Clinician Guidance on How Is Suboxone Administered

Suboxone sublingual is a combination drug containing buprenorphine and naloxone in different ratios.1 It serves as a great option in MAT for opioid addiction to limit craving and reduce withdrawal symptoms. Not using this medication properly may lead to addiction and Suboxone overdose. In this blog, you will walk through “how is Suboxone administered?” and “what is the best way to take Suboxone?”.

Want to treat OUD but don’t know where to begin? For  Outpatient Suboxone treatment and a same-day prescription from online Suboxone doctors in NJ that accept Medicaid and other commercial insurances. Contact by calling 844.445.2565 or schedule an online evaluation.

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Step-by-Step Suboxone Administration Guide

This is how is Suboxone administered to ensure safety and speedy recovery from OUD:

Step 1: Know the Administration Methods

When you search for “how is Suboxone administered,” you may find these two main routes:

1. Sublingual Administration
   Put a Suboxone dissolvable tablet under your tongue until it fully dissolves. Do not chew, swallow, or crush it, as this reduces its effectiveness.

2. Buccal Administration
   If using a Suboxone film, place it against the inside of your cheek until it dissolves completely. If taking more than one strip, you can place them on different sides of your mouth to ensure each has contact with the mucosa.

Step 2. Follow Clinician Guidance on Suboxone Dosage

Dosing varies for each individual. Only your Suboxone doctor will evaluate the starting dose and adjust over time based on your withdrawal symptoms and medical history.

• Do not self-medicate or adjust your own doses; follow medical Suboxone dosage guidelines.

• Induction (starting treatment) usually occurs once mild-to-moderate withdrawal symptoms appear.

• Your doctor may gradually increase your dose to a safe maintenance level.

Step 3. Take Some Time After Intake 

• Allow the tablet or film to fully dissolve.
• Rinse your mouth with water after it dissolves, then swallow the saliva.
• If you want to brush your teeth, wait at least an hour to avoid affecting absorption.

Step 4: Follow a Schedule 

If you forget to take the prescribed dosage, take it as soon as you recall or skip it. Don’t take two doses at once, as you may end up showing signs of Suboxone abuse. Therefore,

• Take Suboxone dosage as prescribed by your doctor.

• Regular follow-ups are important to monitor response and any Suboxone side effects.

Step 5: Get a Tapering Plan 

It is not recommended to quit Suboxone abruptly. To avoid Suboxone withdrawal symptoms and ensure safety, ask your doctor for a gradual tapering plan.

7 General Safety Tips To Use Suboxone Properly

After learning how is Suboxone administered, the next step is to take it cautiously using these tips alongside Suboxone instructions:

1. Stick to Prescription Guidelines: Maintain dosage and time guidelines as explained in how is Suboxone administered section for a balanced level of Suboxone in the body.
2. Avoid Alcohol and certain medications while taking Suboxone
3. Properly Store It: Don’t let anyone else take your medication.
4. Stay Quiet: Don’t talk and stay still when you take it.
5. Stay Hydrated: Drink water rather than acidic drinks like fruit juices before and after taking Suboxone.
6. Keep Yourself Occupied: Watch TV or read a book when you take. 
7. Develop a Routine: Adjust it in your routine by making a habit of taking it.

For more important information and essential details to know before and after taking Suboxone, read this expert guidance.

Your Guide to Safe & Informed Suboxone Care

How Long Does It Take to Adjust to Suboxone?

The body is most likely to adjust to Suboxone in four days.5 It can take a few more days to adjust this medicine based on the history of opioid abuse and metabolism. 

What Form Does Suboxone Come In?

Suboxone comes in different strip and pill forms containing the same active ingredients in a 4:1 buprenorphine and naloxone ratio. Below are the available forms of Suboxone that you will come across:

• Suboxone generic is a circular white pill that comes in an 8 mg strength.
• Suboxone orange pill is manufactured by different companies in 2, 4, 8, and 12 mg doses.
• Suboxone pink pill comes in two strengths: 2 mg buprenorphine/0.5 mg naloxone and 8 mg buprenorphine/2 mg naloxone.
• Suboxone rectangular strips come with N2, N4, N8, N12 imprints representing 2, 4, 8, and 12 mg buprenorphine doses.

Getting Suboxone Administered At ChoicePoint

At ChoicePoint, you can either walk in or get Suboxone prescribed virtually from licensed addiction specialists. We have simplified the administration process in the following manner:

• Contacting us online at your own time 
• Quick Assessment
• Prescription received within a day
• 24/7 Staff availability for scheduling follow-up appointments

Initiating opioid treatment can be overwhelming; that’s why we offer Suboxone treatment and Cognitive behavioral therapy in NJ for a kickstart. Call 844.445.2565 us for ongoing support.

Help Section For How is Suboxone Administered

Here is some more information on the topic: how Suboxone is administered that you may find useful:

1. Can I spit out my Suboxone strip after dissolving it in my mouth for 15 minutes? It really makes me nauseous.

Yes, 15 minutes is enough time for Suboxone to get into your system. 

2. If I have had a script for Suboxone, will I ever get opiates prescribed to me again?

Yes, if it is medically compulsory for you to get opiates, the doctors will prescribe them with caution.

3. Why can’t you swallow suboxone saliva? I don’t know if I should be holding any saliva under my tongue or not. 

A Suboxone tablet or strip tends to get absorbed through the mouth; swallowing it won’t have the same effects. After waiting for an adequate period, you can swallow or spit the saliva.

4. When taking a Suboxone TABLET sublingually, where exactly under your tongue should you put it for maximum absorption?

The proper way to use Suboxone is to place it on the right side of your mouth and the back of your tongue for maximum absorption.

5. When Starting Suboxone, How Long Do You Wait for 1st Dose?

When starting Suboxone pills or strips after using long-acting opioids, you need to wait for a day, and for short-acting ones, the minimum waiting time is twelve hours.

References

1. HIGHLIGHTS OF PRESCRIBING INFORMATION [Internet]. Available from: https://www.accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2021/022410s042lbl.pdf