It’s grown rapidly in usage – according to the Department of Health, the number of people prescribed suboxone increased from 3% to 16% between 2011 and 2020. Although it’s only a partial opioid agonist, some people do take suboxone mixed with alcohol buprenorphine recreationally. It does not make people as high as other opiates and opioids do. Sometimes, users will try to increase the effects of the drug by taking more of it.
Our team is available around the clock, so feel free to call us at any time. Aftercare refers to ongoing support after someone goes through rehab. It’s designed to help individuals stay sober and avoid relapse by providing resources like therapy, support groups, or follow-up appointments. While suboxone was designed with a number of safeguards, it can still be abused.
We also make it easy for our clients to keep getting the support they need. Like many colleges, we have an alumni network that makes it easy for people to stay in touch and continue to help one another. When mixed with the common pain reliever aspirin, alcohol can increase irritation in the GI tract.
Our uniformed professionals treatment program may be appropriate in those situations. Women sometimes share common stressful experiences that men don’t understand quite as well. Or, women who have been assaulted by men in the past may not be comfortable sharing with them. Finally, there can also be gastrointestinal effects from mixing Suboxone with alcohol. Opioids can cause constipation, and this is an issue when mixing these drugs, too.
Getting treatment through a rehabilitation program reduces long-term impact. When alcohol is taken with Suboxone®, it may interfere with how Suboxone® is metabolized in the body. This may lead to a lack of progress in addiction treatment and increase the relapse risk. When taken together, Suboxone®’s ability to suppress withdrawal symptoms, cravings, and the euphoric effects of opioids may also be compromised.
Suboxone and Alcohol: Final Thoughts
The list of points against alcohol is long, ranging from detrimental to fatal. With that said, mixing Suboxone® and alcohol is highly discouraged. The central nervous system comprises cells called neurons that are involved in sending and receiving messages from the brain.
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Other medications used in this way include methadone and naltrexone. Buprenorphine engages with the same receptors as opioids, but it doesn’t produce the same high. People who take buprenorphine don’t get the same euphoric feeling that comes from opioids like heroin or oxycodone. It binds to opioid receptors, preventing opioids from attaching to them. More than that, it can force opioids from receptors they’re already attached to. To understand why not to combine alcohol and Suboxone, it’s important to know how each of these drugs works.
Comprehensive Online Addiction Resources – SAMHSA and Suboxone Treatment Locator
For example, both alcohol and Suboxone depress the respiratory system. Long-term use of these drugs together can cause tissue damage, respiratory infections, and even brain damage. Medical attention is crucial when someone has alcohol poisoning.
Medication-assisted treatment, or MAT for short, is a method of treatment that uses medications to manage cravings, minimize withdrawal symptoms, and stabilize patients. Alcohol can interact with a whole host of other medications, too. Drinking while taking blood thinners can actually cause an increase in bleeding. Seizure medications like Lamictal and Lyrica can interact negatively with alcohol, too.
Increased risk of addiction
However, mixing alcohol with Suboxone only aggravates the situation. Suboxone works by leveraging the unique strengths of its component drugs. The long half-life means the drug stays in the body a long time, providing stable levels of stimulation. Suboxone is a prescription drug used in treating opioid addiction. While effective, there are some things to be aware of, such as the danger of combining it with other substances.
Treatment Services & Guides
It’s not recommended to stop Suboxone abruptly, as it can cause withdrawal symptoms. At Buckeye Recovery Center, we’re committed to providing you with the tools and support you need to succeed in recovery. If you have any questions or concerns about alcohol, Suboxone, or your treatment plan, don’t hesitate to reach out to us. Share this post with someone who might need it, and contact us for more information on how we can support your recovery. Support from friends, family, and recovery groups can help keep you on track.
Suboxone Addiction: Signs & Symptoms
Her passion for this field comes from her personally knowing recovery from addiction. When you drink alcohol while on Suboxone, you’re placing extra stress on your liver. This can increase the risk of liver damage over time, especially for individuals with pre-existing liver conditions. Chronic alcohol use already puts strain on the liver, and adding Suboxone to the equation can make matters worse.
The damage long-term alcohol abuse can do to the mind is no less severe. Chronic alcohol use can lead to memory loss, difficulty thinking clearly, and a form of alcohol-related dementia known as Wernicke-Korsakoff Syndrome. Physical consequences can include liver failure, pancreatic or liver cancer, heart disease, and stomach ulcers. Meanwhile, the naloxone is there to further prevent abuse of the medication, inducing withdrawals if it is injected.
- Suboxone is primarily designed to be an opioid replacement drug to assist individuals who have opiate use disorders in going through the withdrawal process with minimal discomfort.
- In some cases, people may become dependent on Suboxone in a way that isn’t healthy.
- However, this information is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment.
- With long-term use of either substance, this can further evolve into chronic liver disease.
Drinking excessive amounts of alcohol while taking Suboxone can be a sign of alcohol abuse or addiction. If you or a loved one is unable to stop drinking alcohol while taking Suboxone, we can help. If someone is showing signs of alcohol poisoning or drug overdose after mixing these two substances, call 911 for help right away. Take the first step towards a healthier life and get help for your addiction today. Book a consultation now to learn more about how you can overcome the dangers of mixing Suboxone and alcohol.
How to Help a Loved One Seek Treatment
Because Suboxone is a long-acting drug, it only needs to be taken once per day in most cases. Yes, it can be dangerous to drink alcohol while taking Suboxone for OUD. While Suboxone should not be abused with any recreational drugs, it’s particularly important to avoid taking it with drugs or substances that affect your breathing. Polysubstance abuse refers to the use of multiple substances at once, whether legal or illegal.