Learning library
Buprenorphine Suboxone and Subutex
Identifying Each Form of Suboxone

Identifying Each Form of Suboxone

Suboxone comes in several different forms, shapes, colors, and strengths. Learn what your Suboxone prescription should look like to help you take the proper dosage every time.

Suboxone comes in several different forms, shapes, colors, and strengths, just like most other prescription drugs. When a provider writes you a script of Suboxone as part of medication-assisted treatment (MAT), it is important that you take the proper dosage to ensure safety and efficacy. You could mistakenly take the wrong dosage if you don't know what your Suboxone prescription should look like. Pharmacy errors are rare, but they can happen, so you should be vigilant and double-check that you receive the correct medication. On that note, you should only obtain Suboxone through a valid prescription from a qualified provider. This is also a helpful tip for any other medication you take. So, what does Suboxone look like, and how can you protect yourself from counterfeits? Familiarizing yourself with how your Suboxone prescription should look can help prevent potential harm to your health and recovery maintenance.

If you aren't sure that your Suboxone medication looks correct or that the dosage is accurate, you can consult with the expert clinicians at Confidant Health's online Suboxone clinic. Our competent team is here to help answer all your questions about Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder.

What Forms Does Suboxone Come In?

Suboxone is available in dissolvable strips or films and sublingual pills or tablets. Each form comes in different colors, shapes, and sizes to easily distinguish one form from another. Each pill or strip is also imprinted to identify the strength of the medication.

N2 Strip

The Suboxone N2 strip is orange, rectangle-shaped, and imprinted with N2 in white lettering. The "2" in N2 represents the strength of buprenorphine in this formulation, which is 2 mg along with 0.5 mg of naloxone. You'll notice that Suboxone contains four parts buprenorphine to one part naloxone.

N4 Strip

The Suboxone N4 strip is also orange and rectangular. It is imprinted with N4 in white lettering to represent its strength, which is a 4:1 ratio of 4 mg of buprenorphine to 1 mg of naloxone.

N8 Strip

The Suboxone N8 strip is also a rectangular orange strip. It is imprinted with a white N8, representing its strength of 8 mg of buprenorphine and 2 mg of naloxone, following the same 4:1 ratio.

N12 Strip

Like the other Suboxone strips, the N12 strip is orange and rectangular. It is imprinted with N12 in white lettering to identify its strength of 12 mg of buprenorphine and 3 mg of naloxone, in the usual 4:1 ratio. This is the highest strength of Suboxone prescribed.

📞
Request an Enrollment Call

Our team will call you to answer any questions you have or to help you schedule an appointment.

Request an enrollment call

N2 Pill

The Suboxone N2 pill is orange and hexagon-shaped. Like the N2 strip, it is imprinted with N2 on one side, indicating its strength of a 4:1 ratio of 2 mg of buprenorphine to 0.5 mg of naloxone. The other side is imprinted with a cross shape.

N8 Pill

The Suboxone N8 pill is also orange and hexagonal. It is imprinted with N8 on one side and a cross on the other side. It contains a 4:1 ratio of 8 mg of buprenorphine to 2 mg of naloxone.

B2 and B8 Pill

The B2 pill and B8 pill are the same as the N2 and N8 pills. They are orange and hexagonal and contain the same 4 to 1 ratio of buprenorphine to naloxone. B2 contains 2 mg of buprenorphine, while B8 contains 8 mg. Both pills are imprinted with their strength, either B2 or B8.

Generic Suboxone

You’ll also find generic Suboxone, which can cut down on the cost of the medication. There are many different forms of generic Suboxone, but the main difference will be in the color and shape. Most generic versions of this medication come in pill form, are white or orange, and are circular. Each comes with a unique imprint to help distinguish it from other medications. 

Your provider will help determine which of these forms of Suboxone is suitable for your opioid maintenance treatment. 

🗓️
Book with Confidant

Book with a vetted Confidant Health provider

Book appointment

How Can You Stay Away from Counterfeit Suboxone?

