Subutex

In 2022, the National Survey on Drug Use and Health showed that 48.7 million individuals over the age of 12 reported having a substance use disorder (SUD) in the year prior. The same survey also showed that an estimated 8.9 million individuals in this age group engaged in opioid misuse.

Opioid abuse has become a serious problem in the United States in recent years, with mortality rates increasing greatly since 2020. However, only an estimated 1 in 5 individuals with opioid use disorder (OUD) receive the treatment they need.

Navigating opioid addiction recovery can be difficult, but treatment is available to help restore balance in your life. Medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with Subutex or other medications can increase the accessibility of treatment. By managing withdrawal symptoms, MAT helps individuals focus on their recovery by reducing discomfort.

What is Medication-Assisted Treatment?

MAT is a treatment approach to substance use disorders that focuses on removing the discomfort of withdrawal through the use of professionally monitored medication. It combines medications with extensive behavioral therapy, counseling, and other forms of holistic support to target both the symptoms and root causes of addiction.

Why is Medication-Assisted Treatment Used?

Substance use disorders like OUD can affect an individual's entire life, from their health to their relationships with loved ones. However, seeking recovery can be challenging due to the effects of OUD, including the severity of withdrawal symptoms during treatment.

Medication-assisted treatment monitored by a healthcare professional can make treatment and healing more accessible. Through the use of carefully administered medications, individuals can experience reduced discomfort and cravings during their recovery process, helping them to better navigate withdrawal.

What Is Subutex?

Subutex is the brand name for buprenorphine, which was discontinued in 2011. However, while the brand name form of this medication is no longer available, buprenorphine still stands as a useful treatment for opioid use disorder.

Medication-assisted treatment with buprenorphine is part of a large, more comprehensive treatment plan. Subutex can be helpful in restoring brain chemistry and reducing the severity of symptoms, but it does not address the root cause of addiction. As a result, patients prescribed buprenorphine often undergo psychotherapy, holistic therapy, and counseling as well.

Differences Between Subutex and Suboxone

When learning about Subutex, it is common to mistake it for Suboxone. However, while these two medications are similar, they’re not the same.

Subutex is a brand-name medication that includes only buprenorphine as its main ingredient. Suboxone, however, is a different brand-name medication that combines buprenorphine with naloxone.

Both Subutex and Suboxone are used in the treatment of opioid use disorder, but their approaches and effects differ as a result of their different active ingredients.

What Is Subutex Used To Treat?

Subutex is used in the treatment of certain substance use disorders, specifically opioid use disorder.

When administered, opioids interact with the brain, specifically proteins known as opioid receptors. Opioids bind to these receptors, which then send signals to the brain about pain and other responses. Because of this, opioids are often used in the treatment of chronic pain.

However, opioids can also trigger the brain’s reward system. This causes the release of dopamine, a feel-good chemical found naturally in the body. Over time, the body becomes accustomed to the higher levels of dopamine in the body, which can form an addiction to opioids.

With OUD and addiction, an individual who tries to stop using opioids may experience withdrawal syndrome, which includes unpleasant mental and physical symptoms. Different individuals experience withdrawal differently, and, although the severity varies, it can make it difficult to seek recovery for opioid use disorder.

As a result, healthcare providers will often prescribe individuals with buprenorphine, the main ingredient in Subutex. Buprenorphine binds with the same receptors as opioids, but it does not activate them in the same way. This helps reduce the severity of withdrawal syndrome while helping the individual achieve recovery from addiction.

How Is Subutex Administered?

Prior to its discontinuation, Subutex was administered as a dissolvable tablet placed beneath the tongue. However, buprenorphine can come in a variety of forms. This includes a dissolvable tablet or film as well as an injection.

Buprenorphine alone is not commonly administered throughout the entirety of treatment. Instead, a patient may initially be prescribed buprenorphine before transitioning to a different medication as a part of MAT.

What Are The Side Effects Of Subutex?

Medications like Subutex can offer a wide variety of benefits for those struggling with substance use disorders and opioid addiction. However, some individuals may experience side effects as a result of taking buprenorphine.

