If you have alcohol use disorder, your doctor may recommend a treatment other than Suboxone. Drinking alcohol or taking medications that contain alcohol during Suboxone treatment may cause serious side effects that can be life threatening. For details, see “ Suboxone interaction with alcohol” above. Certain medical conditions and other factors may increase the risk of interactions with Suboxone. Before you take this drug, be sure to talk with your doctor about your health history. Suboxone may not be the right treatment option if you have certain medical conditions or other factors affecting your health.
Taking Suboxone with benzodiazepines can increase the risk of severe side effects such as severe sedation (sleepiness), breathing problems, coma, and death. Some of these tests, including the tests often used in those who take Suboxone for opioid dependence, can detect the presence of Suboxone and other opioid drugs. During the induction phase (see “How Suboxone works” above), Suboxone is used to reduce withdrawal symptoms when opioid use is being decreased or stopped. During the maintenance phase, Suboxone is continued at a stable dose for a time ranging from several months to over a year. During the maintenance phase, Suboxone is used at a stable dosage for an extended period. The purpose of the maintenance phase is to keep withdrawal symptoms and cravings in check as you go through your treatment program.
However, this withdrawal is less likely to occur when you use the Suboxone film. This is because the film releases less naloxone into your body than an injection does. Weight gain or weight loss are not side effects that have been reported in clinical trials of Suboxone.
Because of these unique effects, it’s called an opioid partial agonist-antagonist. Suboxone is sometimes prescribed off-label for treating pain. However, this use is controversial, because it’s not clear how well, or if, Suboxone works to treat pain. Suboxone may be beneficial for people who have both chronic pain and opioid dependence.
This CME/CE credit opportunity is jointly provided by the Postgraduate Institute for Medicine and NIAAA. While Suboxone doesn’t directly treat alcohol use disorder, it may lend itself to preventing individuals from being in situations where they are drinking or consuming other substances. 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. If you keep drinking, you could return to opioids to ease your distress. If you’ve been drinking heavily for a while, consult a physician before you suddenly stop drinking.
- For mild nausea, they may suggest staying hydrated, eating and drinking slowly, and avoiding triggers such as strong odors.
- If you already have a liver problem, the medication may worsen your condition.
- Certain medications make an enzyme called cytochrome P450 3A4 (CYP3A4) more active and can increase how fast the body breaks down Suboxone.
- Because of this, you should talk with your doctor or pharmacist before taking any vitamin product with Suboxone.
That’s why finding a team of knowledgeable professionals is an important first step in recovering from drug use. The combination can also put substantial stress on major organs like the kidney and liver, especially if an individual has abused alcohol in the past. While not as strong as other opioids, Suboxone can have addictive qualities, especially when combined with another substance like alcohol.
When it comes to the bottom line as it relates to alcohol consumption and brain health, the data are rather solid on some fronts, and a bit less so on others. Here’s a summary of what the most recent research is telling us. Suboxone may not be right for you if you have certain medical conditions. Other factors may also affect whether Suboxone is a good treatment option for you.
Suboxone can cause long QT syndrome (an electrical disturbance in the heart). Tell your doctor if you have congestive heart failure, slow heart rate, a low blood potassium level, or other types of heart disease. They can describe your risks and determine whether Suboxone is safe for you.
Outpatient Alcohol Detox Services for Addiction: Everything You Need to Know
If you’ve had an allergic reaction to Suboxone or any of its ingredients, your doctor will likely not prescribe it for you. Ask them about other medications that might be better options. Taking notes and sharing them with your doctor will help them learn more about how Suboxone affects you. They can then use this information to adjust your treatment plan if needed.
Examples of Potentially Deadly Interactions
Treatment for addiction to Suboxone and alcohol usually begins with consulting a healthcare professional. Talking to a healthcare provider is something not to be taken halfheartedly. Patients who really notice that their alcohol intake adversely affects their Suboxone treatment and their health condition in general should immediately inform their physicians. Taking too much Suboxone can increase your risk of serious side effects, including overdose and addiction. They’ll also monitor you carefully throughout your treatment.
In one clinical trial, headache occurred in about 36% of people taking Suboxone. If you have an allergic reaction to this drug, call your doctor or local poison control center right away. If your symptoms are severe, call 911 or go to the nearest emergency room. Some of these side effects may go away within a few days or a couple of weeks.
Understanding Suboxone’s Effect on the Body
Some people may also experience heart palpitations, changes in blood pressure, and an increased risk of a heart attack. Alcohol by itself can affect motor function, reasoning, and ketamine everything you need to know judgment, and these effects can be more intense with Suboxone in the mix. These cognitive impacts can be especially harmful if they lead a person into other dangerous situations.
Loved Ones’ Guide to Heroin Recovery: Building Stronger Support
Consequently, it will never be safe to mix Suboxone and alcohol. The list of harm that alcohol causes to your body is pretty long and ranges from detrimental to fatal. Having said that, it is safe to emphasize that mixing Suboxone and alcohol can be pretty dangerous. While some experts have expressed 6 all-natural sex tips for men concern over its long-term risk of developing dependency, there is also an immediate risk of mixing it with other drug substances. If you think you are addicted to Suboxone and alcohol, check with your doctor as soon as possible to find out the best way to recover from the addiction.