How Is SUBOXONE Different From Other Opioids?
SUBOXONE, a partial opioid agonist that produces limited euphoria and milder withdrawal symptoms compared with full agonists (ie, methadone, heroin, and morphine),3 provides sufficient effects to reinforce treatment adherence. Respiratory depression, which may be lethal, is limited with SUBOXONE when used alone due to a “ceiling effect” whereby increasing the dose does not increase the effect proportionally. This ceiling effect, characteristic of partial opioid agonists, provides a margin of safety with SUBOXONE versus full opioid agonists.3-5 Intravenous use of buprenorphine, usually in combination with benzodiazepines or other central nervous system (CNS) depressants, has been associated with significant respiratory depression and death.
