Buprenorphine Detoxification & Maintenance Information

I understand that the decision to seek professional help for drug addiction is one of the most important decisions you can make. Whether you are reading this for yourself or a loved one, please use the information on this site to learn about my approach to treating opiate addictions. If you have any questions or concerns that are not answered here, do not hesitate to call my office and speak with me directly.

My name is Dr. Jack Abramson. I completed my training in Psychiatry at Harvard Medical School where I was a Clinical Fellow in Psychiatry. I am Board Certified by the American Board of Psychiatry and Neurology in Addiction Psychiatry. I am certified by the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration of the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services for office outpatient treatment of opiate addiction with Buprenorphine (Suboxone and Subutex).

Buprenorphine is a synthetic opiate agonist medication that has recently been approved by the FDA for treatment of opiate addiction. It enables me to offer detoxification for heroin addiction, methadone, Oxycontin (Oxycodone), Vicodin (Hydrocodone) and other similar narcotics which minimizes the discomfort normally associated with detoxification from these highly addictive substances.

Ideal candidates for opioid addiction treatment with Buprenorphine are individuals who have been objectively diagnosed with opioid addiction, are willing to follow safety precautions for treatment, can be expected to comply with the treatment, have no contraindications to Buprenorphine therapy, and who agree to Buprenorphine treatment after a review of treatment options.

I am committed to providing a painless, individualized outpatient detoxification process from the dependency of opiates and heroin utilizing Subutex and Suboxone. I provide caring, comfortable and confidential treatment in a private physician office setting. My primary concern is for your safety and comfort during the detoxification process. I do not follow a set protocol. All treatment recommendations are made after the initial consultation appointment with me. In almost all cases, detoxification can be accomplished in a short time. Patients can complete the detoxification process while continuing to work and function. Patients can expect to be on these medications from 3 days to 1 month for detoxification.

Buprenorphine maintenance is available for a very limited number of select patients as space permits. Patients will only be considered for maintenance after initial detoxification treatment.

Click here to view a Public Service Announcement (PSA) on office-based opioid addiction treatment by former Surgeon General Dr. C. Everett Koop.

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What to Expect:

There are three phases of Buprenorphine therapy: induction, stabilization, and withdrawal.

The induction phase is the medically monitored startup of Buprenorphine therapy. Buprenorphine for induction therapy is administered when an opioid dependent individual has abstained from using opioids for 12 to 24 hours and is in the early stages of opioid withdrawal. If the patient is not in the early stages of withdrawal, i.e., if he or she has other opioids in the bloodstream, then the Buprenorphine dose could precipitate acute withdrawal.

Induction is typically initiated as observed therapy in the my office and may be carried out using either Suboxone or Subutex.

The stabilization phase has begun when the patients have discontinued the use of their drug of abuse, no longer has cravings, and is experiencing few or no side effects. The Buprenorphine dose may need to be adjusted during the stabilization phase. Because of the long half-life of Buprenorphine it is sometimes possible to switch patients to alternate-day dosing once stabilization has been achieved.

Once stabilization has been achieved, medically supervised withdrawal or detoxification begins. The length of time of this phase is individualized for each patient.

My office is centrally located in Aventura, Florida on the border of Miami-Dade County and Broward County. Office hours are Monday thru Friday 8:30 AM to 5 PM. Contact me at 305.935.4391 or by email at info@jackabramsonmd.com to start your medically supervised detoxification and regain control of your life.

For additional information, please visit my Suboxone web-page: www.suboxone.info.