Suboxone is an oral medication used to treat opiate addiction. It consists of a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a half opiate agonist similar to codeine or morphine. It is what gives suboxone its own addictive properties. Naloxone blocks the effects of other opiates in your system. Weight lifting provides individuals taking suboxone a therapeutic outlet from drug-induced symptoms.
Testosterone Levels
A common side effect of suboxone is impotence, or sexual dysfunction. This negative component has caused some men and women to stop taking suboxone. This is a risky proposition for some former opiate addicts. Weight training has been proved to raise natural testosterone levels. A testosterone boost can have positive repercussions on your libido. A certain layer of resistance exercise can allow you to keep an active sex life without compromising your sobriety.
Muscle Tissue
Another symptom of suboxone intake is drastic weight loss. Men and women have been known to drop 20, 30 or 40 pounds in a short period. Some may believe this amount of weight loss is a good thing. The dark cloud surrounding this kind of weight depletion is what happens to your body composition. Most of the weight you lose is muscle tissue. Weight training builds lean muscle tissue, especially in men. Resistance training can help you balance out your body weight as you ingest suboxone.
Insomia
Discontinuation of long-term suboxone use will lead to withdrawal symptoms. One major withdrawal symptom experienced by most is insomnia. The lack of sleep can lead to desperate behavior. Lifting weights can lead to muscle fatigue or exhaustion. This can go a long way to help you get some sleep. Not sleeping for days or weeks has forced many addicts to return to their self-destructive habits.
Emotional Well Being
Endorphins are compounds produced by the pituitary gland. Intense exercise, such as weight lifting, increases the production of endorphins because the body is trying to tolerate physical discomfort. This endorphin release will get you feeling much better about yourself. Weight training will aid you in dealing with the emotional pain associated with suboxone withdrawal. Anxiety and depression can be somewhat counteracted through intense exercise.
References
- "Substance Abuse and Recovery Workbook" ; John J. Liptak ; 2008
- "Men and Addictions: New Research (Substance Abuse Assessment, Interventions and Treatment) ; 2009
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