Subutex stays in the system for an average of 190 hours—or eight days. However, in reality, this may range from 125 to 350 hours. Given that certain health, lifestyle, and other factors may alter the half-life of buprenorphine and affect its metabolism and elimination, it’s safe to say that there’s no universal answer to “How long does Subutex stay in your system?”
Keep reading to learn more about this medication and better understand what determines how long Subutex stays in your system.
What Is Subutex?
Subutex is a prescription medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) that contains buprenorphine, a semi-synthetic opioid. It was approved for opioid addiction treatment in 2002 and is also available as a generic drug (buprenorphine hydrochloride).
Typically used in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) alongside counseling and behavioral therapy, Subutex comes as a sublingual tablet that is usually administered once daily. Opioid-dependent individuals use it as a substitute for more potent opioids, such as oxycodone and heroin.
Buprenorphine falls under Schedule III due to its lower potential for misuse and addiction compared to other opioids. But even though it can relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, and help people get off more potent and dangerous opioids, it isn’t entirely risk-free.
Like any opioid, buprenorphine can lead to opioid abuse, overdose, and even death; it was involved in 2.6% of opioid overdose deaths between July 2019 and June 2021. Those who misuse it by snorting crushed Subutex pills or mixing them with other substances face an exceptionally high risk of buprenorphine overdose.
Therefore, you should always take Subutex precisely as instructed.
How Does Subutex Affect Your Body?
Subutex affects the body by attaching to the opioid receptors in the central nervous system (CNS). However, as a partial opioid agonist, buprenorphine doesn’t activate these receptors to the same extent as full opioid agonists like hydrocodone and morphine. As a result, it reduces cravings and other withdrawal symptoms without producing intense euphoria or sedation.
Like other buprenorphine products, Subutex exhibits a “ceiling effect,” meaning its effects plateau at a specific dose. While this can reduce the risk of opioid abuse and buprenorphine overdose, it doesn’t eliminate it.
The effects of Subutex set in within 30–60 minutes after ingestion and peak within 1–4 hours. Their duration is dose-dependent; at low doses, Subutex works for 6–12 hours, whereas the effects of a high dose typically wear off within 24–72 hours.
Furthermore, buprenorphine can cause similar side effects to other opioids. Some common Subutex side effects include constipation, vomiting, insomnia, excessive sweating, and headache.
Subutex Half-Life
Subutex’s half-life is 38 hours on average, though it may range between 25 and 70 hours. This means it takes around 38 hours for half a dose of Subutex to be processed and eliminated from the body.
With this in mind, let’s explore the question, “How long does Subutex stay in your system?” in greater depth.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Your System?
Subutex stays in your system for an average of 190 hours, or around eight days, as it usually takes about five half-lives for the drug to leave your body. However, given that the half-life of buprenorphine ranges from 25 to 70 hours, it may stay in your system anywhere between 125 and 350 hours.
Although Subutex isn’t likely to stay in your system for more than two weeks, some drug tests may detect traces of it even months after the last dose. Therefore, the answer to “How long does Subutex stay in your system?” doesn’t necessarily indicate how long it remains detectable.
That said, regular drug tests used to identify opioids don’t typically pick up on buprenorphine. Specialized tests, such as the buprenorphine assay, generally are used to test for Subutex.
Let’s look into the average Subutex detection windows in different drug tests.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Blood?
Subutex stays in the blood for up to two days after taking the last dose. However, blood tests are most accurate when conducted around two hours after ingestion. While blood tests are pretty common in medical settings, they are invasive and have a relatively short detection window.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Hair?
Subutex stays in the hair and can be detected in hair samples for up to 90 days after use. Hair tests are performed on a 1.5-inch sample of hair containing the hair follicle and provide the longest detection window for most drugs, including Subutex. However, they tend to be quite expensive.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Saliva?
Subutex stays in saliva and remains detectable in saliva samples for an average of 24–36 hours after the last dose. Saliva tests are generally easy to administer and noninvasive; some may detect traces of buprenorphine for a week or even longer.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Urine?
Subutex stays in urine for about 10–14 days after consumption. Since urine tests are non-invasive, they are quite commonly used to detect buprenorphine in workplaces, drug addiction treatment centers, and so forth.
Factors That Determine How Long Subutex Stays in Your System
Liver health is the primary factor that determines how long Subutex stays in your system. Once dissolved under the tongue, buprenorphine enters the bloodstream, exerting its effects throughout the body. It is then metabolized in the liver before being excreted through urine and feces. Therefore, impaired liver function can slow down the elimination of Subutex.
While moderate liver disease may extend the half-life of Subutex by 35%, severe liver impairment prolongs it by 57%. Since liver problems can cause Subutex to quickly accumulate in the system, modifying the dose is recommended to prevent opioid toxicity.
Besides liver health, how long Subutex stays in your system depends on:
- Metabolism. People with a faster metabolism break down and eliminate buprenorphine faster than those with a slower metabolic rate. Therefore, age, diet, body composition, the level of physical activity, etc., may also impact how long Subutex stays in your system.
- Drug interactions. Some medications may interact with Subutex, affecting its metabolism and elimination. For instance, inhibitors of the CYP3A4 enzyme, such as nefazodone, may increase Subutex concentration, leading it to stay in the system longer. Meanwhile, CYP3A4 inducers like phenytoin and rifabutin may decrease buprenorphine levels, shortening the half-life of Subutex.
