Medication assisted treatment (MAT) is an evidence-based treatment to help patients with Opioid Use Disorders. The key to beating addiction is getting the right diagnosis and seeking appropriate treatment. Dr. Matthew Goldenberg is a board-certified addiction psychiatrist who helps Santa Monica CA area patients get the diagnosis and care that they need and deserve.
Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) Induction and Maintenance Q & A
Are you able to Prescribe Suboxone?
Dr. Goldenberg has received the appropriate training and has the special DEA waiver to prescribe all formulations of Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone).
Is Medicated Assisted Treatment for Everyone with Opioid Use Disorders?
Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) like suboxone and Naltrexone/Vivitrol are one tool that Addiction Psychiatrists can employ to help patients beat addiction and enter recovery. However, medication alone is rarely effective to sustain recovery. Therefore, Dr. Goldenberg evaluates each patient individually and considers their preferences and experiences when formulating a full treatment plan and recommendations. Additional recommendations and referrals may include higher levels of care such as Residential or Intensive Outpatient Treatment Programs, individual therapy, sober living, drug testing, and monitoring programs.
How Long Will I Stay on Suboxone?
Subxone can be used in several ways. Dr. Goldenberg is skilled in using Subxone to help patients safely detox off of opioid medications and drugs safely in an outpatient setting and the comfort of their own homes. It can also be used to stabilize a patient for several months, during which the additional treatment recommendations and referrals can be employed. In these cases, Suboxone can keep someone with a severe opioid use disorder sober long enough to receive the treatment needed to stay sober for the long-term. In some cases, patients have failed to stay sober without the assistance of medications and have chosen to stay on suboxone long-term.
Are there other Medication Options besides Suboxone?
Dr. Goldenberg also can prescribe both oral naltrexone and injectable Vivitrol (every 30 days). These medications are also considered medication assisted treatment (MAT). There are also “comfort” medications to help ease the symptoms of addition. In many cases, there is an underlying or co-occurring mental health condition that is contributing to and worsening symptoms and treatment success. Dr. Goldenberg is an experienced addiction psychiatrist who can help his patients with both the symptoms of their addiction and the symptoms of co-occurring mental health conditions (dual diagnosis, i.e. depression, anxiety, trauma/PTSD, insomnia, ADHD etc.) Each patient has different needs, experience and preference and Dr. Goldenberg works to find the medication options that best fits each individual patient.
