4 Dangers of Drinking Alcohol on Suboxone

The use of Suboxone outside of a treatment program is considered abuse because the drug’s only approved use is for the treatment of opioid dependence. What we know is that some people (particularly drug abusers) who have poor mental health will turn back to drugs to ease this distress. Consequently, Suboxone treatment that should prevent relapse is rendered unsuccessful. Suboxone is a medical solution for many people with substance use disorders in their journey to sobriety. Thanks to the safety of this drug – especially in contrast to other treatments like Methadone – it tends to have a high success rate.

Habits for Proper Mental Health

Suboxone is a central nervous system (CNS) depressant (albeit its depressive effects on the CNS are generally milder compared to full opioid agonists like heroin). One of the main appeals of alcohol is that it makes it easier for us to feel more relaxed and less inhibited. As we have established, both alcohol and Suboxone are central nervous system depressants. When combining the two drugs, the effects of each heighten due to double the effect on the central nervous system. There are several long-term health consequences that can occur as a result of mixing alcohol with Suboxone. The danger of mixing these two drugs is that the person will have no control over the effects they may experience.

How to Avoid Mixing Suboxone and Alcohol

  • The combination can cause dangerous drops in blood pressure and heart rate, potentially leading to fainting, cardiac events, or even heart failure in severe cases.
  • If you’re unsure about how alcohol interacts with Suboxone or have questions about your treatment plan, schedule a conversation with your healthcare provider.
  • For those abusing Suboxone and alcohol outside of a treatment program, help is available.
  • Additionally, those who are younger in age, male, and have a lower socioeconomic status may also be at a higher risk.
  • While Suboxone is a well-established treatment for opioid use disorder, using suboxone for alcoholism treatment is not approved.
  • The chances of taking Suboxone and alcohol together by mistake are low since Suboxone prescriptions come with specific advisement on how to consume the drug.

Suboxone, while helpful in managing opioid addiction, can also have side effects on mental health, including mood swings and depression. Combining these substances can lead to unpredictable psychological effects, potentially worsening mental health conditions and hindering recovery efforts. 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.

Liver damage

If it’s an emergency, call 911 right away to ensure the person gets immediate medical attention. As mentioned above, alcohol and Suboxone are both central nervous system depressants. This means they will slow down the activity of the central nervous system, which results in sedative or calming effects. If you’re attending an event where alcohol is present, it’s easy to accidentally take a sip without thinking. Don’t hesitate to reach out for help—medical providers are there to support you, not judge you. Patients and caregivers should be familiar with the signs of adverse reactions mixing suboxone and alcohol and overdose.

  • We’ll also discuss how Groups can play a role in the management of your Suboxone treatment.
  • It is also important to inform medical professionals of any alcohol use and to be honest about any substance abuse issues.
  • It is a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, and it works by binding to the same receptors in the brain as opioids, thereby reducing withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
  • Outside work, Trent values family time, personal growth, travel, and promoting a healthy lifestyle.
  • It allows people to function normally and focus on other aspects of their recovery without being overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms or cravings.

Seeking treatment can help individuals break free from addiction and achieve long-term recovery. Whether you are struggling with addiction, mental health or both, our expert team is here to guide you every step of the way. Don’t wait— reach out today to take the first step toward taking control of your life. The World Health Organization (WHO) further goes as far as to say that “no level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health.” In other words, even small amounts can have various risks. In contrast, alcohol is a central nervous system depressant that affects multiple neurotransmitter systems in the brain, particularly GABA, glutamate, and dopamine. This results in the typical symptoms experienced or seen with alcohol intoxication, such as reduced anxiety, impaired judgment, slowed reflexes, and decreased coordination.

Some of the symptoms of addiction include compulsive drug seeking, loss of interest in activities, and continued use despite adverse consequences. It’s essential to seek help from a medical professional if you suspect addiction. When someone mixes Suboxone and alcohol, their body undergoes several changes that can cause various symptoms.

Lose weight with GLP-1 treatments

MATClinics therapies are personalized to meet your individual needs to help you achieve positive change for the long haul. Contact us today to learn more about the benefits of medication assisted therapy and how we can best help you. The list of points against alcohol is long, ranging from detrimental to fatal. Now that we’ve laid out Suboxone®’s effect on the body, let’s talk about what alcohol does when combined with this form of treatment.

At United Recovery Project, our holistic approach to addiction treatment centers around addressing and healing the underlying issues at the root of addiction. Share this article with your friends, family, or anyone you know who might be taking Suboxone. Together, we can help prevent accidental alcohol use and promote a safer recovery. This is particularly concerning for activities that require full cognitive and motor function, such as driving or operating machinery. The risk of making poor decisions while under the influence of both substances is also heightened, which can lead to dangerous situations. Even small amounts of alcohol can significantly intensify Suboxone’s effects, making this combination particularly dangerous.

Communicate with Your Support System

MixingSuboxone, an opioid agonist, andalcoholcan have severe — and even fatal — consequences. To understand why taking these two substances together is dangerous, it’s important to know how each affects your body. Suboxone (naloxone and buprenorphine) is an opioid agonist that binds to the same receptors in your brain as opiates, increasing its abuse potential. Alcohol (ethanol) is a central nervous system depressant that affects your brain chemistry. Taken together, especially intravenously, Suboxone and alcohol intensify each other’s effects and can wreak havoc on your respiratory system and mental state. This can easily cause overdose, potentially fatal breathing problems, loss of consciousness and coma, among other dangerous side effects.

Side effects could include severe drowsiness, decreased awareness, breathing problems, impaired heart rate, coma, and death. 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. When they discontinue these drugs, they subsequently experience severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings.

mixing suboxone and alcohol

Safe Practices and Precautions

Mixing Suboxone and alcohol is a dangerous practice that poses serious health risks. While anyone who uses Suboxone or alcohol can be at risk, certain demographics and factors may make individuals more susceptible to this dangerous behavior. Mixing these two substances can cause damage to the liver and lead to liver disease. If you or a loved one is suffering fromSuboxone and alcohol addiction, help is closer than you think. It is possible to detox from and stay off of these substances, and it’s important to do so before one too many mixtures causes irreparable damage.

Simple tasks like driving or operating machinery become extremely dangerous, putting both the individual and others at risk. From there, the individual would start one-on-one therapy and/or group therapy. Individual therapy can help individuals identify triggers for substance use and develop effective coping mechanisms. In contrast, group therapy offers valuable peer support and fosters a sense of community that is beneficial for the recovery process. Using both drugs greatly increases the chance of diseases like cirrhosis or liver failure.

With Suboxone and alcohol both taking effect on the central nervous system, they only heighten how the body responds to these drugs when mixed together. Implications such as nausea and drowsiness, all the way up to a coma or overdose, are just some of the many negative consequences that can occur. It is fair to say there is no safe way around consuming both alcohol and Suboxone at the same time. Not only does it put patients at risk of serious side effects, but it can also jeopardize the progress that someone has made in regards to avoiding drug abuse.

If the individual is physically dependent on alcohol and Suboxone, a medical detoxification would then be necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms safely. Detox should be conducted under medical supervision to ensure safety and comfort. In this context, MAT may include transitioning from Suboxone to a different medication to manage opioid dependence while addressing alcohol addiction.

The most serious consequence of mixing Suboxone and alcohol is the risk of overdose and death. Therefore, mixing Suboxone and alcohol is considered drug abuse because there is no medical situation where doing is appropriate. As such, it is not recommended you have alcohol until 8 days after you have completed treatment to avoid side effects. Suboxone is a medication used for the treatment of Opioid Use Disorder or OUD – a condition where individuals have a dependence on opioids.

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