How Suboxone Works in Opioid Treatment?

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Written By Steve Brandon

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November 8, 2024

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Suboxone

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Beating an addiction can be tough, especially when withdrawal symptoms make staying sober harder. Fortunately, Suboxone is a medication that can help ease these symptoms, allowing you to focus on building healthier habits for lasting recovery.

If you’re new to this approach, you may wonder how Suboxone works and what the process looks like. Understanding its role in addiction treatment can be a helpful first step toward a stable and sustainable recovery for you or a loved one.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a medication used to help people overcome opioid addiction. It contains two main ingredients: buprenorphine and naloxone.

Suboxone helps control cravings and withdrawal by blocking the brain’s opioid receptors, but it doesn’t activate them to produce a “high.” This means that the brain doesn’t receive signals for cravings or withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to avoid opioids.

If someone takes opioids like heroin or pain pills while on Suboxone, the receptors remain blocked so that those drugs won’t create any euphoric effects.

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How does Suboxone work, and what does it do to your brain?

Suboxone (a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone) is often used to treat opioid addiction. It helps ease withdrawal symptoms, making it easier to stay on track with recovery. But what’s happening in your brain when you take Suboxone?

infographic showing how suboxone ingredients buprenorphine and naloxone function in the brain, buprenorphine eases withdrawal symptoms and cravings, naloxone prevents opioid misuse

Opioids, like Suboxone, work by attaching to certain parts of the brain called opioid receptors. These receptors normally respond to natural chemicals in the body that help manage pain and create feelings of pleasure (like endorphins). When these receptors are activated, they release dopamine, a chemical that makes us feel good, and slow down certain functions like breathing and alertness, which creates a calming effect.

With strong opioids like heroin, fentanyl, and oxycodone, this effect is much more intense, leading to powerful feelings of pleasure or euphoria. Suboxone works differently—it attaches to the same receptors but doesn’t activate them as strongly. This helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms without causing the extreme highs of other opioids, making it safer and more manageable for long-term recovery.

Why Are Opioids a Problem If Our Bodies Have Natural Receptors?

Our brain naturally has opioid receptors that interact with certain chemicals to manage pain and create feelings of well-being. But when someone takes high doses of strong opioids over time, the brain adapts. It “turns off” some receptors, making it harder to feel the effects, which leads to needing more opioids to achieve the same feeling—this is called tolerance.

opioid medications, heroin spoon, syringe, and lighter symbolizing opioid addiction

Eventually, stopping opioids altogether causes the brain to overproduce noradrenaline, resulting in withdrawal symptoms like vomiting, anxiety, shakes, and pain. Over time, opioids become necessary just to feel normal and function each day. In extreme cases, high opioid use can dangerously slow breathing, risking brain damage or even death from overdose.

How Does Suboxone Help?

Suboxone is different from other opioids. Buprenorphine attaches strongly to opioid receptors, blocking other opioids from taking effect but without causing a “high.” It’s a partial agonist, which means it activates the receptors only enough to ease withdrawal symptoms and cravings without euphoria.

Buprenorphine has a “ceiling effect,” meaning that taking more won’t increase its effects. This reduces the risk of overdose and limits the desire to increase doses. It also allows a steadier effect over time, making tolerance less of an issue. Many people on buprenorphine report feeling “normal” rather than high, making it easier to get through daily life without cravings or withdrawals. Some people may also gradually reduce their dosage to eventually stop needing it.

How Does Suboxone Compare to Other Treatments?

list of opioid medications with a focus on methadone addiction risk

Suboxone has some advantages over methadone, another common opioid treatment. For instance, it has fewer respiratory effects at high doses, lowering overdose risk. Also, because Suboxone includes naloxone (which blocks opioid effects if misused), it’s less likely to be misused than methadone.

When Should Suboxone Be Taken?

