How long does Zubsolv stay in your system?

Zubsolv, which combines buprenorphine and naloxone to help treat opioid addiction in conjunction with counseling and behavioral therapy, can stay in your system for up to 11 days.

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist that binds to opioid receptors in the brain, but does not activate them as much as a full agonist like heroin, oxycodone or hydrocodone would. It produces enough of a “high” to stave off withdrawal symptoms for people with opioid addiction who are trying to quit. The buprenorphine in Zubsolv has a half-life of 24 to 42 hours. The naloxone, which is only added to discourage abuse of buprenorphine, has a half-life of 2 to 12 hours.

A drug’s half-life refers to the time that it takes for the drug in your bloodstream to reduce by 50%. In general, it takes about 5 to 7 half-lives to fully clear all of a drug from your body.

After taking a medication, it can be detected in blood, urine, saliva and other fluids for a period of time. How long a drug stays in your body varies from person to person. Factors such as age, gender, diet, environment, weight and pregnancy, genetics, and drug-drug or food-drug interactions all play a role in a drug’s metabolism. In general, buprenorphine can be detected in the urine for up to 11 days.

Buprenorphine isn’t typically tested for in standard drug screening panels such as those mandated by an employer such as the federal government, or potential employer, but employers may choose to do it as a separate test.

The buprenorphine in Zubsolv hits the bloodstream quicker than Suboxone, another brand name buprenorphine/naloxone combination. As a result, smaller doses may be used.

Zubsolv (buprenorphine/naloxone) is given as a tablet placed under the tongue. It is available in six strengths:

• 0.7 mg buprenorphine /0.18 mg naloxone
• 1.4 mg buprenorphine/0.36 mg naloxone
• 2.9 mg buprenorphine/0.71 mg naloxone
• 5.7 mg buprenorphine/1.4 mg naloxone
• 8.6 mg buprenorphine/2.1 mg naloxone
• 11.4 mg buprenorphine/2.9 mg naloxone

The most common side effects of Zubsolv include:

• Headache
• Pain
• Nausea, vomiting
• Sweating
• Difficulty sleeping
• Constipation

More serious side effects of Zubsolv may include:

• Breathing difficulty
• Overdose
• Withdrawal symptoms

Treatment with Zubsolv can continue indefinitely. Physical withdrawal symptoms may occur for up to one month after stopping treatment with Zubsolv.