- Extent of Subutex use. The frequency, amount, and duration of drug use can significantly affect how long Subutex stays in your system. The higher the dose, frequency, and duration of Subutex use, the more time your body will need to remove it.
Subutex Addiction vs. Subutex Dependence
Subutex or buprenorphine addiction and Subutex dependence are distinct conditions, even though these terms are often used interchangeably.
If you take Subutex for opioid addiction treatment, you are, by definition, dependent on it. Put simply, it is a substitute for another opioid that you rely on to avoid withdrawal symptoms and function normally. But being dependent on Suboxone doesn’t necessarily mean you’re addicted to it.
Opioid dependence refers to the physical dependence people develop due to prolonged opioid exposure, which alters brain chemistry. It is characterized by tolerance and opioid withdrawal symptoms, meaning opioid-dependent people need to increase their dosage to continue feeling the drug’s effects. They also experience opioid withdrawals when not taking the medication.
Meanwhile, opioid addiction is primarily psychological; it is marked by compulsive drug use despite the negative consequences. In other words, people addicted to opioids can no longer control their opioid intake, even if it harms them or their loved ones.
Although Subutex is used to treat opioid addiction, it can also cause it—especially when misused.
For this reason, those addicted to opioids should seek professional treatment that can help them eradicate the root of opioid dependence instead of enrolling in an opioid treatment program that treats only the symptoms or replaces one opioid with another.
Subutex Withdrawal Symptoms
Subutex withdrawal symptoms occur when opioid-dependent people quit their medication or reduce their dosage, especially abruptly.
Since buprenorphine is a long-acting opioid, the onset of withdrawal symptoms may only start within a day or two following the last dose. Moreover, Subutex withdrawal tends to last for a longer time than that of most other opioids; it’s not uncommon for people to suffer from withdrawal symptoms for a month or even longer.
Typical Subutex withdrawal symptoms include:
- Chills
- Fever
- Anxiety
- Nausea
- Vomiting
- Diarrhea
- Cravings
- Joint pain
- Depression
- Runny nose
- Watery eyes
- Mood swings
- Dilated pupils
- Muscle aches
- Excessive yawning
- Sleep disturbances
Subutex withdrawal symptoms can be tough to bear, and their exceptionally long duration certainly doesn’t help. Unfortunately, it’s not uncommon for people to relapse in an attempt to soothe their suffering, which can lead to overdose and death. For this reason, you should only undergo Subutex detox under medical supervision.
Importantly, buprenorphine can also induce precipitated withdrawal, which can be potentially life-threatening. It can be avoided by administering Subutex at the right time, i.e., once no other opioids are present in the system.
ANR Opioid Dependence Treatment
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ANR stands out as the only treatment that targets the neurochemical causes of opioid dependence. Unlike traditional methods, it acknowledges that opioid dependence is a neurobiological issue. The ANR treatment works by re-regulating the endorphin-receptor system, thereby restoring the brain to its pre-addiction state and negating the risk of relapse.
ANR is performed by board-certified medical professionals in an ICU setting of fully accredited hospitals. The procedure takes 4–6 hours, and since patients are sedated, they don’t experience the discomfort of going through opioid withdrawals. After the procedure, patients spend only 36 hours on average in the hospital.
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Key Takeaways
The extent and duration of medication use, liver health, metabolism, and usage of other drugs can alter how the body processes and eliminates Subutex. While the precise answer to “How long does Subutex stay in your system?” varies from one person to the next, it takes around eight days for most people to clear buprenorphine.
Here’s a brief summary of what we’ve learned today:
- Subutex is a prescription drug containing buprenorphine that is used to treat opioid addiction.
- Even though Subutex only partially activates opioid receptors, it affects the body similarly to full opioid agonists and can lead to opioid abuse, addiction, and overdose.
- Although Subutex stays in the system for 125–350 hours, it can be detected in hair follicles for up to three months after the last dose.
How Long Does Subutex Stay in Your System FAQ
Subutex is not the same as Suboxone, even though both medications contain buprenorphine and are FDA-approved for opioid addiction treatment. Subutex is a single-ingredient drug, whereas Suboxone is a combination medication. It is made up of 80% buprenorphine and 20% naloxone.
On average, it takes eight days to get Subutex out of the system. More specifically, it may take as little as five days or as long as two weeks—and sometimes even more—to rid your body of Subutex. This depends on several variables, such as your metabolism and liver health, as well as the extent and duration of your Subutex use.
Subutex is eliminated from the body through urine and feces. Before excretion, buprenorphine is metabolized in the liver into norbuprenorphine.
After taking Subutex, you are likely to feel relieved. Since buprenorphine satisfies opioid cravings and reduces other withdrawal symptoms, it can help people feel normal. However, Subutex only replaces more potent and dangerous opioids, but it does not heal opioid dependence.
It takes around 30–60 minutes for Subutex to work. Depending on the dose, you may feel its effects up to 72 hours after ingestion.
Subutex is addictive, even though it is used to treat opioid addiction. It affects the brain in much the same way as other opioids, albeit to a lesser extent. Nonetheless, it can lead to addiction, especially when abused. Take Subutex strictly as prescribed to reduce the risk of opioid addiction, toxicity, and overdose.
Subutex blocks opiates for at least 24 hours after consumption. Never mix buprenorphine products, including Subutex and Suboxone, with other opioids, as this may lead to a potentially fatal overdose. Administering these medications while another opioid is still in the system is also very dangerous due to the risk of precipitated withdrawal symptoms.
