How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?

By We Level Up NJ Treatment Center | Editor Yamilla Francese | Clinically Reviewed By Lauren Barry, LMFT, MCAP, QS, Director of Quality Assurance | Editorial Policy | Research Policy | Last Updated: March 1, 2023

Suboxone How Long Does It Stay In Your System?

For up to two weeks following the last dose, suboxone can still be found in urine. This is affected by various variables, but half-life has the most significant impact. Many ask, how long does suboxone stay in your system? The main thing to note is that buprenorphine and naloxone, which together make up Suboxone, each have a different half-life. The half-life of a medication is how long it takes for half of a single dose to leave your body. An average medicine has five half-lives before it entirely leaves your body.

You may have received a methadone or Suboxone prescription as part of your treatment plan if you or someone you know is seeking help for an opioid addiction. Both are essential components of medication-assisted therapy, a method for treating people who have opioid dependency or addiction.

How Long Does Suboxone Stay In Your System?

Suboxone users frequently ask about how long suboxone stays in their system. The drug’s half-life is a primary factor in how long will suboxone stay in your system. Other factors also have a role.

Buprenorphine, the primary component of Suboxone, has a particularly lengthy half-life of elimination compared to other opioids. The time it takes for a drug’s elimination half-life to occur is measured in hours. how long does suboxone stay in your system 8mg? It has a half-life of 24 to 42 hours.

Buprenorphine is converted into norbuprenorphine once your body breaks it down. Compared to buprenorphine, this drug has a half-life of up to 150 hours. Furthermore, norbuprenorphine has a 14-day half-life in urine.

What is suboxone half life? Half of the buprenorphine in a Suboxone dose is eliminated by the body in almost two full days. How long does suboxone stay in the system? A single dose of Suboxone may take nearly nine days to leave your body because it takes five half-lives for a drug to go through your system entirely.

Naloxone half life in Suboxone: The other component of Suboxone, naloxone, has a half-life of 2 to 12 hours. Your body can then keep it for up to 60 hours. Doctors rarely check for naloxone exposure because the medication is not abused.

Buprenorphine, the opioid in Suboxone, was developed in the 1970s as a safer opioid than morphine or heroin for pain treatment. Studies suggested that buprenorphine could be an attractive alternative to methadone, as it could require fewer regulations because of its inherent abuse deterrence properties as a partial opioid agonist-antagonist. The drug’s manufacturer and the addiction treatment community lobbied for an exception to the Narcotic Addict Treatment Act to allow individual providers, rather than federally designated clinics, to prescribe buprenorphine. The Drug Addiction Treatment Act of 2000 authorized physicians via a new individual waiver to prescribe specific opioids to treat opioid use disorder. Buprenorphine is currently the only opioid authorized under this waiver. [1]

What is Suboxone Used For?

Most physicians, addiction experts, and advocates agree that Suboxone saves lives. The U.S. Government has recently been lightening up on the requirements needed for doctors and nurses to “get waivered” in an urgent attempt to increase the availability of Suboxone prescribers, as the number of opioid deaths keeps rising.

All opioids are chemically related and interact with opioid receptors in the body and brain nerve cells. Opioid pain relievers are generally safe when taken for a short time and as prescribed by a doctor, but because they produce euphoria in addition to pain relief, they can be misused (taken in a different way or a larger quantity than prescribed or taken without a doctor’s prescription). Even as prescribed by a doctor, regular use can lead to dependence, and when misused, opioid pain relievers can lead to addiction, overdose incidents, and deaths.

An opioid overdose can be reversed with the drug naloxone when given right away. Improvements have been seen in some regions of the country by decreasing the availability of prescription opioid pain relievers and decreasing misuse among the nation’s teens. However, since 2011, overdose deaths involving heroin have increased dramatically. Fortunately, effective medications exist to treat opioid use disorders, including methadone, buprenorphine, and naltrexone.

