I have been searching site after site looking for the answer on how to maximize Suboxone absorption and still all I have found is "tricks" and products that do not make a difference. I want to post this question and answer this question myself because I have finally found an answer. From an actual neurologist!! (I hope I spelled that correctly)
How do I maximize Suboxone absorption?
Question posted by sarrocks1 on 13 Dec 2009
Last updated on 9 August 2023 by mcatyoung
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35 Answers
I have gotten myself down to 4 mg per day. 2mg in morning and 2 mg late afternoon. I feel SO much better. I am less tired. I don’t like the taste either, but for NO CRAVINGS it’s a trade off and worth it. I just wish I felt better in the morning. I wake up EVERYDAY feeling like shit. Anybody else experience this? And I’m eating Too much sugar!
Sarrocks1 are you going to give us the answer that he gave you that works or did you just want to tell us you know a better way but don't want to tell us??? I'm confused why you would post such a thing knowing how hard it is to get actual tips that work! Are you going to tell us the "holy grail" advice you got or just tease us
I've been trying to figure this out for the longest time... about 2 years...
If I sit, using, the standard method - after about 20 minutes, I look under my tongue, using a flashlight - and, most of the film is still there. It seems that it won't dissolve completely, without some saliva introduced. So, I start moving my tongue around, start talking, whatever, and, finally, the taste hits me... what, do I do , then?!
It's not an answer, but a thank you. I've been on 16mg Suboxone for 5 years and I was never told how to properly take it except what I read on the box. I wondered why it seemed like it was really not working because most the time I put the strips under my tongue, they either touch or fold in half and don't stay under there and most of the time I end up swallowing the rest. Just a big thank you to all. Maybe now I will feel a lot better than I have!
1. DO NOT eat, drink, smoke, chew, etc. anything for 30 minutes before putting your Suboxone under your tongue! Rinse your mouth with water for a few minutes when you start this 30 minutes wait. (Purified bottled water is best for dropping acid levels in your mouth, and therefore cleanses your mouth so the Suboxone will be a little more effective.)
2. Place Suboxone under your tongue and allow it to fully dissolve without moving it around or chewing it.
3. Leave it in your mouth for 30 minutes. Swish it around now and then while you wait. (Warning: Swishing will cause more saliva to build, which means there will be a lot of spit, in your mouth, for a half an hour!
4. After 30 minutes of swishing and holding, swallow it! Don't spit it out!
5. DO NOT eat, drink, smoke, chew, etc. for 30 minutes after swallowing your well absorbed Suboxone/saliva concoction.
Note: If you ever have a chance to take Suboxone with an extremely dry mouth, take it, trust me when I tell you that you'll feel it twice as good! The problem is that purposely trying to make your mouth dry isn't all that easy. Anyway, the process is all the same, except you'll have nothing in your mouth but liquid Suboxone! It seems to me that, the less saliva you produce, the better it's going to work.
I hope this helps out in some way or another.
If anyone actually tries taking Suboxone while not producing saliva, let me know what you think. I know it's usually different for everyone, but I truly believe that everyone that tries this will be surprised that taking it with a dry mouth makes a big difference!
After too many years to count on legal pain meds from A to Z buprenorphine is the answer, unfortunately for folks with real pain naloxone was added, having said chris g is right as rain about it all. If you are able to be patient and lie down with a dry mouth the absorption rate is unsurpassed. I dont know if it does any more for lessening the pain but you can certainly tell that you're getting more for your money, its undeniable ! One thing i would add to #5 would be "talk" ( No Talking Zone )
I've been taking Suboxone for 12 years and the best way to absorb and get full dose is putting the dose under your tongue and GO TO SLEEP! I set my alarm at least 30 mins earlier in the mornings. I have my dose ready on my night stand within reach so I don't have to get up and fool with it while half asleep. I put the dose under my tongue, go back to sleep until my alarm sounds to get up and go to work. I always feel better when I do it this way. And don't take too much. I think that's a common problem. Try a quarter and see how it feels. You don't have to have a lot of medicine every single day. If I take a lot, I feel so much worse. And taking a good or bc powder helps with the drowsiness effect. Just don't overdue it with that as I've done. We are addicts and we take it to the extreme but I try to be aware when I'm overdoing it. All of this shit is hard and I hate it but it's better than the alternative.
