Learning library
Buprenorphine Suboxone and Subutex
Suboxone Sublingual Film: A Quick Guide

Suboxone Sublingual Film: A Quick Guide

If you want to learn more about Suboxone sublingual film, this quick guide is here to help.

Suboxone is a sublingual medication frequently administered in the medication assisted treatment (MAT) of opioid use disorder (OUD). The drug is used to aid opioid addiction, reduce cravings and offer relief from opioid withdrawal. 

MAT can consist of medication, therapy, and community support services. The presence and application of all three of these elements improve the success of the treatment but are not required. This combination addresses both the psychological and social aspects of addiction in addition to the physical aspects.

Suboxone sublingual film is often prescribed in MAT. The medication is formed from a 4:1 proportioning of buprenorphine (4), a partial opioid agonist, and naloxone (1), an opioid antagonist. Buprenorphine is classified as a schedule III drug. Consequently, Suboxone sublingual strips are a controlled schedule III substance. Drug classification is based on the rate at which a person can become physically and psychologically reliant on the drug, along with the misuse rate of the drug. Schedule III drugs are defined as generators of moderate to low dependency. Some examples of schedule III drugs include ketamine, codeine, and buprenorphine. 

Buprenorphine, a partial opioid activator, is the active ingredient in Suboxone. While Suboxone can produce typical opioid effects such as feeling high, it is not the same as full opioids. If a full opioid agonist is already attached to the receptor, precipitated withdrawal can ensue.

Withdrawal symptoms can include anxiety, increased heart rate, sweating, diarrhea, chills, and more. Precipitated withdrawal is more severe than regular withdrawal; the symptoms experienced are much more intense and it can be very dangerous. For this reason, Suboxone induction should be done at the instruction of your provider. 

Pros and Cons of Using Suboxone Film

There are pros and cons to using Suboxone film. Let’s start with the cons. Cons include unpleasant taste, affordability in some cases, accessibility issues, physical dependence, side effects such as constipation, decreased sex drive, and reduced emotional reactivity. It can be difficult to find a Suboxone doctor or provider, particularly if you live in a rural area. Suboxone doctors are hard to access as there are restrictions on the number of patients a Suboxone doctor can treat, along with specific training requirements that need to be met.

See What are Suboxone Doctors? to learn more about these limitations and understand what qualifies a health care practitioner as a Suboxone doctor.

While there are certainly cons for consideration, there are a number of pros to be considered also. There is a growing community of individuals being treated with Suboxone who reach their goals. It is easy to transition onto the medication and can be done in the comfort of your home. While the patient should be in a moderate amount of withdrawal before commencing Suboxone treatment, there is minimal detox involved, the patient does not have to be an in-patient to benefit from and access the drug. This alleviates the need to check in to an inpatient facility for an extended period of time, secure childcare, request time off work, and other barriers.

📞
Request an Enrollment Call

Our team will call you to answer any questions you have or to help you schedule an appointment.

Request an enrollment call

Suboxone Film Strengths

OUD results in the body developing a dependency, tolerance, and addiction to opioids. This means seeking out the drug despite negative consequences.  When the patient stops ingesting the opioid, the body starts to crave it, which leads to the development of withdrawal symptoms. Suboxone strips fool the brain into thinking it is experiencing the effects of a full opioid. For this reason, the drug is respected in the MAT of addiction. With the removal of cravings and withdrawal symptoms, patients can strive to establish stability in all areas of their lives, including their work and home. 

Suboxone strips retail in 2mg, 4mg, 8mg, and 12mg measures. A Suboxone film dosage chart is available via our Suboxone Dosage Guide. The Suboxone film is placed under the tongue, where it dissolves into the bloodstream sublingually. The medication is discreet and easy to use. Make sure your hands are dry when administering the medication. If your hands are wet, the medication will dissolve in your fingers.

See more of our Top Tips for Using a Suboxone Strip HERE (link to section in How to Use a Suboxone Strip article). 

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

Suboxone in the Medication Assisted Treatment (MAT) of Opioid Use Disorder (OUD)

Medication assisted treatment is considered the most effective treatment for moderate to severe opioid use disorder. The assisted treatment component of MAT is very important. The assisted component includes community-based recovery support services and psychotherapy/behavioral therapy. MAT is not just about the medication (Suboxone), although the other components are not required to access Suboxone. All elements are important and should be balanced accordingly. Therapy teaches healthy coping skills, highlights behavioral deficiencies, and offers tools to identify trauma/stress triggers. Recovery support services help patients build their life outside of treatment. Support services include financial assistance, childcare, job training, housing assistance, and more.

Contact the team at Confidant to learn more about Suboxone films and MAT.

