Key Takeaways
- Suboxone can help with opioid addiction, but if you misuse it or stop taking it suddenly, you may become dependent on it and have withdrawal symptoms.
- People with panic disorders have a harder time detoxing from Suboxone because they are more anxious and at risk of mental health crises.
- Medical detox is essential for safely getting off Suboxone, especially for people who have more than one diagnosis.
- Dual-diagnosis rehab programs treat both substance use and mental health problems, such as depression and panic disorder, at the same time.
- More and more rehab centers in Austin and across the country are offering specialized detox for people who have more than one condition at the same time.
Introduction
Many people use Suboxone as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT) to help them get over their addiction to opioids. But like any strong medicine, it has its risks. People who misuse Suboxone or suddenly stop taking it can have terrible withdrawal symptoms. This process can be too much for people who already have mental health problems, like panic disorder. It can even feel dangerous.
Medical detox is essential for helping people who use Suboxone safely move into recovery, especially when they also have a mental illness. Increasingly, rehab centers in Austin and nationwide are addressing this need by providing dual-diagnosis support that combines psychological and physical care.
What Is Suboxone, And How Can It Make People Dependent?
Suboxone is a mix of buprenorphine and naloxone that helps people who are addicted to opioids stop wanting them and lowers the risk of abuse. It’s an instrumental part of the plans for recovering from opioids when taken the right way. But if you take Suboxone in higher doses or without a doctor’s supervision, it can become habit-forming on its own.
Suboxone dependence may include:
- Needing the drug to get through the day
- Feeling withdrawal symptoms between doses
- Using Suboxone to deal with anxiety or depression
- Shopping around for a doctor or getting it illegally
It’s essential to know how Suboxone works: it partially activates opioid receptors, which makes it work like a weaker opioid while blocking stronger ones. This partial activation can make things very unstable, and stopping all at once can cause intense withdrawal symptoms, especially if you have panic or anxiety disorders.
How Do Panic Disorders Make It Harder To Stop Taking Suboxone?
People with panic disorders have panic attacks that happen over and over again without warning, and they are always afraid of the next one. When you stop taking Suboxone, these symptoms can get worse, which can lead to a cycle of extreme fear, physical pain, and mental distress. Some signs of Suboxone withdrawal are:
- Heart racing, tightness in the chest, or shortness of breath
- A lot of anxiety or restlessness
- Not being able to sleep and having night terrors
- Shaking or tight muscles
- Feeling like you’re losing your mind or experiencing depersonalization
For someone with a panic disorder, these symptoms may not only be uncomfortable; they could also be a sign of a mental health emergency. A 2023 narrative literature review found that co-occurring panic disorder and opioid use disorder can significantly complicate withdrawal and recovery outcomes. In such cases, a medical detox setting is essential. Trained doctors can monitor vital signs, adjust medications, and provide psychiatric support throughout the process.
Why Is Medical Detox The Best Choice For People Who Take Suboxone?
Medical detox gives you 24/7 supervision and a structured environment, which is different from quitting on your own or only getting outpatient treatment. This is especially important for people who have more than one condition at the same time, since both their physical and mental health are at risk. Some of the main benefits of medical detox are:
- Managing symptoms: To help with withdrawal without causing addiction.
- Therapists and psychiatrists can help with panic attacks or depressive episodes.
- Getting back the nutrients and water that may have been lost during withdrawal.
- Continuity of care refers to a seamless transition into long-term treatment, such as dual-diagnosis rehab.
Detox isn’t just about stopping drug use; it’s also about building a safe, stable base for long-term recovery.
What Is Dual-Diagnosis Rehab, And Why Is It Important?
Dual-diagnosis rehab helps people with both substance abuse problems and mental health problems that happen at the same time. People who are getting off of Suboxone and have underlying panic disorders need more than just one treatment. If panic symptoms aren’t dealt with, they can quickly lead to a relapse.
A good dual-diagnosis rehab program has:
- Full psychiatric evaluations
- Individual therapy for anxiety and trauma
- Managing mental health symptoms with medication
- Group therapy with people who are going through the same things as you
- Training in life skills and how to deal with stress
These programs don’t just treat panic disorder on the side; they make it a big part of the treatment model. A 2015 review on co-occurring anxiety and substance use disorders confirms that integrated treatment significantly improves patient outcomes. The same is true for other mental health problems like PTSD, ADHD, or depression, which can make it harder to recover from addiction if they aren’t treated.
How Do Austin’s Rehab Centers Deal With This Two-Fold Problem?
