If you’re pregnant, think you may be pregnant, or plan to get pregnant while you’re in recovery for opioid use disorder, let your doctor know. They can talk with you about the risks of pregnancy while you take Suboxone. Respiratory depression is rare if you take Suboxone at the prescribed dose. It’s more likely if you inject Suboxone, or take it along with alcohol or drugs called benzodiazepines (sedatives that help you sleep or that relieve anxiety). Suboxone is designed to melt under your tongue or inside your cheek.
- They also may recommend tools that can make it easier to open bottles.
- Before taking Suboxone, be sure to tell your doctor and pharmacist about all prescription, over-the-counter, and other drugs you take.
- Suboxone may cause a severe side effect called respiratory depression.
- Do not give SUBOXONE to other people, even if they have the same symptoms you have.
Keep people safe from potentially harmful drugs, medical devices and procedures by informing them of medical conditions, severe side effects and ways to take action. Suboxone has two active ingredients that work in different ways. Buprenorphine partly mimics the action of opioids to reduce drug cravings and minimize alcohol poisoning symptoms, causes, complications, and treatment withdrawal symptoms, while naloxone prevents misuse of the drug. Don’t take Suboxone along with alcohol, sedatives or sleep medicines, or prescription medicines that contain opioids, like some cough syrups. Your doctor will decide when it’s safe and healthy for you to start taking Suboxone as part of your recovery.
Side effects explained
The dose of this medicine will be different for different patients. Follow your doctor’s orders or the directions on the label. The following information includes only the average doses 10 natural remedies for alcohol withdrawal ark behavioral health of this medicine. If your dose is different, do not change it unless your doctor tells you to do so. With misuse, a person takes a drug in a way other than how it’s prescribed.
Switching Between Sublingual and Buccal Sites of Administration
Talk with your doctor if you have questions or concerns about your current dosage. If you think your Suboxone dosage is too low, do not increase your dose on your own. Below are answers to some commonly asked questions about Suboxone’s dosage.
Suboxone and pregnancy and breastfeeding
But long-term use of Suboxone can make it easier to stop using other opioids by reducing severe withdrawal and drug cravings. Suboxone has opioid effects, and long-term use can lead to physical and psychological dependence. Suboxone dependence can cause drug-craving and drug-seeking behavior, which may lead to misuse (also called abuse). Misuse refers to taking a drug in a way that’s not prescribed, such as taking too much of it.
If you’re dependent on opioids and inject Suboxone, the naloxone can cause dangerous withdrawal symptoms. This is because it blocks the effects of opioids, putting you into immediate withdrawal. Also, when used for induction treatment (see “How Suboxone works” below), Suboxone should be used under your tongue rather than in your cheek. When you use Suboxone film in your cheek, your body absorbs more naloxone, and withdrawal symptoms are more likely. Suboxone should only be used with short-acting opioids. This is because use with long-acting opioids will cause increased withdrawal symptoms.
