5 Potential Dangers of Taking Suboxone and Alcohol Together

suboxone mixed with alcohol

This is because both substances can depress the central nervous system, which can lead to a decrease in breathing and other vital functions. This can be particularly dangerous for individuals who have a low tolerance to either substance. Mixing Suboxone and alcohol can lead to serious health risks that can have detrimental effects on a person’s overall well-being. People with a history of substance abuse should be extremely careful when drinking alcohol at all. It is an effective painkiller to help with the withdrawal symptoms experienced by recovering addicts.

  • Addicts often suffer from addiction to various substances, including alcohol.
  • If you’re leaning on alcohol during recovery, you’re not truly taking advantage of your therapy and rebuilding your life.
  • Roughly 88,000 people die from causes related to alcohol use in America per year.
  • The effects of Suboxone can be reversed with naloxone, but it will not counter the effects of alcohol.
  • Even a small amount of alcohol while taking Suboxone can lead to lethargy, impaired judgment, intense cravings for opioids and unconsciousness.

Signs of Respiratory Depression

  • This combination is what makes suboxone an ideal drug for use in medication-assisted treatment of opioid addiction.
  • Initial and more minor side effects like drowsiness and slurred speech are important to identify early on in order to prevent the risk of overdose.
  • Misusing Suboxone by taking it in ways other than prescribed or combining it with alcohol can lead to dangerous outcomes, including overdose and dependence.
  • Addiction can have a significant impact on an individual’s physical and mental health, as well as their relationships, work, and finances.
  • Drinking while on Suboxone is only going backward and away from your ultimate recovery.
  • In addition, its effects reach a set peak and do not continue to increase with higher doses.
  • During detox, the body goes through withdrawal as it adjusts to life without the substance it’s been dependent on.

Identifying these symptoms is crucial to seek timely medical suboxone mixed with alcohol 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. Avoid using Suboxone with other opioids completely because it will only counter the entire purpose of the treatment plan.

South Coast Behavioral Health

Aftercare may include regular check-ins with a counselor, attending meetings like Alcoholics Anonymous (AA) or Narcotics Anonymous (NA), or even living in a sober living home. This continued support helps people adjust back to everyday life, manage triggers, and build a strong foundation for long-term recovery. All of these things can help mitigate any danger of mixing suboxone and alcohol.

Reduced Effectiveness of Suboxone®

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. The simple answer is that there is no time when it is safe to mix drugs. Most of us already know that drinking a lot of alcohol can cause severe damage to body organs such as the liver. While some experts have expressed concern over its long-term risk of developing dependency, there is also an immediate risk of mixing it with other drug substances. Taking all of this into consideration, it’s wise to cut out alcohol completely during and after the recovery process.

The Negative Consequences of Addiction

suboxone mixed with alcohol

When alcohol is mixed with antidepressant drugs, liver damage is the most common risk after slow breathing. Be aware of overdose symptoms such as vomiting, unconsciousness, depressed breathing and pinpoint pupils. Suboxone is abused by people outside of opioid treatment programs who may try to mix Suboxone with alcohol thinking it will enhance the effects of the substances.

Mixing alcohol with Suboxone increases the risk of accidental opioid overdose due to its complementary effects on the central nervous system. There are several long-term health consequences that can occur as a result of mixing alcohol with Suboxone. Suboxone is a medication used for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder or OUD – a condition where individuals have a dependence on opioids. The effects of Suboxone can be reversed with naloxone, but it will not counter the effects of alcohol.

How to Guide a Loved One to Seek Alcohol Detox

And if you do ask your doctor about drinking, you’ll likely be advised to remain sober while using Suboxone. Since Suboxone stays in your body for 24 hours or longer, there’s no way to stagger your drinking and maintain control over your OUD. If your breathing seems to be slowing, stop drinking and call 911 immediately. In severe cases, Suboxone abuse can cause breathing problems or even cause breathing to stop. Suboxone users — both those taking it as prescribed and those abusing it — should familiarize themselves with the drugs most likely to have a negative reaction with it.