Like most prescription medications, Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) expires. If you don’t store the medication properly, you can make it less effective even sooner.
According to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), a batch is good for 12 months.[1] If you store the medication properly, it should last for a year.
The FDA says Suboxone should be stored at 77 degrees F, but it can get as high as 86 degrees F.[2] If you let your medications get too warm, they could be less effective and expire sooner.
It’s possible that expired Suboxone will still relieve cravings and withdrawal symptoms, but in general, it’s better not to take expired buprenorphine.
There’s a strong chance that expired Suboxone may not work, which could cause you to be under-dosed and experience cravings or even relapse to opioid use. If your medication has expired, talk to your doctor about getting a new prescription.
Although it likely won’t harm you, call your doctor before taking expired buprenorphine or Suboxone. They may be able to call in a same-day prescription to your pharmacy, ensuring you get the proper dose you need to treat your opioid use disorder (OUD).
While this may be difficult for some in-person doctors to do, online Suboxone clinics like Bicycle Health are often able to fill the treatment gap and provide emergency Suboxone. In fact, about 90% of Bicycle Health patients are able to fill their Suboxone prescription the same day they meet with a doctor.
In general, Suboxone should be stored in a cool, dry and dark place. It should never get wet. It should never be removed from the packages until right before you administer it.
It should also never be left out in a place where it could be taken by others, stolen, or even accidentally consumed by others.
If you have young children in the home, you may want to keep your medication locked up or stored in a remote location to avoid accidental ingestion. [5]
Yes, Suboxone strips or films will melt in the heat. They should be stored at 77 degrees Fahrenheit, and although you can store your medication in heat as high as 86 degrees, this may increase the chance of the strips overheating or melting. Don’t leave your Suboxone film in the car on a hot day, sitting out in the sun, or next to a heater.
Bicycle Health is a telemedicine addiction treatment service. Our doctors meet with you remotely/via telehealth and offer a prescription for Suboxone. The team can also help you with counseling sessions and many other resources to support recovery.
With Bicycle Health, you can get treatment from the comfort of your home. Reach out to us today if you are interested in Suboxone therapy.
Peter Manza, PhD received his BA in Psychology and Biology from the University of Rochester and his PhD in Integrative Neuroscience at Stony Brook University. He is currently working as a research scientist in Washington, DC. His research focuses on the role of the brain dopamine system in substance use disorders and in aging. He also studies brain function in obesity and eating disorders.
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