Learning library
Buprenorphine Suboxone and Subutex
Buprenorphine and How It Works

Buprenorphine and How It Works

The buprenorphine mechanism of action helps minimize cravings and withdrawal symptoms in people receiving Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder.

Suboxone is a medication used to treat opioid use disorder (OUD) with a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist that was developed for the treatment of OUD. It interacts with the same receptors as full agonists but has a lower ceiling effect and less potential for misuse. The buprenorphine mechanism of action has advantages over other treatments for this condition. It allows providers to safely treat people with buprenorphine as part of their long-term management plan after detoxifying from opioids. You should only access Suboxone or buprenorphine treatment under the guidance of a qualified provider.

To enjoy the convenience of virtual buprenorphine treatment for OUD, reach out to the prescribers at Confidant Health’s online Suboxone clinic. Our team can provide you with a virtual assessment, prescribe Suboxone care, and conduct teletherapy sessions to help you navigate a healthy recovery from opioids.

Buprenorphine and Opioid Misuse

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, so it has less potential for misuse and a lower ceiling effect than full agonists like oxycodone or hydrocodone. A lower ceiling effect means that you will not experience as much euphoria by taking the medication. This can be beneficial because you are less likely to develop a dependence on buprenorphine or experience an overdose.

The buprenorphine mechanism of action offers a safer, more effective method of managing OUD. For individuals trying to address opioid use disorder, buprenorphine can minimize withdrawal symptoms and reduce cravings for opioids. You will feel more comfortable and less compelled to access other opioids, with a lesser risk of dependence or addiction than full agonist OUD medications like methadone.

📞
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

Buprenorphine Indications and Contraindications for Use

As effective as medication-assisted treatment (MAT) can be for opioid use disorder, each individual responds differently to buprenorphine. What helps one person achieve long-term abstinence may be ineffective or cause adverse effects for another. To determine whether you are a good candidate for treatment with Suboxone or other buprenorphine medications, your provider will use buprenorphine indications and contraindications for use as a guide. 

Buprenorphine Indications for Use

If you have been struggling to cut back on or quit using opioids, buprenorphine can be the missing piece of the puzzle you need to enjoy lasting recovery. Buprenorphine treatment may be right for you if:

  • Uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms make it challenging to abstain from opioid misuse.
  • You find it difficult to resist powerful cravings for opioids.
  • You have tried methadone treatment for OUD without success or are not a good candidate.
  • You have a mild to moderate opioid dependence or a short history of opioid misuse.
  • You are committed to managing opioid use disorder but need additional support from medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Since buprenorphine is not sufficient on its own for overcoming OUD, you should be open  to a comprehensive treatment plan that includes therapy. Buprenorphine will minimize discomfort so you can focus on your therapy sessions and adopt healthy lifestyle changes. 

Buprenorphine Contraindications for Use

While buprenorphine can be life-changing for some people seeking to overcome OUD, it is not suitable for everyone. Buprenorphine may not be your best option for OUD treatment if:

  • You have a hypersensitivity or adverse reaction to buprenorphine.
  • You are currently using a full opioid agonist, such as heroin or morphine. Combining a full agonist with a partial agonist can induce acute withdrawal. 
  • You have liver dysfunction. This may not rule you out as a candidate, but your provider will need to adjust the dose and monitor you closely to avoid complications. 

The only way to safely access buprenorphine treatment is through a qualified provider. They can conduct an assessment and determine if this OUD medication is appropriate for your treatment. 

Buprenorphine Mechanism of Action

To understand what makes buprenorphine different from other types of OUD medication, it helps to explore the buprenorphine mechanism of action. Buprenorphine is an opioid partial agonist that partially activates the opioid receptors in the brain. This partial activation produces mild euphoric feelings but not enough to equal that of full agonists like fentanyl. The result is decreased withdrawal symptoms and cravings without the high risk of dependence or overdose. Buprenorphine’s ceiling effect prevents the medication from creating an intense high, even when misused. This protective effect makes buprenorphine a safer, more effective form of OUD treatment. 

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

Buprenorphine Absorption

Buprenorphine has poor bioavailability, meaning it is not well absorbed by the body. Your medication is only as good as your body's ability to absorb it, so you must use buprenorphine exactly as prescribed by your provider. If you take buprenorphine orally, such as swallowing the tablet, a considerable portion will break down in the liver and intestine before reaching the enzymes that break it down into active metabolites. This would significantly reduce its efficacy.  

For optimal absorption, buprenorphine should be administered sublingually. Placing the tablet or film under the tongue to dissolve allows for rapid absorption that bypasses the initial breakdown in the liver and intestine. 

Get Virtual Help for OUD with Confidant Health 

If you think buprenorphine treatment may be beneficial for your recovery, talk to the Online Suboxone Doctors at Confidant Health. We take the time to thoroughly assess whether you may be a good candidate for buprenorphine treatment. Find out if buprenorphine is right for you by scheduling an assessment today.

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: Uses, Forms 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?
5 mins
read time
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?
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