Does Suboxone Show up on a Drug Test?
When recovering from drug addiction, regular drug tests are typically part of treatment. These tests help track drug use, so healthcare providers can measure how successful treatment is in terms of helping you maintain sobriety. You may also need to undergo drug testing in order to gain employment. If you are being treated for an addiction to opioid drugs, such as morphine, oxycodone, or heroin, you may be receiving Suboxone as part of your treatment. While Suboxone does mimic some of the effects of opioid drugs, Suboxone does not show up on panels as other opioids. It will only show up if the panel tests for buprenorphine (one of the components of Suboxone) and/or its metabolites.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a combination of the drugs buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist-antagonist, meaning it mimics some of the effects of opioid drugs.1 In doing so, buprenorphine can ease symptoms of withdrawal and prevent cravings. Buprenorphine has been shown to be effective in re-establishing normal brain function and preventing relapse. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioid drugs. Adding naloxone to buprenorphine helps to prevent misuse or diversion of the buprenorphine by causing withdrawal if the medication is injected instead of dissolved under the tongue or in the cheek (the appropriate way to take the medicine depends on the formulation).
When receiving treatment with Suboxone, you should never stop taking the drug suddenly or without a doctor’s approval. You do not need to stop taking Suboxone before undergoing a drug test. Always take Suboxone exactly as prescribed.
Testing for Suboxone Use
Depending on the drug panel used, Suboxone may or may not be tested for. Suboxone should not cause false positives for other opioids.
While buprenorphine, one of the ingredients of Suboxone, is similar to opioid drugs, it is a different chemical and thus is broken down into different metabolites. Metabolites are the chemical result of your body processing the drugs in your system. Depending on the drug panel, it may or may not test for buprenorphine and its metabolites.
Suboxone can be a very effective tool to treat opioid addiction. Buprenorphine combined with naloxone in the form of Suboxone can reduce the risk of misuse, decrease opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings, and increase safety if overdose occurs. It has lower misuse potential than buprenorphine alone or methadone.
Do Companies Test for Suboxone for Pre-Employment?
As mentioned previously, some companies require prospective employees to take a drug test prior to beginning work. Drug screens may be performed through urine—the most common type of pre-employment drug test in the United States—saliva, blood, or sweat tests.
While the test requested may vary from one employer to the next, the most common panel used to evaluate individuals for illegal drug use detects the presence or absence of 5 substances, including:
- Amphetamines, including methamphetamine.
- Cocaine.
- Marijuana.
- Phencyclidine (PCP).
- Opioids (morphine, codeine, heroin, fentanyl)
What Drug Test Does Suboxone Show Up On?
Drug testing for buprenorphine is complex. Some labs may test for buprenorphine in order to test for Suboxone, which would have to be added to a 10-panel test with expanded opioids, which in addition to the 5 substances mentioned above, a 10-panel test with expanded opioids typically also tests for drugs including:
- Benzodiazepines.
- Barbiturates.
- Methadone.
- Propoxyphene.
- Oxycodone.
- Expanded opioids, including heroin, codeine, morphine, hydrocodone, hydromorphone, and oxymorphone.
Buprenorphine has to be tested for specifically.
Should You Let Your Employer Know You’re Taking Suboxone Before a Test?
You do not have to disclose anything regarding your recovery. Your condition is protected by the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA).
If you are taking Suboxone, or another medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD), your prescription is legal. If something shows up on a drug test that you have a legal prescription for, it might be flagged and reviewed—meaning the medical review officer at the drug testing facility contacts your provider to validate your prescription—but the test results will not be disclosed to the employer unless your prescription is invalid.
However, some safety-sensitive jobs regulated by the Department of Transportation, for instance, may have different standards and regulations regarding privacy of prescription medications.
Additionally, if you do decide to disclose your recovery to your employer, they are obligated to keep that—and anything related to it—private.
Why Choose American Addiction Centers
If you are struggling with opioid use (or another substance), American Addiction Centers (AAC) can help. AAC operates treatment centers throughout the United States, provides various levels of care, utilizes evidence-based therapies, and works with you to create a personalized treatment plan that meets your unique needs and goals. Call 24/7 to speak to a compassionate and knowledgeable admissions navigator who can listen to your needs, answer your questions, explain your options, verify your insurance, and help you begin your journey to recovery.
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