Despite being used to treat opioid addiction, Suboxone is still an opioid and thus has addictive properties. Individuals may become dependent and experience Suboxone withdrawal symptoms after discontinuing its use. Given that these symptoms often last longer than those of other opioids, detoxing from Suboxone can prove to be quite a challenge.
If you or someone you care about has developed a dependence on Suboxone, recovery is possible, even when withdrawal feels daunting. Understanding what Suboxone withdrawal involves and what treatment options are available is an important first step toward finding the right approach.
Key Takeaways
- Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone prescribed to treat opioid use disorder. Physical dependence can develop with extended use, even when taken as directed.
- Withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 1–2 days of the last dose, peak around days 3–5, and most physical symptoms resolve within 7–10 days. Psychological symptoms, including depression and cravings, can persist for weeks or months.
- Common symptoms include muscle aches, nausea, insomnia, anxiety, and intense cravings. Because Suboxone is a long-acting opioid, withdrawal typically lasts longer than withdrawal from short-acting opioids.
- If you’ve had trouble getting off Suboxone, you’re not alone. Contact ANR’s care team to find out whether ANR Treatment is the right fit.
What Is Suboxone?
Suboxone is a prescription opioid used to treat opioid addiction that contains two active ingredients:
- Buprenorphine (80%), a semi-synthetic partial opioid agonist prescribed to relieve pain or treat opioid addiction in medication-assisted treatment (MAT)
- Naloxone (20%), an opioid antagonist that quickly reverses an opioid overdose and counters the effects of opioids
Approved by the FDA in 2002, Suboxone comes as a sublingual or buccal film and sublingual tablet. It is also marketed under other brand names, such as Cassipa and Zubsolv, as well as sold as a generic drug.
Suboxone can relieve opioid withdrawal symptoms. Once dissolved in the mouth, it slowly releases buprenorphine into the system.
As a partial opioid agonist, Suboxone attaches to the same opioid receptors as regular opioids, but it doesn’t activate them fully. It alleviates withdrawal symptoms, including cravings, without inducing euphoria. This also gives it a “ceiling effect” that helps prevent Suboxone abuse, as taking it in larger quantities doesn’t enhance its effects.
Despite being designed to treat opioid use disorder (OUD), Suboxone can still lead to abuse, dependence, and addiction, which is why it is classified as a Schedule III controlled substance.
Despite having a “ceiling effect” and a lower potential for abuse than other opioids, Suboxone can still be misused. According to the 2021 National Survey on Drug Use and Health, more than 1 in 5 buprenorphine users (22.2%) have misused this medication in the past year. For this reason, Suboxone should always be taken as prescribed.
Suboxone Withdrawal Symptoms & Timeline
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms are the physical and psychological effects that develop when someone who has become dependent on Suboxone reduces or stops use. They typically resemble opioid withdrawal broadly, including muscle aches, nausea, insomnia, and intense cravings, but tend to last longer than withdrawal from short-acting opioids due to buprenorphine’s extended half-life.
Although Suboxone is meant to ease opioid withdrawal symptoms, you may experience Suboxone withdrawal symptoms if you quit this medication after taking it for an extended period of time. This is especially likely if you quit Suboxone “cold turkey” instead of gradually reducing the dose.
Like any opioid, Suboxone can lead to tolerance when taken regularly over a prolonged time period. Since tolerance is a sign of physical dependence on opioids, you may experience uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms upon discontinuing its use. These symptoms are usually very similar to those of other opioids and may range from mild to severe.
The most common Suboxone withdrawal symptoms include:
Suboxone abuse can also trigger withdrawal symptoms. Taking it at large doses or injecting it to intensify its effects may cause naloxone to be released into the system, which can induce a state of withdrawal.
Moreover, Suboxone can cause precipitated withdrawal symptoms when taken too early in recovery, i.e., when other opioids are still in the system. To avoid this distressing phenomenon, Suboxone should only be administered when the patient is already experiencing mild to moderate withdrawal symptoms.
