Frequently asked questions
These answers cover Suboxone treatment at our St. Louis clinic. They cover the medicines we prescribe for withdrawal, whether you must be in withdrawal to start, and when you get your first prescription. They also cover the monthly fee and insurance, and switching from methadone to Suboxone.
Can I finance addiction treatment?
We have many options for financing addiction treatment for those in need of our rehab programs. Our rehabs finance over the period of treatment, and beyond the duration of treatment, without credit checks. We also work with third-party organizations that specialize in lending to those in need of alcohol and drug rehab. Our internal financing allows many individuals and families to gain access to top-quality care that otherwise isn’t available.
What can you prescribe to help with pain and withdrawal symptoms?
Our doctors usually prescribe Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) to beat opioid withdrawal. They also usually prescribe medicines like Zofran (nausea and vomiting), Tizanidine or Baclofen (muscle relaxant), Hydroxyzine (non-addictive calming drug for anxiety), Loperamide (diarrhea and stomach cramps) and Naproxen (muscle pain). If you still have pain, we will use non-opioid options to manage it. The exact choice depends on the cause of the pain. It can also depend on whether you have chronic pain.
Do you have to be in withdrawal to start treatment?
You do not need to be in withdrawal at your first appointment. But when you start your Suboxone prescription, you will need to stop using your usual opioid, and you will have some withdrawal symptoms. Then you will start Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone). It will help ease those symptoms and remove opioid cravings. You may have some side effects as you adjust to the medicine, but we will be here to help with anything you need! Your provider will work closely with you the whole way, checking in on how you are doing and helping you through it. If you have concerns about this, we would be happy to set up a call with one of our providers to talk it through.
Will I get a prescription at my first appointment?
Your provider decides when they can write a prescription. Usually providers can call in your prescription to the pharmacy you choose on the day of your appointment. Refills are prescribed at follow-up visits.
What kind of treatment do you do?
We help people who want to cut their use of opiates. We offer Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT) using Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone) to cut opioid cravings
Does the provider only prescribe Suboxone, or do they prescribe other things too?
For opioid dependence treatment, we only offer Suboxone.
Methadone can also treat opioid dependence. But you have to visit a clinic weekly to get it, and that does not fit our office-based model.
The providers can and do prescribe other medicines for things besides opioid dependence. But this is decided case by case. We ask that you see a primary care provider for prescriptions that are not directly tied to your opioid dependence treatment. For example, if your Suboxone makes you sick to your stomach, your provider might prescribe something for that.
What can I do to stop experiencing withdrawal symptoms from opioids?
Opioid withdrawal symptoms are uncomfortable, but your medical provider can prescribe treatments to ease them. Clonidine helps reduce anxiety, irritability, muscle aches, sweating and runny nose. Hydroxyzine (Atarax) can also help with anxiety and insomnia. Tizanidine (Zanaflex) helps reduce muscle spasms. Ondansetron (Zofran) eases nausea and vomiting. Loperamide (Imodium) helps stop diarrhea. Bentyl eases gastrointestinal (GI) symptoms, above all stomach cramps. And once you start the induction and stabilization phase with buprenorphine/naloxone (Suboxone), your withdrawal symptoms will drop sharply.
How long does Suboxone treatment take?
This is not a quick fix. It depends on how long you have used opioids and how much you use. How well you respond to treatment can also make a big difference. So it is hard to predict ahead of time, and it varies from patient to patient. Recovery takes time, but we will be here to help you through every part of it, no matter how long it takes! Luckily, Suboxone will curb your cravings and will not leave you feeling foggy. You can function very well while on it. In short, the process will likely be long, but worth it.
How much will the prescriptions cost?
Since treating Opioid Dependence is an ongoing and dynamic process, we have a monthly fee which allows us to offer you continuous access to your coach, doctor and the entire care team.
Do you accept insurance?
We do not accept insurance for our fees. That said, you can use your insurance benefits card to pay for medications and lab tests. Just take your card with you to the pharmacy or the lab. We are happy to provide you a superbill that you can submit to your insurance company to potentially get some of that money back using your out-of-network benefits.
Is this treatment confidential?
Yes. We will never share any health information with anyone unless you clearly consent.
Can I switch from Methadone to Suboxone?
