Suboxone is a prescription medicine used in Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT). Research shows that MAT is highly effective for preventing opioid overdoses and overdose deaths [1] [2]. In the US, around 2.4 million adults received MAT for an opioid use disorder in 2021 — a fifth of the total people who could benefit from the treatment. [3].
Suboxone contains buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone, an opioid antagonist. Here’s how Suboxone works and the possible risks of physical dependence.
What Is Medication-Assisted Treatment?
Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) uses prescribed medications to treat alcohol and substance use disorders. MAT is not offered as a standalone treatment for addiction. It’s combined with evidence-based therapies as part of a broader, longer recovery program.
Buprenorphine is an FDA-approved drug used in MAT. Suboxone is the brand name for a drug that contains buprenorphine and naloxone and is commonly administered during MAT.
As part of MAT, Suboxone can be given as a sublingual tablet or a dissolvable film placed in the cheek. It’s typically taken on a weekly basis and can be administered through either residential or outpatient programs.
The effects of Suboxone are capped with naloxone’s ceiling effect — any dosage that exceeds 24 milligrams per day will not produce stronger effects.
How Does Suboxone Work?
Suboxone works in MAT in the following ways:
- Buprenorphine helps lower opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms
- Naloxone prevents misuse of Suboxone
Because Buprenorphine is a partial opioid antagonist, it binds to opioid receptors in the brain but doesn’t activate them fully. As a result, it can reduce cravings and withdrawals without producing a ‘high’ sensation.
Meanwhile, as a full opioid antagonist, naloxone blocks opioid receptors in the brain. If an individual tries to misuse Suboxone, naloxone stops the effects.
Can You Get Addicted to Suboxone?
It is possible to develop a physical dependency on Suboxone, but this is not the same as an addiction. Buprenorphine is a Schedule III controlled substance in the U.S. and is considered to have a low to moderate risk of physical dependence.
Studies show that as a medication for opioid addiction, Suboxone produced little physical dependency and only mild withdrawal symptoms [4]. With the correct care, physical dependence on Suboxone can be managed and withdrawal symptoms can be reduced.
What’s The Difference Between Addiction and Physical Dependence?
Addiction and physical dependence are different. Addiction is a chronic disease that involves the inability to overcome cravings for substances, despite negative outcomes. Physical dependence is a biological process when the body adapts to the presence of a substance.
An individual can have an addiction without having a physical dependency. Likewise, an individual can be physically dependent without having an addiction.
Both addiction and physical dependence involve withdrawal symptoms, which is why they are commonly confused. Medical professionals even conflate the terms, which leads to misdiagnosis.
Characteristics of addiction are:
- Overwhelming cravings for a substance that make it difficult to stop use
- Engaging in harmful behavior to find or use a substance
Characteristics of physical dependence are:
- Requiring a higher dose of a substance to achieve the same effects as previously
- Experiencing withdrawal effects after stopping substance use despite having no cravings for it
Physical dependence can occur with many substances, including drugs prescribed by a doctor, such as antidepressants, or FDA-approved drugs used in a clinical setting, such as Suboxone in MAT.
What Are Signs Of Suboxone Abuse?
Signs of Suboxone abuse are similar to those of general opioid abuse.
Suboxone use is carefully controlled during MAT: the dose and frequency are determined by a licensed medical professional, and the treatment involves regular check-ups to monitor MAT safety and progress. Suboxone abuse during MAT is rare.
Signs of Suboxone abuse can include:
| Drowsiness and nausea | Loss of appetite |
| Difficulty concentrating | Fatigue and body aches |
| Slower, more shallow breathing | Blurry vision |
| Itching | Using Suboxone for longer, or in higher doses, than recommended |
| Taking Suboxone in risky environments, such as when driving | Combining Suboxone with other substances |
How Effective Is Suboxone in MAT?
Research shows that Suboxone is very effective in MAT. It’s regarded as having both a high efficacy and safety profile and significantly reduces the risk of relapse.
One study found that 84% of adults suffering from opioid addiction were no longer using opioids one year after receiving MAT treatment [5]. Another study highlighted that Suboxone was more successful than methadone in reducing cravings among people with an opioid addiction [6].
Buprenorphine is one of the most effective MATs for harm reduction and relapse prevention [7].
Safe, Successful Medication-Assisted Treatment With Red Rock Recovery Programs
Addiction can feel overwhelming, but it doesn’t need to define you. If you or a loved one is suffering from an alcohol or substance use disorder, we can help you heal.
Our addiction treatment programs include Medication-Assisted Treatment where needed to reduce withdrawal symptoms and lower the risk of relapse. We have a team of licensed clinical professionals who prioritize your comfort and well-being and guide you toward stability.
We combine MAT with evidence-based therapies and holistic activities to support long-term healing. We are nonjudgmental, compassionate, and committed to your recovery.
Find the health and happiness you deserve. Speak with our admissions team.
Sources
[1] Kimber, J. et al. (October 2015). Mortality risk of opioid substitution therapy with methadone versus buprenorphine: a retrospective cohort study. Volume 2. Issue 10. The Lancet Psychiatry.
[2] Bahrami, K. et al. (August 2023). Association of Medication-Assisted Therapy and Risk of Drug Overdose-Related Hospitalization or Emergency Room Visits in Patients With Opioid Use Disorder. Cureus.
[3] Jones, C. M. (August 2023). Use of Medication for Opioid Use Disorder Among Adults With Past-Year Opioid Use Disorder in the US, 2021. Volume 8. No 8. JAMA Network Open.
[4] Jones, H. E. (August 2004). Practical Considerations for the Clinical Use of Buprenorphine. Addiction Science & Clinical Practice.
[5] Brunisholz, K. et al. (January 2021). Trends in abstinence and retention associated with implementing a Medication Assisted Treatment program for people with opioid use disorders using a Collective Impact approach. Progress in Community Health Partnerships.
[6] McAnulty, C. et al. (October 2022). Buprenorphine/naloxone and methadone effectiveness for reducing craving in individuals with prescription opioid use disorder: Exploratory results from an open-label, pragmatic randomized controlled trial. Volume 239. Drug and Alcohol Dependence.
[7] Spayde-Baker, A. Patek, J. (October 2023). A Comparison of Medication-Assisted Treatment Options for Opioid Addiction: A Review of the Literature. Journal of Addiction Nursing.