How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?

Suboxone is a commonly prescribed medication for the treatment of opioid use disorder (OUD). Patients beginning or continuing treatment often ask an important question: how long does Suboxone stay in your system? Understanding how the medication is processed by the body can help patients make informed decisions and feel more confident in their recovery plan.

This article explains how Suboxone works, how long it remains in the body, and what factors influence detection and duration.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a combination medication that contains two active ingredients:

• Buprenorphine, a partial opioid agonist that reduces cravings and withdrawal symptoms
• Naloxone, an opioid antagonist included to deter misuse

When taken as prescribed, Suboxone helps stabilize brain chemistry without producing the intense euphoria associated with full opioids.

How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?

The length of time Suboxone stays in your system depends largely on buprenorphine, which has a long duration of action.

Buprenorphine Half-Life

Buprenorphine has a half-life of approximately 24 to 42 hours. Most medications take about five half-lives to be mostly eliminated from the body.

As a result, Suboxone can remain in your system for roughly 7 to 10 days, and sometimes longer depending on individual factors.

Naloxone leaves the body much more quickly, usually within 1 to 2 days.

How Long Is Suboxone Detectable on Drug Tests?

Detection times vary based on the type of drug test used:

• Urine tests: 7–10 days (occasionally longer with long-term use)
• Blood tests: 1–3 days
• Saliva tests: Up to 5 days
• Hair tests: Up to 90 days

Standard drug panels do not typically test for buprenorphine unless specifically requested.

Factors That Affect How Long Suboxone Stays in Your System

Several factors influence how long Suboxone remains detectable, including:

• Dosage and length of treatment
• Frequency of use
• Liver function
• Metabolic rate
• Age
• Body composition
• Use of other medications

Patients who have been on Suboxone long-term may retain trace amounts longer than those using it short-term.

Register Today—Feel Better Tomorrow

• Register for virtual Suboxone treatment with TennCare Medicaid
• Register for online Suboxone therapy using commercial insurance
• Schedule a virtual Suboxone doctor appointment as a self-pay patient
• Register as a returning patient
• Apply for our Sliding-Scale Program
• View insurance plans we accept and self-pay pricing
• We accept all TennCare Medicaid plans, including Amerigroup Community Care, BlueCare, United Healthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint Community Care
• We accept all major health insurance plans, including BCBS, Cigna, Ambetter, and United Healthcare, as well as all TennCare Medicaid insurance: Amerigroup Community Care, BlueCare, United Healthcare Community Plan, and Wellpoint Community Care.

Experience a safe transition from hydrocodone, oxycodone, OxyContin, heroin, fentanyl, methadone, morphine, Kratom, 7-OH (7-Hydroxy-opioids), Tramadol, Opana, codeine, oxymorphone, Tramadol, Percocet, and other opioids.

Call or text us at (615) 927-7802 to speak to someone about our telemedicine Suboxone program. You can also message us securely on the Spruce Health mobile app.

Does Suboxone Build Up in the Body?

Yes. Because buprenorphine has a long half-life, Suboxone can accumulate in the body, particularly during the early stages of treatment. This accumulation is expected and helps provide steady control of withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

When prescribed and monitored appropriately, this buildup is not harmful and contributes to the medication’s effectiveness.

What Happens When Suboxone Leaves Your System?

If Suboxone is stopped abruptly, withdrawal symptoms can occur, especially after extended use. These symptoms may include:

• Muscle aches
• Anxiety
• Insomnia
• Nausea
• Cravings

To minimize discomfort and risk, discontinuation should always be done using a gradual, medically supervised taper.

Why Suboxone’s Long Duration Supports Recovery

Suboxone’s extended presence in the body helps:

• Prevent withdrawal between doses
• Reduce opioid cravings
• Lower relapse risk
• Support long-term treatment stability

This makes Suboxone an effective tool for many patients in medication-assisted treatment (MAT).

Suboxone Treatment at Recovery Care of Columbia

At Recovery Care of Columbia, Suboxone is prescribed as part of a personalized, evidence-based treatment plan. Our team provides telemedicine addiction treatment with careful monitoring, patient education, and ongoing support to help individuals achieve and maintain recovery.

If you have questions about Suboxone, how long it stays in your system, or whether treatment is right for you, call or text us at (615) 927-7802. Our friendly staff is available to help.

Key Takeaways

• Suboxone can stay in your system 7–10 days or longer
• Buprenorphine’s long half-life provides consistent symptom control
• Detection times vary by test type and individual factors
• Never stop Suboxone without medical guidance

Why Choose RCC? (Brag Block)

• Accredited by The Joint Commission
• Clinic owners in long-term recovery
• Over 100+ Google Reviews (from real patients)
• Recipient of Tennessee’s very first Virtual OBOT medical license
• Over 1000 patients served since 2021
• 2025 regional award winner for the “Best Substance Abuse Facility” by Best of Tennessee
• Same-day Suboxone prescriptions
• A kind and caring staff, some who are in recovery
• Overnight Suboxone delivery available in most areas (the pharmacy charges a delivery fee)
• A compassionate team of caring doctors, nurse practitioners, counselors, and administrators who genuinely care about your recovery.
• No clinic visits, ever. 100% online Suboxone treatment statewide
• Same-day appointments available every Monday through Friday from 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM (based on availability)
• Evening appointments available every Monday and Wednesday until 9:00 PM

Our helpful staff is happy to answer any questions you may have. Call us or send us a text at (931) 548-3062, or message us securely using the Spruce Health mobile app.

Worried about starting online addiction treatment? Learn what to expect during your first Suboxone telemedicine appointment.

Register Today – Get Seen Today – Receive a Suboxone Prescription Today

• TennCare Medicaid addiction treatment coverage
• Commercial insurance Suboxone program acceptance
• SA payment plan for self-pay telemedicine Suboxone
• A sliding-scale program for eligible patients

You can review insurance and pricing details before scheduling, so there are no surprises. 

If you have TennCare Medicaid insurance, your treatment and medication costs are typically $0. If you have commercial health insurance, we will provide you with a treatment cost estimate before scheduling your first telemedicine appointment. If you don’t have health insurance, we offer biweekly and monthly payment plans.

Related Opioid Addiction Treatment Articles

• The Truth About Suboxone and Addiction Treatment
• What is Precipitated Withdrawal?
• How Long Should I Stay on Suboxone

External Resources

• Kratom/7-OH/7-hydroxymitragynine addiction is another opioid addiction-related issue facing Tennessean’s, thanks to it being readily available and unregulated. Learn more about Kratom addiction and virtual treatment options in Tennessee.
• DEA.gov – Opioid Addiction Resources
• Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA)
• Centers for Disease Control and Prevention | CDC.gov
• National Institute on Drug Abuse
• National Center on Substance Abuse and Child Welfare