Medication-Assisted Treatment

Does Buprenorphine / Subutex block opiates?

Fiona Kennedy
Written byFiona Kennedy
Dr Olalekan Otulana
Medically Reviewed by Dr Olalekan Otulana MBChB, MRCGP, FRSPH, MBA Addiction Specialist Physician
Last updated:
24 July 2025

Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist, so it can block the effects of opiates in the bloodstream and precipitate withdrawal symptoms, speeding up the withdrawal process

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