Suboxone

Medically Reviewed by Dr. Harshi Dhingra, M.D.

Last Reviewed: Sep 23, 2022

Warnings

What are the risks of taking Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone)?

Suboxone can cause serious health problems, especially in certain high-risk patients. Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or breastfeeding. Also, give your physician a complete health history, especially if you have had kidney disease, liver disease, breathing problems, enlarged prostate, gallbladder problems, adrenal gland problems, thyroid problems, trouble urinating, depression, head injury, or substance abuse (drug or alcohol abuse). Some of the risks of Suboxone use include:

Respiratory depression: Suboxone can cause severe and potentially fatal respiratory depression (life-threatening breathing problems).
Sleep apnea: This medicine can cause sleep-related breathing problems. Talk to your doctor about the risk of sleep apnea while on Suboxone treatment.
Serotonin syndrome: This is a potentially life-threatening drug reaction that can occur while on Suboxone treatment. It is associated with dangerously high levels of serotonin, a brain chemical.
Decreased fertility: Suboxone can lead to reduced fertility in both men and women. Talk to your doctor about other treatment options if you plan to have children in the future.
Neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS): In women who take Suboxone regularly during pregnancy, the baby can experience potentially life-threatening opioid withdrawal symptoms after birth. This syndrome is called neonatal abstinence syndrome (NAS) and may include seizures, shaking, vomiting, diarrhea, irritability, and failure to gain weight in the baby.

You should discuss other treatment options for medication-assisted opioid withdrawal with your doctor or pharmacist if you are at risk of complications from Suboxone use.

What should I tell my doctor before starting Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone)?

Tell your health care professional about all your medical conditions. Suboxone may not be right for people with certain medical conditions.

Also, tell your doctor about all your medications, including over-the-counter and prescription drugs, dietary supplements, vitamins, and herbal products. This can help avoid serious drug interactions.

Be sure to tell your doctor if you have previously had an allergic reaction to buprenorphine, naloxone, or any of the ingredients in Suboxone sublingual films. Your pharmacy can provide you with a list of ingredients.

Tell your doctor if you are pregnant or plan to become pregnant.

What precautions should I take while on Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone)?

Keep all your appointments with your doctor and visit your other health care professionals as directed. Your doctor may order blood tests to see your body’s response to buprenorphine and naloxone.

If you become pregnant while on Suboxone treatment, tell your doctor. If you are breastfeeding during Suboxone treatment, you should be vigilant for trouble breathing or sleepiness in your baby. Call your baby’s doctor right away if this occurs.

Call your doctor immediately or go to the emergency room if you experience symptoms such as hives, rash, itching; difficulty breathing, slow breathing, difficulty swallowing; swelling of the face, tongue, throat, lips, hands, feet, or lower legs; hallucinations, agitation, confusion, fever, sweating, shivering, fast heartbeat, muscle twitches; nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, upset stomach, loss of appetite; weakness, extreme tiredness, dizziness; irregular menstruation; trouble with erections; pain in the right upper part of the abdomen, yellowing of the skin or eyes, dark urine, or light stools.

Suboxone can make you drowsy. Do not drive a car, operate heavy machinery, or do anything that requires concentration until you know how this medicine affects you.

This medication can make you dizzy or lightheaded or cause fainting if you arise too quickly from a lying position. This risk is highest when you first start taking Suboxone. To avoid this problem, get up slowly out of bed and sit for a few minutes before standing up.

Suboxone can cause constipation with long-term use. Talk to your doctor about using laxatives if this is a problem for you.

Do not drink alcohol while taking Suboxone.

Do not stop Suboxone suddenly (cold turkey). Your doctor will need to slowly reduce your dose before completely stopping this medicine. If you feel like the medicine is not working, contact your doctor. Do not increase the dose of Suboxone or take more than prescribed without talking to your doctor.

Tell all your healthcare providers, including your dentist, that you are using this medicine.

What are Suboxone (buprenorphine and naloxone) interactions?

Taking Suboxone with some other medications can affect its efficacy. Drug interactions can also increase the risk of serious adverse effects. Your physician may choose a different treatment for you, change the dose or frequency of one or both medicines, or monitor you carefully for side effects if there are known interactions between Suboxone and your other medicines.

There can be interactions between Suboxone and medicines such as:

● antihistamines (found in cold and flu medicines)

● antipsychotic medications

● benzodiazepines (such as Valium)

● diuretics or water pills

● certain HIV medications

● medications used to treat irritable bowel disease, Parkinson’s disease, motion sickness, urinary problems, ulcers

● medications used to treat migraine headaches

● certain anti-seizure medications

● some antidepressant medications

● monoamine oxidase inhibitors (MAOI) within the past 2 weeks

● herbal products like St. John’s Wort and tryptophan

This list does not describe all possible Suboxone interactions. Give your health care provider a complete list of your medications, including prescription drugs, over-the-counter medicines, dietary supplements, and herbal remedies. Also, tell your health care provider if you smoke, drink alcohol, or use illegal drugs because some of these substances can cause serious health complications when used with Suboxone.

Find the best discount on Suboxone »