Over 10.1 million people in the U.S. abuse prescription medications. Of those, about 1.6 million have an opioid use disorder. Even under the best circumstances, managing the process of opioid addiction treatment can be a real challenge for those trying to get back on their feet and avoid contact with substances extremely detrimental to overall health
Finding support for anyone going through treatment is crucial to success. While opioid addiction may be chronic and cause relapses in even the most dedicated of persons, finding a way to leverage a multifaceted approach through medication-assisted treatment (MAT) helps boost success.
When entering into some form of treatment, patients can use MAT to combine behavior aspects addressing underlying causes of addiction-leaning habits as well as medications that can curb the ruthless symptoms of substance use disorders. This comprehensive recovery plan may be assisted with the common MAT options – Subutex and Suboxone.
What is Subutex?
Subutex is a branded medication where the primary active ingredient is known as buprenorphine. This is the first known medication to actively treat opioid use disorder (OUD) and is most often prescribed by a physician or those in charge of a total treatment plan with proper medical credentials.
The concept behind Subutex is to operate as a partial agonist. When taken in carefully monitored low dosages, it may create the same euphoric or respiratory depression you would get with methadone or heroin, but not the negative side effects. It binds to the receptors in the brain that opioids tend to hit, but through affective sensations that are far milder, helping you reduce potential withdrawal symptoms and common cravings associated with “getting high.”
While it does vary, many of the prescription uses of Subutex as a MAT for opioid addiction treatment during the earliest stages of recovery. It helps reign in those needs for a “hit” and lowers the chances of overdosing or relapsing. Also, it is considered safe for pregnant women but only if a healthcare professional carefully monitors them. To be clear, Subutex only contains buprenorphine as an active ingredient.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is another brand named method for treating those going through opioid addiction treatment. Like Subutex, it uses the active ingredient buprenorphine but also combines this with naloxone. These two substances help alleviate the intense feelings and chemical needs for getting another “hit” of opioids through the reduction of withdrawal symptoms.
Naloxone is sometimes referred to as Narcan. It is commonly used as the first response method of treating someone in an overdose state. When used properly, this helps reverse the effects of opioid overdoses, which is why you may often see naloxone in police vehicles, fire department health kits, and paramedic bags. The FDA recently approved the first OTC (over-the-counter) naloxone spray to help alleviate opioid overdosing.
Suboxone is generally used when in moderate to severe withdrawal states. While it does cause the same receptors to fire in the body and brain, it helps “mellow the high” to get into a state of close to calm once again. You may see Suboxone used in the maintenance phase after symptoms are better managed to help reduce cravings over the long term.
What’s the Big Difference Between Subutex and Suboxone?
Even though all these positive signs of using MATs like Subutex and Suboxone seem highly beneficial, there are some differences to note.
It is important to always use the best-fit MAT for your unique situation. Having a qualified and experienced healthcare or mental health professional guiding your treatment is the best solution.
- Composition: The primary difference between Subutex and Suboxone is the composition of the active ingredients. Subutex uses only buprenorphine, whereas Suboxone uses both buprenorphine and naloxone.
- Efficacy: The efficacy of either MAT depends on where patients are along their opioid addiction treatment journey. When they are just starting out and need something to immediately curb cravings, Subutex may be a better choice. If patients are in the later stages and need occasional reminders of their goals to avoid overdosing, Suboxone may be more appropriate.
- Side Effects: Subutex side effects can range from problems with your teeth or gums, noisy/shallow breathing, blurred vision, slurred speech, chest pain, withdrawal symptoms, low cortisol levels, and liver problems. Suboxone presents the same side effects with a few others thrown in, like sweating, vomiting, constipation, and numbness. Both do have risks of addiction but at lower levels than traditional opioids.
Any discussion of opioid treatment should include noting accessibility and prescription guidelines. Also, not every patient is near a center actively using either Subutex or Suboxone. For example, Suboxone is widely available in the US, mostly due to the easy access to naloxone as a complementary active ingredient.
Subutex can be available to adults, but it often is harder to get a prescription for it because of the risk of continued addiction. This is why you may see this form of MAT prescribed in “special cases,” like for pregnant women, where not having the naloxone component doesn’t have as many potential side effects for the fetus.
Cost is one final consideration. Suboxone and Subutex are close in price. The primary reason for the difference is that one MAT has two active ingredients, and the other has only one.
Subutex vs. Suboxone: Which MAT is Better?
Deciding between using Subutex or Suboxone for your medical treatment of opioid addiction should always be decided between you and your healthcare provider.
Here is some general information, which may vary for each unique situation. For example, Subutex may be a more appropriate choice for pregnant women due to potentially fewer negative side effects for both the mother and the baby. For those with a long history of misuse, Suboxone could be the better choice. The active naloxone ingredient curbs the need for a “high” quicker and helps with long-term maintenance.
For the earlier stages, Subutex can help manage immediate withdrawal symptoms before long-term treatment plans with other MATs. Some patients may also seek out Suboxone to maintain sobriety and prevent the recurrence of relapsing or overdosing.
Final Thoughts
Opioid addiction and abuse are serious concerns not only in the US but across the rest of the world. The availability of controlled substances and opioids in family homes and from secondhand sellers has made this a problem we all need to face head-on.
Using either Subutex or Suboxone helps fight opioid addiction and aids treatment by providing both healthcare providers and patients with the must-have tools necessary to curb withdrawal symptoms and avoid overdosing.
You want to discuss the use of MAT during your treatment plan with your designated healthcare provider. This way, you can get personalized advice that considers your current health, history of abuse, and recovery goals.
If you or someone you care about is struggling with opioid addiction, our treatment center is here to help. We provide an experienced treatment team capable of offering a full custom plan based on your unique needs and recovery timeline. Contact us today to learn more about getting started.
References:
- Division, D. C. (2023, May 30). Opioid Facts and Statistics. HHS.gov. https://www.hhs.gov/opioids/statistics/index.html.
- Buprenorphine. (n.d.). https://www.samhsa.gov/medications-substance-use-disorders/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine.
- FDA Approves. (March 29, 2023). https://www.fda.gov/news-events/press-announcements/fda-approves-first-over-counter-naloxone-nasal-spray.
