Some people may want to only use Suboxone for a few months to stabilize during acute withdrawal and the post-withdrawal period. However, many people may need the medication indefinitely to treat their opioid use disorder (OUD).
Suboxone is proven to help reduce opioid cravings and withdrawal symptoms and prevent relapse.[1],[2] As long as you’re tempted to return to opioid drugs, Suboxone could help you. For some people, that strong urge never really goes away.
Taking Suboxone for life is a safe option for those who feel they need it to prevent relapse.[3] Ultimately, the answer as to how long you should stay on this medication depends on your individual needs, preferences, goals, side effects and more.
Factors That Affect How Long You May Take Suboxone
Opioid misuse can fundamentally alter brain structure, chemistry and functioning. Using medications like Suboxone allows people in treatment for OUD the time they need to heal these changes.
The dose you need and the length of your Suboxone treatment can vary due to these factors:
- OUD severity: If you took opioids for long periods or used very high doses, your brain cells have gone through many changes. You may need higher Suboxone doses, and you may need to stay on the medication for long periods of time as you heal.
- Underlying conditions: Mental health issues like depression or anxiety can raise your relapse risks. If you have these issues, you may need to stay on Suboxone longer.
- Support systems: It’s easier to maintain sobriety with the help of friends and family. If you’re connected, you could reach out to your network when you feel your resolve slipping. If you don’t have this network, you may need to stay on medications longer.
- Personal preference: For many people, Suboxone allows them to return to work or school, take care of their family, and develop a life away from substance misuse. You may want to remain on Suboxone indefinitely in order to continue functioning.
- Side effects: If you experience severe Suboxone side effects or find that you are unable to tolerate them even after your doctor lowers your dose, you may ultimately decide to switch medications or taper off of Suboxone.
Your doctor can help you find the dose that’s right for you. And together, you can determine how long your treatment should last. It’s important that you listen to your doctor and don’t make any decisions about your Suboxone therapy without talking to them first.
What Does Suboxone Treatment Entail?
When you start Suboxone treatment, you must abstain from opioids like heroin, fentanyl and other prescription painkillers for 12 to 24 hours—depending on the size of your last dose and the type of opioid you used—to ensure that there are no more active opioids in your bloodstream. You might experience early withdrawal symptoms, but you should begin Suboxone treatment before more intense symptoms emerge.
The lowest starting dose for buprenorphine/naloxone medicines is 2 mg/0.5 mg once a day, but many people find the optimal daily maintenance dose is higher than that (anywhere from 2 to 24 mg of Suboxone). On average, it takes two to four days for doctors to find the right dose.[5]
Once that dose has been reached, you will use Suboxone film strips, which dissolve under the tongue or the cheek, usually once per day.
Buprenorphine remains bound to your brain’s opioid receptors throughout the day, which dramatically lowers cravings and withdrawal symptoms. If you develop withdrawal symptoms like anxiety or cravings or feel too sedated, your doctor can adjust your dose.
As you become physically stable while you take Suboxone, you may find that you no longer experience cravings for opioids, and you can more easily do your daily activities and focus on recovery.
Why Do Doctors Recommend Long-Term Suboxone Use?
Studies show that people who take buprenorphine-based medications like Suboxone are more likely to relapse if they stop taking their prescription within six months of starting it.[6]
Taking a medication like buprenorphine that binds to opioid receptors in the brain helps to prevent unpleasant opioid withdrawal symptoms that could trigger a relapse.
By stopping these negative effects, you can focus on changing addictive behaviors and create a plan to avoid relapse.
Studies show that people who take buprenorphine-based medications like Suboxone are more likely to relapse if they stop taking their prescription within six months of starting it.
Signs You May Need to Stop or Adjust Your Suboxone Dose
You should never stop taking Suboxone without talking to your doctor first. Buprenorphine is an opioid, and if you quit cold turkey, you’ll develop withdrawal symptoms, which can increase the risk of relapse to opioids of misuse.
Some signs you may need to adjust your Suboxone dose, switch medications, or taper off of it include:
- Experiencing troubling side effects like extreme drowsiness or nausea
- Experiencing strong opioid cravings (you may need a higher dose)
- You have developed liver problems or other conditions that may be contraindicated with Suboxone
Your doctor can help you explore what life might be like without Suboxone. If you both feel it’s time to stop, you can develop a tapering schedule to help you stop taking your medication safely.
Suboxone Use Duration FAQs
How long is it safe to take Suboxone?
It is safe to take Suboxone for as long as needed. Many people take it indefinitely.
How long do you take buprenorphine?
Buprenorphine is the active ingredient in Suboxone. It’s a partial opioid agonist that can reduce withdrawal symptoms from OUD. It is safe to take at prescribed doses for as long as needed.
What does Suboxone do to the brain?
Suboxone binds to the opioid receptors in the brain to reduce withdrawal symptoms and cravings in people who are overcoming dependence on opioids.
Reviewed By Peter Manza, PhD
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role ... Read More
- 5 Myths About Using Suboxone to Treat Opiate Addiction. Harvard Medical School. https://www.health.harvard.edu/blog/5-myths-about-using-suboxone-to-treat-opiate-addiction-2018032014496. October 2021. Accessed January 2023.
- Buprenorphine. Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine. September 2022. Accessed January 2023.
- What Are Misconceptions About Maintenance Treatment? National Institute on Drug Abuse. https://www.samhsa.gov/medication-assisted-treatment/medications-counseling-related-conditions/buprenorphine. December 2021. Accessed January 2023.
- Buprenorphine/Naloxone (Suboxone). National Alliance on Mental Illness. https://www.nami.org/About-Mental-Illness/Treatments/Mental-Health-Medications/Types-of-Medication/Buprenorphine/Buprenorphine-Naloxone-(Suboxone). January 2021. Accessed January 2023.
- Buprenorphine. StatPearls. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK459126/. May 2022. Accessed January 2023.
- Guide for Families: Medications for Opioid Use Disorder. Providers Clinical Support System. https://pcssnow.org/resource/guide-for-families-medications-for-opioid-use-disorder/. June 2021. Accessed January 2023.
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