Suboxone
Suboxone Treatment in Florida
The Science Behind It
More Than a Medication: A Foundation for Recovery
Suboxone (buprenorphine-naloxone) works differently than the drugs it’s replacing. Rather than creating a high, it occupies the same brain receptors just enough to quiet withdrawal and cravings, freeing you from the cycle of highs and lows that comes with opioid use.
At Oasis Wellness & Recovery, every treatment plan is physician-led and paired with counseling and support, so you’re not just managing symptoms, you’re building a path back to a stable, healthy life.
For medication-assisted treatment, our clinic uses Suboxone, Subutex, Sublocade and other buprenorphine-based medications, along with naltrexone. We do not use methadone.
What We Treat
When Opioid Use Has Taken Control
We help patients regain stability from a range of substance use and dependency challenges.
- Prescription Opioid Dependence
- Heroin & Fentanyl Use
- Kratom Dependence
- Chronic Relapse
- Withdrawal Management
- Co-Occurring Anxiety & Depression
What to Expect
YOUR SUBOXONE TREATMENT JOURNEY
Confidential Consultation
We listen first. A private conversation about your history, your goals, and what recovery looks like for you.
- 30 mins
- No Judgment
Personalized Treatment Plan
Dr. Milbrandt designs a treatment protocol tailored to your substance use history, health, and recovery goals.
- Customized
- Physician-Led
Induction & Stabilization
You'll begin medication under close medical supervision to ease withdrawal and find your stable, effective dose.
- Comfort-Focused
- Monitored
Ongoing Medication Management
Once you're stabilized, you'll return for regular follow-up visits so we can monitor your progress, discuss cravings or withdrawal symptoms, and adjust your treatment plan when needed.
- Regular Visits
- Adjusted As Needed
Long-Term Recovery Support
Recovery continues beyond stabilization. We provide ongoing medication management and support to help you maintain progress, reduce the risk of relapse, and work toward your long-term recovery goals.
- Ongoing
- Recovery-Focused
WHAT MAKES US DIFFERENT
The Benefits That Make Suboxone Treatment Different
Rapid Relief
Significant easing of withdrawal symptoms often within the first dose.
Reduces Cravings
Targets the same receptors driving opioid cravings, without the high.
Confidential & Judgment-Free
Discreet care in a private setting, free from stigma.
Improves Daily Functioning
Patients report being able to work, parent, and engage in daily life again, often within days.
Physician-Administered
Every treatment plan is personally overseen by Dr. Eric Milbrandt, so your care is safe, monitored, and consistent.
Whole-Person Approach
Medication paired with counseling and ongoing support for lasting recovery, not just symptom relief.
Is This Right for Me?
Find Out If You're a Good Candidate
| Aspect | Good Candidate | Consult First |
|---|---|---|
| Substance Use History | Currently Using Opioids And Ready For Change | Unsure About Current Substance Use |
| Withdrawal Symptoms | Experiencing Cravings Or Withdrawal | Not Currently Experiencing Withdrawal |
| Medical History | Generally Healthy With No Contraindications | History Of Complex Co-Occurring Conditions |
| Mental Health Status | Stable Enough To Participate In Treatment | Currently In Acute Psychiatric Crisis |
| Commitment Level | Ready For Ongoing Visits And Medication Management | Seeking A One-Time Or Quick-Fix Solution |
Reviews
What Our Clients Say
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Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. 
Trustindex verifies that the original source of the review is Google. Frequently Asked Questions
Everything You Need to Know Before Starting Your Journey
What do you charge for treatment?
The total cost of treatment is less than what you would spend on drugs. If you can afford drugs … you can afford treatment!
- Initial enrollment – $160
- Follow-up visit (if monthly) – $160
- Follow-up visit (if every 2 weeks) – $80
- Follow-up visit (if weekly) – $50
- Urine drug screens – no charge!
- Medications – paid to pharmacy (about $2.50 per day)
- Emergency prescription – $50
Payments and Insurance
Payment may be made by cash, money order, or debit/credit cards. We do not accept personal checks. Fees are due at the time of service and cover the cost of medical evaluation, urine testing, and management by the provider. Fees do not cover medications.
The cost of your visit might be covered by your insurance. The key is whether you have out of network (OON) benefits and if you have met your annual deductible. Click here to quickly verify your OON benefits and deductible.
We are not in network with any insurance, but we can now file an out of network claim with your insurance provider for you! All we need is your insurance card and we will do the rest! We use a company called Reimbursify to file your claim. With Reimbursify, reimbursement is sent directly to you from your insurance company. We can not currently provide this service for Medicare or Medicaid clients.
