Subutex | Hitting the Ceiling

In October of 2002, the Food and Drug Administration approved a formulation called Subutex. Subutex is used in the initial stages of opiate addiction therapy to help alleviate withdrawal symptom pain while allowing the patient to experience a lesser degree of sedation and respiratory depression. It also doesn't allow any significant impairment of cognitive of motor skills.

Subutex has what is called a 'ceiling effect,' which means if increased dosages are given the medication will not produce increased effects after a certain point, i.e.: ceiling. Because of this ceiling effect, the medication is less susceptible to abuse than other opioids.