Subutex vs Suboxone: What’s The Difference?
Suboxone and Subutex are buprenorphine medications developed for the treatment of opioid addiction. Prior to 2000 when the Drug Addiction Treatment Act was passed, the primary medication to treat opioid addictions was methadone.
This article will discuss the differences between Suboxone and Subutex.
What Is Buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that is an active ingredient in both Suboxone and Subutex. Buprenorphine is primarily used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).
As a partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine causes moderate receptor site activity without eliciting euphoria in opioid-dependent patients. This action prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings for opioid drugs like heroin and prescription painkillers.
What’s the Difference between Suboxone & Subutex?
Both Suboxone and Subutex are oral formulations containing buprenorphine that can effectively treat opioid addiction. The main difference is that Suboxone contains both buprenorphine and naloxone, whereas Subutex contained only buprenorphine.
Subutex was discontinued for use in the United States in 2011. However, monoproduct formulations of buprenorphine may still be prescribed in certain instances.
Suboxone
In Suboxone, naloxone was combined with buprenorphine to deter misuse of the medication. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, which means that it blocks the effects of opioids at the receptor sites. If someone injects or snorts Suboxone, they may immediately go into precipitated withdrawal, however, there is no risk of this happening when the drug is taken orally as prescribed.
Subutex
Subutex was discontinued in 2011; however, there still may be cases in which buprenorphine may be prescribed or administered without naloxone. For example, doctors may prescribe a drug similar to Subutex to a pregnant patient instead of Suboxone, although naloxone is also considered safe to take during pregnancy.
Which Is Better? Subutex or Suboxone
If either medications are used according to prescription, under medical supervision, the buprenorphine in each will work as it should, mitigating opioid withdrawal symptoms and reducing cravings.
Suboxone may have an advantage in many instances over drugs like Subutex purely because of the misuse potential. Suboxone may be less likely to be misused since it contains naloxone, which acts as a misuse deterrent. As a result, many providers may prefer to only prescribe drugs like Subutex in settings where patients are more strictly supervised.
Suboxone and Subutex are most effective if used as part of a greater addiction treatment program that includes behavioral therapy, peer support, and other interventions.
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