Suboxone®, manufactured by Reckitt Benckiser, is the first opioid substitution treatment available without the hassle involved with going to a methadone clinic everyday or even weekly. The two active ingredients in Suboxone® are buprenorphine hydrochloride, and naloxone hydrochloride dihydrate. Subutex® has only buprenorphine as an active ingredient.

Sublingual tablets are absorbed through veins under the tongue. Before taking Suboxone, it is a good idea to drink a little water to moisten the mouth, which helps the tablets dissolve easier, and faster. If the doctor prescribes two tablets, put one on the left side under the tongue, and put the other on the right side under the tongue. If more than two are prescribed, Reckitt Benckiser, the makers of Suboxone, recommends waiting until after the first two dissolve to take the rest.

Yes. The active ingredient in Suboxone that keeps withdrawal at bay is buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist. Buprenorphine has an extremely high binding affinity to opioid receptors in the brain, but because it is only a partial agonist, full effects, as produced by full agonists (e.g. oxycodone, heroin), are not present.

Taken on its own, SUBOXONE has lower potential for fatal overdose than a full opioid agonist because it has a limited effect on reducing breathing. Taking more SUBOXONE does not affect breathing as much as full opioid agonists can, so it is less likely to cause death in cases of accidental or deliberate overdose when taken in the absence of benzodiazepines, sedatives, tranquilizers, antidepressants, or alcohol.

Those side effects do not sound too inviting, do they? I think these are primarily experienced during the induction period, as the body becomes accustomed to buprenorphine, rather than a full agonist. From what I have seen, most people who have become stabilized on Suboxone report very little to no side effects, and those that do report adverse reactions usually only experience trouble sleeping, sweating, and headaches.

Suboxone treatment should never be used by itself. It is not a cure, but rather a treatment. When used concurrently with some sort of therapy, the success rate is much higher. Suboxone treatment really beings with a phone call called the pretreatment screening; this consists of a brief interview to qualify the person, and a date may be set for intake and induction. Intake is the gathering of medical records to measure suitability for office-based treatment.

Not all doctors can prescribe Suboxone because it requires special certification. If a doctor wants to be able to prescribe Suboxone, he/she must (1) send a letter of intent to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Administration, (2) be qualified, and (3) take a special course to learn about Suboxone. Many patients believe their doctors are largely uneducated on the subject.

If Suboxone is procured legally through a doctor, the prescribing physician will almost always ask that the patient be in mild-to-moderate withdrawal during induction. For short-acting opioids, like heroin and oxycodone, withdrawal takes anywhere from 24-36 hours to kick in. When switching from a longer-acting opioid like methadone, the situation becomes a bit more complicated.

Each person differs in what he/she requires as far as treatment in concerned because varying factors such as body chemistry, size of habit, duration of addiction, finances, etc. To help addicts find the right treatment plan, TPC! has put together a side-by-side comparison of Suboxone and methadone. Remember, Suboxone or methadone by themselves should not be considered complete treatment plans, but instead part of a comprehensive plan which leaves no aspect of opioid addiction untended.

It is possible for a patient on methadone to switch to Suboxone; however, the difference between the two drugs may cause the former methadone-treated patient to feel unsatisfied, though there have been many successful cases noted. Methadone, being a full-opioid agonist, is more similar to heroin and oxycodone than buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a partial-opioid agonist, which means it does not provide the same intense release of painkilling chemicals that full agonists provide.

It is possible to switch to SUBOXONE from methadone treatment, but because everyone's situation is different, switching should first be discussed with your doctor.

The length of your SUBOXONE treatment depends on what your doctor, you, and, possibly, your counselor or therapist decide is best for your needs. Although short-term treatment may be an effective option for some, for others it may not allow enough time to address the psychological and behavioral aspects of their condition. The chance of relapsing can be higher with short-term treatment because patients have less time to learn the skills needed to maintain an opioid-free lifestyle.

SUBOXONE can reduce respiratory rate. However, because buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, when taken alone it exhibits a ceiling dose beyond which no greater effect is observed on physiologic or subjective measures.8 This "ceiling effect" on respiratory depression—unlike full opioid agonists where respiratory depression continues increasing as the dose increases—means SUBOXONE by itself is unlikely to cause death in the event of an overdose.

Buprenorphine is metabolized by cytochrome P-450 3A4 isoenzymes. It is important to carefully monitor SUBOXONE patients who are taking medications that inhibit or induce CYP-450 3A4 isoenzymes. SUBOXONE patients may require a dose reduction if CYP 3A4 inhibitors such as azole antifungal agents (eg, ketoconazole), macrolide antibiotics (eg, erythromycin), or HIV protease inhibitors (eg, ritonavir) are coadministered.

NOTE: The following is not written by a doctor or a medical professional. The information contained within this document should not be taken as medical advice, and it is always necessary to double-check anything with a doctor or qualified medical professional. We do our best to ensure all information is up-to-date, and accurate, but as with all human beings, we are subject to the possibility of errors.

It is important to be in mild-to-moderate withdrawal when you take your first dose of SUBOXONE. If you have high levels of another opioid in your system, SUBOXONE will compete with the other opioid molecules and knock them off the receptors. SUBOXONE then replaces those opioid molecules on the receptors, but because SUBOXONE has less opioid effects than full opioid agonists, you may go into withdrawal and feel sick. This is called precipitated withdrawal.

Intravenous misuse of buprenorphine, usually in combination with benzodiazepines or other CNS depressants (including alcohol) has been associated with significant respiratory depression and death. It can be dangerous to mix SUBOXONE with drugs like benzodiazepines, alcohol, sleeping pills and other tranquilizers, certain antidepressants, or other opioid medications, especially when not under the care of a doctor or in doses different from those prescribed by your doctor.

Buprenorphine is a medication used in treating people with narcotic problems. For more information visit:

Buprenorphine has been available as SUBOXONE in the United States since 2003. In Europe, buprenorphine was introduced during the mid-90s. Today, more than 400,000 opioid-dependent patients worldwide have been treated with buprenorphine. All opioids can cause physical dependence. SUBOXONE belongs to a class of opioids called "partial opioid agonists.

with other medications in this class, the most commonly reported side effects for SUBOXONE include headache (36% vs 22% placebo), withdrawal syndrome (25% vs 37% placebo), pain (22% vs 19% placebo), nausea (15% vs 11% placebo), insomnia (14% vs 16% placebo), and sweating (14% vs 10% placebo). Please review the Important Safety Information that appears at the bottom of the screen.

SUBOXONE and SUBUTEX are both classified as Pregnancy Category C. There are no adequate and well controlled studies of SUBOXONE or SUBUTEX in pregnant women. SUBOXONE or SUBUTEX should be used during pregnancy only if the potential benefit to the patient justifies the potential risk to the fetus.

Chronic administration of SUBOXONE produces physical dependence of the opioid type.

a pharmacist, you are in a unique position to help local physicians implement office-based treatment of opioid dependence with SUBOXONE. One of the most valuable functions that you provide is counseling patients. Patient Counseling Checklist Special federal regulations apply to how you verify prescriptions for SUBOXONE.

Subutex® and Suboxone® are available in pharmacies throughout the United States. Pharmacies and physicians can obtain the medications by contacting a pharmaceutical wholesaler directly, or by contacting the drug manufacturer, Reckitt Benckiser, at 1-877-782-6966. Consumers may also call the same toll-free number for additional information.

Suboxone binds to the same receptors as other opioid drugs. It mimics the effects of other opioids by alleviating cravings and withdrawal symptoms. This allows you to address the psychosocial reasons behind your opioid use.