I got a good job, pay my bills on time and I don't wake up in a cold sweat every morning. One day I'll come off of this too but until then...
@AngEmo
Well if you know some best way to maximize the asorbtion... Then by All Means! Please fill Us In???
It’s funny that the neurologist told you that because I usually keep mine in my mouth for 1 hour and 20 min. Everyone tells me I keep it in my mouth way too long and it’s completely unneccessary. I’ve considered the opinions of others, but I take 2.5 8mg a day, so according to the doctor you saw I’m actually doing pretty good- I mean if I wanted to be technical I can take off 5 min. What do you think? I know someone who takes 0.5mg, I believe, and she only waits 1-2 minutes which is incredibly short, but she says it works for her, so I guess to each there own. Also I do know people that spit it out afterwards and still have beneficial results.
You are right about Suboxone being different for everyone, but that's all. Suboxone is absorbed through the soft tissue in your mouth. Some people think it will only work under your tongue, but as long as the Suboxone breaks up and the saliva touches that soft tissue then it will work because your mouth is full of soft tissue. Anything swallowed after doesn't matter since Suboxone is only absorbed in the mouth by soft tissue. What works best for me is I take it when I wake up but I lay there and usually fall back asleep. I have woke up an hour or more later with most of it gone and my entire mouth tasting like a Sub because my saliva was moving and staying in my mouth more than it would if I was up and awake.
I know that sounds like BS, but it's true. The longer a Sub mixed with saliva is in your mouth, and the more soft tissue it touches the better a Sub is going to work. There is plenty of actual documentation online about how Suboxone works and a lot of the information is backed by professionals.
Old thread but just wanted to throw in a method I surprisingly don’t see mentioned that has helped me a ton because I’m one of those people who salivates way too much to hold it for a full 30 minutes. It’s honestly pretty simple; put it in your lip like you’re packing dip. It absorbs just like chewing tobacco would and you can still swallow the majority of the saliva you produce towards the back of your mouth. Just keep that lip in semi-tight so the saliva doesn’t rinse it out and you should have no problem keeping it there for even 2-3 hours if you really wanted to. Eventually you won’t feel the slight bulge of it in your lip anymore, at which point you know you’re in the clear to drink/eat, etc. Plus you can still talk with this method as long as you’re weary not to let your saliva get to it too much. Hope this helps someone through their trials!
It's not an answer but I'm using it for the first time and how can I make the tatse not be so bitter? I know it's silly but it bothers me to the point I need a drink or to help get rid of the tatse? Can anyone help I've tried looking online but have found nothing.
You just get used to it, most of them taste like grapefruit, which is obviously no one's favorite
I realize how old this thread originally started was but I see people have left responses over the years and I have to share my way. I have found that the best way to absorb the most is that the longer you can keep it in your mouth, the more you will absorb. The only way I feel you can do this is by falling asleep with it under your tongue. Take a drink of water to wet your mouth, put it under your tongue, and fall asleep. Your mouth will fill with saliva and the sub just soaks in so much better. I usually wake after 2 hours and spit everything out. You don’t need 2 hours but if you can fall asleep at least an hour it all soaks in, it works for me anyway. Of course you must sleep on your side to do this and you could possibly drool a little but I tell you it’s worth it. If I’m awake and take it- it just doesn’t have the same effect. Hopefully this helps someone.
See, this is where things get complicated. I’ve read that it’s best for your mouth to be completely dry. Individual anecdotal evidence is hard to verify.
For the person who can't get past 15 minutes without swallowing, spit it into a clean pill bottle, I am guessing you have that nasal drip in the back of your throat, spit that out or swallow it and put the saliva from the bottle back in your mouth.
This is what I do for maximum absorption.Rinse your mouth out with luke warm water for ten seconds.Then place the film beneath your tongue and lay down for 30 minutes.Don't talk,eat,or drink within this time.You can spit the juice out if you want because all it is is the naloxone.After 30 minutes of laying down once you get up you should feel great.
I need help, I cant get past 15 minutes without my body forcing me to swallow im on 3 8mg strips and I feel like it's not working because I can't physically stop myself from swallowing too early.
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suboxone, opiate dependence, naloxone
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