While Suboxone can be an effective drug to aid in recovery from opiate dependence, it is often a drug that is taken for long periods after the user has stopped taking other addictive opioids. Despite its effectiveness, Suboxone can also be addictive. As a partial opioid agonist, Suboxone produces similar withdrawal effects to other opioids if it is quit “cold turkey.”

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Learn More:

• Is It Safe To Mix Suboxone and Alcohol?
• Suboxone Detox
• Drug and Alcohol Tests
• How Long Does Hydrocodone Stay in Urine?
• Opiate Withdrawal
• Oxycodone Side Effects
• Heroin Overdose
• What Does Heroin Look Like?
• How Long Does Methadone Stay in Your System?
• Methadone Side Effects

Suboxone Statistics

Opioid addiction rates are at an all-time high. However, because Suboxone is usually a medication-assisted treatment, statistics about its addiction aren’t as specific as other drugs.

How Long Does Suboxone Last?

How long does suboxone last in your system? Since Suboxone affects the body in so many complex ways, it’s impossible to predict exactly how long any given patient will feel the effects. The buprenorphine in the drug usually lasts at least 24 hours. You should not feel any severe opioid cravings or experience any withdrawal symptoms during this time. In some patients, buprenorphine can last even longer. Suboxone may keep them from experiencing withdrawal symptoms for up to 60 hours.

Meanwhile, the naloxone in Suboxone gets metabolized a little quicker. This substance will usually only directly block opioids for an hour or two. On average, it blocks opioid receptors for 30 to 120 minutes. This means that if you do make the mistake of injecting Suboxone, you cannot feel the effects of another dose for up to two hours.

How long does a suboxone strip last? Buprenorphine-with-naloxone sublingual film (suboxone strip) can be prescribed on the Pharmaceutical Benefits Scheme (PBS) for opiate dependence. The Pharmaceutical Benefits Advisory Committee recommended listing buprenorphine-with-naloxone sublingual film on a cost-minimization basis — that is, similar efficacy and cost — compared with buprenorphine-with-naloxone sublingual tablets. How long do suboxone strips last? Buprenorphine-with-naloxone sublingual films dissolve faster under the tongue than buprenorphine-with-naloxone sublingual tablets (on average 6 minutes faster for the 8 mg / 2mg dose.

Factors that Influence How Long Suboxone Stay System

How long does suboxone stay in your system? Suboxone typically needs nine days to leave a person’s system altogether. The medicine may leave the bloodstream more quickly for some people while taking longer than usual for others. The following are a few factors that could affect how many days suboxone stays in your system:

• Liver Function: Individuals with impaired liver function may have higher blood levels of Suboxone than those with healthy livers. Furthermore, those with liver issues may experience a longer half-life of Suboxone.
• Dosage: The faster Suboxone is eliminated from the body, the lower the dose.
• Frequency of Use: Due to frequent use, regular Suboxone users may have some drug buildup in their bodies. Because of this, someone who routinely takes it may require more time to eliminate it from their system than someone who has only taken it once.
• Co-ingestion with Other Drugs: Some drugs can make Suboxone more concentrated in your body, making it take longer to leave your system. Atazanavir, an HIV treatment included in medications like Evotaz and Reyataz, is one of these medications.

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Symptoms of Withdrawal From Suboxone

Suboxone is a prescription drug used as part of an opioid treatment program that includes behavioral therapy and counseling. Suboxone, which contains buprenorphine and naloxone, can be an effective medication for opiate dependence. Still, sometimes, it must be taken for long periods after the user has stopped using addictive opioids. Despite its effectiveness, Suboxone can also be addictive, and it produces similar withdrawal effects to other opioids if it is quit “cold turkey.” Symptoms of withdrawal from Suboxone can include:

• Nausea and vomiting
• Muscle and body aches
• Anxiety
• Depression
• Irritability
• Fever or chills
• Sweating and Headaches

The symptoms can vary in severity and duration, depending on how long users have been taking Suboxone, as well as the dosage of the drug. Generally, most physical withdrawal symptoms will subside after one month, though psychological dependence can remain. Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms are the worst in the first 72 hours. This is when most physical symptoms are experienced. Then, in the first week after discontinuation of Suboxone, symptoms generally subside to general aches and pains in the body, as well as insomnia and mood swings.

