What is Suboxone?

[trainwrecker]

At it's most basic level, what is this shit?

It's funny I take it every day, but only rarely do I wonder exactly what is this group of chemicals that I am totally dependent on?

So tell me, all you chem majors, what is suboxone composed of? The bupe and the naltrex...

[SpecialGuy69]

Start by looking up the "what is potency, why is x stronger than y" thread for a great description. Its in the chemistry section.

If you take a look at it on a molecular level, bupe looks a lot like etorphine (one of the strongest morphine-derived opiates there is. Here they are side-by-side:
You have to mentally rotate the etorphine 90 degrees counterclockwise, and you'll see exactly how similar they really are. On bupe, the chain that comes off the right side makes it very similar to a Bently compound (the family of opiates etorphine is in). And the triangle at the top (a cyclopropyl group) gives it the antagonist properties- meaning the blocking and precipitated withdrawl properties.

To use an analogy Robojunkie pioneered, think of it like a key (opiate) and a lock (opiate receptor). To release the dopamine (the shit that actually makes you high), you need the key to slide into the lock and turn. With bupe, it fits into the lock, but instead of sliding in smoothly and turning, it kind of jams in there and only turns a little (partial agonist). With etorphine, it slides in PERFECTLY, and turns the lock all the way, getting you wasted. So, that cyclopropyl group is like one tooth on the key being filed down so it wont fit the lock 100%

bupe: _____________________________etorphine:
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/0/04/Buprenorphine_structure.png/220px-Buprenorphine_structure.pnghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/64/Etorphine.png/220px-Etorphine.png

Naloxone is a lot like oxymorphone- except again, it has a group at the top which makes it not turn in the lock: This time its the two parallel lines (allyl group). If you knocked off the allyl group, that would be like filing down the one tooth on the key that doesnt fit, and it would become oxymorphone, which would make you feel AWESOME!!!

Naloxone_______________________Oxymorphone
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/c/c5/Naloxone.png/220px-Naloxone.pnghttp://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/6/62/Oxymorphone.png/220px-Oxymorphone.png

I hope this kind of makes sense, and explains what you wanted to know. But theres a much better, more detailed description on that other thread

[trainwrecker]

Thank you very much for taking the time to put that together. It does make a certian amount of sense, but I won't lie and say I understand completely. So basicly it is Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Carbon?

[SpecialGuy69]

Thank you very much for taking the time to put that together. It does make a certian amount of sense, but I won't lie and say I understand completely. So basicly it is Nitrogen, Hydrogen, Oxygen and Carbon?Oh yea. At its most basic level, its made out of those elements. But then, so is everything: plastic. trees. ammonia. citric acid. cyanide. sugar. vinyl.

On those diagrams of the molecules, each corner where the sticks meet, thats a carbon atom. All of the morphine-derived opiates share that basic structure, with the three hexagons attached to each other by one shared edge each. Then, where the N is, thats another ring structure, but if you saw it in 3d, that one would be coming off the monitor at you.

Carbon is really cool- its like the k'nex (remember those?) of elements- you can build anything with it- all the different substances I mentioned above, and trillions more. The study of carbon-based molecules is called organic chemistry. Its really interesting. Let me know if you are interested enough to read a book on it I have a few good ones to recommend.

[bronyraur]

Nice explanation, AO.

[candyshop]

so if i could get someone to add just a couple straight lines to my subs, i would be in heaven?

[SpecialGuy69]

so if i could get someone to add just a couple straight lines to my subs, i would be in heaven?even easier than that! All you'd have to do is cleave off the cyclopropyl (triangle) group and the n-methyl allyl group (tree lookin dealie on the right side w/the OH).

Then you'd have a full agonist, probably a very strong one, too!

[trainwrecker]

Ok, I do understand now. I have learned this before, the basics of organic chem, or at least the fact that everything organic is carbon based.

Sure, hit me up with some titles. I'm always up for expanding my horizons...