Available by prescription only, Subutex
® (
sublingual buprenorphine) is an opioid narcotic used to treat opioid dependence. This can include a dependence on opioid medications such as
morphine or
oxycodone. It comes in the form of a tablet that is dissolved under the tongue. But is there an injection form of Subutex?
Using Subutex via injection would increase the risk for abuse, as this product is meant to be dissolved under the tongue. To help prevent this abuse, there is another sublingual buprenorphine formulation,
Suboxone® (
buprenorphine and naloxone), which is combined with naloxone. The naloxone component has little effect when taken as directed under the tongue, but cancels out the action of buprenorphine and may even cause withdrawal symptoms if it is injected.
(Click Subutex for more information on how this drug works, potential side effects, and dosing guidelines. For more details on the injectable form of buprenorphine, click Buprenex.)
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