Hope Integrative Medicine · Medication guide
Generic buprenorphine and naloxone: what to expect
The same two medicines as Suboxone, in generic tablets or films taken under the tongue once a day, as part of a plan that includes counseling.
At a glance
- Form
- Tablet or film that dissolves under the tongue
- How often
- Once a day
- Given by
- You, as prescribed
What it is
Generic versions combine buprenorphine, which eases opioid withdrawal and cravings, with naloxone, which is added to discourage misuse.
They are Schedule III controlled medications, used to treat opioid dependence.
Who it is for
Adults with opioid use disorder, most often for ongoing (maintenance) treatment, as part of a plan that includes counseling and support.
How it is taken
Place the tablet or film under your tongue and let it dissolve completely.
- Do not cut, chew or swallow it.
- Doses are not always interchangeable between products, so take the dose prescribed for the product you have.
How often
Once a day, at a steady dose once treatment is established.
Getting started
Treatment begins with an in-person visit in our West Ashley office. Some generic tablets are labeled for continuing treatment after the first doses of buprenorphine alone, so your first doses may be a buprenorphine-only tablet.
- Your provider chooses the product and dose for the first days.
- Once withdrawal and cravings are under control, you continue on a steady daily dose.
Ready for the first step?
New patients are often able to be scheduled within a week of requesting an appointment.
Your visits
Treatment typically begins with an in-person assessment, followed by weekly in-person or virtual visits before moving to a monthly schedule. Each plan is tailored to the patient and their situation.
If problems come up, visits become more frequent again until things are steady.
- A withdrawal check at every visit, using the Subjective Opiate Withdrawal Scale (SOWS).
- A urine drug test at every visit: a point-of-care test in our West Ashley office or a test at a local lab near you, with confirmatory lab testing when a result needs it.
- A urinalysis when needed. Some people have trouble urinating while taking buprenorphine, so we check for urinary retention or a urinary tract infection when symptoms point to it.
- Screening for depression and anxiety at every visit.
- Monthly counseling, alongside your medication visits.
- A review of how you are doing, side effects and your goals.
Safety
- At a stable prescribed dose, buprenorphine does not cause a high, and its overdose risk is much lower than illicit opioids. It can still be dangerous with alcohol, benzodiazepines or other sedatives, and it must be locked away from children.
- Taking it too soon after other opioids can bring on sudden withdrawal.
- Tell your provider about every medicine you take, especially benzodiazepines or other sedatives.
Common Questions
It contains the same two medicines, buprenorphine and naloxone. Doses are not always interchangeable between products, so your provider sets the dose for the one you take.
Treatment typically begins with an in-person assessment, followed by weekly in-person or virtual visits before moving to a monthly schedule. Each plan is tailored to the patient and their situation.
There is no set time limit for buprenorphine treatment. Some people stay on it long term; others choose to taper off. A taper is slow, usually over several months, with close follow-up, and you decide on it together with your provider.
Often, yes. People on a steady daily dose of buprenorphine can be switched to a long-acting injection such as Sublocade or Brixadi. Insurance plans often require prior authorization first.
Opioid use disorder treatment, step by step
This article is general information, not medical advice, and does not create a patient–provider relationship. Every situation is different, so see a provider who can evaluate yours and develop a plan of care. Any medication discussed here may not be right for you: the right choice depends on your diagnoses, other health conditions and current medicines, so take medication only as directed by the provider managing your care. If you are ever in doubt about an emergency, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room.