Is Suboxone An Opiate Or An Opioid?

Suboxone is classified as a partial opioid agonist. It works by slowly and only partially activating certain opioid receptors in the body.

Suboxone is an FDA-approved medication for treating opioid withdrawal and opioid use disorder. It is used as a component of medication assisted-treatment (MAT) or opioid replacement therapy.

Learn more about taking Suboxone for the treatment of opioid addiction

Is Suboxone An Opioid?

Suboxone is a synthetic, opioid-based medication. This means it contains ingredients that act on opioid receptors in the brain.

Is Suboxone An Opiate?

Suboxone might be described as an opiate. However, unlike opiates like morphine or codeine, Suboxone is not naturally occurring. It is manufactured largely using synthetic ingredients.

What Is The Difference Between An Opioid And Opiate?

An opioid drug can refer to any type of opioid-based substance. The term “opiate” is generally used to refer to naturally occurring opioids, such as opium and morphine.

Opioids can be natural, partially synthetic, or fully synthetic. Suboxone, which contains buprenorphine and naloxone, is fully synthetic.

Is Suboxone The Same As Other Opioids?

Not exactly. Upon entering the brain, most opioids fully activate certain opioid receptors, which can produce a rush of euphoria and respiratory effects such as slowed breathing.

Suboxone, on the other hand, only partially activates these receptors. Its opioid effects are much weaker.

It doesn’t produce strong euphoric effects and has a built-in ceiling effect that makes overdosing on Suboxone unlikely, unless it’s mixed with other depressants.

Is Suboxone Safe For The Treatment Of Opioid Use Disorders?

Suboxone is effective and safe for treating opioid use disorder when taken as prescribed by a medical doctor.

Suboxone can help restore a person’s life back to normalcy as they begin to build a healthy and happy life in recovery from opioid addiction.

Call Today To Find Suboxone Treatment For Drug Addiction

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Written by the Addiction Resource Editorial Staff