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Book appointment
👍
Recommended reading
4 mins
read time
Getting Emergency Suboxone: 3 Ways To Obtain It Quickly
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Telemedicine: How it Works and Benefits
4 mins
read time
How to Find Medicaid-Accepting Suboxone Doctors Near You
4 mins
read time
4 Common Ways to Administer Naloxone
4 mins
read time
A Comprehensive Guide to Suboxone Use & Pregnancy
4 mins
read time
Comprehensive Guide to Subutex vs. Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Guide to Different Suboxone Pills
4 mins
read time
Sublocade vs Suboxone: Choosing the Right Option
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Sublingual Film: A Quick Guide
4 mins
read time
Alvogen's Suboxone: Frequently Asked Questions
4 mins
read time
Belbuca vs Suboxone: Comparing the Two
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine and How It Works
4 mins
read time
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine as a Painkiller: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Can Psychiatrists Prescribe Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Buprenorphine for Pain?
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone be Called into a Pharmacy?
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone be Used to Treat Pain?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Doctors and Prescribing Benzodiazepines
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone Lead to Addiction? Understanding the Risks
4 mins
read time
Can Taking Suboxone Affect Breastfeeding?
4 mins
read time
Can You Overdose on Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is It Possible to Shoot Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is It Possible to Smoke Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Ibuprofen with Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Methadone with Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Seroquel and Suboxone Together?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Tramadol with Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Xanax with Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
A Guide to Suboxone Prescriptions
4 mins
read time
Dealing with Suboxone Withdrawal: Symptoms and Remedies
4 mins
read time
Do Employers Test for Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
If Suboxone Dissolves, Can you Swallow it?
4 mins
read time
Does Suboxone Block Methadone?
4 mins
read time
Does buprenorphine show up as an opiate?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Constipation: Understanding the Link
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Weight Gain: Is There a Connection?
4 mins
read time
Does Suboxone Cause a High?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Sleepiness: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Gabapentin & Suboxone: Can You Take Them Together?
4 mins
read time
Generic Suboxone: Forms, Uses, and More
4 mins
read time
How and Where to Purchase Suboxone Online
4 mins
read time
How does buprenorphine actually work?
4 mins
read time
How does Suboxone affect your mood?
4 mins
read time
How is buprenorphine taken?
4 mins
read time
How Long Does It Take for Suboxone to Kick In?
4 mins
read time
How Long Does Suboxone Block Opiates?
4 mins
read time
How long can Suboxone be detected in urine?
4 mins
read time
How long should you be on Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
How Long Should You Be Taking Suboxone For?
4 mins
read time
How the Suboxone Spit Method Works
4 mins
read time
Getting Suboxone: A Quick Guide
4 mins
read time
How to Maximize Suboxone Absorption
4 mins
read time
How To Successfully Taper Off Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Is Belbuca the same as Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is Buprenorphine a Stimulant?
4 mins
read time
Is Buprenorphine an Opiate?
4 mins
read time
Effectiveness of Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain
4 mins
read time
FDA Approval of Buprenorphine for Pain Management
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine vs Suboxone: Understanding the Distinction
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine for Depression: Is it FDA Approved?
4 mins
read time
Combining Klonopin or Lorazepam with Suboxone: Is It Safe?
4 mins
read time
Mixing Suboxone and Kratom: Risks and Precautions
4 mins
read time
Liver Safety and Suboxone Use: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Long-term Use of Suboxone: Risks and Benefits
4 mins
read time
Methadone vs Buprenorphine: Similarities and Differences
4 mins
read time
Methadone vs Suboxone: Comparison and Contrast
4 mins
read time
Managing Sexual Side Effects of Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Online Suboxone Doctors and Their Role
4 mins
read time
Treatment Outcomes with Buprenorphine: What to Expect
4 mins
read time
Quick Guide to Getting Generic Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Possible Side Effects of Buprenorphine Use
4 mins
read time
Signs that Your Suboxone Dose May Need Adjusting
4 mins
read time
Patient Education for Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Dosage: A Guide to Safe and Effective Use
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Doses: A Chart for Easy Reference
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Ingredients: A Comprehensive Guide
4 mins
read time
Suboxone vs. Vivitrol: Uses, Forms, and More
4 mins
read time
The Beginner's Guide to Suboxone Laws
4 mins
read time
Withdrawal Symptoms of Suboxone: What to Expect
4 mins
read time
What Do Generic Suboxone Strips Look Like?
4 mins
read time
Identifying Each Form of Suboxone
4 mins
read time
What Happens When Suboxone and Alcohol Mix?
4 mins
read time
Swallowing Suboxone: What to Know
4 mins
read time
Daily Maximum Dosage of Suboxone: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Medications: What Not to Take Together
4 mins
read time
What Schedule Drug is Suboxone Classified As? Understanding the Regulations
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine Schedule and Regulations
4 mins
read time
What to Consider When Choosing a Suboxone Doctor
4 mins
read time
What to Know About Suboxone Shots
4 mins
read time
When Can You Take Subutex?
4 mins
read time
When to Take Suboxone: A Complete Guide
4 mins
read time
Where to Get Coupons for Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Where Can I Find Suboxone Treatment Centers Near Me?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone's Receptor Targets: A Comprehensive Overview
4 mins
read time
White Suboxone Pill: A Complete Guide
4 mins
read time
Why is Naloxone Added to Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Why is Buprenorphine Not Widely Available?
4 mins
read time
Zubsolv vs. Suboxone: A Brief Comparison Guide
Confidant mobile app screens
Get immediate access to the care you need today

Scan the QR code below to download the app.

QR code to download the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play