Buprenorphine Home Start Guide

Print out the home start guide here

Step 1: Place a 20mcg patch Butrans Patch for indication of PAIN. 

*****IT IS OK EVEN IF NOT IN ANY WITHDRAWAL.****

Step 2: Contact the Substance Use Navigator (SUN) 

• SUN will problem solve, motivate, and arrange follow up. 

Step 3: Prescribe at least one week supply of Suboxone sublingual strips

• 8 mg BID (14 strips)

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Step 4: Explain home starts protocol to patient as follows:

• 1,2,3....Wait, withdrawals, dose 

• Wait ( 12 hours)

• Make sure you feel really bad from withdrawals.

• Take 8mg tablet or strip UNDER YOUR TONGUE.

• If you don’t feel better in an hour take another 8mg tablet or strip.

TIPS

• You shouldn’t don’t need more than 4 strips (32 mg) in a single day.

• Next Day, Begin Suboxone 8 mg sublingual twice daily dosing starting next morning/evening 

• Follow up in Bridge Clinic as scheduled

• Contact SUN or return to the ED for questions, concerns, or precipitated withdrawal

Step 5: Provide Naloxone kit and overdose education