Author: John Carter

Mixing Suboxone and Alcohol: What Are the Dangers?

You may experience very strong intoxication signs, including dizziness, lack of coordination and nausea. Naloxone is included in this formulation to prevent its use parenterally. Naloxone has poor oral bioavailability and minimal amounts are absorbed when administered sublingually or buccally. The government has created special rules for how schedule III drugs can be prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. Below is a list of medications that can interact with Suboxone. This list does not contain all drugs that may interact with Suboxone.

These include severe sedation (sleepiness), breathing problems, coma, and death. Taking Suboxone with benzodiazepines, including Xanax, can increase the risk of severe side effects. In a 2013 study, Suboxone and methadone were found to be equally effective for reducing the use of opioids and keeping users in their treatment program. Drug tolerance has not been seen with Suboxone or with either of the drugs it contains (buprenorphine or naloxone). When Suboxone is used long term for opioid dependence, tolerance to the beneficial effects of Suboxone doesn’t occur. Serious side effects from Suboxone aren’t common, but they can occur.

Physical dependence can cause mild withdrawal symptoms if Suboxone use is abruptly stopped. To help prevent these symptoms, if you’ll be stopping use of Suboxone, your dosage should be slowly tapered with the help of your doctor. Insomnia (trouble sleeping) is a common side effect of Suboxone. In one clinical trial, insomnia occurred in about 14% of people taking Suboxone. This side effect may go away with continued use of the drug.

1. Furthermore, the naloxone in Suboxone may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms.
2. However, some people who take Suboxone may get a rash if they have an allergic reaction to the drug.
3. If you have been combining these substances behind your doctor’s back, then it is time to take action and reassess your treatment program.
4. Suboxone, a brand of buprenorphine, is a prescription painkiller frequently used to ease the withdrawal symptoms of people recovering from opioid addiction and dependence.

This post discusses everything you need to know about mixing Suboxone and alcohol, highlighting some of the dangers involved. This helpline is a free resource at no cost to the caller. We are here to provide assistance in locating an Ark Behavioral Health treatment center that may meet your treatment needs. Both alcohol and Suboxone are depressants that can cause drowsiness, slower breathing, and cloudy thinking. Drinking alcohol while taking Suboxone can enhance these side effects. This can lead to cloudy thinking, faster intoxication, and an increased risk of accidental overdose.

Medically Reviewed By

The information we provide is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. It should not be used in place of the advice of your physician or other qualified healthcare providers. Methadone is FDA-approved only for the maintenance phase of opioid dependence treatment. Methadone is also FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe pain. Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is an oral film prescribed to treat dependence on opioid drugs. It works to reduce withdrawal symptoms when stopping opioids and for an extended period of time afterward.

With a combination of medicine, therapy and social support, we assist patients as they work toward opioid-free lives. You can contact us online at any time to schedule your first appointment. If you’re struggling with alcohol misuse, attending counseling alongside Suboxone treatment is the best approach. Your rehabilitation program must know to provide counseling for alcohol use disorder and OUD. Taking codeine with Suboxone can increase the risk of side effects such as decreased breathing.

Buprenorphine’s role

This includes both the induction phase and the maintenance phases of treatment. Both Suboxone and Bunavail are FDA-approved to treat opioid dependence. Suboxone is FDA-approved to treat opioid dependence, including both the induction and maintenance treatment phases. In one study, Suboxone and buprenorphine were equally effective for reducing withdrawal symptoms during the induction phase (the first phase) of opioid dependence treatment. We publish material that is researched, cited, edited and reviewed by licensed medical professionals.

The doctors and clinicians at The Recovery Village can help you break free from addiction; the first step is reaching out. When combined, Suboxone and alcohol can exacerbate the harmful effects each has on your respiratory system, but that’s just the beginning. Mixing these two drugs can do detrimental damage to your entire body and can lead to fatal overdose. If you are abusing any of these substances, it is clear that you need urgent treatment, especially if you were using Suboxone to treat opioid overuse disorder.

The key to safe and sustainable recovery from opioid overuse disorder is deciding to treat your body and mind better and committing to the plan. According to the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Association, there are approximately 30,000 suboxone-related emergency room visits every year. At least 50% of these hospitalizations involved mixing Suboxone and alcohol. You nor your loved one are under any obligation to commit to an Ark Behavioral Health treatment program when calling our helpline.

Suboxone overdose

On the other hand, alcohol is a product of yeast fermentation of sugars, and its effects can range from stimulant to depressant depending on the amount consumed. Many adults in the US consume alcohol for recreational purposes or add it to food. When combined, there is a risk of enhancing each other’s sedative effects.

Suboxone is a commonly used medication in medication-assisted treatment (MAT) for opioid addiction, as it combines buprenorphine with naloxone. Buprenorphine helps alleviate cravings and withdrawal symptoms, while naloxone is an opioid antagonist that promotes treatment adherence. Suboxone’s formula is designed with safety features to support successful recovery. However, it’s only approved for preventing relapse in people who have completely stopped misusing opioids. In addition, methadone is approved for treatment during opioid detoxification.

If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. The government has created special rules for how Schedule III drugs can be prescribed by a doctor and dispensed by a pharmacist. For informational purposes only, a link to the federal Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Open Payments web page is provided here. Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. It’s of course ok to have an occasional drink while on Suboxone therapy, particularly once your dose is very stable and your body is used to the medication.

If you keep drinking, you could return to opioids to ease your distress. Yes, it can be dangerous to drink alcohol while taking Suboxone for OUD. Taking Suboxone with medications that increase serotonin levels in your body might increase your risk of developing serotonin syndrome, a drug reaction that can be dangerous. A 2014 study found that people taking Suboxone used opioids less compared to people taking methadone.

Alcohol (ethanol) is a central nervous system depressant that affects your brain chemistry. Taken together, especially intravenously, Suboxone and alcohol intensify each other’s effects and can wreak havoc on your respiratory system and mental state. This can easily cause overdose, potentially fatal breathing problems, loss of consciousness and coma, among other dangerous side effects. Suboxone, a brand of buprenorphine, is a prescription painkiller frequently used to ease the withdrawal symptoms of people recovering from opioid addiction and dependence. Suboxone is the brand name of a partial opioid agonist, and is a mixture of naloxone and buprenorphine.