People may take doses more frequently, take higher doses, or combine the medication with other substances. The list of harm that alcohol causes to your body is pretty long and ranges from detrimental to fatal. Having said that, it is safe to emphasize that mixing Suboxone and alcohol can be pretty dangerous.

Detox, Residential, PHP, & IOP

Although the drug has assisted a significant number of individuals struggling with opioid overuse disorder, the drug isn’t 100% risk-free. Because buprenorphine is an opioid agonist, weaker then opioids such as oxycodone and heroin, it can still cause and euphoria, especially when mixed with alcohol. The presence of alcohol increases the capacity of buprenorphine to act as a full opioid agonist, with similar addiction signs and overdose risks. If you are taking Suboxone, please be aware that even one drink is not worth the risk during your treatment.

Treatment

It’s essential to seek help from a medical professional if you suspect addiction. If you are abusing these substances, it’s a sign that you need treatment, particularly if you were using Suboxone to address an opioid addiction. 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.

It’s no surprise that people addicted to heroin and other opioid drugs, also abuse alcohol. In the United States, opioid addiction levels have reached record highs. More people die today from drug overdoses than they do from HIV, gun violence and motor vehicle accidents.

How to Get Help for a Suboxone Addiction

Beer, wine or liquor mixed with Suboxone risk your health, disrupt the treatment process and keep the reward pathways to the brain open. If you are mixing other substances of abuse while on Suboxone, you may need to seek treatment. Suboxone can help individuals take a big step in their recovery from opioid use disorder.

• Taking alcohol and Suboxone® may increase the sedative effects of both substances, making it easier to take too much and overdose accidentally.
• Seeking professional help, attending support groups, and staying connected to positive influences can all help in the prevention of mixing Suboxone and alcohol.
• This evaluation will help determine the extent and severity of the alcohol and Suboxone addiction, as well as any other underlying physical or mental health issues.
• When prescribing Suboxone, doctors urge against drinking alcohol or using any other drugs while taking it.
• In addition, we know that preventing the use of one substance also helps prevent the use of others.
• Sadly, suboxone users mix the prescribed medication with alcohol, trying to reach the same high as the opioid agonist.
• Alcohol, on the other hand, is a legal and widely consumed substance that is often used for social purposes.

Why Ketamine Treatment for Resistant Depression May Be Right for You

Seeking professional help, attending support groups, and staying connected to positive influences can all help in the prevention of mixing Suboxone and alcohol. Take the first step towards a healthier life and get help for your addiction today. Book a consultation now to learn more about how you can overcome the dangers of mixing Suboxone and alcohol. Alcohol, on the other hand, is a legal and widely consumed substance that is often used for social purposes. However, it is also a depressant that can have negative effects on the body, including impaired judgment, coordination, and reflexes. When mixed with Suboxone, the effects of both substances are intensified, leading to a dangerous combination that can cause serious harm.

When mixing alcohol with Suboxone, these symptoms are only worsened, which can put an individual at greater risk of bodily injury. This also applies to those with hypersensitive reactions to alcohol that lead to bronchospasms, rashes, hives, and anaphylactic shock. For one, alcohol interferes with how the brain operates, causing changes in behavior and mood, as well as limiting one’s ability to move with coordination and think rationally. It has also been linked to many heart-related problems, including high blood pressure, stroke, and irregular heartbeat (arrhythmia). Those who drink heavily also place their livers and pancreas at risk for various inflammations and degradations, many of which are irreversible.

• Taking all of this into consideration, it’s wise to cut out alcohol completely during and after the recovery process.
• Misuse of alcohol together with Suboxone, or taking one drug while still under the influence of another, is what is known as polysubstance abuse.
• Drug dependence also complicates the recovery process, as quitting “cold turkey” can lead to uncomfortable withdrawal symptoms.
• Medical and psychological support is needed to overcome withdrawal symptoms and to prevent relapse after treatment.
• If you or a loved one is unable to stop drinking alcohol while taking Suboxone, we can help.
• Finally, mixing Suboxone and alcohol can also impair cognitive functioning.

Additionally, people in opioid dependence programs usually sign an agreement forbidding them from using alcohol and other addictive substances. If the individual is physically dependent on alcohol and Suboxone, a medical detoxification would then be necessary to manage withdrawal symptoms suboxone mixed with alcohol safely. Detox should be conducted under medical supervision to ensure safety and comfort.