Learning library
Buprenorphine Suboxone and Subutex
How the Suboxone Spit Method Works

How the Suboxone Spit Method Works

The suboxone spit trick is a way of administering the medication that can help you detox from opioids safely. Here's how it works.

Suboxone treatment is highly effective in preventing opioid withdrawal symptoms as well as opioid cravings. It can be administered in tandem with psychosocial support in the medication assisted treatment (MAT) of substance use disorder.  But what is the Suboxone spit trick? We break it down below.

The Best Way To Take Suboxone Film

Patients that are prescribed Suboxone films are generally overcoming opioid addiction. Opioid use disorder (OUD) creates an impulse to consume as much of the opioid as possible, to capitalize on the drug's full potential and dose. This mindset can intersect with the consumption of rehabilitation medications such as Suboxone and create unfounded beliefs that active medication in the residual saliva produced by the sublingual ingestion of Suboxone should be consumed to experience the maximum effect of the medication. This is not true. There is no additional benefit if you swallow the residual saliva. The efficacy of the medication is most effective sublingually. 

Suboxone is a sublingual medication. Sublingual refers to the delivery system of the drug. The medication is designed to dissolve. The Suboxone film should be placed on the capillaries that inhabit the underside of the tongue. This is where the medication is absorbed and enters the bloodstream. 

Can You Dissolve Suboxone In Your Cheek?

You cannot dissolve Suboxone in your cheek. The medication is designed to perform at its best when dissolved sublingually. Suboxone dissolves under the tongue. When the medication has completely dissolved, and you can no longer see the Suboxone film, you can spit out the residue – the Suboxone spit trick! You won’t receive any extra Suboxone by swallowing it. 

📞
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

How To Properly Take Suboxone

Place the medication under your tongue, do not smoke, talk, drink, eat or chew and sit with your mouth closed and tongue placed over the medication. It can take between 5 – 15 minutes for Suboxone to dissolve.  This will vary from patient to patient. Avoid nicotine and caffeine for at least 15 minutes before and after you take your medication. No vaping products, caffeine, or cigarettes should be consumed. Nicotine and caffeine speed up the body’s metabolism and decrease the lasting effects of the medication. The goal is to make sure the medication lasts as long as it possibly can. The prolonged, long-acting effects of the buprenorphine in Suboxone are responsible for reducing and eradicating withdrawal symptoms and cravings. By eliminating these elements, patients can focus on other components of their recovery program, such as counseling and psychosocial, behavioral therapy, as recommended. Counseling and therapy help address and understand some of the underlying issues driving addiction. Understanding these issues is just as important as remaining abstinent. 

The Suboxone Spit Trick

Suboxone is designed to absorb sublingually. When the Suboxone dissolves under the tongue, the remaining residue mingles with the saliva that is produced as the medication onsets. This saliva should not be swallowed; it is essentially waste. If swallowed, it can increase side effects like constipation and migraine. Instead, once dissolved, you should spit out the saliva. The spit trick is a way to ensure you receive the fragments of the medication you are supposed to receive and purge yourself of the particles that can cause adverse side effects. You are not wasting or losing out on any of the medication by not swallowing it. The medication only works sublingually. The excess residue should not be swallowed. 

What Happens When You Swallow Suboxone?

We have discussed the function of opioid receptors in the brain in a number of other articles. Take a look at Can Suboxone Lead to Addiction to understand more about the role of opioid receptors in the brain. Opioid receptors are also present in the intestine. When Suboxone activates these receptors in the intestine, it slows down movement and the operation of bodily systems such as the excretory system, muscular system, lymphatic system, digestive system, and more. This can cause constipation. Refer again to Can Suboxone Lead to Addiction for more on the retardation of movement and bodily systems. The stagnation causes material (feces) to remain in the system for longer than it should; this, in turn, causes constipation. Other adverse side effects of swallowing Suboxone residue include mood swings, low blood pressure, and migraines. 

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

How to Maximize Suboxone Absorptions

In order to maximize the absorption of Suboxone, place the medication under the tongue, unhindered until it dissolves completely. Swallowing Suboxone spit does not affect its potency and/or performance abilities, but it can amplify side effects and cause discomfort. It is worth noting that not all patients experience side effects from swallowing the medication. Nonetheless, your prescribing medical professional should be consulted. Confidant’s medical team is available around the clock and is ready to assist. Message us here

Important Note Regarding the Suboxone Spit Trick

Do not spit out your medication; only after your medication dissolves should you spit out the residual saliva. 

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