From the Guidelines
Suboxone is not recommended for treating colitis or acute diverticulitis. Suboxone, which contains buprenorphine and naloxone, is primarily used to treat opioid use disorder and is not indicated for gastrointestinal inflammatory conditions. For colitis, treatments typically include anti-inflammatory medications like mesalamine, corticosteroids, or immunomodulators depending on the type and severity. Acute diverticulitis is usually treated with antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin and metronidazole, bowel rest, and in severe cases, surgery. Opioids like buprenorphine can actually worsen gastrointestinal conditions by slowing gut motility, potentially exacerbating constipation which could complicate diverticulitis. Additionally, opioids can mask important symptoms that doctors use to monitor these conditions.
According to the American College of Physicians guideline on the diagnosis and management of acute left-sided colonic diverticulitis 1, the management of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis can be done in an outpatient setting, and antibiotics may not be necessary for select patients. The guideline suggests that clinicians use abdominal CT imaging when there is diagnostic uncertainty and manage most patients with acute uncomplicated left-sided colonic diverticulitis in an outpatient setting.
The AGA clinical practice update on medical management of colonic diverticulitis also suggests that antibiotic treatment can be used selectively, rather than routinely, in immunocompetent patients with mild acute uncomplicated diverticulitis 1. The update also recommends that patients consume a high-quality diet, have a normal body mass index, be physically active, not smoke, and avoid nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drug use except aspirin prescribed for secondary prevention of cardiovascular disease to reduce the risk of recurrence.
For colitis, the AGA clinical practice guidelines on the management of mild-to-moderate ulcerative colitis recommend using standard dose mesalamine or diazo-bonded 5-ASA, rather than budesonide MMX or controlled ileal release budesonide for induction of remission 1. The guidelines also suggest using rectal mesalamine in patients with left-sided mild-moderate ulcerative proctosigmoiditis or proctitis.
In patients with a history of acute uncomplicated diverticulitis, the American Gastroenterological Association Institute guideline recommends against the use of mesalamine after acute uncomplicated diverticulitis 1.
If you're experiencing symptoms of colitis or diverticulitis, you should seek proper medical evaluation for appropriate treatment tailored to your specific condition.
From the Research
Suboxone and Colitis/Diverculitis
- There are no research papers to assist in answering whether suboxone alleviates colitis or acute diverticulitis.
- The provided studies focus on the treatment of diverticulitis with antibiotics 2 and the management of acute severe ulcerative colitis with corticosteroids, infliximab, or cyclosporine 3, 4.
- Some studies discuss the use of antibiotics such as ciprofloxacin in the treatment of ulcerative colitis 5 and the potential interactions between mesalamine and antibiotics like amoxicillin, ciprofloxacin, metronidazole, or sulfamethoxazole 6.
- However, none of the studies mention the use of suboxone in the treatment of colitis or diverticulitis, and therefore, its effectiveness in alleviating these conditions is unknown 2, 3, 4, 5, 6.