According to information found at therecoveryvillage.com, “Subutex, which was approved in 2002, is a drug OKed by the FDA to help treat opiate addiction.
The active ingredient in Subutex is something called buprenorphine, which can be prescribed by doctors who are trained in its use and certified by the Center For Substance Abuse Treatment. This is in comparison to other opioid treatment drugs like methadone, which have to be dispensed only in a controlled, clinical environment.
Methadone is also a Schedule II controlled substance in the U.S., meaning it has a potential for abuse, while Subutex is Schedule III, meaning it has a pretty low abuse potential associated with its use.
Subutex is a relatively safe opioid dependence treatment option, and it’s classified as a partial opioid agonist. This means it binds to the same receptors as opioid drugs like prescription painkillers, but it doesn’t cause the euphoric high associated with these drugs.
There is some level of activity at the opioid receptor sites, so this tricks the person’s brain into thinking they’ve taken opioids, which prevents withdrawal symptoms and reduces cravings.
The objectives of Subutex are to help people be more comfortable as they detox from opioids, upping their chances of success, and it can also help reduce the likelihood of a relapse. With the use of Subutex, people can also focus more on their treatment and less on the symptoms of withdrawal and opioid cravings.”
