Subutex
What is Subutex®?
(SOO-buh-teks)
Opioids pose a significant problem, with the U.S. Food & Drug Administration (FDA) reporting that more than 6.1 million people aged 12 or older have become dependent on these semi-synthetic drugs¹.
Fortunately, several medications are available to help individuals overcome opioid use disorder (OUD). Subutex® is one of the leading options; understanding what it is and how it works can help you make informed decisions about your treatment.
Definition
Subutex is the brand name for a medication used to treat opioid use disorders (OUD). It contains buprenorphine, which binds to the same receptors that opioids target but with less intense effects. This allows it to reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms.
Historical context
Before Subutex and similar medications, patients primarily relied on methadone clinics. This wasn’t optimal for many patients due to the strict daily attendance requirements and the social stigma associated with substance use disorders (SUD).
When Subutex was approved by the FDA in 2002, it was one of the first OUD medications that could be taken away from an office setting, which increased patient access to more flexible treatment options and helped reduce the stigma associated with seeking help for opioid dependence².
How Subutex works
Since buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, it’s safer than taking traditional opioids. It also displaces other opioids, which means if someone were to take an opioid while on Subutex, the buprenorphine can significantly reduce the euphoric effects of the drug.
Alternative treatments to Subutex
Why Suboxone® is the preferred treatment today
In recent years, medical providers and patients have leaned toward Suboxone instead of Subutex because it is considered a more comprehensive and lower risk medication.
Subutex withdrawal is almost identical to opioid withdrawal, with many individuals experiencing anxiety, joint, muscle, and bone discomfort, fatigue, depression, and diarrhea. Medical supervision is required during any attempt to ease off this medication.
When it comes to Subutex vs. Suboxone, there is no contest. While they both contain buprenorphine, Suboxone is a combination drug with naloxone, a powerful abuse deterrent. When taken as prescribed, the naloxone remains inactive.
However, if a patient attempts to misuse Suboxone by injecting it, the naloxone kicks in and triggers withdrawal symptoms.
Suboxone also has a hard ceiling to its effects; taking more of it can’t get a patient high. These safeguards have made Suboxone the gold standard of treatment, while Subutex is usually prescribed to patients with a naloxone allergy.
Other buprenorphine-based options
Beyond Subutex and Suboxone, alternatives include Sublocade®, an extended-release buprenorphine injectable, and buprenorphine-naloxone formulations, like Zubsolv®. There are also generic versions of buprenorphine-based medications
How long does Subutex stay in your system?
Subutex has a half-life of 24 to 42 hours, making once-daily dosing feasible4. However, detection times vary:
- 7 to 14 days in urine
- 1 to 2 days in blood
- up to 3 days in saliva
- 90 days in hair
Common forms of Subutex
Medical formulations
Brand-name Subutex has been discontinued due to its abuse potential, but generic forms of buprenorphine and reformulated brand-name versions are still available5. Buprenorphine medications are typically produced in 2mg and 8mg sublingual tablets that dissolve under the tongue for direct bloodstream absorption.
Street names
Like many prescription medications that are also used illicitly, Subutex has a variety of street names, including Bupe, Subs, Orange Guys, Stop Signs, and Sobos. Understanding these terms can help loved ones and family members recognize potential signs of misuse.
Learn more about Subutex
Related blog posts
- How to prepare for buprenorphine induction at home
- What does buprenorphine look like?
- What are Subutex’s side effects?
Related glossary terms
- Buprenorphine: A partial opioid agonist that is the primary ingredient in Subutex and similar brand-name and generic medications.
- MAT: Stands for medications for addiction treatment, a phrase used to describe the process of addressing OUD with medicines.
- Naloxone: An emergency medication that reverses overdose symptoms; sometimes combined with buprenorphine to create OUD treatments.
- Sublocade: The brand name for an extended-release injectable form of buprenorphine.
- Suboxone: A brand-name OUD treatment alternative to Subutex containing both buprenorphine and naloxone.
Sources:
- (26 December 2024). Information about Medications for Opioid Use Disorder (MOUD). FDA. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.fda.gov/drugs/information-drug-class/information-about-medications-opioid-use-disorder-moud
- (1 March 2025). BUPRENORPHINE (Trade Names: Buprenex®, Suboxone®, Subutex®). DEA. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/buprenorphine.pdf
- Jain, L., Meeks, T., and Blazes, C. (22 July 2024). Reconsidering the usefulness of long-term high-dose buprenorphine. Frontiers in Psychiatry. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/psychiatry/articles/10.3389/fpsyt.2024.1401676/full
- Pope, C. (22 August 2024). How long does Subutex stay in your system? Drugs.com. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/long-subutex-stay-system-3543907/
- Chao, S. (19 May 2025). Why was Subutex discontinued? Drugs.com. Retrieved May 13, 2025, from https://www.drugs.com/medical-answers/subutex-discontinued-3558340/
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