A popular term in the field of addiction treatment is ‘medication assisted treatment’ or MAT. This is the process where medical professionals and approved addiction treatment staff would use medications approved by the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to effectively treat those with specific substance use disorders. One of the most popular is Suboxone, and formerly Subutex, both of which have the active ingredient Buprenorphine, which is used to specifically opioid use disorder (OUD). Many wonder, if these approved medications are so similar, why has one been discontinued, and what are the key differences when examining Suboxone vs Subutex? We will explore this topic in the hopes that all individuals feel comfortable with the comparison between Suboxone vs Subutex, what makes different and why Suboxone is still the approved and preferred MAT option for opioid use disorder.
Subutex was discontinued in 2011, which is by far the biggest difference between these two medications, but if they both contain the same active ingredient, why is Suboxone still approved, active, and readily used while Subutex is not? The otherwise key difference that has led to Subutex being discontinued, and Suboxone being actively prescribed is that Subutex only contains buprenorphine while Suboxone is buprenorphine combined with naloxone. Naloxone is an opioid antagonist, meaning it blocks the effects of opioids at receptor sites, making it effective for medication assisted treatment.
There are still medications approved by the FDA for use today that only contain buprenorphine and not naloxone that doctors may prescribe under the appropriate circumstances. That said, Subutex was discontinued solely because of its potential for misuse. As many often due, the medication could potentially be used outside of its approved purpose to get high and not for treatment. The active ingredient of naloxone in Suboxone acts as a misuse deterrent.
We hope you now have a better understanding of the key differences between Suboxone and Subutex and why Subutex was discontinued while Suboxone is still actively used and prescribed by health care professional. Suboxone, and other MAT medications are most effective when paired with an inpatient addiction treatment center like the one at Long Island Center for Recovery. If you or a loved one needs any additional assistance with addiction treatment services for drugs or alcohol, please reach out to Long Island Center for Recovery at 1-800-344-5427, and we’d be happy to assist you or your loved ones in any way possible.
References:
Subutex vs Suboxone: What’s The Difference?
https://americanaddictioncenters.org/suboxone/subutex-suboxone
Posted in: Addiction Treatment
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