Comparing Buprenorphine-Based Treatments for Opioid Use Disorder- Suboxone, Subutex, Sublocade, Bunavail, and Probuphine

Suboxone and Subutex are FDA-approved drugs for treating opioid addiction. Buprenorphine is also approved for the same treatment. Suboxone is different from Subutex because it has both Naloxone and Buprenorphine, while Subutex only contains Buprenorphine. Buprenorphine is a Schedule III drug, which makes it less likely to be abused than other drugs in a higher schedule (Crane, 2022). Buprenorphine relieves pain. While the drug is not a complete opioid, it tends to act like one. However, it does not create a euphoric feeling upon consumption and causes moderate activities in the receptor sites. However, it avoids the presence of withdrawal symptoms from opiate drugs and reduces the cravings for drugs such as prescription painkillers and heroin.

Subutex, which has Buprenorphine only, has a greater tendency for abuse. The users tend to inject the drug into their veins, which delivers the desired euphoric feeling. This tendency for abuse led to the formulation of another drug to counter this aspect, Suboxone. Naloxone is expected to counter the abuse of the drug. Naloxone works by blocking the influence that opioids have on the receptor sites (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). Thus, Suboxone is ideal for patients who are dealing with severe addictions. Both Suboxone can be delivered orally by placing either inside the cheek or below the tongue.

Sublocade is an opioid treatment that contains Buprenorphine. Despite the presence of Buprenorphine, which is a pain killer, Sublocade is used for treating the addiction and not for pain reduction. Sublocade is administered through injections. It is injected into a muscle or vein. Once it contacts bodily fluids, the drug forms a solid lump that lasts for at least 26 days as it reduces in size. Probuphine is a Buprenorphine implant. Having Buprenorphine increases the likelihood of abusing the drug. The patient has four implants placed in the upper arm. The implants release the drug gradually for six months (Rosenthal & Burchum, 2021). However, in comparison to the other drugs that are injected or taken orally, such as Suboxone or Subutex, the likelihood of abuse is reduced significantly.

References

Crane, M. (2022). Subutex vs Suboxone: What’s The Difference? Retrieved from American Addiction Centers: https://americanaddictioncenters.org/suboxone/subutex-suboxone

Rosenthal, L. D., & Burchum, J. R. (2021). Lehne’s Pharmacotherapeutics for Advanced Practice Nurses and Physician Assistants. Elsevier, Inc.