Medication plays an essential role in opioid use disorder (OUD) recovery. When you start the conversation about treatment with your provider, one of the first things they’re likely to talk to you about is medication options.
Medication for opioid use disorder (MOUD) can be prescribed to help reduce withdrawal symptoms, including cravings. They help you reach sustainable recovery from addiction. Two medications are often prescribed: Suboxone and Subutex.
Brand-name Subutex is no longer available, but the generic version of buprenorphine is still often prescribed. While both options are effective in their own way, comparing the two will help you and your provider determine which is the better option for you.
Read on to learn the differences between Subutex, also known as buprenorphine, and Suboxone. Then we’ll help you determine which is the better fit for you and your recovery goals. We’ll also discuss how we use Suboxone at Groups as part of a comprehensive OUD treatment plan.
Comparing Subutex vs. Suboxone
Let’s start with the basics. Subutex was a brand name for buprenorphine. The brand name was discontinued in 2011; however, generic buprenorphine is still available. It’s an MOUD that reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms. It also lowers the risk of misuse and overdose because it only partially activates the same brain receptors as opioids. Suboxone is a brand-name medication that includes naloxone as an active ingredient in addition to buprenorphine. Naloxone prevents misuse through injection or snorting.
Here are some comparisons between the two medications:
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Misuse risk
- Subutex/buprenorphine has a higher risk of IV misuse because it doesn’t have a deterrent. This means that there’s a higher risk of overdose and death. A person may try to take more than prescribed to reduce uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms or boost euphoric effects.
- Suboxone includes naloxone as an injection misuse deterrent, meaning it has a reduced risk of overdose.
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How it’s taken
- Subutex/buprenorphine is often taken through a daily sublingual tablet. That means that it’s placed under the tongue to dissolve. But there are also brands of buprenorphine (e.g., Sublocade) that can be injected on a monthly basis by a provider.
- Suboxone is available through a daily sublingual tablet or film.
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Cost
Both are often covered by insurance.
It’s also worth noting similarities between the two, including:
- Side effects (headaches, nausea, drowsiness, increased sweating)
- Not making you feel high
- May be used safely during pregnancy in some cases
- Precipitated withdrawal (severe withdrawal symptoms if there hasn’t been a lot of time since the last opioid dose)
How to choose between Subutex and Suboxone
With Suboxone having buprenorphine as one of its two active ingredients, you may not be able to tell if it’s a better choice for you than buprenorphine on its own just by looking at the differences.
There are many varying factors that can contribute to your decision, including:
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Ability to be consistent
Suboxone is a daily medication that you can administer yourself at home. You do need to be able to remember to take it consistently every day at the same time. While it’s OK to take it a couple of hours late, severe deviation from the schedule could cause withdrawal symptoms.
You might prefer to only have a monthly dose to take one thing off your daily to-do list. In that case, you might be better off taking buprenorphine on its own through injections.
It’s also possible that you don’t have the time and resources to go to a health care facility on a monthly basis for buprenorphine injections. In this case, a daily at-home dose of Suboxone may be more convenient.
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Finances
If you have insurance, you can see what the coverage is for medication for opioid use disorder before starting a prescription. Ask about the cost difference between Suboxone and buprenorphine. In most states, Medicaid covers 100% of MOUD prescriptions.
The cost of buprenorphine can depend on whether you’re receiving a daily dose or a monthly injection. For example, Sublocade, an injection, can cost more than $2,000 per dose for people without insurance.
At Groups, we provide Suboxone for as little as $65 per week at our New England locations or $75 per week in all other states where we have a location. Free prescriptions may be available.
For a 30-day supply, people without insurance may pay between $170 and $585 for Suboxone. It’s always a good idea to check GoodRx for a lower price.
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Past treatment
It’s possible that you’ve tried one option in past attempts for OUD treatment without success. If you started with buprenorphine but misused it, you may benefit from naloxone as a deterrent. Be as open as you can with your provider about your history with OUD medication, if you have any, to set yourself up for the best experience possible.
It’s important to continuously monitor how medication is affecting you. If you try one choice but think it might not be working for your body as it should, talk to your provider about possibly switching. They’ll guide you through safely tapering off or quitting your current medication.
Talking to your provider about your OUD history, life circumstances, and overall goals for treatment will help point you in the right direction. It’s important to be an advocate for yourself. Speak up and collaborate with your provider to make a joint decision about the medication that has the best chances of getting you the results you’re looking for.
How and why Groups uses Suboxone as our standard medication
Buprenorphine can be so helpful in helping people through opioid use disorder, but we also believe that naloxone adds extra safety that can help you reach sustainable recovery. That’s why Groups provides fast access to Suboxone to our members.
Suboxone is seen as one of the gold standard treatments for OUD. And at Groups, we always want to give our members the highest level of support possible as they navigate their recovery journey. Along with prescriptions, your treatment will also involve medication management to monitor your dosage.
OUD recovery is about more than reducing withdrawal symptoms. It’s also about treating the emotional and mental health challenges that you may face before and during OUD treatment. That’s why we take a comprehensive approach to treatment. We want you to know that we care about every part of who you are now, and who you hope to become.
Along with Suboxone medication, all Groups members attend weekly group support meetings, either in person or virtually on our Groups app. The goal of these meetings is to provide a safe, judgment-free environment for you to open up about your challenges with OUD and learn coping mechanisms that can help you through them.
Our Recovery Support Specialists also provide custom life-goal assistance to help you set personal goals that will allow you to live the life you want to live. Then we’ll connect you with resources to achieve those goals, such as job assistance or reliable transportation.
Give our Recovery Support Specialists a call today at 888-858-1723 for more information or to begin your recovery. We provide treatment across the country — and we’re always expanding. See if we offer care in your state, either online or at one of our 130+ local offices. If Groups doesn’t offer treatment in your area, you can locate other treatment options here.
