And when combined with Suboxone, this can be very dangerous—even leading to life-threatening issues. When prescribed and monitored by qualified healthcare providers, Suboxone can be an effective component of a comprehensive treatment plan for opioid use disorder. It allows people to function normally and focus on other aspects of their recovery without being overwhelmed by withdrawal symptoms or cravings. Addiction to substances like alcohol and opioids often requires specialized treatment.
Suboxone is a medication commonly prescribed for the treatment of opioid use disorder. As a combination of buprenorphine and naloxone, it helps reduce cravings and withdrawal symptoms that often make recovery from opioid dependence challenging. However, using Suboxone comes with important safety considerations, particularly regarding interactions with other substances. One of the most dangerous combinations is Suboxone and alcohol, which can lead to serious health complications and undermine recovery efforts. Understanding the risks of mixing Suboxone and alcohol is critical for anyone involved in the treatment of opioid addiction. The combination of these substances can lead to severe health consequences, including respiratory depression, cognitive impairment, overdose, liver damage, and psychological effects.
Health Risks of Combining Suboxone and Alcohol
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.
The Dangers of Mixing Suboxone and Alcohol
If the mixing suboxone and alcohol 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.
Combining Suboxonewith alcohol creates significant health risks due to how these substances affect the body. Both alcohol and Suboxone depress the central nervous system, slowing breathing, heart rate, and brain function. When taken together, these effects are not simply added but multiplied, creating a dangerous synergistic effect. Mixing drugs and alcohol is never a good idea because the combination can affect people in unexpected ways. Suboxone and alcohol abuse is uncommon because an ingredient in Suboxone, naloxone, blunts the pleasurable effects of alcohol.
- Additionally, alcohol can increase the effects of Suboxone, making it more potent and increasing the risk of overdose.
- The overlapping effects can make it difficult for individuals to recognize the signs of an overdose, delaying critical intervention.
- This can be due to the fact that both substances can irritate the stomach lining and cause inflammation.
- The combination of Suboxone and alcohol poses serious risks to both physical health and recovery progress.
Suboxone Solutions Made Simple – Finding the Right Treatment Program
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.
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 and overdose.
Habits for Proper Mental Health
- To prevent mixing Suboxone and alcohol, individuals must be aware of the risks and take necessary precautions to avoid using both substances together.
- Addiction to substances like alcohol and opioids often requires specialized treatment.
- Overworking the liver with both Suboxone and alcohol can lead to conditions such as hepatitis, cirrhosis, and liver failure.
- The profound sedation and impaired coordination resulting from this combination also significantly increases the risk of accidents, falls, and injuries.
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.
How to Help a Loved One Seek Treatment
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.