After the second week, depression is the biggest symptom. After one month, users will likely still be experiencing intense cravings and depression. This is the most delicate time after stopping Suboxone use, as users have a great potential for relapse. If you or a loved one is suffering from addiction to suboxone, please seek help immediately from a treatment professional. Like any other addictive substance, withdrawal from Suboxone can last several months. Though the significant physical symptoms will cease after a month of not taking the drug, psychological symptoms can go on for several months.

How Long Does Suboxone Stay in the System? Detection in Drug Tests

Suboxone can be found using a variety of drug tests. Suboxone won’t cause a false positive for other opioids, despite popular belief to the contrary.

Detecting morphine is a standard method used in routine urine tests to check for the presence of opioids. Numerous opioids, including heroin, convert into morphine, which is why they are found in urine screening tests. Special tests are required to find opioids like Suboxone, which do not metabolize into morphine.

Suboxone can commonly come in the form of tablets or films/strips. With that said, how long does a suboxone strip stay in your system? Or how long do suboxone strips stay in your system? Suboxone can be found in hair. A 1.5-inch hair sample often reveals the past 90 days of drug use. Additionally, for around five days after the last dose and about 96 hours after that, doctors can detect Suboxone in plasma and saliva. Lastly, it can be seen in urine for about 2 weeks.

Blood tests are invasive yet have a narrow window for detecting buprenorphine. They can see drugs immediately after intake. So, how long does suboxone stay in your system? Over 2 hours after the last dose is when a blood test will function the best. Saliva tests are increasingly frequently used since they are straightforward and noninvasive. After the previous Suboxone dose, these tests may continue to be effective for a few days or even longer.

Although suboxone addiction is less frequent than other addiction problems, it is nonetheless an opioid issue. Many specialized centers can treat this form of condition and assist those affected in avoiding the numerous problems connected to long-term opiate usage. It is preferable to seek medical guidance and go off the Suboxone dosage under medical supervision rather than stopping abruptly if an addiction is detected.

How Long Does Suboxone Stay in the System? Detection in Drug Tests

Suboxone can be found using a variety of drug tests. Suboxone won’t cause a false positive for other opioids, despite popular belief to the contrary.

Detecting morphine is a standard method used in routine urine tests to check for the presence of opioids. Numerous opioids, including heroin, convert into morphine, which is why they are found in urine screening tests. Special tests are required to find opioids like Suboxone, which do not metabolize into morphine.

Suboxone can commonly come in the form of tablets or films/strips. With that said, how long does a suboxone strip stay in your system? Or how long do suboxone strips stay in your system? Suboxone can be found in hair. A 1.5-inch hair sample often reveals the past 90 days of drug use. Additionally, for around five days after the last dose and about 96 hours after that, doctors can detect Suboxone in plasma and saliva. Lastly, it can be seen in urine for about 2 weeks.

Blood tests are invasive yet have a narrow window for detecting buprenorphine. They can see drugs immediately after intake. So, how long does suboxone stay in your system? Over 2 hours after the last dose is when a blood test will function the best. Saliva tests are increasingly frequently used since they are straightforward and noninvasive. After the previous Suboxone dose, these tests may continue to be effective for a few days or even longer.

Although suboxone addiction is less frequent than other addiction problems, it is nonetheless an opioid issue. Many specialized centers can treat this form of condition and assist those affected in avoiding the numerous problems connected to long-term opiate usage. It is preferable to seek medical guidance and go off the Suboxone dosage under medical supervision rather than stopping abruptly if an addiction is detected.

Suboxone Treatment for Opioid Addiction and Withdrawal

Suboxone treatment can help with withdrawal symptoms during a detox program, but it shouldn’t be the only treatment option. Suboxone should be combined with counseling, support groups, and other techniques that a treatment program finds essential. Only use Suboxone in the prescribed dosage and manner. Abuse of it may result in adverse side effects or dependence.

