Subutex is the trade name for Buprenorphine. Suboxone is a combination of Buprenophine (8mg) and Naloxone (2mg). Subutex and Suboxone are used to treat opiate addiction since 2002. It is sold in sublingual capsules meant to be dissolved under the tongue.

Subutex is a long-acting partial opiate agonist with the binding affinity to opioid receptors much higher than that of any other opioid, including Heroin, Methadone, Substitol, Morphine Sulfate, OxyContin, Vicodin and etc. It means that consuming any opioid shortly after taking Subutex doesn’t produce clinical effects of opioid intoxication due to blocked opioid receptors by Subutex.

However, being partial opioid agonist, Subutex itself produces opioid effects to degree enough to prevent developing withdrawal symptoms from more powerful opioids without pronounced euphoric effect at the same time, giving the individual the feeling of being somewhat “normal” once more. Subutex has two unique properties. From one side it effectively blocks physical craving for drugs by preventing going into withdrawal syndrome, from the other side it has the so called “ ceiling effect”, which means that there is no further euphoric effects on the doses above32 mg if it is taken sublingual as prescribed.

Subutex addiction

And yet Subutex can be abused when it taken intravenously or together with other psycho-active substances: benzodiazepines, antidepressants, alcohol, sleeping medicine, etc. Subutex may boost their effects and cause severe health detriments. Intravenous injection of Subutex combined with a tranquilizer can cause death from overdose. For the patients prone to abuse Subutex, use of Suboxone is recommended. Suboxone is a sister drug of Subutex. It consists 4 parts of Subutex and 1 part of Naloxone (opioid antagonist) Due to low bio-availability of Naloxone when it is taken under the tongue the patient doesn’t feel the effect of opioid blocker.

ORT (Opioid Replacement Therapy) doesn’t suit subutex addiction treatment. Our clinic offers Rapid Subutex detox and Naltrexone treatment as the most effective and efficient methods of subutex addiction treatment. In four to six day in-hospital treatment the patient is cleansed from the drug. Subutex rapid drug detox is done under anesthesia with specific medications to minimize withdrawal symptoms. We manage addiction in a totally confidential modern hospital environment with every safety measure taken. We strongly advise that our patients after detoxification stay under Naltrexone protection for at least six to twelve month to reinforce the drug free life. Moreover, subutex addiction treatment must be used in combination with other medical, social and psychological programs.