These side effects can vary in severity, and not everyone who is prescribed buprenorphine may experience them. Some of the most common buprenorphine side effects include:

• Sweating
• Dizziness
• Gastrointestinal issues such as nausea and vomiting
• Fatigue
• Dry mouth
• Difficulty sleeping.

In rarer cases, individuals may experience more severe side effects. This can include allergic reactions, increased heart rate, and fever.

If you are experiencing side effects while taking medications as a part of MAT, it’s best to reach out to your healthcare provider. This can help individuals determine if any side effects are serious, as well as what treatment alternatives are available if needed.

MAT and Subutex Frequently Asked Questions

Although the brand name Subutex has been discontinued, buprenorphine continues to be an essential step in opioid use disorder recovery. When combined with other forms of professional treatment, such as counseling and therapy, buprenorphine helps make navigating the challenges associated with addiction and recovery more accessible.

If you or a loved one are considering buprenorphine for opioid use disorder as a part of medication-assisted treatment, understanding the ins and outs of treatment may be overwhelming. This includes understanding the side effects or potential risks of Subutex as well as treatment duration and costs.

Below, discover the answers to some of the most frequently asked questions about Subutuex, buprenorphine, and MAT. However, it’s always best to consult a healthcare professional for the most accurate information about your treatment options.

Is There A Danger Of Addiction With Subutex?

Subutex can be an essential step in recovering from an opioid use disorder. However, despite its many benefits, there is a risk of becoming addicted to Subutex.

The main ingredient in Subutex, buprenorphine, is an opioid partial agonist. These are substances that react in a similar way as opioids but not as strong. What this means is that buprenorphine works by binding and activating the same receptors as opioids but only partially. Because of this, buprenorphine may trigger the same chemical reactions as other opioids but to a lesser degree.

Although this quality may create a small chance for addiction with Subutex, it is also what makes this medication an effective treatment for opioid use disorder. Subutex can be used to lessen the side effects of opioid addiction, including withdrawal and cravings.

One 2011 study also found that buprenorphine demonstrates a “ceiling effect”. With other opioids, higher doses cause greater effects. However, with buprenorphine, the effects don’t correlate directly with the dose. Instead, doses of Subutex increase until they reach a specific level of effectiveness where they plateau despite higher doses. This helps reduce the likelihood of misuse.

Because of how buprenorphine interacts with the brain and body, the risk for addiction with Subutex is low. This is especially true when buprenorphine is taken as prescribed with the guidance of a healthcare professional during medication-assisted treatment.

How Long Does Treatment With Subutex Last?

Everyone experiences opioid use disorder and addiction differently, and, as a result, there is no one-size-fits-all approach to treatment and recovery. Your treatment plan will be tailored to your unique needs and preferences. Because of this, there’s not a single timeline in which buprenorphine may be prescribed.

Some of the factors that may influence how long treatment with buprenorphine lasts can include:  

• The condition being treated and its severity
• The patient’s age
• Comorbid or other conditions, both physical and mental
• The personal needs and preferences of the patient

However, buprenorphine treatment overall lasts for several days. Buprenorphine is typically administered in the first stages of opioid addiction recovery as a way to lessen the severity of withdrawal and make a healthy recovery more accessible.

At the end of treatment, individuals will receive a tapered dose that allows them to wean off of buprenorphine slowly. Although buprenorphine has low rates of addiction, the body may become physically dependent on it, and a tapered dose helps reduce the likelihood of side effects.

Does Insurance Cover Subutex Treatment?

Many public and private health insurance plans cover Subutex or buprenorphine as a part of medication-assisted treatment. However, the out-of-pocket expenses, such as copays or deductibles, can vary.

The best way to learn if your insurance covers medication-assisted treatment, and whether that coverage is full or partial, is to reach out to your insurance company. Speaking to a representative can help you better understand the costs of treatment and plan appropriately.

If your insurance doesn’t cover MAT, or you don’t have insurance, it is still possible to receive care for substance use disorders. Your healthcare provider can inform you of any alternatives to help you receive the treatment you need. There may also be assistance programs available that can help cover the costs of treatment.