To start Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder, you generally need to wait 12-24 hours after your last dose of short-acting opioids. This waiting period ensures that early signs of withdrawal have begun, helping to prevent sudden and intense symptoms known as precipitated withdrawal, which can occur if Suboxone is taken while opioids are still in your system.

woman holding suboxone buccal film strips for addiction treatment

The timing of your first dose depends on several factors, including the type of opioid used (short-acting, like heroin, or long-acting, like methadone), how long it’s been since your last use, and the level of dependence. For those using long-acting opioids, such as methadone, starting with Suboxone is not recommended. Instead, treatment usually begins with sublingual buprenorphine alone on the first two days, as it’s better tolerated in this case. Since Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, it can be introduced later.

During induction, your doctor may use a tool like the Clinical Opiate Withdrawal Scale (COWS) to assess your withdrawal symptoms and determine the right time to start. Suboxone is a film that dissolves under your tongue, making it easy to use and effective for withdrawal relief. Your doctor will consider factors like your opioid use history and health background to decide if Suboxone is the best choice for your treatment.

What Are the Side Effects of Suboxone?

Common side effects of Suboxone include constipation, diarrhea, headaches, nausea, and sometimes an increased reliance on it for relaxation. A serious side effect to watch for is respiratory depression, which means slow or shallow breathing.

man experiencing difficulty in breathing as a side effect of using Suboxone

This is rare with proper use but can happen if Suboxone is misused or combined with alcohol or sedatives. Signs of this include dizziness, slow or difficult breathing, and extreme sleepiness. Other possible side effects are back pain, blurred vision, drowsiness, irregular heartbeat, trouble sleeping, difficulty concentrating, sweating, and tongue pain.

How Long Does Suboxone Treatment Last?

The duration of Suboxone treatment varies for each person. Some may need it for a few months, while others could benefit from longer-term use for several years, depending on individual recovery needs and guidance on how long you should be on Suboxone. It’s important to follow your doctor’s advice and not rush the process.

A single dose of Suboxone can last up to three days, but most doctors recommend taking it once a day at the same time. Factors like body weight, metabolism, and history of drug use can affect how long it works. Working closely with a doctor helps ensure the right dose and treatment plan for your specific needs.

How can you buy Suboxone?

You can buy Suboxone both offline and online, and to buy it online, My MMJ Doctor is here to provide you with a prescription. Here are 3 steps to buy Suboxone online from My MMJ Doctor:

three steps to get suboxone prescription: schedule appointment, connect with doctor, receive prescription

Sign-Up and Schedule an Appointment: Fill out a form with your details and medical information to get started.
Consult with a Licensed Doctor: Attend a video call with a doctor to discuss your health condition and see if Suboxone is right for you.
Receive Your Prescription: If approved, you’ll receive a Suboxone prescription, which you can use at a local pharmacy.

Click here to learn a few things you should keep in mind before buying Suboxone.

Conclusion

Suboxone is a valuable tool in opioid addiction treatment, helping reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms so individuals can focus on recovery. By blocking opioid receptors in the brain without producing a high, it supports a stable path toward sobriety. Whether used short-term or long-term, Suboxone offers a medically-supported way to rebuild a healthy, addiction-free life under professional guidance.

FAQs

How does Suboxone help with opioid cravings?
Suboxone helps with opioid cravings by containing buprenorphine, which partially activates opioid receptors in the brain. This eases cravings and withdrawal symptoms without producing a strong “high,” making it easier for people to manage cravings and stay in recovery.

Why is Suboxone used in addiction treatment?
Suboxone is used in addiction treatment because it provides a safer way to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It can be prescribed by doctors and is effective in both supervised and unsupervised settings, giving people flexibility in their treatment.

How long do Suboxone side effects last?
Common side effects of Suboxone, like headache, stomach pain, or sleep issues, are generally short-term and may last a few days to a few weeks as the body adjusts. If side effects persist or worsen, it’s best to consult a healthcare provider.

What is the role of naloxone in Suboxone?
Naloxone in Suboxone helps prevent misuse. If Suboxone is injected, naloxone can block opioid effects, which discourages tampering with the medication. When taken as prescribed, naloxone remains inactive, allowing buprenorphine to ease cravings safely.

Can you stop Suboxone abruptly?
Stopping Suboxone abruptly is not recommended. Gradual tapering is safer and helps avoid withdrawal symptoms. A healthcare provider can help set up a slow reduction plan to make stopping Suboxone more comfortable.

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