What is the Suboxone induction phase? Suboxone is used to aid patients in conquering opiate use disorder (OUD). When using this drug for treating opiate dependency, patients go through three phases:
- Induction
- Stabilization
- Maintenance
Induction is the first phase of treatment, typically lasting 2 to 3 days. This is the phase in which the body is being detoxified from the original opiate and buprenorphine is replacing it. A usual starting dose of Suboxone is about 8 mg, twice a day. To reduce the risk of as precipitated withdrawals (the opioid receptors suddenly experiencing the displacement of the original opioids with buprenorphine), smaller doses may be taken initially. These doses may be as small as 0.5-1 mg.
Because most pharmacies do not carry these smaller doses, generally 8 mg tablets or strips are prescribed, and cut into smaller pieces. The dose required during this time lets the treating physician know how much Suboxone will be needed per day for the next two phases.