Opioids are drugs that fall under genre called narcotics; these are mostly used to bring about needful relief from pains. These meds are administered when you are living with chronic pains, post-surgical pains and acute episodes of coughing or for treating chronic spells of diarrhea. In some people, a condition known as opioid use disorder (OUD) may arise; here, you may find it difficult to stop the doses of opioids. Suboxone is a popular med used for managing opioid dependence. But, how long do key ingredients of suboxone stay? It is a main thing to know prior to starting your dosage plan.
Opioids help relieve multiple forms of pains including those experienced after surgical procedures. However, long term use of such meds can cause serious consequences. Most opioids mimic natural substances like endorphins; these enable proper respiration, regulate digestion, etc. Your system makes endorphins when you experience pleasures (such as having sex) or while you go through pains. Opioids are known to block access to other carriers of stress.
There are natural forms of opioids as well as synthetic and semi-synthetic forms. Poppy seeds are classic examples of natural opioids. However, manmade forms can attach themselves more freely with receptors. This is one of the reasons why synthetic versions are taken to treat acute forms of pains and associated discomforts.
What is suboxone?
This is a drug used for treating opioid dependence. Essential chemicals used in this med help decrease symptoms of withdrawal; these symptoms are experienced soon after you stop using opioids. Suboxone is placed under the tongue (sublingually) or in between your cheek and gums. The drug slowly dissolves inside the mouth.
Suboxone is a controlled drug, and is categorised as Schedule III med. This refers to the likely risks of potential misuse owing to its ability to trigger psychological and physical dependencies. Owing to this classification, it needs a doctor – who has received training and a special certification – to prescribe this med.
How long do essential ingredients of suboxone stay back in your system?
This drug contains two major ingredients namely, naloxone and buprenorphine. Both these chemicals play a critical role in suppressing opioid dependence and / or addiction. The effects of this med are likely to last for 24 hours from the time of your last dose. This timeline is determined by the half-life of its two key ingredients.
Naloxone has a half-life of 3 to 11 hours. On the other hand, half-life of buprenorphine ranges between 24 to 44 hours. Drugs such as suboxone may take nearly five (5) half-cycles to get fully discharged off your system. In most users who are healthy, all traces of this med are likely to stand eliminated after 6 to 7 days i.e., from the time of your last dosage.
Among people who are living with a liver condition – such as inflammation (hepatitis) or cirrhosis of the liver – the traces may remain undischarged for upto 2 weeks’ time (14 days from last dose). This stretched timeline is mainly because of an extension of half-life of naloxone and buprenorphine. In case of the former, the half-life gets extended by more than 160% and the latter may increase by more than 55%.
This is one of the main reasons why you need to share needful information about prior ailment / medical conditions – especially of liver conditions – with your treating doctor. As the active chemicals of suboxone may work adversely with other meds, it is a safe practice to provide an interval of 2 week prior to starting other treatment plans. In order to obtain more inputs about the safe intake of suboxone, talk to your treating physician and / or pharmacist.
Disclaimer
Information provided here are only of supplementary nature. Information shared here does not substitute a qualified doctor’s advice. This website is not suggesting intake of this drug as safe or appropriate. Hence it is advised to talk to your doctor before consuming this med or any other drug.
Education: Master’s in Nursing (MSN) from Johns Hopkins University. Experience: 7 years writing for online health portals and nursing journals, specializing in patient education and chronic illness management.
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