As with many other prescription drugs, Suboxone is sold on the street or online. The ingredients in counterfeit Suboxone are not standardized, so the medication may contain little to no buprenorphine or too much buprenorphine. These counterfeits may also be laced with dangerous levels of fentanyl or methamphetamine.

So, how can you protect yourself from counterfeit Suboxone? Here are a few tips to help you stay safe while receiving Suboxone treatment for opioid use disorder:

1. Know what your Suboxone medication should look like.

Awareness of how your prescription medication should look is one of the best ways to avoid counterfeit pills. The descriptions above can help you identify whether your prescription looks as it should. Keep in mind that the above descriptions are for the brand name Suboxone. Each generic version of Suboxone will look somewhat different, so you should get to know how your specific version should appear. If you ever have questions regarding your medication, please contact your prescriber who will be more than happy to provider further guidance on your script.

2. Purchase Suboxone from a state-licensed pharmacy with a valid prescription.

Filling your Suboxone prescription at a trusted pharmacy is one of the top ways to ensure its authenticity and safety. Although you can use the above pill and film descriptions to help identify authentic Suboxone, there are counterfeits designed to look exactly the same. It can be difficult to detect the differences just by looking at them. Protect yourself from counterfeit medications by obtaining Suboxone at a state-licensed pharmacy.

3. Only use Suboxone pills or films that were prescribed for you.

Your provider uses several factors to determine which form and dosage of Suboxone are right for you. To stay safe, only use the pills that were prescribed specifically for you. Avoid taking Suboxone pills or films from friends or family members, even if they are the same dosage as yours. You can feel more confident about the authenticity of Suboxone when you obtain them from a licensed pharmacy.

Get the Suboxone Help You Need from Confidant Health’s Online Suboxone Doctors

If you ever suspect that your Suboxone may be counterfeit, it is always a good idea to reach out to the clinicians at Confidant's Online Suboxone Clinic. Our goal is to help you stay safe while navigating opioid use disorder. 

This article has been medically reviewed by
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Erin Hillers
Nurse Practitioner

Erin is a Nurse Practitioner with 8 years of experience in midwifery and women's health. She has spent the past 5 years specializing in the treatment of opioid and alcohol use disorders.

