Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Suboxone?

If you suspect an overdose due to Suboxone and mixing suboxone and alcohol alcohol, call 911 immediately. Calling The Recovery Village can get you into a treatment program but cannot send emergency services to your location. MATClinics therapies are personalized to meet your individual needs to help you achieve positive change for the long haul.

This also applies to those with hypersensitive reactions to alcohol that lead to bronchospasms, rashes, hives, and anaphylactic shock. Withdrawal can even be life-threatening, especially in the case of powerful drugs or polydrug users. That’s why finding a team of knowledgeable professionals is an important first step in recovering from drug use.

Potential for Liver Damage

• Changes to heart rate can eventually produce chronic problems, too.
• More and more people should be informed about the potential risks and dangers of mixing Suboxone and alcohol.
• It’s essential to seek professional help when dealing with co-occurring substance use disorders.

Buprenorphine replaces the addictive opioids to components that work on the same brain receptors. While buprenorphine reduces craving and soothes withdrawal symptoms, naloxone prevents drug abuse at high dosages. If the individual is physically dependent on alcohol and Suboxone, a medical detoxification would then be necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms safely.

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Suboxone, a brand of buprenorphine, is a prescription painkiller frequently used to ease the withdrawal symptoms of people recovering from opioid addiction and dependence. However, the use of Suboxone in addiction treatment programs has become very controversial since Suboxone in itself can be addictive, potentially contributing to a substance use disorder. When alcohol is mixed with antidepressant drugs, liver damage is the most common risk after slow breathing. Together, alcohol and drugs, increase the chance of liver failure. Be aware of overdose symptoms such as vomiting, unconsciousness, depressed breathing and pinpoint pupils. MixingSuboxone, an opioid agonist, andalcoholcan have severe — and even fatal — consequences.

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It is essential to understand the potential dangers of taking Suboxone® and alcohol together to make informed decisions about their use. Suboxone works as a partial opioid agonist (weak opioid) and locks itself onto the brain’s opioid receptors. This mechanism helps alleviate withdrawal symptoms, lower cravings, and prevent other potent opioids from interacting with opioid receptors in the brain. When someone mixes Suboxone and alcohol, their body undergoes several changes that can cause various symptoms. 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.

Methadone Withdrawal Symptoms

Overcoming addiction to Suboxone and alcohol is difficult without professional help. Especially for individuals who are prescribed with Suboxone as a replacement drug for opioid addiction. Usually, when a person abuses addictive substances, he or she also used to the misuse of alcohol. Suboxone can trigger strong opioid cravings when consumed with alcohol. Not only that drinking alcohol is counterproductive during the rehabilitation process, but also long-term health issues develop with time. Suboxone is a combination of partial opioid agonist buprenorphine and opioid antagonist naloxone.

Therefore, it is crucial to seek help and support for substance abuse and addiction. Additionally, those who are younger in age, male, and have a lower socioeconomic status may also be at a higher risk. The dangers of mixing alcohol with Suboxone are rooted in the fact that Suboxone multiplies the effects of alcohol and alcohol multiplies the effects of Suboxone. This combination can rapidly lead to tolerance, dependence, and a very dangerous situation for the individual due to the heightened side effects of drug and alcohol use. 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.

Drug and Alcohol Addiction

To find another treatment program, browse the top-rated addiction treatment facilities in each state by visiting our homepage, or by viewing the SAMHSA Treatment Services Locator. The simple answer is that there is no time when it is safe to mix drugs. The list of harm that alcohol causes to your body is pretty long and ranges from detrimental to fatal.

The presence of alcohol increases the potency of buprenorphine, causing the partial opioid agonist to act more like a full opioid agonist. Warnings on Suboxone note that mixing the drug with alcohol increases breathing difficulty, may stop breathing, and can lead to death. Mixing alcohol and Suboxone® increases the risk of overdose, specifically in people with a history of substance abuse. Taking alcohol and Suboxone® may increase the sedative effects of both substances, making it easier to take too much and overdose accidentally.

The effects of mixing Suboxone and alcohol can be very uncomfortable. When they’re using Suboxone and alcohol, people may become dizzy, faint, or have heart palpitations. Drinking while taking Suboxone increases the risk of having a heart attack. Medical and psychological support is needed to overcome withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapse after treatment.

Alcohol is a known depressant, and its use can exacerbate feelings of sadness or anxiety. In terms of treatment, the first step is a thorough assessment by a healthcare professional or addiction specialist. This evaluation will help determine the extent and severity of the alcohol and Suboxone addiction, as well as any other underlying physical or mental health issues. People who mix CNS depressants – most commonly, opioids, alcohol, and/or benzodiazepines – are at great risk of overdosing. Buprenorphine in large doses, or enhanced with another CNS depressant like alcohol, will have similar overdose symptoms as full opioid agonists.

• Substance use disorder is a treatable condition, and the professionals at The Recovery Village Ridgefield can help.
• However, the use of Suboxone in addiction treatment programs has become very controversial since Suboxone in itself can be addictive, potentially contributing to a substance use disorder.
• Overworking the liver with both Suboxone and alcohol can lead to conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
• You may face challenges along the way, but combining the power of hope with practical guidance and tools, you’ll be taking steps towards better health.
• Those who drink heavily also place their livers and pancreas at risk for various inflammations and degradations, many of which are irreversible.

ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical professionals research, edit and review the content before publishing. However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. For medical advice please consult your physicians or ChoicePoint’s qualified staff. Beyond the acute dangers of mixing Suboxone with alcohol, the use of both substances can also cause chronic health issues, including higher drug tolerance, dependence, and substance abuse. It is important to note that anyone who mixes Suboxone and alcohol is at risk of serious health complications, regardless of their demographics or addiction/mental health factors.

Immediate medical attention is crucial in these situations to prevent serious harm or death. Misuse of alcohol together with Suboxone, or taking one drug while still under the influence of another, is what is known as polysubstance abuse. Treatment for this co-occurring alcohol and Suboxone addiction typically requires a comprehensive approach that addresses both substance use issues simultaneously. As we have established, both alcohol and Suboxone are central nervous system depressants. They work by reducing the amount of neurons that fire in the spinal cord.

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. Granite Recovery Centers has been transforming the lives of alcohol and drug dependent adults from New England and well beyond.