Buprenorphine Naloxone

Introduction

Written by Malini Ghoshal, RPh, MS
Medically reviewed by Melissa Badowski, PharmD, MPH, FCCP
Updated on December 20, 2023

Buprenorphine/naloxone (byoo pre NOR feen/nal OKS one) is a generic medication that’s prescribed for opioid use disorder. Its brand-name versions are Suboxone and Zubsolv. The cost of buprenorphine/naloxone with or without insurance can depend on several factors. It might be lowered by using a coupon.

Specifically, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has approved buprenorphine/naloxone to help treat opioid dependence, also called opioid use disorder. (With dependence, your body needs the drug in order to function like usual.) Buprenorphine/naloxone is taken along with other support measures, such as behavioral therapy, as part of a complete treatment program.

Read on to learn about buprenorphine/naloxone and cost. You’ll also find available coupons and suggestions for ways to save on your prescription. If you’d like more information about buprenorphine/naloxone, including its uses, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

Cost of buprenorphine/naloxone

Like other medications, the cost of buprenorphine/naloxone can vary. Certain factors may affect its price, such as:

• your insurance plan, if you have coverage
• the pharmacy you use
• your treatment plan

To find out how much buprenorphine/naloxone costs, ask your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider. They may be able to suggest ways to save money on your prescription, including those described in this article. To find out what you’d pay using savings coupons, read the “Coupons for buprenorphine/naloxone” section.

Coupons for buprenorphine/naloxone

Prescription drug coupons can help you save money by lowering the cost of buprenorphine/naloxone. The Optum Perks coupons above can provide significant savings on your prescription costs.

Note: Optum Perks coupons cannot be used with any insurance copays or benefits.

Available app for coupons

To make finding and using these coupons easier, you can download the Optum Perks app. To learn more about this prescription discount app, see this article.

Insurance and other considerations for buprenorphine/naloxone

Here’s a list of things to consider about the cost of prescription drugs:

• Prior authorization. If you have prescription drug insurance, your insurance company may require prior authorization before it covers the cost of buprenorphine/naloxone. In this case, your doctor will communicate with your insurance company regarding your prescription for buprenorphine/naloxone. The insurance company will decide whether to cover the medication. If a drug requires prior authorization and you begin treatment without this, you may have to pay the full price of the drug.
• A 3-month supply. If you’re on buprenorphine/naloxone treatment long term, your doctor may suggest a 90-day supply of the medication. This will have to be approved by your insurance company. Getting a 90-day supply could help lower the drug’s cost. It could also save you time having to make trips to your pharmacy.

If you have questions about any of these considerations, ask your doctor or pharmacist. Or contact your insurance company and talk with a representative.

If you don’t have a health insurance plan, let your doctor or pharmacist know. They may suggest online pharmacy options you could use. You can also ask them about ways to obtain health insurance coverage.

Generics vs. brand-names

Buprenorphine/naloxone is a generic medication. Its brand-name versions are shown in the following table:

* Sublingual products are placed under your tongue to dissolve.
† Buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film can also be placed inside of the left or right cheek to dissolve.

A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.) Generics usually cost less than brand-name drugs. And they’re thought to be as safe and effective as the brand-name versions.

If your doctor has prescribed buprenorphine/naloxone but you’re interested in taking Zubsolv or Suboxone instead, let them know. They may prefer one medication over the other. Also, check whether your insurance plan covers only one version of the drug.

To learn how the cost of buprenorphine/naloxone compares with its brand-name versions, talk with your doctor or pharmacist. You could also contact your insurance company. 

Common questions about buprenorphine/naloxone and cost

Here are some common questions about buprenorphine/naloxone and their answers.

Does buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual tablet cost less than the buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film?

Possibly. The cost of buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual* tablet compared with buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film depends on various factors. These include:

• whether you have insurance or are paying out of pocket
• the pharmacy you use
• your treatment plan
• whether you’re prescribed a 30-day or 90-day supply of medication

If you have questions about the cost of different forms of buprenorphine/naloxone, talk with your doctor, pharmacist, or insurance provider.

* Sublingual products are placed under your tongue to dissolve.

Why are costs different for brand-name drugs vs. generic drugs?

Brand-name drugs can be expensive because of the studies needed to test how safe and effective they are.

Makers of a brand-name drug can sell their drug for up to 20 years. When the patent for a brand-name drug expires, other drugmakers can make and sell generic versions. A generic medication is an identical copy of the active drug in a brand-name medication. (An active drug is the ingredient that makes a medication work.)

This competition may help keep costs of generic medications lower. Also, generic medications contain the same active drugs as brand-name medications. So they don’t require the same testing, which can be costly.

If you’d like to know more about the cost differences between brand-name and generic drugs, talk with your doctor or pharmacist.

What to ask about buprenorphine/naloxone

This article provides cost information related to buprenorphine/naloxone. It also offers suggestions for ways to save money on your prescription. Above on this page, you’ll find coupons for buprenorphine/naloxone.

If you have more questions about paying for this medication, ask your doctor or pharmacist. You can also contact your insurance company.

Here’s a list of questions you may want to ask regarding the cost of your medication:

• Would my cost for buprenorphine/naloxone change if my doctor recommends switching forms?
• Does my cost depend on my dosage of the medication?
• How does the cost of generic buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual tablet compare with the brand-name version Zubsolv?

Resources

• Buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual film, for sublingual or buccal use CIII. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/4951ec29-609b-4836-b0e4-0d9c1d6ae6fe/spl-doc
• Buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual tablets, CIII. (2023). nctr-crs.fda.gov/fdalabel/services/spl/set-ids/91b68606-05de-4586-ae31-07e8cc9160cf/spl-doc
• Food and Drug Administration. (2023). Orange Book: Approved drug products with therapeutic equivalence evaluations. accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/cder/ob/index.cfm
• Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) sublingual film, for sublingual or buccal use, CIII. (2022). accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/022410s049lbl.pdf
• Zubsolv (buprenorphine and naloxone sublingual tablets), CIII. (2023). accessdata.fda.gov/drugsatfda_docs/label/2023/204242s025lbl.pdf

Disclaimer: Optum Perks has made every effort to make certain that all information is factually correct, comprehensive, and up to date. However, this article should not be used as a substitute for the knowledge and expertise of a licensed healthcare professional. You should always consult your doctor or another healthcare professional before taking any medication. The drug information contained herein is subject to change and is not intended to cover all possible uses, directions, precautions, warnings, drug interactions, allergic reactions, or adverse effects. The absence of warnings or other information for a given drug does not indicate that the drug or drug combination is safe, effective, or appropriate for all patients or all specific uses.