Highlights
- Suboxone is a Schedule III controlled substance with active ingredients of Buprenorphine and Naloxone.
- The stay time of Suboxone in urine, blood, saliva, and hair is not the same.
- Suboxone is prescribed to treat opioid use disorder (OUD).
People commonly ask, “How long does Suboxone stay in your system?” Suboxone stays in the system for approximately 7 to 10 days. The exact detection time of Suboxone depends on factors such as frequency of use, dosage, and metabolism. Let’s take a look at the estimated detection timeline by test type.
- Urine: 7-10 Days
- Blood: 1-2 Days
- Saliva: 5 Days
- Hair: 90 Days
Don’t Know How Long Suboxone Stays in Your System? Contact EHG of NC at 910-335-9102 to Understand the Detection Window and Verify Insurance for Suboxone Abuse Treatment. We serve individuals who experience Suboxone addiction in Wilmington and nearby areas.
What is Suboxone?
Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication that contains buprenorphine and naloxone to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) 1. It reduces opioid withdrawal symptoms and cravings with a lower risk of misuse. Suboxone is usually prescribed as part of Medication-Assisted Treatment (MAT) for lasting recovery 2.
Suboxone Classification
- Partial opioid agonist medication 3
- Schedule III controlled substance 4
- Combination drug for opioid treatment
Active Ingredients of Suboxone
- Buprenorphine: A partial opioid agonist to control both craving and withdrawal symptoms 5. It doesn’t produce the same high as the full opioids.
- Naloxone: An opioid antagonist to prevent the misuse of Suboxone 6. However, improper injection can easily trigger withdrawal.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?
There are different tests, such as urine, blood, saliva, and hair, to determine how long Suboxone stays in your system. However, the actual duration can vary depending on how Suboxone is used.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Urine?
- The estimated detection window is 7-10 days.
- The peak detection timeline is 2 to 4 days after the last use.
- Standard urine drug tests are used to detect Suboxone metabolites.
- Specialized panels test offers an accurate Suboxone detection in urine.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in the Blood?
- Testing duration for Suboxone in the blood is approximately 1 to 2 days.
- The peak concentration time is 1 to 4 hours after the last dose.
- High-Performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) is a blood test for Suboxone.
- Reliable for the medical and legal compliance.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Saliva?
- The approximate time to detect Suboxone in saliva is approximately 5 days.
- Effective for detecting Buprenorphine, which is an integral component of Suboxone.
- Fast and simple testing mode with the help of a swab.
- Ideal for detecting recent Suboxone use.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Hair?
- Suboxone remains detectable in hair follicles for approximately 90 days.
- The buildup of Suboxone metabolites in follicles extends the detection window.
- Hair follicle test for Suboxone provides a longer detection timeline.
- It is not a reliable test to detect recent use.
Expert Opinion
According to a Licensed Clinical Addiction Specialist (LCAS), the duration of Suboxone in the body varies from one individual to another. However, Suboxone remains detectable for approximately 7 to 10 days after the last use.
Buprenorphine, an active ingredient, remains in the body for a longer time due to its binding to the opioid receptors. Dosage, frequency of use, liver function, metabolism, and hydration level influence the detection window of Suboxone.
What are the 7 Factors Affecting How Long Suboxone Stays in Your Body?
How long does suboxone last in your system? Biological and personal factors affect the presence of Suboxone in the body, similar to how they influence how long meth stays in your system.
- Age and Genetics: Genetic liver enzymes and age differences may affect the metabolization process.
- Body Mass Index (BMI): Lower body fat may offer a limited detection window due to the short-term storage of buprenorphine.
- Metabolism: A slower metabolic rate can slow down Suboxone’s elimination from the system.
- Amount and Frequency of Use: Heavy use and higher doses of Suboxone may increase the detection timeline.
- Liver Health: A damaged liver affects the body’s capability of processing and removing Suboxone.
- Hydration: Poor hydration may slow down the urinary excretion, slightly extending the detection time of Suboxone.
- Urine Acidity: Non-acidic urine usually causes the slower elimination of Suboxone from the system.
At a Glance
Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication that is used to treat opioid use disorder:
- Buprenorphine manages withdrawal symptoms, and Naloxone prevents misuse.
- Suboxone detection window for blood, urine, saliva, and hair varies for individuals.
What are the 7 Steps for Suboxone Metabolism in the System?
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System? The stay time of Suboxone in the system is approximately 7 to 10 days. Understanding the metabolism of Suboxone in the system is helpful for you to eliminate it without potential side effects.
- Absorption: Buccal film or oral tablet is an ideal source of suboxone absorption. Suboxone can enter the bloodstream by bypassing much of the digestive system.
- Distribution: Suboxone can bind to the brain’s opioid receptors. The lipid solubility contributes to the distribution of Suboxone throughout the system.
- Hepatic Metabolism: The liver plays a key role in breaking down buprenorphine into metabolites. Enzyme CYP3A4 is responsible for hepatic metabolism 8.
- N-Dealkylation: It processes buprenorphine in the liver. N-dealkylation converts buprenorphine into norbuprenorphine 9.
