are required to complete training and obtain a waiver to prescribe Suboxone. So, going to emergency rooms for Suboxone may be an option, so long as the treating physician has the required waiver.
That being said, since Suboxone is a controlled substance, an emergency room doctor is unlikely to give you a second prescription if you are seeing another Suboxone doctor who is providing the medication. Receiving a prescription of Suboxone is always up to the discretion of the prescribing doctor, even in the case of an emergency script.
Suboxone Prescription Regulations
So, do you need a prescription to get Suboxone? In all cases, the answer is yes. Suboxone over-the-counter is simply not an option, as buprenorphine, the active drug in Suboxone, is a Schedule III Controlled Substance. This means that the government imposes tight regulations on the use and prescribing of the drug.
Doctors must follow regulations when prescribing Suboxone. This includes completing training and obtaining registration through the DEA prior to prescribing the medication. Some medical providers may be able to obtain an exemption so they do not have to undergo special training before prescribing Suboxone, but they will be limited to treating 30 patients at a time.
One question that patients often have is, “How do you get a prescription for Suboxone?” To obtain a prescription, you must see a doctor who is authorized to treat opioid use disorder with this medication. It is strongly recommended that you also participate in counseling and other psychosocial services while taking the medication. Since Suboxone is a schedule III substance, you will need to attend ongoing appointments with your doctor, as defined by your treatment plan , to continue to receive your prescription.
One of the most important components of learning how to get a prescription for Suboxone is establishing a strong working partnership with a Suboxone doctor. Emergency Suboxone treatment isn’t the intended way to use this medication. Instead, you should take Suboxone to help you stay engaged in addiction treatment, while working alongside your doctor to maintain your prescription.