Below are examples of how your induction and maintenance dosages may be administered. The following information describes dosages that are commonly used or recommended. However, be sure to take the dosage your doctor prescribes for you. Your doctor will determine the best dosage to suit your needs.

Maintenance phase

Naloxone blocks the effects of opioid medication, including pain relief or feelings of well-being that can lead to opioid abuse. ChoicePoint aims to improve the quality of life for people struggling with substance use disorder and mental health issues. Our team of licensed medical america’s best addiction treatment centers 2023 california 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.

Suboxone and Alcohol: How Do They Interact?

Methadone is also FDA-approved to treat moderate-to-severe pain. During the induction phase, the drug decreases withdrawal symptoms while you stop or reduce opioid use. During the maintenance phase, the drug keeps withdrawal symptoms and cravings in check as you complete your treatment program. Both Suboxone and alcohol are nervous system depressants, meaning they affect the body in similar ways. And the combination can have exaggerated and unwanted effects.

Suboxone and Alcohol: Combined Effects

MISUSE OF THIS MEDICINE CAN CAUSE ADDICTION, OVERDOSE, OR DEATH, especially in a child or other person using the medicine without a prescription. Jessica Plonchak serves as Executive Clinical Director at ChoicePoint. She has a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology and a Master’s degree in Social Work. She is a Licensed Clinical Alcohol and Drug Counselor (LCADC). With 17 years of relevant experience, she has helped several clients in their journey to recovery from addiction.

Buprenorphine’s role

Call our helpline today for more information about alcohol abuse and Suboxone, or to find a drug rehab program that offers treatment for Suboxone and alcohol abuse near you. Suboxone is a medication that is safe to use when taken as advised by a prescribing physician or other behavioral healthcare providers. Similarly, alcohol, attractively packaged and widely celebrated, calls to us.

1. During the maintenance phase, Suboxone is used at a stable dosage for an extended period.
2. When a person uses Suboxone appropriately by placing it under the tongue, naxolone remains an inactive ingredient.
3. The combination of any two substances is known as “polydrug use,” and it’s hard on the body.
4. If you have bothersome or ongoing headaches with Suboxone treatment, call your doctor.
5. Suboxone (buprenorphine/naloxone) is a brand-name prescription drug used to treat dependence on opioid drugs.

Mixing Suboxone with alcohol can also cause the body’s tolerance and dependence to further increase. As such, the body will require progressively higher dosages of Suboxone to adjust itself to the amplified effect. Therefore, mixing alcohol with Suboxone (at times with other drugs) will only proliferate the course of addiction. Suboxone is a prescription brand-name medication used to help people recover from opioid use disorder. Substance misuse of Suboxone can affect a person’s health, so people should only take it as the doctor prescribes.

Taking Suboxone with an opioid may further increase the risk of these side effects. Taking Suboxone long term for opioid dependence may cause physical and psychological dependence on the drug. For example, it could mean taking Suboxone more often or at a higher dangers of quitting alcohol cold turkey dose than your doctor prescribed. If you have symptoms of a severe allergic reaction, such as swelling or trouble breathing, call 911 or your local emergency number right away. These symptoms could be life threatening and require immediate medical care.

Ask them about other medications that might be better options. They’ll determine whether Suboxone is safe for you to take and may monitor your blood pressure closely when you start treatment. If you’re concerned about certain side effects of Suboxone, talk with your doctor.

Suboxone can increase the pressure in your brain and spinal cord. The increased pressure from Suboxone may make your condition after-work drinking worse. It’s possible for Suboxone to increase your risk of tooth problems, which may include tooth loss and broken teeth.

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. Suboxone is one of the most popular prescription drugs used to effectively suppress the desire for opioids and alleviate withdrawal symptoms. Although the drug has assisted a significant number of individuals struggling with opioid overuse disorder, the drug isn’t 100% risk-free.

They can help determine the cause and suggest ways to ease your symptoms. For our patients using MAT, occasional drinking is fine, particularly if you are very stable on your Suboxone dose. It’s of course ok to have an occasional drink while on Suboxone therapy, particularly once your dose is very stable and your body is used to the medication.