Suboxone Withdrawal Timeline
The Suboxone withdrawal timeline varies based on individual factors such as your age, metabolism, liver function, and how long you’ve been taking this medication, among others. In some cases, Suboxone withdrawal may be mild and last only a day or two. However, since this is a long-acting opioid, the duration of Suboxone withdrawal symptoms is usually longer than that of short-acting opioids such as oxycodone. For a comparison with another opioid in this series, see our guide to OxyContin withdrawal.
Let’s take a closer look at a typical Suboxone withdrawal timeline:
Days 1–3
Suboxone withdrawal typically starts within the first couple of days after taking the last dose, with physical symptoms such as fever, headache, diarrhea, muscle aches, nausea, vomiting, and insomnia. These symptoms are usually the most intense during the first 72 hours after taking the last Suboxone dose.
Days 4–7
Most physical Suboxone withdrawal symptoms will slowly begin to subside after reaching their peak. However, you may still experience flu-like symptoms and body aches during the first week of Suboxone withdrawal. Mood swings, anxiety, and insomnia are also very common.
Days 7–14
Physical Suboxone withdrawal symptoms should be mostly gone by the end of the first week of withdrawal, though some continue to struggle with them for up to 10 days. As physical symptoms fade away, psychological ones become more intense. You may experience depression, anxiety, and agitation at this point.
Days 14–30+
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms tend to gradually dissipate within a month after the last dose. However, it’s common for people to struggle with depression and severe cravings for several weeks after quitting Suboxone, which increases the risk of relapse.
Suboxone Post-Acute Withdrawal Syndrome (PAWS)
Suboxone post-acute withdrawal syndrome (PAWS) refers to withdrawal symptoms that persist beyond the acute phase, typically lasting weeks, months, or in some cases longer, after someone stops taking Suboxone. Unlike acute withdrawal, PAWS is primarily psychological in nature, with symptoms such as mood instability, cognitive difficulty, and persistent cravings.
If you suffer from Suboxone withdrawal symptoms for well over a month after quitting your medication, you may have PAWS.
Suboxone PAWS doesn’t commonly present physical symptoms. It usually manifests in psychological withdrawal symptoms, including but not limited to:
- Attention deficit
- Indifference
- Lethargy
- Mood swings
- Mental health disorders such as depression or bipolar disorder
Coping with PAWS is difficult, and the symptoms put people at real risk of returning to opioid use. With appropriate medical support, the imbalance driving these symptoms can be treated rather than waited out. For many people, treating the underlying cause of the dependence, rather than managing symptoms alone, is what makes recovery stick.
How to Safely Detox from Suboxone
The most effective way to manage Suboxone withdrawal symptoms is to seek professional help.
Without medical supervision, Suboxone withdrawal can lead to potentially life-threatening complications, such as extreme dehydration caused by excessive vomiting and diarrhea. It may also exacerbate underlying health issues and mental illnesses, such as depression. For these reasons, it’s in your best interest to seek professional treatment for Suboxone withdrawal.
Going through the Suboxone withdrawal process by yourself also increases the risk of relapse, as not all withdrawal symptoms may be relieved with home remedies. Psychological withdrawal symptoms, in particular, may be difficult to overcome without professional help.
Unfortunately, relapse after Suboxone detoxification—whether in a medical setting or at home—can significantly increase the risk of overdose. Due to decreased tolerance to opioids, you may overdose on Suboxone just by taking your regular dose.
It’s essential to make an informed decision when choosing a treatment for Suboxone withdrawal, as not all of them are safe and effective. For instance, Suboxone detox only cleanses the drug out of your system, but it doesn’t repair opioid-induced central nervous system (CNS) changes. As a result, it often leads to ongoing withdrawal symptoms or relapse, which comes with a significantly increased risk of overdose.
ANR Treatment for Suboxone Dependence
For people who feel stuck in a cycle of tapering, dose adjustments, or extended replacement therapy, ANR (Accelerated Neuro-Regulation) takes a different approach. Rather than managing withdrawal symptoms, ANR targets the endorphin-receptor imbalance that opioid use creates in the brain, working to restore the receptor system so the body no longer needs external opioids to function.
"We have identified the biological roots of opioid dependency. Modulation of the endorphin receptor system is the new standard of treatment."
