Zubsolv and Suboxone are not the same medication, but they contain the same two active ingredients: buprenorphine (a partial opioid that reduces cravings and withdrawal) and naloxone (an opioid blocker included to discourage misuse). Both are prescribed for opioid dependence and work the same way in the body. The key differences come down to formulation, dosing, bioavailability, and the experience of actually taking them.
Same Ingredients, Different Doses
Both medications combine buprenorphine and naloxone at a 4:1 ratio. But because Zubsolv is formulated to absorb more efficiently under the tongue, the milligram numbers on the label are lower than Suboxone’s for an equivalent effect. A Zubsolv 5.7 mg/1.4 mg tablet delivers the same amount of buprenorphine into your bloodstream as a Suboxone 8 mg/2 mg tablet. That roughly 29% lower dose number can be confusing if you’re switching between the two, but it doesn’t mean you’re getting less medication.
Here’s how the doses line up:
- Zubsolv 0.7/0.18 mg corresponds to Suboxone 2/0.5 mg
- Zubsolv 1.4/0.36 mg corresponds to Suboxone 4/1 mg
- Zubsolv 2.9/0.71 mg corresponds to no direct Suboxone equivalent
- Zubsolv 5.7/1.4 mg corresponds to Suboxone 8/2 mg
- Zubsolv 8.6/2.1 mg corresponds to Suboxone 12/3 mg
- Zubsolv 11.4/2.9 mg corresponds to Suboxone 16/4 mg (two 8/2 mg films)
Zubsolv actually comes in six tablet strengths, while Suboxone film is available in four. That extra granularity can make it easier for a prescriber to fine-tune your dose without asking you to split films or combine multiple strips.
Why Zubsolv Uses a Lower Milligram Dose
The reason Zubsolv’s numbers are smaller comes down to bioavailability, which is simply how much of the drug actually reaches your bloodstream. Zubsolv’s tablet formulation was engineered to dissolve faster and absorb more completely under the tongue. The FDA confirmed that one Zubsolv 5.7 mg tablet produces equivalent peak blood levels and total drug exposure compared to one Suboxone 8 mg tablet. In other words, your body sees the same amount of buprenorphine from either product.
Naloxone absorption is slightly different. Zubsolv delivers about 12% less naloxone into the bloodstream compared to an equivalent Suboxone dose. In practice, this is unlikely to matter for most people. Naloxone is poorly absorbed under the tongue in general and primarily serves as a deterrent against injecting the tablet or film. When taken as directed, naloxone has minimal clinical effect.
Tablet vs. Film
Suboxone is a thin dissolvable film you place under your tongue or against the inside of your cheek. Zubsolv is a small sublingual tablet that also goes under the tongue. This is the most noticeable day-to-day difference between the two.
Zubsolv tablets dissolve faster than Suboxone film, which some people find more convenient. A phase 3 clinical trial also found that patients preferred Zubsolv’s taste over Suboxone film. Anyone who has taken Suboxone knows the flavor is not pleasant, so taste can genuinely affect whether someone sticks with treatment long-term. Zubsolv has a menthol flavor designed to make the experience less unpleasant.
Zubsolv also comes in child-resistant packaging, a practical safety feature for households with young children. Suboxone film is individually wrapped in foil pouches but uses a different packaging approach.
Clinical Effectiveness
In head-to-head clinical trials, Zubsolv performed as well as Suboxone film in treating opioid dependence. Both medications reduce cravings, prevent withdrawal symptoms, and block the euphoric effects of other opioids to the same degree. There is no evidence that one works better than the other at equivalent doses.
Side effects are also comparable because the active ingredients are identical. The most common ones include headache, nausea, constipation, sweating, and insomnia. Since both products deliver buprenorphine and naloxone to the same receptors in the brain, switching from one to the other at the correct equivalent dose should not change how you feel.
Switching Between the Two
If you’re currently on one and considering a switch, the most important thing to understand is that the milligram numbers are not interchangeable. You cannot simply swap an 8 mg Suboxone film for an 8 mg Zubsolv tablet, because that would increase your buprenorphine exposure. The conversion needs to follow the equivalence table above. A Zubsolv 5.7 mg tablet replaces a Suboxone 8 mg film, not an 8.6 mg tablet.
People switch between these medications for several reasons: insurance coverage or formulary changes, cost differences, preference for a tablet over a film (or vice versa), or taste. Zubsolv was FDA-approved in July 2013, manufactured by the Swedish pharmaceutical company Orexo. Suboxone has been on the market longer and remains more widely recognized, though generic versions of buprenorphine/naloxone sublingual film are now available as well, which can affect pricing.
Cost and Insurance Coverage
Whether Zubsolv or Suboxone costs less depends entirely on your insurance plan. Some formularies favor one over the other, and copays can vary significantly. Generic buprenorphine/naloxone films tend to be the cheapest option when available. If cost is a factor, it’s worth checking whether your plan covers the brand-name product or a generic equivalent, since both Zubsolv (brand only) and Suboxone (brand and generic film) may have different tiers on your formulary.
The bottom line: Zubsolv and Suboxone treat the same condition with the same active ingredients and produce equivalent results. They differ in formulation, dose labeling, taste, and form factor. Neither is objectively better. The right choice depends on your preference, your prescriber’s recommendation, and what your insurance covers.