We can help you switch from Methadone to Suboxone, as long as you are now on 40mg or less of Methadone. If you take more than that, we need to wait until your dose is below 40mg to start your treatment. Switching from a high dose of Methadone to Suboxone is dangerous because the doses are too far apart. The side effects can be dangerous. Contact us when you are ready to make the switch!
What exactly does Suboxone do?
Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) cuts opioid cravings and eases withdrawal. Once you start the induction and stabilization phase, withdrawal symptoms drop sharply. It curbs cravings without leaving you foggy, so you can function very well while you take it. We prescribe it as Medication for Addiction Treatment (MAT). For opioid dependence, it is the only medicine we offer.
How hard is it to get prescribed Suboxone?
Not hard. You do not need to be in withdrawal at your first appointment. You are examined in person at our clinic on Woodson Rd. Your provider decides when to write the prescription. They usually call it in to the pharmacy you choose on the day of your appointment. Refills are prescribed at follow-up visits.
What’s included in the monthly fee?
The monthly fee includes all provider visits to refill your prescription. It also includes care between scheduled visits, your scheduled provider visits, and care navigation as needed. It does not include any laboratory testing, or medication costs, or support groups.
Do you offer refunds?
We are a subscription-based model (as opposed to paying at each appointment). We do not offer refunds if you have spoken with your provider over the phone or seen your provider in person within the monthly billing cycle.
You may cancel your appointment anytime within 72 hours before your appointment and no charge will be made.
If you cancel your appointment, and then restart treatment, an induction first month fee will be required.
Can I pay with cash or check?
Do you have a location close to where I live?
Treatment happens in person at our clinic at 4477 Woodson Rd, Suite 101 in St. Louis, next to Lambert International Airport. Your provider examines you at each visit, and drug screens are collected at the clinic. If you do not have a Primary Care Provider, we can help you set up care with a local provider.
Do you drug test during Suboxone treatment?
Routine tests of urine or saliva will show whether you have been using other illicit or inappropriate drugs and whether you have been taking your MAT. You may have to give supervised samples to ensure they are yours. With continual negative results, you’ll be asked to take drug tests less often. If you test positive for other drugs, your provider may ask that you take drug tests more often, and positive results may even lead to discharge from the program. The Treatment Program Standards require us to perform what are known as “Random Screenings” to monitor your progress with the program. You may receive a call from the office stating that you need to come in for a Random Screening. For this visit, you need to bring all your medications with you to be counted. You will be required to provide a urine or saliva sample at the clinic. You must come in for your Random Screening within 24 hours of receiving the phone call. There are absolutely no exceptions to this rule. Missing a single Random Screening will result in disqualification from the program. Failing a urine or saliva screening (showing a positive result for usage of illegal drugs) may result in disqualification from the program. We also have medical affiliates who provide direct medical care in most regions.
Do you offer fitness and nutrition support in recovery?
Many things come together to shape the quality of life we enjoy each day. We know this. We know why a whole-person approach matters for addiction treatment, for staying in recovery and for always working to improve our quality of life.
More than 50% of the US population is overweight or has metabolic syndrome, and the number is rising fast. Less than 12.2% of the US population counted as metabolically healthy in the 2009–2016 survey. Less than 7% does under the stricter criteria used after 2021. Much of the processed food the average person eats is loaded with omega 6 vegetable oil and high fructose corn syrup. Both feed metabolic inflammation. They set a person up for brain inflammation and addiction behavior.
Clients get the chance to work toward their health and wellness goals when they are ready. Fitness and health drive a better quality of life by building self-confidence, self-belief and self-worth. People often underrate how much a well-designed fitness and nutrition plan can help recovery. We do not make that mistake. Two of the most powerful self-therapies are diet and exercise.
What we offer:
- Nutritional Counseling and Management
- Fitness Counseling and Management
- Workout Plans
- Functional Analysis
- Corrective exercise prescription
What can get me discharged from the program?
- Lying about anything during your Intake and/or Induction or during your treatment.
- Continuing to consume illegal drugs during your treatment.
- Cheating on a urine or saliva screening.
- Failing a urine or saliva screening (found drugs).
- Discrepancies in amount of medication in your possession.
- Selling or distributing your medication.
- Receiving pain medication from a different physician.
- Stopping your medication without consulting your monitoring physician.
Related reading
What Is Suboxone? How It Treats Opioid Addiction · Opioid Addiction Treatment in St. Louis · Addiction Resources and Support Groups