At CCIWA, we understand the challenge of overcoming opioid addiction, and we are here to help you from the start to the end. Our experienced Suboxone doctors will assess your condition and create a personalized treatment plan that suits your individual needs. If you ever mix Suboxone with alcohol, the first thing you need to do is call 911.
Frequently Asked Questions About Combining Suboxone & Alcohol
Identifying these symptoms is crucial to seek timely medical attention and prevent any further damage. These symptoms can range from mild to severe and can even be life-threatening. It is essential to be aware of these symptoms to take prompt action. Another potential health risk of mixing Suboxone and alcohol is cardiovascular problems.
Suboxone and Alcohol: How Do They Interact?
It also works to block the effects of other opioids like Oxycodone, Vicodin, and more. A person in Suboxone addiction treatment should discuss alcohol and medication usage with their physician to avoid adverse side effects and dangerous drug interactions. Even after an individual has lost consciousness due to drinking, the body may still be absorbing alcohol in the stomach and small intestine. Alcohol use disorder is the most common substance use problem seen in the U.S.
Can You Drink on buprenorphine (Suboxone®)
- Individuals addicted to a particular drug substance are usually at risk of replacing the original substance of abuse with another one when there is withdrawal.
- Alcohol, on the other hand, is a legal and widely consumed substance that is often used for social purposes.
- Buprenorphine (Suboxone®) (along with many opioids) has a long half-life, which means it stays in your system far longer than your last dose.
- It is also important to mention that those who drink alcohol while taking Suboxone® are most likely doing so against the clinical provider’s advice, some even secretly.
- Here, we describe briefly how alcohol and medications can interact, and we provide a few examples of common medications that could interact negatively with alcohol.
But is it okay to drink when you’re taking buprenorphine (Suboxone®)? Our science-backed approach boasts 95% of patients mixing suboxone and alcohol reporting no withdrawal symptoms at 7 days. Combining alcohol with the opioids in your system can lead to life-threatening sedation. For this reason, treatment may be needed for anyone who is mixing Suboxone and alcohol. This may lead to harmful and dangerous levels of alcohol consumption and Suboxone abuse. Changes to heart rate can eventually produce chronic problems, too.
You could experience a life-threatening overdose by combining these drugs. Due to these risks, physicians are advised against prescribing Suboxone to people who abuse other CNS depressant drugs and alcohol. A person who abuses both of these substances may require higher doses of the drug and an increase in alcohol consumption to achieve the same effects. When alcohol is combined with Suboxone it may lead to dangerous polysubstance abuse side effects and overdose. With all that said, the true key to sustainable recovery from opioid addiction is deciding to treat your body and self better. Proper adherence to one’s MAT program guidelines, along with solid psychosocial support and therapy, is essential to one’s long-term success.
To prevent mixing Suboxone and alcohol, individuals must be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to avoid using both substances together. This can be done by seeking professional help, avoiding triggers that lead to drug and alcohol use, and being mindful of the medications and substances they consume. Mixing Suboxone and alcohol can be extremely dangerous and potentially life-threatening.
People need to be careful about how they use drugs and what they mix them with. For example, both of these substances can have a depressant effect on the respiratory system. A unique consequence of Suboxone is that is may cause people to drink more alcohol unintentionally. The naloxone in Suboxone blunts the pleasurable effects of alcohol. People intending to abuse the substances may drink more alcohol in an attempt to counter that negation. This excessive intake significantly increases the chances of overdose or other harmful effects.
Once chemical dependency and addiction to Suboxone happens, a person may experience symptoms of withdrawal after stopping use. Suboxone can be addictive and produce similar withdrawal symptoms caused by other opioid drugs. Further, mixing Suboxone with alcohol can increase risks of tolerance and chemical dependency.
Crisis Support Resources
This can lead to cloudy thinking, faster intoxication, and an increased risk of accidental overdose. Alcohol is a depressant that, when mixed with Suboxone, can enhance negative side effects. These effects can be intensified when alcohol is consumed in large quantities or when Suboxone is taken in higher doses than prescribed. All of these complications can lead to an increased risk of conditions like cancer, cardiovascular disease, liver cirrhosis, ulcers, and more.
Both substances are depressants that slow down the central nervous system, which can lead to respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Additionally, alcohol can increase the effects of Suboxone, making it more potent and increasing the risk of overdose. Addiction and dependence aren’t limited to one substance at a time, so an alcohol use disorder can put someone at risk for another drug dependency, which is known as polysubstance abuse.
Avoid using Suboxone with other opioids completely because it will only counter the entire purpose of the treatment plan. Furthermore, the naloxone in Suboxone may lead to severe withdrawal symptoms. If you ever find yourself mixing these two substances involuntarily, monitor your breathing carefully and control your alcohol intake. Remember that it takes some time before the alcohol is fully absorbed into your bloodstream, which makes it easy to consume much more than what you intended.