— Dr. Andre Waismann, Developer of ANR
ANR treatment for Suboxone dependence offers the following:
- Safety. ANR is performed under sedation in the ICU of an accredited hospital, with patients monitored throughout by board-certified anesthesiologists and intensivists.
- Speed. The procedure takes 4–6 hours, with an average hospital stay of approximately 36 hours. Days, not months.
- No replacement medications. ANR does not use partial agonists or maintenance medications, avoiding extended dependence on replacement drugs.
- Individualized protocol. Treatment is calibrated to each patient’s endorphin system based on their opioid usage — how much, how long, and which substances — as well as their medical history, including liver or cardiac conditions.
ANR Clinic has treatment facilities in:
- DeSoto Memorial Hospital, Arcadia, Florida
- ANR Europe Thun, Switzerland
- Innovate Intelligent Place, Goiânia, Brazil
- New Vision University Hospital, Tbilisi, Georgia
Getting off Suboxone is harder than most people expect. If you’re ready to explore a different approach, contact ANR for a free consultation.
Suboxone Withdrawal & Detox FAQ
1. How long does Suboxone withdrawal last?
Suboxone withdrawal typically lasts between two and four weeks for most people. Physical symptoms tend to ease within the first week to ten days, but what catches many people off guard is what comes after: depression, difficulty sleeping, and intense cravings often intensify once the physical phase passes. This extended psychological phase is a direct result of buprenorphine’s long half-life of approximately 38 hours and is one of the reasons that supervised tapering alone has low success rates.
2. What are the most common Suboxone withdrawal symptoms?
People going through Suboxone withdrawal often describe the acute phase as a severe flu they cannot sleep through: muscle aches, nausea, sweating, and exhaustion in the early days, followed by a pronounced psychological crash. What sets Suboxone withdrawal apart from short-acting opioids is the timeline. Because buprenorphine lingers in the system, the withdrawal window is wider, and many people find the second and third week, when fatigue, flat mood, and persistent cravings take over, harder to manage than the acute physical days.
3. Why is Suboxone withdrawal so difficult to manage?
Suboxone withdrawal is difficult to manage primarily because buprenorphine has a long half-life, meaning it stays in the body longer than most opioids and produces withdrawal symptoms that are more prolonged even if not always more intense at their peak. Suboxone is also often prescribed as part of a long-term maintenance regimen, so many patients have been on it for months or years before attempting to stop, which deepens physical dependence. The psychological component, including persistent cravings, depression, and insomnia, can also be difficult to address without professional support.
4. When do Suboxone withdrawal symptoms typically begin?
Suboxone withdrawal symptoms typically begin within 1–2 days of the last dose. However, they may appear a bit sooner or later depending on how quickly your body breaks down opioids, at what doses you’ve been taking Suboxone, and other individual factors. Symptoms usually get worse within the first three days of withdrawal before beginning to improve.
5. What happens if you stop taking buprenorphine suddenly?
Stopping buprenorphine suddenly, particularly after extended use, typically triggers opioid withdrawal symptoms within 24–48 hours. These can include muscle aches, nausea, sweating, anxiety, and insomnia. Because buprenorphine has a longer half-life than most opioids, the onset may be delayed compared to short-acting drugs, but symptoms can persist for a prolonged period. Stopping without medical supervision also significantly increases the risk of relapse.
6. Can Suboxone dependence be treated without prolonged withdrawal?
Conventional tapering and outpatient detox programs typically take weeks to months, and many patients find it difficult to complete them without relapse. Accelerated Neuro-Regulation (ANR) is a hospital-based treatment that addresses the root cause of opioid dependence, the endorphin-receptor imbalance, while the patient is under sedation, with an average hospital stay of approximately 36 hours. For patients who qualify, ANR can allow for recovery without requiring months of tapering or replacement medication.
7. Is Suboxone bad for your liver?
Suboxone can affect liver health, particularly in people who already have liver disease or who misuse the medication. Suboxone can be bad for your liver, as it contains buprenorphine. This opioid can potentially cause mild-to-moderate liver injury when abused. Buprenorphine products, including Suboxone, may not be suitable for people with liver problems due to a higher risk of liver damage.
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