- Glucuronidation: It involves the glucuronidation of buprenorphine and norbuprenorphine 10. Glucuronidation improves water solubility for elimination through bile or urine.
- Metabolite Formulation: The body forms the norbuprenorphine metabolites. These metabolites may remain in the body for several days.
- Excretion: Suboxone is mainly eliminated through the bile. However, a small amount is also excreted through urine.
What is the Half-Life of Suboxone?
The half-life is the time required to remove half of the Suboxone from the body. The average half-life of Suboxone is approximately 24 to 42 hours. 50% of medication may take 1 to 2 days to leave the system. So, full elimination can take approximately 5 to 9 days.
Let’s understand the role of Suboxone’s half-life in its elimination:
- Determine how long Suboxone remains in the system
- Play an important role in the detection window
- Influence the total time required for full elimination
How Does Suboxone Work for Opioid Addiction Treatment?
Suboxone works for opioid addiction treatment by combining naloxone and buprenorphine to manage withdrawal symptoms. It is an effective and safe medication for treating opioid addiction.
How Long Does Suboxone Take to Kick in?
- Effects of Suboxone may be felt within the 1st hour of the last medication dose.
- A long-acting medication that relieves opioid withdrawal symptoms within approximately 30 to 60 minutes.
- The peak blood concentration can be reached within 40 minutes to 3 hours, depending on body composition.
How Long Can Suboxone Block Opioids?
- Suboxone usually blocks opioids for approximately 24 to 60 hours.
- Blocking effects may last for up to 72 hours.
- The duration of blocking opioids depends on factors like history of substance use, individual metabolism, and dosage.
What are the Available Levels of Care for Suboxone Addiction Treatment?
At EHG of NC, we provide structured treatment levels to individuals struggling with lower to severe Suboxone dependence.
- Inpatient Program: A 30-day inpatient rehab near me provides intensive care to individuals who need 24/7 support.
- Partial Hospitalization Program: A PHP near me offers the required support to people who don’t require 24/7 monitoring.
- Intensive Outpatient Program: IOP mental health programs near me address anxiety and depression caused by Suboxone abuse.
Ready to Start Your Treatment for Suboxone Abuse? Complete the Insurance Verification Process and Call 910-335-9102 to Enjoy a Seamless Recovery Journey.
Client’s Journey of Using Suboxone
“When I started to use Suboxone, I was worried about how long it would stay in my body. I travelled to EHG of NC from Huntersville for opioid use disorder treatment.
The qualified and experienced addiction recovery professionals explained that Buprenorphine is the active ingredient with a longer half-life, helpful for the smooth recovery.
Knowing that Suboxone can stay in the system for approximately 7 to 10 days gave me satisfaction because it offers support against the withdrawal symptoms and cravings. It helped me trust the treatment process for long-term recovery. ”
Quick Insurance Verification for Suboxone Addiction Treatment
Empower Health Group of North Carolina offers fast and simple insurance verification to make the treatment affordable for individuals. We accept the following insurance plans.
- Aetna
- Cigna
- United Healthcare
- BCBS
- Horizon
- MHN Insurance
- HealthNet Insurance
- Beacon Health
- Optum Health
- UMR
- Magellan Health
Start Suboxone Abuse Rehab at Empower Health Group of North Carolina
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System? It stays in the body for 7 to 10 days. If you or someone you love is struggling with Suboxone addiction, getting personalized help should be the priority.
EHG of NC provides customized treatment because two individuals are not affected by Suboxone in the same way. Call us at 910-335-9102 to schedule your appointment for Suboxone addiction treatment.
Top Questions About How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System are Answered Here
Let’s get answers to the most asked questions about how long Suboxone stays in your body.
How Long Is Suboxone In Your System?
Suboxone stays in your system for approximately 7-10 days due to its longer half-life of 24 to 42 hours.
Does Suboxone Show Up On A Drug Test?
No, Suboxone does not show up on a standard drug test because it requires specific panels for buprenorphine detection.
How Long Does Suboxone Stay In Your Urine?
Suboxone stays in your urine for approximately 7 to 10 days after the last use, depending on:
- BMI
- Hydration
- Urine Acidity
- Metabolism
- Amount and Frequency of Use
- Liver Health
- Age and Genetics
Does Suboxone Show Up In A Urine Drug Test?
Yes, Suboxone shows up in a urine drug test by detecting buprenorphine, which is an active ingredient of the medication.
How Long Does Buprenorphine Stay In Your System?
Buprenorphine stays in your system for approximately 6 to 8 days (155 to 175 hours), depending on factors like:
- Dosage
- Metabolism
- Frequency of use
References:
- https://www.drugs.com/suboxone.html
- https://www.asam.org/docs/default-source/education-docs/mat-program-overview_2-12-2019239e2b9472bc604ca5b7ff000030b21a.pdf
- https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459126/
- https://www.deadiversion.usdoj.gov/drug_chem_info/buprenorphine.pdf
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Buprenorphine
- https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Naloxone
- https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2015/022410s020s022lbl.pdf
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/17305497/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/9180349/
- https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/16628138/
Medical Disclaimer:
EHG of NC aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice, please consult your physicians or EHG of NC's qualified staff.
