Emerald City Treatment Clinic
Washington’s Premier Stop in Treating Opioid Addiction
Proven Results • Confidential • No Wait List • No Judgement • Compassionate
Addiction Treatment
Opioids can be a lifesaver if you’re struggling with short-term pain, but these powerful drugs often lead to dependence and addiction. At Emerald City Treatment Clinic in Federal Way, Washington, we provide addiction care and withdrawal treatment.
How do I know I need help for opioid addiction?
Opioids are a class of pain relievers usually prescribed for valid reasons, such as after surgery or for acute pain. Opioid drugs include medications like oxycodone, Vicodin®, and Percocet®.
For most people, opioid use is valid and short term. However, some people just can’t stop, even when the source of pain resolves.
Signs that opioid addiction is a problem that would benefit from buprenorphine/naloxone treatment include:
- Drug use that interferes with work and personal relationships
- An inability to stop using the drug even when the source of pain is gone
- Changes in behavior in order to acquire the drug
You should also be concerned about addiction if you have a past history or family history of drug or substance abuse.
Our Treatment Approach
Our medical model and therapeutic approach uses medication assisted treatment that consists of FDA approved products, including Suboxone®, Buprenorphine/Naloxone combination products. Currently, we do not offer Methadone as a form of treatment.
Whether in person or through telemedicine, each visit includes an in-depth discussion about the dosage of your medications and how you are progressing through your recovery. We also offer individualized plans for clients who seek to decrease and taper their current regimen.
Induction Visit
The goal of the induction is to transfer the patient from opioid addiction to a dose of buprenorphine which will provide relief from withdrawal. This is the first step to markedly diminishing use of opioids. This process involves withholding the agent of abuse until moderate to severe withdrawal symptoms are produced. The provider works with you to find the dose of medication that removes these withdrawal symptoms.
Titration Visit
During the titration phase, which immediately follows the induction phase, the provider adjusts the prescribed medication until you achieve the lowest dose of medication that makes you feel normal and capable of performing your daily life task without the worries of withdrawal symptoms returning. Once you are stable, you make the decision on whether and how long you want to maintain a stable dose of Suboxone.
Follow up visits
These monthly visits are typically shorter and designed to monitor stability and perform dosage refinements if necessary. This appointment allows time to connect with your attending physician, review your treatment plan, address questions, and provide support for any challenges that arise. Our goal is to help you live a happy, functional life.
What is buprenorphine/naloxone?
Buprenorphine/naloxone is a prescription medication approved for the treatment of opiate dependence. It contains buprenorphine hydrochloride, which works to reduce the symptoms of opiate dependence, as well as an additional ingredient called naloxone to guard against misuse.
How does buprenorphine/naloxone work?
Buprenorphine/naloxone is a partial agonist that maintains an even level of opioid effects, so you don’t have major symptoms of withdrawal. Opioids have compounds that bind with receptors in your brain to create euphoria and dependence. When you take buprenorphine/naloxone, it occupies these receptors so the narcotics have harder time binding to the receptors. You don’t get the same euphoric effect with the opioids and these addictive medications have less control over you.
Will buprenorphine/naloxone treatment cause side effects?
The most common reported side effect of buprenorphine/naloxone include:
- cold or flu-like symptoms
- headaches
- sweating
- sleeping difficulties
- nausea
- mood swings
- can be associated with respiratory depression (difficulty breathing)
This is NOT a complete list of side effects reported with buprenorphine/naloxone. Refer to the package insert for a more complete list of side effects.
What is the difference between Methadone and buprenorphine/naloxone in the treatment of opioid dependence?
Currently opiate dependence treatments like methadone can be dispensed only in a limited number of clinics that specialize in addiction treatment. There are not enough addiction treatment centers to help all patients seeking treatment. Buprenorphine/naloxone is the first narcotic drug available under the Drug Abuse Treatment Act (DATA) of 2000 for the treatment of opiate dependence that can be prescribed in a doctor’s office. This change provides more patients the opportunity to access treatment.
Are patients able to take home supplies of these medicines?
Yes. Buprenorphine/naloxone is less tightly controlled than methadone because they have a lower potential for abuse and are less dangerous in an overdose. As patients progress on therapy, their doctor may write a prescription for a take-home supply of the medication.
Who can prescribe buprenorphine/naloxone?
Only qualified doctors with the necessary DEA (Drug Enforcement Agency) identification number are able to start in-office treatment and provide prescriptions for ongoing medication. Drs. Yang, Jeffery and Pasternak are are all qualified prescribers.