Online Suboxone Treatment — Telehealth Buprenorphine

Buprenorphine-based medication-assisted treatment for opioid use disorder, prescribed and managed by a licensed physician via secure video visit. Available in California, Washington, and Nevada. New Mexico — Coming Soon. Care is delivered by secure video visit in most locations. In-person visits may be required in the Tacoma, WA and Reno, NV areas.

---

What is Suboxone?

Suboxone is a brand-name medication containing buprenorphine and naloxone. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist — it binds to the same receptors in your brain as opioids, but produces different effects. It stabilizes those receptors without triggering the full euphoria, sedation, or respiratory depression that make opioids dangerous. Naloxone is added to deter misuse.

Buprenorphine is classified by the American Society of Addiction Medicine, the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA), and the World Health Organization as a first-line treatment for opioid use disorder. It is one of the most evidence-supported medications in addiction medicine.

When people say Suboxone is "just trading one addiction for another," they are confusing physical dependence with addiction. Dependence — your body adapting to a medication — is a normal physiological response that occurs with many medications, including blood pressure drugs and antidepressants. Addiction involves compulsive use despite harm. Patients on buprenorphine are not addicted to their medication. They are treating a chronic brain condition with an effective medication.

---

How buprenorphine works

When you use opioids — prescription painkillers, heroin, fentanyl — they bind to opioid receptors in your brain and produce their effects. Over time, your brain adapts to their presence. When the drug is removed, those receptors send distress signals: withdrawal, cravings, intense discomfort. This is not a character failing. It is your brain doing exactly what brains do — adapting to its chemical environment.

Buprenorphine occupies those same receptors without producing the same reward signal. The result is that withdrawal symptoms and cravings are dramatically reduced or eliminated, allowing you to think clearly, function normally, and engage with your life.

Buprenorphine also has a ceiling effect — unlike full opioid agonists, increasing the dose beyond a certain point does not increase the effect. This dramatically reduces overdose risk compared to other opioids.

Using Kratom? Buprenorphine is also used in some cases to treat Kratom (mitragynine/7-OH) dependence, because Kratom's active alkaloids interact with the same opioid receptors. See our Kratom addiction treatment page for more information.

---

What to expect from treatment

Initial visit: Your first appointment is a telehealth video visit with a physician. Before your visit, you complete an intake form covering your medical history, current opioid use, prior treatment experience, and any other relevant health information. Your provider reviews this before the appointment. Most initial visits run 30 to 45 minutes.

Prescription: If buprenorphine is clinically appropriate, your provider sends a prescription electronically to the pharmacy of your choice. Most patients fill it the same day.

Follow-up visits: Ongoing appointments are scheduled monthly. These visits are typically 15 to 20 minutes and focus on how you are responding to medication, any side effects, dose adjustments, and your overall wellbeing.

Duration: There is no fixed duration for buprenorphine treatment. Research consistently shows that longer treatment duration is associated with better outcomes. Rezolv Health does not impose arbitrary time limits on treatment.

---

Availability by state

State	Insurance	Availability
California	Private pay only — $249/month	Telehealth statewide
Washington	Commercial insurance, Apple Health (Medicaid), self-pay	Telehealth statewide + in-person University Place
Nevada	All insurance including Medicaid	Telehealth statewide + in-person Reno
New Mexico	—	Coming Soon

---

Frequently asked questions

Can I get Suboxone online without going to a clinic? Yes. Under current federal telehealth regulations (DEA Temporary Extension, extended through December 31, 2026), buprenorphine can be prescribed via audio-video telehealth without an in-person evaluation. Rezolv Health conducts all initial evaluations and follow-up visits by secure video. You never need to visit a clinic.

What is the difference between Suboxone and methadone? Both buprenorphine (Suboxone) and methadone are FDA-approved medications for opioid use disorder. Methadone is a full opioid agonist and must be dispensed daily from a federally licensed opioid treatment program — you must go to a clinic, typically every day at first. Buprenorphine is a partial opioid agonist and can be prescribed by any physician with a DEA license, including via telehealth. For most patients, buprenorphine is significantly more accessible and less disruptive to daily life.

Do I need to be in withdrawal to start Suboxone? Traditionally, patients were advised to be in mild to moderate withdrawal before starting buprenorphine to avoid precipitated withdrawal. A newer approach called low-dose initiation (also called microinduction or Bernese method) allows patients to start at a very low dose without waiting for withdrawal. Your provider will discuss the best approach for your specific situation.

How long does Suboxone treatment take? There is no universal answer. Some patients remain on buprenorphine for years — research shows this is associated with the best outcomes for many patients. Others taper off after a period of stability. Rezolv Health does not push patients toward a specific timeline. Treatment duration is a clinical decision made between you and your provider.

Is Suboxone covered by insurance? In Washington and Nevada, Rezolv Health bills your insurance for your visits (New Mexico is coming soon). Whether Suboxone itself is covered depends on your specific pharmacy benefit. Most commercial plans and Medicaid programs cover buprenorphine — it is considered an essential health benefit under the Affordable Care Act. In California, Rezolv Health is a private-pay practice. The medication cost is separate from the membership fee and filled at your pharmacy using your own pharmacy benefit if you choose.

What if I relapse while on Suboxone? Relapse during treatment is common and does not mean treatment has failed. It is a clinical signal that something needs to be adjusted — the dose, the level of support, or the approach to care. Rezolv Health does not discharge patients for relapse. We adjust the treatment plan.

Is buprenorphine safe long-term? Yes. Long-term buprenorphine use is associated with improved outcomes in opioid use disorder, including reduced overdose risk, reduced illicit drug use, improved social functioning, and reduced mortality. There are no known serious long-term health consequences of buprenorphine use. Regular monitoring of liver function is standard practice.

Can I drink alcohol while taking Suboxone? Alcohol and buprenorphine are both central nervous system depressants and should not be combined. Combining them increases sedation and respiratory depression risk. Your provider will discuss this with you at your initial visit.