Subutex Dosage | What Are The Different Subutex Dosages?

Subutex, also known as buprenorphine, is a medication doctors use to treat opioid dependence and opioid use disorder. It’s usually given early in withdrawal, helping ease symptoms during a tough and often painful stage of recovery. The drug comes in two strengths and is meant to be taken once a day when used long-term.

People take Subutex as a sublingual tablet, meaning it dissolves under the tongue rather than being swallowed. Doses are carefully adjusted by medical professionals based on how severe a person’s dependence is, how long they’ve been using Subutex, and what type of opioid they were dependent on. Getting the dose right takes some trial and error, but the goal is always to relieve withdrawal symptoms and support long-term recovery.

Learn more about taking Subutex during medication-assisted treatment

Subutex Dosage Strengths

Subutex is prescribed in the form of sublingual tablets. These tablets are to be taken by mouth, by applying the tablet under the tongue to dissolve. Do not swallow Subutex.

Subutex tablets are manufactured in two dosage strengths: 2 milligram (mg) tablets, and 8 mg tablets.

What Is The Starting Dose For Subutex?

Subutex use is generally initiated during the opioid detox process, at least 4 hours after the last use of a short-acting opioid (e.g. heroin) or 24 hours after a long-acting opioid (e.g. methadone). During early withdrawal, Subutex may be administered by a healthcare professional in 2 mg to 4 mg increments.

Over the first few days of acute withdrawal, detox professionals may adjust the amount of Subutex administered, based on the individual needs of the patient.

Subutex Dosage For Maintenance

The typical maintenance dose of Subutex ranges between 4 mg and 24 mg. The target dose is 16 mg. Daily doses of Subutex that exceed 24 mg have not shown any clinical advantage. The daily dose a person takes may be adjusted over time or may be maintained indefinitely.

People who take Subutex as a maintenance medication may continue to do so under clinical supervision for as long as they benefit from the treatment.

Factors That Can Affect Prescribed Subutex Dosages

Not everyone who takes Subutex is prescribed the same dose. A treatment provider will prescribe and adjust a person’s Subutex dose based on a variety of factors.

Factors considered when prescribing Subutex include:

• opioid dependence: The severity of a person’s opioid dependence while beginning Subutex treatment will influence the dose they’re prescribed for maintenance.
• duration of Subutex use: Generally, a person’s Subutex dose is decreased gradually from induction, or adjusted over the course of the first few days to find a suitable dose.
• type of opioid used: The type of opioid drug a person has developed a physical dependence on may affect the amount of Subutex prescribed (e.g. heroin dependence vs. methadone dependence).

Determining A Subutex Dose

Healthcare professionals who prescribe Subutex will take into account several factors, including reported symptoms, as they identify a correct dose for someone who is opioid-dependent.

A “correct dose” is one that is determined to be safe and effective for its intended use. In the case of Subutex, this may mean treating symptoms of opioid withdrawal or for maintenance.

Treatment Services For Opioid Use Disorder

Subutex is often just one piece of a larger treatment plan. Most people recovering from opioid use disorder benefit from combining medication-assisted treatment (MAT) with other forms of support, since addiction affects both the body and the mind. Common treatment options include medical detox, counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), group therapy, and 12-step recovery programs.

A treatment provider can help figure out which combination works best for an individual’s needs.