Suboxone Myths

Common with many medications and treatments there is a vast amount of inaccurate information “myths” about it. Suboxone as well as the other forms Subutex and Zubsolv are at an even greater disadvantage due to the already high stigma on treatment for opioid addiction. Stigmas cause a lot of problems for people in any area and with this treatment at times can prevent people from receiving a treatment, that when done correctly, will give a person control of their life back. And this also goes to show improvements not only in their life, but the lives of those around them. Therefore, it is important to provide truths about the myths associated with Suboxone and other opioid addiction treatment.

Suboxone Treatment Is Forever

Absolutely False. This is one of the most concerning myths about treatment of Opioid Use Disorder with Buprenorphine. If you or a loved one is at a clinic that says the treatment will be lifelong, please have them Contact Us, so us at Recover Clarity can help them get free of all substances in their life. At Recover Clarity, we not only pride ourselves on offering the most friendly and caring treatment by any Suboxone clinic but also specialize in helping patients get off Suboxone (as well as Subutex and Zubsolv). Click here to learn about Completing Suboxone Treatment.

In short, any Buprenorphine medication should be used to assist a person in re-establishing their life of sobriety. The medication assists with eliminating withdrawal and cravings. While on the medication the person works to better their life and get things back to the way they would have been before the opioid addiction. After the person has their life back on track, it is then to work on getting off the Buprenorphine based medication. There is no “one size fits all model”, so timing varies, but generally within a year should be able to be free of all substances.

Suboxone Is No Different Than Other Opioids

Again, this is false. Almost all other opioids are a full opioid agonist, Buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone, Subutex, Zubslov, and Sublocade is a partial opioid agonist. Even Methadone is a full opioid agonist, read more at Methadone vs Suboxone. So how does this medication, being a partial opioid agonist, make it different. First, partial opioid agonists have a greatly decreased chance of producing the euphoric “high” that other opioids will produce. This decreases the chance of addiction and abuse. This is also why Buprenorphine medications are listed as a Schedule III drug and not a Schedule II like that of morphine, oxycontin, heroin, and methadone.

Suboxone, which is the preferred version of the medication (as well as Zubsolv) is both a partial opioid agonist and an opioid antagonist. What this means is that there is the opioid antagonist of Naloxone in the medication. This is not a problem with the Buprenorphine but provides a safeguard of those on the medication for any other possible opioid usage. What Naloxone does is prevent a person from using a full opioid agonist for any purposes, which greatly decreases the chances of a relapse. Click here to learn more about the active ingredient and Benefits of Naloxone.

You Cannot Take Suboxone While You Are Pregnant

Showing a person being pregnant on Suboxone

Again, another false myth about Buprenorphine or Suboxone. However, unlike some other myths this is more around the difference of Subutex vs Suboxone. The recommendation of any medication needs to come directly from a medical provider, such as the Online Suboxone Doctors here at Recover Clarity. Ideally anyone pregnant would not be on any opioid medication, but it is safer for an individual to be on Suboxone than other opioids while pregnant. Click here to read a Buprenorphine Fact Sheet about Buprenorphine while pregnant provided by the National Library of Medicine.

As noted in many medical journals, Buprenorphine (Suboxone) is preferred medication for Opioid Use Disorder over that of Methadone (Santoro, 2022). The other concern is the addition of Naloxone in Suboxone over the medication Subutex. However, it has been shown in medical research that Naloxone is not able to transfer and be processed during breastfeeding, read the Naloxone Fact Sheet on Naloxone here by the National Institute of Health. The only concern about Naloxone is towards the end of pregnancy in the event some pain medications are needed during the child birthing process.

You Can Get High on Suboxone

This one is a harder myth to explain. If a person is taking their Buprenorphine based medication as directed by their physician, the answer is no. However, like many things in this world, if abused it is possible. The chance of the euphoric high is greatly decreased compared to any other opioid, as it is only a partial opioid agonist. Unlike Methadone, which individuals commonly will be seen as intoxicated after receiving their dosage as it can easily provide the high some desire when using substances.

There is a safety net with the medications of Suboxone and Zubsolv that the other versions of the medication do not provide, such as with Subutex and Sublocade. That is again the opioid agonist part, called Naloxone. This will prevent the individual from getting high or even using other opioids. As the Naloxone will attach to those opioids and force them out of the body quickly, which can also assist in preventing overdoses. Therefore, with Suboxone the opposite of getting high is the correct answer, it assists in longer terms sobriety.

Suboxone Myths

Suboxone Treatment Is Forever

Suboxone Is No Different Than Other Opioids

You Cannot Take Suboxone While You Are Pregnant

You Can Get High on Suboxone

References

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