Your prescriptions may be covered by your health insurance or prescription plan. You must check with them to determine prescription coverage. Typically, there is a limitation to the dose and duration for which it is covered. If your prescription program requires preauthorization, we will certify and sign off where needed.
I've been using fentanyl. Do I need to go to a detox program before starting Suboxone?
No. Though some clinics require you to fully detox from fentanyl before starting Suboxone, at Oasis we do not. We are able with the right dose and frequency of Suboxone to get you off fentanyl right away. Ideally, you should stop using fentanyl at least 12 hours before you first appointment with us and be experiencing some withdrawal symptoms already. These include yawning, running nose and eyes, sweating, mild aches, and irritability. Even if you are not yet in withdrawal, we can provide you with a prescription for Suboxone to start as soon as you are experiencing withdrawal.
Can MAT help with kratom (7-hydroxy) or tianeptine (ZaZa Red)?
Absolutely. We’ve had great success in getting people off these powerful, short-acting “legally” available opioids using medications like Suboxone (buprenorphine). Your cost per day with Suboxone will be about 1/10th what you’ve been spending on these other meds and you only need to take it 2 or 3 times per day.
Will you prescribe me Xanax, Klonopin, Adderall, or Vyvanse?
No. Don’t even ask. We can help you with buprenorphine even if you are on these others meds but we will NOT prescribe them.
If I call you or make an appointment will anyone else find out?
Keeping your information private and confidential is central to what we do. We will not disclose your participation in our program under any circumstances unless you specifically direct us to do so in writing. There are federal laws that protect information about those who seek treatment. No one at your workplace, in law enforcement, or in your family is entitled to know that you are seeking treatment. You are welcome to call us anonymously to start a conversation.
What are the Medication costs?
Generic Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) varies from $1 to $3 for each 8 mg tablet/film. If you don’t have insurance, the best prices can be found using the GoodRx app. Some pharmacies allow you to obtain a partial fill of your prescription, typically half now and half later.
You can compare costs at area pharmacies from the website or app:
GoodRx.com (typically $2.50 per 8 mg dose)
The manufacturer of Suboxone provides a discount coupon through their website:
What will happen at my first visit?
You should allow 45 minutes to an hour for your first visit. Our offices are set up just like any typical doctor’s office. You will check in with our staff, fill out paperwork, and give a urine sample. A medical assistant will take your vitals then you will see one of our providers. Your will spend about 30 minutes with the provider so you can get to know each other and to determine the best course of action.
Do I need to be in withdrawal before I take my first dose of Suboxone?
Patients are recommended to be in at least “mild withdrawal” as defined by the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS). Symptoms of early withdrawal include yawning, runny nose, sweating, mild aches, and irritability. If you are not experiencing mild withdrawal symptoms, you risk putting yourself into severe withdrawal when you take your first buprenorphine dose. This is called precipitated withdrawal.
The amount of time you need to wait between your last opioid dose and your first buprenorphine dose depends on how long acting the last opioid you took is and what dose you have been taking.
In general, you should stop taking all opioids at least 12 hours (preferably 24 hours) before your first dose of buprenorphine. The exception is for patients who have been taking methadone. Patients taking methadone must have been weaned down to ~ 30 mg/day and have stopped taking it at least 36-72 hours before their first dose of buprenorphine.
How often do I need to come in for doctor visits?
Our goal is to quickly get patients to a monthly maintenance schedule. All patients, however, will be required to come weekly to bi-weekly for the first few weeks to confirm that they are doing well. Once you are stable and feeling good about your dosage, you will likely be moved to monthly appointments. Many patients struggle in the beginning and we see them back at shorter intervals until they stabilize. If you cannot be stabilized inside of our program’s structure, we will refer you to a more intensive program. Patients that leave our clinic for more intensive alternatives can come back to us once they are more stable.
What about drug testing? What is harm reduction?
As part of our mission to deliver evidence-based high quality care to those who need it most, we operate under the guiding principles of harm reduction and we work to minimize disruptions to medication access. Buprenorphine-naloxone is a life-sustaining medication that is essential to long-term recovery from opioid use disorder, even for those with less-than-perfect compliance. We perform unobserved point-of-care urine drug testing at each clinic visit for clinical monitoring but not with punitive intent. Within the limits of safety, we tolerate members with co-occurring disorders (alcohol, benzodiazepines, stimulants, cannabis, etc) and do not consider these contraindications to treatment in our program.
