How long does Suboxone Stay in the System?

The primary ingredients of the opioid treatment drug, Suboxone, are naloxone and buprenorphine. These two components hold the key to understanding the time it takes Suboxone to leave the system.

Suboxone was primarily used as an alternative for the standalone version of methadone. With time, its popularity and use increased, establishing its reputation as the safest and most effective treatment for keeping opioid cravings at bay. It is readily available in opioid addiction clinics and opioid treatment centers. The use of other prescription drugs, although effective to some degree, are less desirable and do not appeal to patients.

A 2014 study published in the Journal of American Society of Addiction Medicine estimated that 1.9 million people have a painkiller-associated addiction. It’s no surprise opioid treatment centers and opioid rehab centers are employing suboxone doctors at an increasing rate.

Suboxone, being an opioid, is addictive, but it doesn’t negatively affect patients who already have an opioid dependency. Their bodies, in most cases, develop a significant tolerance to opioids prior to the usage of Suboxone.

Note: Suboxonedoctor.com strongly advises people to consult a suboxone doctor from our list of certified doctors before using suboxone. 

Let us now understand the metabolism of Suboxone to answer our question, “how long does Suboxone stay in the system?”

How is Suboxone Metabolized in the Body

Buprenorphine, the active ingredient in Suboxone, has a long elimination half-life in comparison to other opioids. So what exactly is elimination half-life? To put it simply, it’s the amount of time taken for a single dose of a drug to leave the system.

In the case of buprenorphine, this period is approximately 37 hours. So, to answer your question, it takes more than 8 days for Suboxone to completely depart from your system and become undetectable. 

(This information is verifiable from the research titled “Practical considerations for the Use of Buprenorphine”, published by Hendree E. Jones of John Hopkins University.)

However, this time of complete un-detectability varies from person to person. Pay heed here. This is important. Opioid rehab centers and opioid treatment clinics emphasize on this piece of information.

Factors that Vary the Half-life of Buprenorphine

The following factors play a deciding role in the time taken for the last trace of suboxone to diminish from the system.

• Age
• Weight
• Height
• Amount of the last dose taken
• The health of the liver
• The metabolic speed of the body
• The time period of the abuse

Suboxone metabolism takes place in the liver. Here certain metabolites are released that circulate in the body longer than the Suboxone itself. So, you might test positive for suboxone even after the designated period of 8 days. That is something you should consider before taking a drug test.

Tests Used to detect Suboxone in the System

• Blood tests are not as effective in detecting the drug. They can only detect buprenorphine in your system within 2 hours of the last dose taken. So, it is advised to take a blood test at least 2 hours after last use.
• Salivary tests have limited applicability, but are employed, because they are easy to administer. They can detect buprenorphine that has circulated in the body for less than 7 days.
• Urine tests are the most common types of tests used in the workplace. Within 40 minutes of last consumption, buprenorphine will show up in a urine test. The metabolites released by suboxone also have the capability to absorb into the hair follicles. Hair tests can also reveal the presence of buprenorphine in the system for 1-3 months.

If there is even a slight indication of addiction, head on over to suboxonedoctor.com and find an esteemed suboxone doctor to help you out. You can also visit an opioid rehab center or an opioid treatment center. Do not make the mistake of delaying medical help and subsequently, making your condition worse.