If You’re Thinking of Mixing Suboxone® and Alcohol, Read This


June 10, 2024 3:41 pm Published by

This can include enrolling in a treatment program, attending support groups, and finding a sponsor. It is also important to be mindful of triggers that may lead to substance use and to develop healthy coping mechanisms to manage stress and anxiety. If you or someone you know is struggling with the dangerous and potentially life-threatening effects of mixing Suboxone and alcohol, it’s important to seek treatment immediately. The health risks of combining suboxone and alcohol should never be overlooked. In fact, adding alcohol into the mix can make the use of Suboxone obsolete.

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Remember that any drug has the potential to interact with other substances. Even some herbal, all-natural supplements interact with alcohol and drugs. It’s also crucial for people to be honest with medical providers about their patterns of substance use. Treatment for mixing Suboxone and alcohol is essential for preventing serious health risks and achieving long-term recovery. Seeking treatment for mixing Suboxone and alcohol is crucial for several reasons.

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People need to be careful about how they use drugs and what they mix them with. For example, both of these substances can have a depressant effect on the respiratory system. Anyone enrolled in an opioid dependence program should take steps to avoid alcohol consumption.

Demographics That Are At Risk

Both substances are depressants that slow down the central nervous system, which can lead to respiratory depression, coma, and even death. Additionally, alcohol can increase the effects of Suboxone, making it more potent and increasing the risk of overdose. Regular use or abuse of an opioid drug can create a psychological and physical dependence.

Can You Drink Alcohol While Taking Suboxone?

Firstly, it can prevent serious health problems such as respiratory depression, liver damage, and overdose. Secondly, treatment can help individuals overcome addiction and regain control of their lives. Additionally, those who are younger in age, male, and have a lower socioeconomic status may also be at a higher risk.

  • Opioids, as well as alcohol and benzodiazepines, stimulate the production of the brain’s chemical messenger gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA), which is an inhibitory neurotransmitter.
  • Motor control and functions may be impaired, which can lead to accidents or impaired driving.
  • At CCIWA, we understand the challenge of overcoming opioid addiction, and we are here to help you from the start to the end.
  • When they discontinue these drugs, they subsequently experience severe withdrawal symptoms and cravings.
  • The brain begins to depend on the drug in order to feel “normal” or balanced, and it ceases to function exactly as it did before the drugs.
  • If you are abusing any of these substances, it is clear that you need urgent treatment, especially if you were using Suboxone to treat opioid overuse disorder.

Therefore, mixing Suboxone and alcohol is considered drug abuse because there is no medical situation where doing is appropriate. The danger of mixing these two drugs is that the person will have no control over the effects they may experience. It is strongly advised that opiate drugs should not be mixed with alcohol.

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These sorts of drugs should not be taken in any amount with Suboxone without first discussing it with your doctor. While it is weaker than a full opioid agonist like oxycodone or heroin, it still can cause a sense of euphoria. Mixing Suboxone and alcohol is inadvisable in any quantity due to their overlapping ability to slow breathing. Recreational alcohol use is a poor reason for taking on such risk.

Understanding MAT Treatment For Opioid: A Path to Recovery

MedMark Treatment Centers helps patients with opioid use disorder across the United States reclaim their lives. At MedMark, we use evidence-based MAT programs that allow patients to learn coping and recovery skills. With a combination of medicine, therapy and social support, we assist patients as they work toward opioid-free lives. You can contact us online at any time to schedule your first appointment. We recognize that navigating social situations involving alcohol while taking Suboxone can be challenging, but it’s essential to take necessary precautions.

In fact, almost all opioid addiction treatment centers discourage the use of alcohol while on Suboxone. Individuals addicted to a particular drug substance are usually at risk of replacing the original substance of abuse with another one when there is withdrawal. However, the danger is beyond mere replacement when it comes to Suboxone.

When mixed with the common pain reliever aspirin, alcohol can increase irritation in the GI tract. Alcohol and acetaminophen, or Tylenol, can be particularly dangerous. At normal doses, it may be safe, but Tylenol is processed by the liver, and so is alcohol. When large doses are combined, this can create serious damage to a very mixing suboxone and alcohol important organ.

Alcohol is known to increase blood pressure and heart rate, which can put additional stress on the heart. Suboxone, on the other hand, can cause a decrease in blood pressure, which can further exacerbate the problem. Benadryl is a potent first-generation antihistamine that crosses the blood-brain barrier, a protective filter that helps keep harmful substances from reaching the brain.

You must adhere to your doctor’s recommendations and embrace the psychosocial support and therapy offered as part of the treatment plan. The key to safe and sustainable recovery from opioid overuse disorder is deciding to treat your body and mind better and committing to the plan. Once you have been attended to and regained stability, be sure to talk to your Suboxone doctor about it.

Chronically using Suboxone and alcohol together can increase the risk of various forms of cancer, cardiovascular diseases, a weakened immune system, brain damage, and stroke. One commonly asked question is whether those on Suboxone can drink alcohol. Several studies have linked it to a wide range of heart-related problems, including stroke, irregular heartbeat, and high blood pressure.

It is a first-generation antihistamine with side effects such as drowsiness, slowed breathing, and sleepiness. Of all the drugs that are dangerous to use with Suboxone, alcohol is particularly harmful. It is probably the most likely to be abused with Suboxone, accidentally or otherwise, and it can significantly affect breathing rates.

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