Over 131 million Americans use prescription drugs; this means that if you’re in a room of six people, four have prescriptions from their doctors. But just because you’ve got a legitimate piece of paper it doesn’t necessarily mean that the medications are being safely used.
In cases of drug abuse, doctors can prescribe medicine to help. For example, Belbuca and Suboxone are both medications used for treating opioid dependence and chronic pain. However, they’re not the same thing.
Read on to see a quick Belbuca vs Suboxone comparison so you understand more.
Active Ingredients
The active ingredient in Belbuca is buprenorphine, which is a partial opioid agonist. It binds to the same receptors in the brain as other opioids, but it has a ceiling effect. This means it’s less likely to cause respiratory depression and overdose compared to full opioid agonists.
Suboxone also contains buprenorphine, but it has naloxone too. The latter is there to discourage misuse; it’s an opioid antagonist that blocks the effects of opioids and can bring on withdrawal symptoms if people try to abuse Suboxone by injecting it.
Formulation
Belbuca is available as a buccal film, which is a small, thin film that you place inside your cheek to dissolve slowly. Your Belbuca prescription can come in various dosage strengths.
On the other hand, Suboxone is available as sublingual tablets or films that are dissolved under the tongue. Your Suboxone prescription can also come indifferent dosage strengths.
Indications
Belbuca is primarily prescribed for the management of chronic pain serious enough to require daily and long-term opioid treatment. Typically, you’ll be prescribed it if alternative treatment options are inadequate.
Suboxone is usually prescribed for the treatment of opioid dependence. This includes both induction and maintenance therapy as part of a comprehensive treatment plan.
Regulatory Considerations
Here, the two types of medications are the same. They’re both considered Schedule III controlled substances, as they have the potential for abuse and dependence.
If you’re caught with Schedule III drugs and don’t have them legally, you may be charged with a misdemeanor or felony, depending on the jurisdiction and circumstances.
Pharmacokinetic Profiles
Belbuca has a half-life of 24-60 hours, so it’ll take one to two days to eliminate the drug from your body. It can be detected in your urine for up to three to seven days after your last dose.
Suboxone in your system will stay for 24-60 hours as well, but this is for buprenorphine; naloxone has a half-life of only one to two hours.
Belbuca vs Suboxone: Know the Differences
Now that you’re more educated on the subject of Belbuca vs Suboxone, you know that both have buprenorphine. However, the former medication is more often used for pain management, while the latter is more for drug addiction.
Regardless of what the medicines are used for, they both have the potential for misuse and dependence. So before you start any medications, make sure to go over all the details with your doctor so you’re clear on how and when to take your doses.
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