Suboxone is an effective medicine for people who are addicted to morphine, nicotine, and heroin.
This drug is mainly made up of two substances: buprenorphine, which works as an agonist, and naloxone works as an antagonist. One activates the call receptor, and the other one deactivates.
It has been made to lower the withdrawal signs without producing the same high and ensure the long-term recovery of the patients.
It can be taken in a prescribed way, but if an overdose happens by mistake, it might result in adverse reactions such as nausea, seizures, and insomnia.
Most of us think that for How long does Buprenorphine stay in your system? This becomes important to understand for the patients who go for regular medical screening as well as for the health professionals, for further clarity.
The following sections will cover how long this drug stays in your system.
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How does Suboxone work?
Suboxone works by binding to the same brain receptors as the other opioids, blocks the euphoric effects and lessens the withdrawal symptoms.
It provides a slower onset of actions but offers long-lasting results. Naloxone prevents injection abuse and when it is taken orally, it is not active.
Buprenorphine – Half life
One vital factor in understanding how long it stays in your system is understanding its half-life.
The half-life of any drug is the amount of time it takes for half of the substance to leave the body.
- The half-life of it is long and ranges from 24 to 42 hours.
- It can extend up to 10 days for complete elimination of it.
- However, the time frame varies based on several factors, including dosage, the number of times it has been used, the functioning of the liver, and metabolism.
Tests to detect the duration of Buprenorphine stay in your system
- Urine test:
It is one of the most common tests for detecting the drug. In urine, this medicine can be detected up to 7–10 days post-last dose. This varies depending on the body’s metabolism and duration of use.
- Blood test:
This substance can be detected in blood up to 2–4 days post-last use. This test is used very little as the detection window is short.
- Saliva test:
This test can detect this medicine within some minutes of being used and up to 3-4 days afterward. It is minimally invasive but not reliable for detecting the drug in the long term.
- Hair test:
It provides a long detection window. In hair follicles, this drug can be found for up to 90 days. It is beneficial in cases where there long-term usage history is required.
Factors that affect the time of detection
How long does Buprenorphine stays in your system depends on certain factors such as:
- Dose and frequency of use: High dose and more frequent use can cause long detection times.
- Body metabolism: Those people with a fast metabolism can eliminate this drug very quickly.
- Age and weight: Those people who are old and those having high body fat can retain the drug for a long period.
- Liver functioning: As this compound gets metabolized in the liver, therefore for those whose liver function is impaired, their elimination process slows down.
- Usage duration: Long-term usage can result in the drug accumulating in the fat tissues thus causing more elimination time.
Why is it important?
A proper understanding of how long the drug stays in your system is important for many reasons:
- Drug testing: When you are aware of the detection window, it assists in planning around legal drug tests or employment.
- Remaining in compliance with treatment: It gives proper information on the timing to start new medicines or changing therapies.
- Safe: It helps in avoiding any interactions with other medicines or substances.
Can we speed up the elimination?
Even if staying hydrated, proper exercise and maintenance of a healthy diet can support the overall elimination.
And there is no guaranteed way of speeding up the process of how fast Buprenorphine is leaving your system. Your body requires time to process and eliminate the drug naturally.
Conclusion
To conclude on how long Buprenorphine stays in your system, its detection time is not the same for all kinds of tests.
On average, it can be detected in urine for up to 7 to 10 days, in blood – for 2 to 4 days and in hair up to 90 days.
Even if suboxone is a strong tool for fighting off opioid addiction, understanding the duration in the system assists users, healthcare professionals as well as employers to make an informed decision.
It is important to do a medical consultation with a healthcare professional in case you are consuming Suboxone or when you have plans to discontinue its usage.
Not everyone’s body responds in the same manner, therefore professional guidance helps in safe and efficient treatment.