Book appointment
👍
Recommended reading
4 mins
read time
Getting Emergency Suboxone: 3 Ways To Obtain It Quickly
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Telemedicine: How it Works and Benefits
4 mins
read time
How to Find Medicaid-Accepting Suboxone Doctors Near You
4 mins
read time
4 Common Ways to Administer Naloxone
4 mins
read time
A Comprehensive Guide to Suboxone Use & Pregnancy
4 mins
read time
Comprehensive Guide to Subutex vs. Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Guide to Different Suboxone Pills
4 mins
read time
Sublocade vs Suboxone: Choosing the Right Option
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Sublingual Film: A Quick Guide
4 mins
read time
Alvogen's Suboxone: Frequently Asked Questions
4 mins
read time
Belbuca vs Suboxone: Comparing the Two
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine and How It Works
4 mins
read time
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine as a Painkiller: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Can Psychiatrists Prescribe Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can Nurse Practitioners Prescribe Buprenorphine for Pain?
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone be Called into a Pharmacy?
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone be Used to Treat Pain?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Doctors and Prescribing Benzodiazepines
4 mins
read time
Can Suboxone Lead to Addiction? Understanding the Risks
4 mins
read time
Can Taking Suboxone Affect Breastfeeding?
4 mins
read time
Can You Overdose on Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is It Possible to Shoot Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is It Possible to Smoke Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Ibuprofen with Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Methadone with Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Seroquel and Suboxone Together?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Tramadol with Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Can You Take Xanax with Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
A Guide to Suboxone Prescriptions
4 mins
read time
Dealing with Suboxone Withdrawal: Symptoms and Remedies
4 mins
read time
Do Employers Test for Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
If Suboxone Dissolves, Can you Swallow it?
4 mins
read time
Does Suboxone Block Methadone?
4 mins
read time
Does buprenorphine show up as an opiate?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Constipation: Understanding the Link
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Weight Gain: Is There a Connection?
4 mins
read time
Does Suboxone Cause a High?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Sleepiness: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Gabapentin & Suboxone: Can You Take Them Together?
4 mins
read time
Generic Suboxone: Uses, Forms and More
4 mins
read time
How and Where to Purchase Suboxone Online
4 mins
read time
How does buprenorphine actually work?
4 mins
read time
How does Suboxone affect your mood?
4 mins
read time
How is buprenorphine taken?
4 mins
read time
How Long Does It Take for Suboxone to Kick In?
4 mins
read time
How Long Does Suboxone Block Opiates?
5 mins
read time
How Long Does Suboxone Stay in Your System?
4 mins
read time
How long should you be on Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
How Long Should You Be Taking Suboxone For?
4 mins
read time
How the Suboxone Spit Method Works
4 mins
read time
Getting Suboxone: A Quick Guide
4 mins
read time
How to Maximize Suboxone Absorption
4 mins
read time
How To Successfully Taper Off Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Is Belbuca the same as Suboxone?
4 mins
read time
Is Buprenorphine a Stimulant?
4 mins
read time
Is Buprenorphine an Opiate?
4 mins
read time
Effectiveness of Buprenorphine for Chronic Pain
4 mins
read time
FDA Approval of Buprenorphine for Pain Management
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine vs Suboxone: Understanding the Distinction
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine for Depression: Is it FDA Approved?
4 mins
read time
Combining Klonopin or Lorazepam with Suboxone: Is It Safe?
4 mins
read time
Mixing Suboxone and Kratom: Risks and Precautions
4 mins
read time
Liver Safety and Suboxone Use: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Long-term Use of Suboxone: Risks and Benefits
4 mins
read time
Methadone vs Buprenorphine: Similarities and Differences
4 mins
read time
Methadone vs Suboxone: Comparison and Contrast
4 mins
read time
Managing Sexual Side Effects of Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Online Suboxone Doctors and Their Role
4 mins
read time
Treatment Outcomes with Buprenorphine: What to Expect
4 mins
read time
Quick Guide to Getting Generic Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Possible Side Effects of Buprenorphine Use
4 mins
read time
Signs that Your Suboxone Dose May Need Adjusting
4 mins
read time
Patient Education for Suboxone (Buprenorphine/Naloxone)
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Dosage: A Guide to Safe and Effective Use
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Doses: A Chart for Easy Reference
4 mins
read time
Suboxone Ingredients: A Comprehensive Guide
4 mins
read time
Suboxone vs. Vivitrol: Uses, Forms, and More
4 mins
read time
The Beginner's Guide to Suboxone Laws
4 mins
read time
Withdrawal Symptoms of Suboxone: What to Expect
4 mins
read time
What Do Generic Suboxone Strips Look Like?
4 mins
read time
Identifying Each Form of Suboxone
4 mins
read time
What Happens When Suboxone and Alcohol Mix?
4 mins
read time
Swallowing Suboxone: What to Know
4 mins
read time
Daily Maximum Dosage of Suboxone: What You Need to Know
4 mins
read time
Suboxone and Medications: What Not to Take Together
4 mins
read time
What Schedule Drug is Suboxone Classified As? Understanding the Regulations
4 mins
read time
Buprenorphine Schedule and Regulations
4 mins
read time
What to Consider When Choosing a Suboxone Doctor
4 mins
read time
What to Know About Suboxone Shots
4 mins
read time
When Can You Take Subutex?
4 mins
read time
When to Take Suboxone: A Complete Guide
4 mins
read time
Where to Get Coupons for Suboxone
4 mins
read time
Where Can I Find Suboxone Treatment Centers Near Me?
4 mins
read time
Suboxone's Receptor Targets: A Comprehensive Overview
4 mins
read time
White Suboxone Pill: A Complete Guide
4 mins
read time
Why is Naloxone Added to Buprenorphine?
4 mins
read time
Why is Buprenorphine Not Widely Available?
4 mins
read time
Zubsolv vs. Suboxone: A Brief Comparison Guide
Confidant mobile app screens
Get immediate access to the care you need today

Scan the QR code below to download the app.

QR code to download the app
Download on the App StoreGet it on Google Play