Texas has seen a steady rise in integrated addiction treatment. Many rehabilitation centers in Austin have added services to help people with both a mental illness and an addiction. These centers often focus on trauma-informed care because they know that many people who are addicted also have deep emotional wounds.
Some things that are common in rehab programs in the Austin area are:
- Detox on-site with mental health support
- Therapies that are based on evidence, such as cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT)
- Family therapy to fix broken relationships
- Yoga, meditation, and art therapy are all examples of holistic treatments.
- Aftercare planning that includes ways to avoid relapsing
These programs offer a comprehensive range of services in a healing-focused setting, whether the individual resides in Texas or is traveling there for care.
What Does Depression Have To Do With Using Panic And Suboxone?
Mental health problems don’t usually happen on their own. People with panic disorder often also have depression, especially if they have a history of addiction or trauma. Suboxone may temporarily hide emotional pain, but over time, untreated depression can make you feel more hopeless and dependent on drugs. During Suboxone detox, you may have symptoms of depression such as:
- Extreme tiredness or lack of interest
- Thoughts of killing or hurting yourself
- Withdrawing from social situations or being alone
- Being sad or irritable all the time
This emotional burden can make it harder to detox if you don’t deal with it directly. That’s why treating depression is an integral part of the whole plan. Individualized therapy, medication, and support from peers are all essential tools for getting your emotions back on track and lowering the risk of relapse.
Conclusion
Detoxing on your own not only makes you feel worse physically, but it also puts your mental health at risk. Medical detox is not only the safest option for people with panic disorders; it is also the only responsible one.
At Virtue Recovery Center, Killeen, we offer medically supervised detox programs that are caring and help with both addiction and mental health issues that may be contributing to the addiction. Our experienced staff can help you or someone you care about receive the comprehensive care they need to recover fully.
Call us at 866-843-0545 now to speak with an intake coordinator and begin your journey to lasting recovery.
Frequently Asked Questions
1. If I have panic disorder, can I detox from Suboxone at home?
No. Detoxing at home can be risky, especially if you have panic attacks or anxiety that isn’t going away. Medical detox gives you the help and supervision you need to deal with your symptoms safely.
2. How long does it take to get off Suboxone?
Detox usually takes 7 to 10 days, but it can take longer or shorter depending on the dose, how long you’ve been using it, and any other mental health problems you have at the same time.
3. What is rehab for people with two diagnoses?
Dual-diagnosis rehab treats both addiction and mental health problems, like panic or depression. This ensures that both issues are addressed simultaneously for a more effective recovery.
4. Are there rehab centers in Austin that are only for people who use Suboxone?
Yes. Many Austin rehab centers offer Suboxone detox as part of dual-diagnosis treatment plans that are made to meet the needs of people with complicated problems.
5. Will I need to take medicine while I’m detoxing?
Maybe. Some people may use medications to help with withdrawal symptoms or to stabilize their mood, but these are only given under medical supervision to avoid creating new dependencies.
Resources:
- American Society of Addiction Medicine. National Practice Guideline for the Use of Medications in the Treatment of Addiction Involving Opioid Use. JAMA, U.S. National Library of Medicine, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4605275/.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. “A Narrative Literature Review of the Epidemiology, Etiology, and Treatment of Co‑occurring Panic Disorder and Opioid Use Disorder.” PMC, 2023, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9487392/.
- U.S. National Library of Medicine. “Treatment of Co‑occurring Anxiety Disorders and Substance Use Disorders.” PMC, 2015, https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4355945/.
- About the Author
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Gigi Price holds licenses as a Master Social Worker and Clinical Drug Counselor. She completed her master’s degree in Social Work at Texas State University. Over the last decade, Gigi has been dedicated to utilizing evidence-based practices to enhance patient care and treatment planning, resulting in positive, long-term outcomes for patients and their families. Her passion lies in creating a treatment environment where professionals collaborate to bring about positive change and provide a safe, trustworthy therapeutic experience. Patients can be confident in receiving top-quality care under her leadership.
In her role as the Clinical Director of Virtue Recovery Houston, Gigi conducted research to identify the most effective approaches for treating patients with acute mental health diagnoses, PTSD, and Substance Use Disorder. She then assembled a team of skilled clinicians who could offer various therapeutic modalities, such as Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT), Dialectical Behavioral Therapy
(DBT), Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), Somatic Exposure, Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR), and Cognitive Processing Therapy (CPT). Gigi takes pride in overseeing the development and implementation of Virtue Houston’s Treatment Program, which includes two specialized therapeutic curricula tailored to the unique needs of individuals struggling with mental health issues, addiction, and PTSD.
