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Does Suboxone Show Up on a Drug Test?

Does Suboxone Show Up on a Drug Test?

Just last year, almost 70,000 Americans died of an opioid overdose. Every year opioid misuse and overdose cost billions of dollars in health care, criminal justice, and lost productivity. Testing for drugs at clinics, Suboxone centers, and other medical facilities is beneficial to combat misuse, but does Suboxone show up on a drug test? Keep reading to find out.

What Is Suboxone?

Suboxone, a brand name for generic medications buprenorphine and naloxone, combines the two. Buprenorphine is sometimes called a narcotic but is an opioid medication. Naloxone blocks the effects of opioid medication.

The pharmaceutical use for Suboxone is to treat opiate addiction, but this drug, like many others, can be abused.

Suboxone Side Effects

Suboxone can cause mild and serious side effects, the more common side effects include the following:

  • Headache
  • Anxiety
  • Insomnia
  • Sweating
  • Depression
  • Constipation
  • Nausea
  • Weakness or fatigue

The more serious side effects occur for those who abuse the drug. Although uncommon, someone who takes this drug might experience these symptoms:

  • Severe allergic reaction
  • Abuse and dependence
  • Breathing problems
  • Coma
  • Hormone problems
  • Liver damage
  • Severe withdrawal symptoms

Because Suboxone has opioid effects, long-term use can lead to physical and psychological dependence. Taking this drug can cause drug-seeking and drug-craving behaviors.

Abuse can lead to dangerous side effects and even death which is why testing for this drug is important for Suboxone clinics and other medical facilities. But, does Suboxone show up on a drug test?

Does Suboxone Show Up on a Drug Test?

Suboxone can show up on a drug test, but what does Suboxone show up as on a drug test, and does Suboxone show up on a 10 panel drug test? 12 Panel Now offers a 10 panel drug test that tests for buprenorphine.

Since Suboxone is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, Suboxone will show up as buprenorphine (BUP).

Does Suboxone show up on a 12 panel drug test? We also offer a 12 panel drug test that also tests for buprenorphine.

Since buprenorphine is a synthetic opioid, is Suboxone an opiate when drug tested? Technically speaking, yes when a Suboxone drug test tests for buprenorphine.

Keep in mind that not every panel test that tests for buprenorphine can detect the metabolites. Suboxone is similar to opioid drugs but has a different chemical that breaks down into different metabolites.

So, can Suboxone show up as oxycodone on a drug test? No, it cannot.

Does Suboxone Show Up on a Drug Test

Suboxone Detection Time

Compared to other opioids, buprenorphine in Suboxone has a longer elimination half-life. The half-life refers to how long it takes for half of one dose of the drug to leave the body.

The elimination half-life for buprenorphine lasts for 37 hours. This means that it can take over 8 days for Suboxone to leave the body entirely.

However, the detection time for Suboxone depends on individual factors such as:

  • Body fat content
  • Weight and height
  • Age
  • Metabolism speed
  • Dosage of the drug
  • Abuse timeline
  • Liver health

Metabolizing Suboxone creates metabolites in the liver that can stay in the body longer than the drug can. Modern drug tests like those at 12 Panel Now can detect the metabolites that can produce a positive test after 8 days.

In the urine, buprenorphine can become detectable 40 minutes after use. Heavy drug users might show a positive test for up to two weeks after use.

Do employers test for Suboxone and do companies test for Suboxone? Yes, in fact, urine tests are commonly used by employers. When it comes to Suboxone and employment drug testing, it is not done in a way to prevent use.

Although a Suboxone addiction is not as common as other addiction disorders, it is part of the opioid problem. Facilities might use a drug test for Suboxone treatment.

Testing for Buprenorphine

A Suboxone program drug test often comes in the form of a panel test. Both the 10 panel urine drug test dip card and 12 panel urine drug test dip card test for buprenorphine which can spot the use of Suboxone.

Using a Multi-Screen Test

When you use a panel test, you won’t only be testing for Suboxtrone, so it is essential to know how to use these tests.

After obtaining a urine sample, you’ll remove the urine dip test from its pouch and remove the cap from the dip card. Place the absorbent part of the test strip into the urine sample for 5 seconds.

If the urine sample touches the plastic part of the device, the test could come up inclusive. It is always a good idea to complete a bulk drug test order in case of mishaps like this.

Replace the cap and lay the dip card on a flat surface that won’t absorb the urine sample. After 5 minutes, read the results. Results after 10 minutes might be incorrect or inconclusive.

You’ll complete this same process whether you choose to purchase a 10 panel dip card or a 12 panel test dip card. You can read 12 Panel Now reviews to make a more informed decision based on your needs.

Reading the Results

You’ll have multiple test results to read through, but if you are specifically looking for buprenorphine, find the abbreviation “BUP.”

The two regions, control region (C) and test region (T), will be displayed. A colored band should always appear in the control region (C). If a band only appears in the test region (T), the test is invalid and you’ll need to try again.

A positive test is one where a colored band only appears in the control region (C). Colored bands appear in both the control region (C) and test region (T) if the test is negative.

Suboxone Program Drug Test

A Suboxone program drug test can test for this substance in the body plus others if the test is paneled. Clinics will use these tests to check for buprenorphine in the system.

12 Panel Now offers more than one drug test for Suboxone treatment clinics. For example, you can purchase a buprenorphine urine drug test strip that solely tests for this drug or a drug panel cup that tests for multiple substances.