Am I trading one addiction for another?
The simple answer is no, but it requires a few definitions. Physical dependence is your body craving opioids to avoid withdrawal. Addiction is dependence plus uncontrolled behavior. The active ingredient in Suboxone is buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is an opioid, but it is what is called a “partial agonist.” The “partial” part is what is important. Taken as prescribed, buprenorphine does not get you high and allows you to avoid withdrawal and cravings while at the same time allowing you to lead a normal, functional, and responsible life. For as long as you are taking buprenorphine, you will remain dependent on opioids. When it is time for you to taper off completely, we will help you to do so comfortably over time. You decide when you are ready to taper.
What is the difference between Methadone and Suboxone?
Methadone was the first opioid replacement therapy to be used in addiction treatment. The biggest difference between Methadone and Suboxone is that some patients report a “high” from their use of methadone, while Suboxone patients do not. The two share a fundamental objective, which is to move people from the dangerous addiction habits they have when they are taking opioids toward a life of independence.
Methadone and Suboxone are prescribed differently. Methadone clinics generally require patients to report daily to take their medication. Suboxone can be prescribed so that patients can administer their doses in the privacy of their own homes, checking in with their provider once monthly in the office.
Current medication dosage protocol? What about weaning?
We do not dispense medications but provide you with a prescription that you fill at your pharmacy.
Patients who have never been on Suboxone or other buprenorphine medications are typically started at 16 mg/day. We DO NOT provide prescriptions for doses higher than 24 mg/day. Sorry, no exceptions.
When you are ready to taper, we gradually reduce your dose while also providing you with oral clonidine to help ease any withdraw symptoms. Patients receive medication support for as long as they need it. Some patients prefer to stay on medication for years, rather than risk a relapse and the downward spiral that results from it. Others wean off after a period of stability. It is generally recommend to be on Suboxone at least 6 months before weaning off. Twelve to 18-months is preferred and makes relapse much less likely.
We have a no tolerance policy for diversion, which is giving or selling your medication to others. If you divert, you will be discharged from our program. No exceptions.
Are all patients a good fit for our clinic?
Our program is designed to provide medication assisted treatment services for patients who are independent and can be responsible for their own day-to-day living. We are not designed to support patients with severe mental illnesses that co-occur with their addiction. We have an excellent referral network and we will do our best to redirect such patients to facilities that are better able to address their illness.
It is important to note that our clinic is set up to move patients to monthly maintenance visits with a doctor or other provider as quickly as possible. Our patients appreciate the independence this provides. People at different stages of recovery may require different levels of intervention. If you don’t think you will be able to stick to a regimen on your own, please let us know and we will refer you to a more intensive treatment provider.
Our doctors and healthcare providers are always on the lookout for signs that our program may not be working and will address this with you. There is no shame or judgement in this. It is only important to find the best place for each person at each stage of their recovery.
What do I do if I need help between visits?
We answer the phone 352-325-5755 Monday through Friday 8:00 am to 5:00 pm except Thursdays which is 10:00 am to 4:00 pm. We are also available by email at info@oasiswr.com and via website chat. We try to be proactive and check in with our patients within a day or two of their first MAT appointment to make sure that they are doing ok. Please don’t wait if you are experiencing discomfort or have questions. If you are having a health emergency, please call 911 immediately and then contact us so that we can provide support.
How can I carry my medication with me?
Ideally, our patients leave their medication at home in a secure (preferably locked) place. If you must take your medication with you, please take the fewest tablets or films that you can. Always bring the original box or bottle with your printed prescription and leave the remaining medication at home. Suboxone and other buprenorphine products are Type III controlled substances and law enforcement works hard to control the illegal diversion (selling) of prescription medications. As long as you have your printed prescription, there should never be a problem.
About us
At Oasis Wellness & Recovery, our mission is to help you get out of the Pit of Despair, whether it is due to mood disorders, addiction, or both. We’ve been there and understand where you are coming from. We treat you with love and respect, offering hope rather than judgement. You can recover and we’d like to help you today!
Dr. Eric Milbrandt is our doctor. He is board-certified in Addiction Medicine and a Certified Trauma Professional, having completed over 200 hours of training in the most effective trauma therapy techniques. Unresolved trauma is one of the most common reasons for treatment-resistance in depression and recurrent relapse in addiction. Trauma-focused care is a powerful tool to help people work through their trauma and it can be the pivotal change that brings lasting recovery.