Different factors influence how long suboxone stays in your system. You or a loved one may be taking suboxone as part of your opioid addiction treatment. Suboxone can help with recovery from opioids such as heroin, morphine, or other narcotics.
What Is Suboxone
Suboxone is used to treat opioid dependence. It is a drug that can be prescribed if you or somebody you love are looking for support with treating opioid use.
Suboxone is a combination of two drugs called buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine acts similarly to an opioid, but it is weaker in strength than a typical opioid. It can help you with opioid withdrawal symptoms. It can also help to reduce cravings.
The other drug that is present in suboxone is called naloxone. Naloxone blocks opioid receptors. This means that it blocks the effects of opioids. In other words, it prevents you from getting high in the event that you use opioids. If you or a loved one were to inject naloxone, it would cause more unpleasant withdrawal symptoms.
Suboxone is used for addiction treatment because it helps to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
Suboxone blocks opiates for at least 24 hours. If you are taking a higher dose or have been using it for a long time, the effects of suboxone can last longer.
How Long Is Suboxone In Your System?
The length of time that suboxone stays in your system depends on a couple of different factors. The dosage you take and how often you use suboxone will affect how long it is in your system. Your body will respond to suboxone based on your health, the length of time you have been taking suboxone, and more.
Half-Life
Suboxone’s half-life lasts for 24-48 hours. The half life of a drug is defined by the time it takes for half of the drug to leave your body’s system. The half life of suboxone may be important to consider if you are planning to take a drug test. Also, the half life of suboxone may affect the schedule of how often you take suboxone.
Metabolism
Your metabolism affects how long suboxone is in your system. If you have a faster metabolism, suboxone will leave your system sooner than it will leave the body of a person with a slower metabolism. Metabolism is affected by genetics, diet, medications, and other factors.
What Factors Affect How Long Suboxone Stays in Your System?
The major factors that affect how long suboxone stays in your system are dosage, frequency of use, metabolism, health, and other medications you may take.
The higher the dosage you take, the longer suboxone will stay in your system. Similarly, the more frequently that you take suboxone, the longer it will stay in your system.
The speed of your metabolism affects the length of time that suboxone stays in your system. Weight can also affect the time that suboxone stays in your body. For example, suboxone may stay in your system for less time if you are a person who does not weigh a lot.
The health of your liver can affect the way your body metabolizes suboxone. If you have complications with your liver, suboxone may take a longer time to be cleared from your body.
Some medications, like antidepressants or antifungals, can interact with suboxone. They can affect the half-life and how long it remains in your body.
How Do You Detect Suboxone?
Suboxone shows up on different drug tests. The drug tests that can detect suboxone include urine tests, saliva tests, hair follicle tests, and blood tests.
H3: What Does Suboxone Show Up As on a Drug Test?
Drug tests don’t detect suboxone on a drug test. Instead, the drug that will show up on a drug test is buprenorphine, which is a main ingredient of suboxone.
What Will Suboxone Test Positive For?
Suboxone will test positive for buprenorphine. It will not test positive for heroin, oxycodone, or methadone, which are other opioids.
Drug Tests
The four different types of drug tests that can detect buprenorphine are urine, blood, saliva and hair. If you need to take one of these drug tests, it is important to understand the factors that can contribute to the length of time it takes for suboxone, or buprenorphine, to leave your body. Factors like dosage and metabolism will affect the time that suboxone stays in your body.
Suboxone Withdrawal & Symptoms
You might experience withdrawal symptoms from suboxone. Some of these symptoms can include sweating, trouble sleeping, stomach cramps, chills, diarrhea, and more. However, a medical professional can help you create a schedule for dosage so that your withdrawal symptoms are reduced.
Withdrawal Timeline
Withdrawal symptoms may start 24-48 hours after the last time you use suboxone. Withdrawal symptoms may be their most intense 3-5 days after the last use.
Symptoms
Withdrawal symptoms vary for everybody. If you taper off of using suboxone gradually, the withdrawal symptoms will probably be less intense.
Next Steps
Suboxone can help if you are trying to stop using opioids. Suboxone helps to alleviate withdrawal symptoms when you are in recovery from opioid use.
You may decide you want to stop using suboxone at some point in your recovery journey. You should consult with a healthcare professional if this is the case so that you can withdraw safely and comfortably.
If you want help continuing your recovery journey from opioid addiction, Aware Recovery Care can help.
Aware offers in-home addiction therapy so that you are able to access a treatment program from the comfort of your own home. In-home addiction therapy is beneficial for opioid addiction after receiving inpatient or outpatient treatment.
If you or a loved one have participated in inpatient or outpatient treatment for opioid addiction, in-home addiction therapy can be the next step in your recovery journey. In-home addiction therapy offers privacy and convenience as you customize a treatment plan that works for you.
To speak with one of our team members, click here.