The following buprenorphine products are FDA approved for the treatment of OUD:

• Generic Buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual tablets
• Buprenorphine sublingual tablets (Subutex)
• Buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual films (Suboxone)
• Buprenorphine/naloxone) sublingual tablets (Zubsolv)
• Buprenorphine/naloxone buccal film (Bunavail)
• Buprenorphine implants (Probuphine)
• Buprenorphine extended-release injection (Sublocade)

Medication-assisted treatment is a comprehensive approach that combines approved medications (currently, methadone, buprenorphine, or naltrexone) with counseling and other behavioral therapies to treat patients with OUD. Regular adherence to MAT with buprenorphine reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms and the desire to use opioids without causing the cycle of highs and lows associated with opioid misuse or abuse. At proper doses, buprenorphine also decreases the pleasurable effects of other opioids, making continued opioid abuse less attractive. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration, patients receiving MAT for their OUD cut their risk of death from all causes in half.

The combination of Naloxone and Buprenorphine is designed to reduce drug cravings and prevent withdrawal symptoms associated with opioid addiction. When used with the right guidance, Suboxone is proven effective in treating opioid misuse. Being a schedule three substance, Suboxone can cause drug dependence when used long-term. Physical dependence can cause Suboxone withdrawal symptoms if patients go cold turkey or abruptly stop using the medication.

To prevent these mental and physical withdrawal symptoms, the suboxone treatment dosage should gradually decrease should the client wish to be off the medication. If a patient thinks they might have developed an addiction to Suboxone, they must reach out to a medical professional or connect to a detoxing center. To reiterate, Suboxone treatment can be addictive and should always be administered by specially trained medical personnel.

Is Suboxone Addictive?

According to the American Psychiatric Association (APA), substance use disorder is a complex chronic condition where people continue to use one or more substances despite experiencing harmful consequences. The Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) classifies Suboxone as a schedule III controlled substance. Schedule III drugs have a moderate to low potential for physical or psychological dependence.

This means Suboxone carries a low to moderate risk of changing the brain’s chemistry so a person wants to take more of this medication. Additionally, like all opioids, if a person abruptly stops taking Suboxone, they may experience withdrawal symptoms.

How long does suboxone high last? Suboxone, like any opiate, can be abused. However, because it is only a “partial” agonist of the main opiate receptor (the “mu” receptor), it causes much less euphoria than other opiates such as heroin and oxycodone. In many cases, people may use Suboxone (or “abuse” it, if that is defined as using it illegally) to help themselves manage their withdrawal, or even to get themselves off heroin or fentanyl.

Suboxone Abuse and Addiction

While Suboxone is potentially addictive, the risk of becoming addicted to this prescription drug is less than the risk of becoming addicted to other Opioids. Since it is not as powerfully sedative as other drugs, it is less likely to cause individuals to experience cravings. Buprenorphine, the opioid ingredient of Suboxone, may provoke moderate withdrawal symptoms, specifically muscle pains, headaches, and nausea. 

An individual could misuse Suboxone by using it to relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms without a prescription and without undergoing treatment for opioid use disorder. In such circumstances, a person might take Suboxone whenever they begin to undergo withdrawal symptoms, fail to abide by any medical boundaries, and suffer an overdose.

Drug traffickers have been selling illicit Suboxone to individuals throughout the United States. Most individuals who buy this drug illegally are not trying to experience an opioid high. Instead, they are trying to get relief from the uncomfortable symptoms of opioid withdrawal. 

When a person fails to start treatment for opioid abuse and addiction and consumes Suboxone regularly to live without withdrawal symptoms, they become dependent on the medication and never overcome the disease. While it’s easier to just use Suboxone, recovery is the true long-term solution for withdrawal and addiction.

Suboxone is abused when the pills are crushed and snorted, or the film strips are dissolved and then injected. When someone injects Suboxone, they risk sharing dirty syringes and acquiring HIV or another blood-borne infection. Injecting Suboxone also causes a much more intense high than snorting the pills.

