How Long Does Suboxone Stay In Your System?

Suboxone is a medication used to treat those suffering from opiate addiction. It can be taken as a single daily dose or divided into two or more doses per day. The generic name of the drug is Buprenorphine, and it works by decreasing cravings and withdrawal symptoms for opiates, along with blocking other opiates from binding to the opioid receptor site.

A common question associated with taking buprenorphine is, “how long does Suboxone stay in your system?” After all, there are several factors that can influence the answer, including the individual themselves and possible interactions with other drugs. The following will affect how long Suboxone is detectable in your system. 

Your Metabolism- Every person has a slightly different metabolism and resulting half-life. Age, race, gender, and even height and weight will all help determine the speed at which the drug is eliminated from your system. Additionally, certain conditions such as liver damage or liver disease can significantly prolong the time it takes for buprenorphine to leave your body.

Daily Dosage- The amount of suboxone you take will obviously affect how long it is detectable in your system.  Generally, the more you take in a single dose, and especially if you take it multiple times per day, the longer it will stay in your system. This is because you are essentially taking more of the drug in a shorter period of time, which keeps buprenorphine levels high enough to stay "active" in your body for an extended period of time.

How long have you been taking Suboxone? 

Like other medications, the time it takes for Suboxone to leave your system depends on how long you have been taking it. While many drugs are cleared from a person's system within days or perhaps weeks of stopping, buprenorphine can take months before being fully eliminated, depending on how your drug test is administered.

It is important to know what type of drug test you will be receiving if you want to know how long it will be detectable. The following are common drug testing methods.

Hair- Hair testing can detect drug use for up to 90 days after you take suboxone.

Saliva- Suboxone can be detected on a saliva test for approximately 5 days. 

Urine- Urine tests are the most common form of drug screening and can detect suboxone on an initial test for about 1 week, but on confirmation testing, the drug can be detected for 2 weeks if you have taken the medication for prolonged periods of time.

Blood- While this is an uncommon collection method the detection window is typically 2-3 days. 

Will a positive Suboxone test affect my employment if I have a prescription?

While in most cases a Suboxone Prescription will eliminate any issue for an employment drug test you will want to confirm with your employer. Positions operating equipment or machinery may require additional measures to be taken due to company policy. 

With so many different types of drug tests and the long-term effects of Suboxone, it can be difficult to know what you need. Luckily for you, our team at SuboxoneDoctor.com is ready with all the information about how long suboxone stays in your system as well as which type of drug test will detect suboxone presence - including urine testing, hair follicle testing, blood testing, or saliva testing. 

Visit us today to learn more!