Opioid Addiction Treatment

If you think a loved one is abusing drugs or alcohol, you should research the substances and their associated addiction to understand better what your loved one needs. Next, you must plan an intervention to provide your loved ones with options to battle the effects of drug addiction in a safe and supportive environment. During this intervention, offer compassion and support instead of judgment. Lastly, show your support throughout the entire treatment process.

In addition, prolonged drug use can have severe physical and psychological effects on you, so it is essential to seek treatment as soon as possible. To better understand how long hydrocodone stays in your system, it is essential to get medical assistance when needed. Inpatient drug rehab offers intensive care that can help you promptly get through the early stages of drug withdrawal. 

Opioid Detox

Medical detox is often considered the first stage of treatment. It will help you navigate the complicated drug detox withdrawal but doesn’t address patterns of thought and behavior contributing to drug use. Various treatment approaches and settings can help provide the ongoing support necessary to maintain long-term sobriety after you complete the drug detox.

Cravings are very common during drug detox and can be challenging to overcome. This often leads to relapse. Constant medical care provided during inpatient treatment helps prevent relapse. Clinicians can give medication and medical expertise to lessen cravings and withdrawal symptoms.

Inpatient Opioid Addiction Rehab

There isn’t one treatment approach or style that will suit everyone. Treatment should speak to the needs of the individual. Inpatient rehab and addiction treatment aren’t just about drug use. the goal is to help the patient stop using drugs and other substances, but drug rehab should also focus on the whole person’s needs.

Addiction is a complex but treatable disease that affects brain function and behavior. When someone or their family is considering different treatment facilities, they should account for the complexity of addiction and the needs of the individual. The objective of attending an inpatient rehab center for addiction treatment is to stop using the drug and re-learn how to live a productive life without it.

Following a full medical detox, most people benefit from inpatient rehab. Inpatient drug rehab can last anywhere from a few weeks to several months. Patients stay overnight in the rehab facility and participate in intensive treatment programs and therapy. Once someone completes rehab, their addiction treatment team will create an aftercare plan, which may include continuing therapy and participation in a 12-step program like Narcotics Anonymous.

Psychotherapy

Many rehab programs will also have early morning classes or programs. Group sessions occur during inpatient rehab, as do individual therapy sessions. Family therapy may be part of inpatient rehab when it’s feasible. Alternative forms of therapy may be introduced during inpatient rehab, like a holistic therapy program, yoga for addiction recovery, or an addiction treatment massage therapy.

Several different modalities of psychotherapy have been used in the treatment of mental health disorders along with addiction, including:

• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) – is an effective treatment that involves changing both the patterns of negative thoughts and the behavioral routines which are affecting the daily life of the depressed person for various forms of depression.
• Dialectical Behavioral Therapy – is a comprehensive mental health and substance abuse treatment program whose ultimate goal is to aid patients in their efforts to build a life worth living. The main goal of DBT is to help a person develop what is referred to as a “clear mind.” 
• Solution-focused therapy is an approach interested in solutions that can be quickly implemented with a simple first step leading to further positive consequences.

Drug Rehab Near Me

Please, do not try to detox on your own. The detox process can be painful and difficult without medical assistance. However, getting through the detox process is crucial for continued treatment. We Level Up provide proper care with round-the-clock medical staff to assist your recovery through our drug addiction treatment program medically. So, reclaim your life, and call us to speak with one of our treatment specialists. Our counselors know what you are going through and will answer any of your questions.

Drug addiction is a condition that can cause significant health problems, such as an overdose. We Level Up NJ rehab treatment & detox center can provide you, or someone you love, the tools to recover from this with professional and safe treatment. Feel free to call us to speak with one of our counselors. We can inform you about this condition and clarify issues like drug withdrawal symptoms. Our specialists know what you are going through. Please understand that each call is private and confidential.

4 Most Common How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?FAQs